WONFIFTY

Angelina Jolie of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation and the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, arrives to discuss "Iraq, Education, and Children of Conflict" at a Council on Foreign Relations forum at the Washington Club on April 8, 2008 in Washington, D.C

 

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY has been praised by animal rights group PETA after announcing plans to boycott cancer charities who test on animals.
The multi-millionaire former Beatle has supported cancer charities since his first wife Linda died of the disease in 1998.
But this year he revealed plans to refuse funding to organisations that practice vivisection, after discovering a number of charities close to his heart advocate the practice.
The vegan rocker said, "When Linda died I said I would support cancer charities. Animal rights groups wrote to me pointing out that many were heavily into vivisection - and it's true. A doctor we knew out in America just admitted it as a matter of fact, innocently, like 'Well, sure we do.' "What he doesn't realise is that he won't get a donation out of me for that very fact. There are better alternatives but you're not allowed to challenge the status quo." His decision has been applauded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Alistair Currie - Senior Research and Campaigns Co-ordinator - says, “Animal testing charities don't just miss out on big money; they miss out on medical progress. Animals are not furry little humans and their bodies cannot reliably predict results for human conditions. While we know a great deal about cancer in mice, we don't know anywhere near enough about cancer in humans.
Thankfully, there are plenty of charities that go for the triple win: they don't cause animal suffering; they do support modern non-animal research that increases the chance of finding cures for humans; and they get the money of smart, compassionate donors.”

Filmmaker STEVEN SPIELBERG has threatened to leave his position as artistic director of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, unless China takes action against Sudan.
China is a major investor in the African country's oil industry and has been criticised for failing to send United Nations peacekeeping troops to the troubled Darfur region.
The Chinese have also been accused of selling weapons to SUDAN.
Spielberg wrote to Chinese president Hu Jintao in May (07) urging him to use his influence to encourage Sudan to accept peacekeepers. Now he is warning he will decide in the next month if he will withdraw his support of the games.
His spokesman Andy Spahn says, "Steven is one (of) many advisers to the Beijing Games and he is trying to use the games to engage the Chinese on this issue.
"Steven will make a determination in the next few weeks regarding his work with the Chinese.
"Our main interest is ending the genocide.
"No one is clear on the best way to do this." Spielberg's move comes after actress Mia Farrow criticised him for supporting the games. She said, "Does Mr Spielberg really want to go down in history as the Leni Riefenstahl of the Beijing Games?"

Campaigning anti-poverty rockers BONO and BOB GELDOF teamed up this week (begs04Jun07) to put pressure on U.S. President GEORGE W. BUSH ahead of the G-8 summit in Germany.
The pair, accompanied by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, discussed efforts to alleviate poverty in the developing world ahead of the meeting of world leaders in Rostock, which kicked off on Wednesday (06Jun07).
Bush has praised Bono in the past for his humanitarian work, hailing him "an amazing guy". However, he was forced to miss out on talks with his political colleagues about development spending today (08Jun07) after he was taken ill with a stomach complaint. Leaders agreed a $60 billion (£30 billion) pledge to fight diseases such as AIDS in Africa and restated promises to double development spending on the continent.

George Clooney and other 'Ocean's 13' stars have donated $750,000 to help the victims of the Sudan humanitarian crisis. Clooney's co-stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle and the movie's producer Jerry Weintraub all contributed to the Oxfam donation, through Clooney's charitable organisation Not On Our Watch. Global relief agency Oxfam will use the proceeds to help families in war-torn Darfur.
Clooney said: "The people of Darfur urgently need the help of organisations like Oxfam." The stars' donation will help provide clean water and other aid to 500,000 people who have been displaced from their homes in Darfur and neighbouring Chad. Oxfam's international director Penny Lawrence said: "This is a fantastic donation from the 'Ocean's 13' stars. It will make a massive difference to some of the most vulnerable people in the world." Clooney, 46, has been an active advocate for a resolution to the Darfur conflict for years. In 2005, the actor spoke at a Save Darfur rally in Washington and the following year spent ten days in the region making a film to highlight the plight of its people. Clooney had taken his campaign to the Security Council of the United Nations and has lobbied various worldwide governments to help ease the situation.

BACKGROUND

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of a global nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested $260 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

Over the years, Cinema Against AIDS has become a large event held during the Cannes Film Festival and has raised more than $22 million for lifesaving AIDS research. From Sharon Stone dancing to an impromptu performance by Sir Elton John and Ringo Starr, from 25 of the world’s top models strutting down the runway to Paul Sorvino serenading Sean Penn and Johnny Depp with an Italian aria, Cinema Against AIDS is always unforgettable. This event has a diverse guest list of any party held during the Festival. It includes many of the celebrities and personalities associated with the Festival, while also attracting names from the worlds of fashion, music, business, and international society.

ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT's charitable foundation has donated $1 million (£500,000) to help refugees of the war in Sudan. More than two million people have been left homeless by the conflict in the African nation's Darfur region, and there are 240,000 refugees across the border in Chad. The donation was announced yesterday (10May07) by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, for which Jolie is a goodwill ambassador and where some of the money will go. The rest will be split between the International Rescue Committee and the SOS Children's Villages.

Actress DREW BARRYMORE is the latest celebrity to be named as an ambassador for humanitarian organisation the United Nations (U.N.). The Charlie's Angels star will take the role of Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme, joining the campaign to improve the lives of people in poor countries. She says, "I am honoured and humbled to accept this challenging and rewarding assignment. "I can't think of any issue that is more important than working to see that no schoolchild in this world goes hungry." Other high-profile ambassadors for the U.N. include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.