LOVE ANGELES

Famine No More

Source: ECORAZZI - Hugh Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, have released a special video message in support of World Vision’s relief efforts in East Africa. The couple is urging people to give up one meal a day and donate the sum of $10 to FamineNoMore by texting “FAMINE” to “20222”

Ewan McGregor Urges Support For Pakistan Flood Victims (Video)

Source: Ecorazzi - Ewan McGregor has become the latest celebrity to urge support for flood victims in Pakistan. The actor, a UK UNICEF ambassador, recently went in front of the camera for a new PSA aimed at helping children affected by the disaster — and urging the British public to donate.

“I spoke to the Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Pakistan this week, and she told me that children’s homes and schools have been washed away,” he says in the video. “They have no food or clean water. The roads and vital supplies have disappeared over night. Pakistan has never seen a disaster of this scale before. The situation is desperate and as a UNICEF Ambassador, I am asking you to do what you can to help children.”

A Breath of Fresh Air (Video)

THE FRESH AIR FUN, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

Rob Pattinson Love Elephants!

Source: CelebsGoneGood - Twilight star Robert Pattinson announced that his favorite charity is the World Wildlife Fund, a worldwide organization focused on protecting nature. With his new film, Pattinson, his fans, and the WWF will be focusing on the conservation of elephants.

Falling Whistles

Falling Whistles began as a small story exposing our world's largest war. It has become a campaign for peace in Congo.

Less than a year ago, laying in Titu Prison, 5 boy-prisoners spoke of the whistleblowers.

Abducted in Congo and too small to carry a gun, boys were given merely a whistle and sent to the front lines of battle.

The sound of their whistles calling together was meant to frighten the enemy away. Failing that, their sole duty was to receive the bullets with their bodies.

With falling whistles, their only choice was to feign death, or face it.

The world is changed by those who speak up. Whistleblowers. Rarely understood in their time, history looks back and calls them courageous.

Make their weapon your voice and be a whistleblower for peace.

Proceeds from whistles sales help restore the lives of war-affected children.

Buy a whistle, support the movement: www.fallingwhistles.com/

Falling Whistles - Be a Whistleblower for Peace in Congo from Falling Whistles on Vimeo.

The Story of Lentils as Anything

Source: Intent - Shanaka Fernando, after a short stint as a Buddhist monk, came to Australia and dabbled in law studies; it wasn't fulfilling, so he gave it up to travel on a shoestring around the third world for six years, learning about culture and community along the way.

When he returned to Australia, Shanaka started a business importing saris made from recycled fabrics, which made him enough money to start his current social experiment - Lentil As Anything.

Recently, SBS in Australia did an extensive documentary on them. The series was, unfortunately, overly dramatized and chose to focus on gossip over subtler aspects of inspiration.  The TV tagline was: "Cnan a place that relies solely on human generosity survive in this world; or will it be torn apart by competing egos, chronic chaos and crippling debt?"   'Lentils' put this disclaimer up on their homepage:

Lentil As Anything had no say in the final production of the documentary on SBS. The company benefited from the openness and trust that lentils exercises and was free to portray the organisation to its liking. It is unfortunate that such a priceless occasion was spent focusing on our financial status and the emotions of some staff. Indeed it is ironic because the gist of lentils proposition is that society is not nourished by money but the unique qualities of its people. What SBS has achieved is a misrepresentation and often gross fabrication of a truly unique social dynamic where a diverse number of people (1500 per day) sit and enjoy a meal served with pride and with no pressure to pay (with money). This I believe is crucial to reinstating everyone as valued members of our community. This culture encourages the best in people - Trust. Not just as a theory but an attitude. Hopefully more and more people will take responsibility for their actions and participate in building a kind, robust and vibrant society - it is still the case that "The revolution will not be televised."

At Lentils, there are no prices on the menu. :)  It's been operating for 10 years, with upto 400 staff in its peak, and still feeds about 1500 people a day (including a school).  In 2007, he received a National award from the Australian Prime Minister.  Today, still, all Shanaka owns is a bicycle and the clothes on his back.  Inspiring story.

Watch the clip below:

Jack Johnson Will Donate 'All' Tour Profits To Charity

Source: ecorazzi.com - Can anyone remember the last time a popular musician donated his entire tour profits to charity? I’m at a loss to think of anyone, but in the future you can peg that label on Jack Johnson.

The Hawaiian surfer/songwriter/guitarist has announced that 100% of profits from his 34-date tour between July and October will go to charity. The new tour is set to celebrate the release of his new album, To The Sea, which once again sets the example of how a green album should be made. It was recorded at Johnson’s two solar-powered studios: The Mango Tree in Hawaii and the Solar Powered Plastic Plant in Los Angeles.

Once again, Johnson’s tour will be eco-friendly. Greening actions include fueling tour vehicles with sustainable biodiesel, offering eco-friendly tour merchandise, and promoting ride share programs. In addition, venues and fans are encouraged to reduce waste, recycle, use water refill stations and offset carbon emissions.

The tour will also collaborate with over 150 hand-chosen community groups around the world as part of Johnson’s All At Once Community. This year’s All At Once campaign will focus on supporting non-profit groups and engaging fans in the realms of plastic waste reduction and sustainable local food systems.