A Child Dies Every 45 Seconds from Malaria

First Cheryl Cole and now George Clooney; in the space of just six months two of the best known faces in showbiz have both fallen victim to malaria. These two high-profile cases have led to a large amount of media hype, helping to raise awareness of an illness that we rarely hear much about. But how does celebrity involvement affect the global struggle against malaria, and what does the future hold for the ongoing campaign to eradicate it? LS1 spoke with representatives of some of the leading charities in the fight against malaria to find out more about the current situation.
Malaria is currently one of the world’s biggest killers. The disease affects around half of the world’s population and causes over 781,000 deaths per year, with the vast majority of victims being children under five years old. In fact, by the time you have finished reading this article, six children will have died from the disease on average. Ninety percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, where in many countries the disease has crippled whole communities and has proved to be a serious barrier to economic development.
Sarah Kline, executive director of leading charity Malaria No More UK, explains that despite the overwhelming scale of the issue there have been some encouraging developments in the last few years. “There’ve been some really positive stories from a number of countries that have made a lot of progress. In Rwanda and Ethiopia the number of deaths has been more than halved in the last five years.”
Ex- Leeds student Georgina Abbott is Community Director for JCI Leeds, who have helped to raise over £4000 for the United Nation’s ‘Nothing But Nets’ campaign through their ‘One Calendar One Life’ project. The calendar featured members of the group posing in nothing but mosquito nets, with ten copies signed by Orlando Bloom which are still up for auction. Georgina finds that the influence of celebrities on the media is very important. “When I attended our global partnership in the summer, the director of the Nothing But Nets campaign was saying that the media interest in the UK over swine flu was massive, whereas the coverage of malaria wasn’t very high at all even though the number of deaths in much higher.”
“It was interesting because there was so much more media attention around malaria after Cheryl had got it,” Georgina adds, “at the time I was working for the department of health, and you could tell that ministers were suddenly much more engaged with the issue.”
Sarah Kline set up Malaria No More UK just over two years ago as part of an international campaign to reduce malaria deaths to near zero by 2015, through investing in insecticidal bed nets, diagnostic tests and medicines. From its inception the charity has worked with celebrities to help promote its message. To mark the launch of the organisation, sports icons Andy Murray and David Beckham played tennis and football against each-other at Wimbledon, taking free-kicks into a goal made entirely of mosquito nets. Later Andy Murray, David Beckham and Denise Lewis went on to 10 Downing Street and hung a mosquito net on its iconic door. “It’s truly incredible to think we can stop this killer disease forever and it’s such a simple thing to do” Beckham said at the time, “for less than the cost of a football you can protect a family from dying.”
More recently in Autumn 2009 luxury British jeweller Stephen Webster designed a limited edition mosquito ring to raise funds for Malaria No More UK, one of which Victoria Beckham was seen wearing at the London Fashion Week. Stephen Webster reportedly said: “What a crazy world when one bejewelled mosquito ring can be responsible for protecting 13,000 people from the malaria carried by mosquitoes.” Influential West African singer Youssou N’Dour has also played an important role in promoting the charity, using world music to raise awareness of malaria prevention in Africa. In 2009, just before the distribution of nearly two million mosquito nets to every child under five, Youssou released a hit song encouraging all Senegalese families to take responsibility for the fight against malaria in their communities.
So is celebrity involvement always a good thing? Sarah Kline has mixed opinions: “Celebrities do raise the profile of malaria in the public eye. However we need to make sure that the facts that are reported alongside it are right, so that’s an important part of our job.” What about cases like Cheryl and George Clooney who caught the illness? “I think that the increased publicity given to malaria is a good thing,” Sarah says, “but there is a risk that we might underestimate the seriousness of malaria because in developed countries we tend to be able to get the right treatment, so we tend to see a full recovery as normal.”
But it is not just celebrities who can help promote the issue of malaria. “Students can help by speaking out, contacting their local MP and finding out about the policies of the main political parties,” Sarah tells me. “If we want the government to do more they need to know that this is one of their constituents’ priorities.”
There are also many fundraising opportunities that students can get involved with. “To raise even more money we’re organising a charity fashion show in the autumn of this year,” Georgina says, “and we’re hoping to get students involved in that, particularly fashion students.” World Malaria Day will also be taking place on the 25th April, for which many students have previously raised money through sponsored sports events such as cycle rides and marathons.
Malaria is fully preventable and relatively easy to treat, meaning that the majority of malaria-related deaths could be avoided at very little cost. £5 is enough to buy, deliver and hang an insecticidal net, and a diagnostic test takes just fifteen minutes and costs only 50p. Nonetheless, not enough money is being invested in tackling the disease. “International funding for malaria has nearly quadrupled from $35 million in 2000 to almost $1.9 billion in 2009,” Sarah Kline states, “but there still remains a big gap in funding.” That means that despite the important role of celebrities, ordinary people have an important part to play too.

Please email community@jcileeds.org.uk if you would like to make a bid for one of the Orlando Bloom signed calendar, or email geabbott2000@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested in taking part in the autumn charity fashion show.

Also please visit http://malarianomore.org.uk/ to find out more about the work of Malaria No More UK and how you can get involved.

source http://www.leedsstudent.org/2011-02-07/life-and-style/features/a-child-dies-every-45-seconds-from-malaria

Orlando received Bambi Award for Charity

On November 11th, 2010, Orlando received the Charity Bambi Award for his work with the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, and made Germany a compliment: 'I've fallen in love with your country, especially in your sausage and Bavarian beer. " The Award ceremony took place at Filmpark Babelsberg on November 11, 2010 in Potsdam, Germany. Here is the translation from the German of what Sarah Jessica Parker said about Orlando, before giving him his prize:
"Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I now have the honour to introduce a man who amongst all the lucky people in front of me probably is the luckiest. He played in blockbusters like “The Lord of the Rings” or “Pirates of the Caribbean” and is now one of the most sought-after Hollywood actors. Not only is this man attractive and successful but also married to one of the most beautiful women in the world. But what is Mr Bloom doing if he’s not filming? Instead of relaxing, he travels around the world and visits children in need and helps the poorest of the poor. Some of us donate money, spend time, a few of us show commitment on demand – but Orlando, you do everything of that. For UNICEF, you travelled into the poorest regions of Nepal so children get clean drinking water and are able to go to school. You visited aid projects in Russia and Bosnia so children get the support they deserve and in New Orleans, where there is still need after the hurricane Katrina, children know that they can count on you. UNICEF has named you their honorary ambassador for your relentless commitment. A great honour which is only reserved for very few. Orlando Bloom – You once said you wouldn’t want to live in a golden cage. Your example shall encourage us all to share with other, less benefited so they can live more happily and healthier. I admire your extraordinary commitment, your great compassion and your care for people in need."
Thanks a lot to Beriawen of Orlando Love for providing this.







credit to http://asco-310.livejournal.com/

Orlando Bloom Autographed Malaria No More Hat

There is an auction going on right now where you can bid and try to buy a hat autographed by Orlando. This support the cause of Malaria No More. Read about the auction at:
http://www.clothesoffourback.org/product_info.php?products_id=4213

"Malaria No More" campaign

Orlando is featured in the PSA for the campaign "Malaria No More", that is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease and recent progress shows that malaria's days are numbered.
The first video, "Comedy Fights Malaria" shows that the disease is no laughing matter—every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies from malaria—but humor can keep malaria in the spotlight and in the conversation. The result is always amusing, often absurd and sometimes downright bizarre messages from stars like Ed Helms, John Mayer, Elizabeth Banks, Orlando and many others:










"Dreams" with Aziz Ansari, Ed Helms, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, and more talking about their childhood dreams -- and how every child deserves to make their dreams a reality:








Get more information at malarianomore.org

PeaceDay Global Broadcast 2010

Hundreds of International NGO's, Celebrities and Messengers Join the UN in Raising Awareness of the Ceasefire on September 21st. A Global PeaceDay TV Internet Broadcast


Peace In Our Lifetime a UK based organisation, are hosting ‘Global United Parties for Peace’ which will be part of the Peace Day TV Broadcast Collaboration for Peace Day. Their London and USA Music events will be live streamed into a Global Broadcast. PeaceDay.tv and production partners are inviting people from countries all around the world to participate in what may turn out to be the world's largest ever humanitarian & entertainment Internet broadcast ever scheduled for September 17-21, 2010.


London, United Kingdom, September 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Hundreds of NGO's, Celebrities and Messengers Join the UN in Raising Awareness of the Ceasefire on September 21st

Peace in Our Lifetime are part of this year's Peace Day TV Broadcast. A Broadcast which has gathered notable NGO's, Inspiring Peace Messengers, Celebrities along with International Musicians playing uplifting music from around the world. All have gathered to raise awareness of the UN agreed Ceasefire, which is officially part of the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2010.

This year's 'Global United Party for Peace in London featuring musicians such as Mike Lindup (Level 42), Kuljit Bhamara (The Guru, Bend it Like Beckham, Bombay Dreams) joining other artists John Young (Asia, Scorpions), Ricardo Garcia, Two Spot Gobi, Tony Moore and Xander Nichting to celebrate the day when humanity lay down our weapons by conscious choice. The London Party will be live-streamed via their website but also into peaceday.tv which is also embedded into the United Nations Official website.

Standing with Peacejam, Good Will Treaty, Imagine Peace, Just Giving, Love is All We Need and many other peace pioneering organisations, Peace in Our Lifetime aim is to raise awareness of The International Day of Peace by and Peace One Day's extraordinary work. Peace in Our Lifetime initiative founder Lynne Hazelden said, "We are Standing together as one collective intention and inviting people around the world to thank someone or people in their lives, community, services and families for acts of kindness. To bring attention to the peace being created everyday by ordinary people. Also, by inviting individuals to take a personal stand for peace by adding their voice, be counted and downloading their own personalised peace certificate which shows their unique voice inside." Their aim is to count to one billion souls by acknowledging each individuals personal choice.

Betty Williams, Nobel Laureate - "I encourage everyone around the globe to recognize and celebrate International Day of Peace on September 21st. This is a day to honor all of those groups and people who work for peace everyday, all year long. I am a member of the PeaceJam Foundation and we are excited to be supporting Peace In Our Lifetimes' "Global United Parties for Peace" in cities around the world and the United Nation's annual global cease fire. Until everyday is Peace Day, it is important that we do all we can to create a safe and just world -- we owe this to children across the globe."

More information on the organisations partnering with Peace in Our lifetime with details on how to get Involved.

http://www.peaceinourlifetime.org/sites/default/files/GetInvolvedPeaceDay.pdf

London Event page : http://thebedford.co.uk/EventView.aspx?ID=683ecfe6-e72d-44cb-b275-5498b9b87a78

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/92289

PeaceDay.tv and Peace in OUR lifetime productions are inviting partners invite individuals around the world to participate in what may turn out to be the world's largest ever humanitarian & entertainment Internet broadcast ever scheduled for September 17-21st.

The "Peace Day Global Broadcast" combines this year's UN Millennium Development Goals Review Summit from the United Nations with the 2010 International Day of Peace celebrations from around the world. This five day celebration includes live coverage from the UN building in NY including the Millennium Review Summit with world leaders, a peace concert from London from Peace In Our Lifetime, the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots youth event in Los Angeles, the planting of Peace Trees from Finland by Israeli & Palestinian Ambassadors, Art Miles Peace Murals from the Giza Pyramid in Egypt, a Peace Day Parade from Hawaii, and EarthDance festivals from over 20 locations globally.

Between the live segments are pre-produced documentary segments that cover the state of world affairs in areas ranging from ending poverty, peace keeping, the middle east, child mortality, 2010 disasters, bio-diversity, maternal health, indigenous peoples, world culture, the Millennium Development Goals, and much more.

Content is provided by CARE, UNICEF, ONE Campaign, Millennium Campaign, The Elders, Water.org, UN World Food Program, Peace One Day, UNIFEM, Action Against Hunger, Amnesty International, World Economic Forum, URI, Agape, Playing For Change, and over 50 more of the worlds most effective aid organizations listed on the www.peaceday.tv website. As part of the International Day of Peace promotion and education we will be airing the entire "Day After Peace" documentary created by the Peace One Day Foundation, and include a special film festival comprised of short films provided by the Global Oneness Project.

Celebrities appearing include Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Nelson Mandela, Bono, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jimmy Carter, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Al Pacino, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, USHER, Justn Beiber, Jonas Brothers, Charlize Theron, Jane Goodall, David Beckham, James Cameron, Jude Law, Drew Barrymore, Roger Federer, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Michael Douglas, Muhammed Ali, Jeremy Irons, Sarah Jessica Parker, Richard Branson, Michael Franti, Kofi Anan, Ban-Ki Moon, Cameron Diaz, Princess Hussein of Jordan, Jackie Chan, Jamie Foxx, Mia Farrow, Lenny Kravitz, Kevin Bacon, Alan Rickman, Gordon Brown, Jennifer Connelly, Antonia Banderas, Orlando Bloom, Jet Li, and too may others to mention.

Celebrate the International Day of Peace with incredible entertainment and learn about the Millennium Development Goals by tuning in during the September 17-21st broadcast period.

The Peace Day Player is available for people or organizations to freely place on their own websites, Facebook pages, MySpace pages, even in blog pages such as WordPress.

The Peace Day Global Broadcast is an annual charitable humanitarian event coordinated through the cooperation of LiveSteam, Unity Foundation, ShockRa Entertainment, Xeden, PeacePortal.mobi, and GlobaLink TotalVision Network.

http://peaceday.tv/musicians
http://peaceday.tv/campaigns
http://peaceday.tv/contentproviders

To find out more information, Download A Peace Certificate got to http://www.peaceinourlifetime.org/
http://peaceday.tv/goals/campaigns


http://www.pr.com/press-release/262114

Orlando at Katz Lecture about dyslexia

Finally, we are able to see and listen to Orlando at Adam Jeffrey Katz Memorial Lecture. The website www.cscfound.org has put online the entire conversation between Orlando and Dr. Harold Koplewicz. I uploaded here the presentation of the event and the first video, the introduction to the Lecture:

You can see all the videos at cscfound.org


And some caps from the presentation:



I have to share some of my thoughts, in my bad English....this Lecture was funny, interesting and moving. We are all here because we share love and affection towards this man. While listening to his words, I discovered myself even more respecful, and amazed by him. This is our Orlando, God bless him.

Orlando Bloom Talks Candidly About His Struggles With Dyslexia

A new video of Orlando talking about dyslexia! "Orlando Bloom discussed his own struggles with dyslexia and how he honed his inner creativity with NY1's Parenting Correspondent Shelley Goldberg, when he recently participated in a lecture at the Child Mind Institute"
source




And here are some caps: