CAUSE TO CELEB-RATE: OXFAM

via OXFAM

Why is actress and singer Minnie Driver covered in cotton??? For charity of course! A 2004 campaign for Oxfam America included ads of celebrities covered in everything from milk and sugar to cotton in order to raise awareness about the importance of fair trade. Minnie Driver is one of Oxfam’s leading supporters. She was inspired to do the ad after her trips to Cambodia and Thailand for the organization’s sweat shop campaign. She was deeply affected by what she saw—-the horrible conditions and excruciating labor for menial wages. Other celebrities who took part in the campaign were Colin Firth, Antonio Banderas, Bono, Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin, R.E.M.'s lead singer Michael Stipe, Alanis Morrissette, and Radiohead's lead singer Thom Yorke.

Minnie Driver performs and speaks at annual events for Oxfam all over the country. She has supported the organization for years now. Oxfam International is an organization dedicated to bringing world peace by fighting for human rights through advocacy campaigns, development programs and emergency response. They combat human rights violations by both responding to atrocity with immediate emergency relief and also by working to lobby and change policy to prevent issues in the future. Most importantly, they work to teach the community how to be self-sustainable through education. It was founded in 1942 at the end of World War II in order to provide famine relief to people in Nazi-occupied Greece. Today they have thirteen sectors working in 100 countries and many different projects!

Minnie Driver told Reuters that she chose to fight for fair trade because "I like the underdog, and trade is like the ugly stepsister to a lot of policies that exist. It's not sexy, there is no vaccine. It's a slow process." The Make Fair Trade campaign has been especially effective in pushing companies like Starbucks to be more conscious about their negative impacts on Africa where they get most of their coffee. The fashion industry is also feeding into the problem buy outsourcing to places like Africa where they pay less for the goods because of the sweatshop industry and forced labor. Oxfam America estimates that from 2001 to 2003, the presence of artificially cheap American cotton on the world market caused an estimated $400 million in losses to farmers in these West African nations.

By pushing companies to respect human rights and international trade laws as well as lobbying for policy, Oxfam is making a lot of progress. This past month nineteen actors, musicians, and writers got together and signed a letter drafted by Oxfam to tackle climate change. Among those who signed it were Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, and Gael Garcia Bernal. CGG readers can do the same thing by writing to companies and the government.

And we weren’t kidding about the camel. Oxfam has stores around the world selling fair-trade items and clothing. You can also send gifts from their website: oxfamamericaunwrapped.com and send a camel, one of many gift items, to a family in need. Minnie Driver gave one to Ellen DeGeneres last year! "I'm a big fan of camels because even though we don't have camels where I live, they are remarkably useful in and around Sub-Saharan Africa," Driver said in an interview, "It's this amazing gifting program where you can give gifts to your friends that go to those in need." On their website, you can purchase anything from a water purifier to a goat or camel in a friend’s name. They will receive a card with information about how the gift is going to help the world! For $125 you can buy a camel for someone in a developing country! If you don’t have that kind of cash, buy a can of worms for $18! Pretty cool, eh?

CAUSE TO CELEB-RATE: UNICEF

Salma Hayek at a UNICEF event at the UN headquarters via dailylife.com

Now here is a cause that nearly all the celebs have promoted. With over 80 star supporters, UNICEF takes major strides for children around the globe to ensure their health, education, equality, and protection. Their presence in 190 countries ensures that all children have the basic rights that each one certainly deserves.

Founded on Dec. 11, 1946 in the aftermath of WWII, the United Nations voted to create the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) originally as a relief and support organization for children living in countries that were devastated by the war.

These days, celebs come out by the dozens to support and provide for this cause. Most recently, Selena Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF's 2008 Trick-or-Treat campaign, which encourages American children to make Halloween count by raising money for other kids around the world. Since this program was established in 1950, the Trick-or-Treat campaign has raised over $143 million.

Prince William and Prince Harry participated in a brutal 1,500 mile, eight-day motorbike trek across South Africa last month. Each rider paid $2,600 to participate in this annual Enduro Africa ride, which ultimately raised an estimated $173,000 for UNICEF.

Also, Salma Hayek addressed the UN in early October to talk about her recent trip to Sierra Leone where she supported a UNICEF campaign to eradicate tetanus in mothers and babies in four years. Salma's speech looked to raise 200 million vaccines for tetanus in the next three years.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira traveled to Bangladesh in Dec. 07 to visit UNICEF-supported education projects and met with women and children affected by Cyclone Sidr. She has since won an ALMA humanitarian award in August for her work to improve the lives of Latin America's impoverished children.

And low-and-behold, Rihanna was just announced the new face of Gucci's UNICEF campaign--called Tattoo Heart--with advertisements promoting the initiative beginning in December. The campaign will also feature limited edition Gucci products, with 25% of sales to be donated to UNICEF.

Lastly, Bono recently persuaded UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham in May to climb Tanzania's 19,340 ft. Mount Kilimanjaro for six days to raise money for the organization.

Other UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors include Ricky Martin, Jackie Chan, Mia Farrow, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Elle MacPherson, Ewan McGregor, Claudia Schiffer, Alyssa Milano, Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, Clay Aiken, and Lucy Liu.

Phew! That's a lot of support! Now make sure to check out how you can join UNICEF's own Voices of Youth, which gives YOU a platform to help improve children's lives around the world.

CAUSE TO CELEB-RATE: the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation

Cynthia Nixon thinks pink. via flickr.com

Today is the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so CGG urges you to think pink on the inside while wearing Halloween's orange and black on the outside. This October, celebs came out by the dozens to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. And one of the most popular breast cancer charities with the stars is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, an org that has raised more than $1 billion towards finding a cure for every stage of the disease. In addition, they provide quality care and community grants for breast health and treatment. (The charity was founded in 1982 and named for a woman who, "during her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital . . . spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation," according to their official site.)

Among their star supporters are Aimee Teegarden, Andie MacDowell, Cynthia Nixon, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Five for Fighting, James Woods, and Marcia Cross.

Most recently, Mel B. has showed her support for the foundation by helping to launch PoseForTheCure.com, where designer items can be purchased with proceeds going towards the cause.

And official ambassador for the foundation, Cynthia Nixon, took stood up to breast cancer at their annual Race for the Cure event. "Talk with your doctor, make healthy lifestyle choices and most importantly, know your body," Cynthia writes on the Komen website, "as that can make all the difference in the world."

Julianne Moore, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Cindy Crawford, Tori Spelling, and Bog Saget all designed hand-decorated and autographed limited-edition pink ducks for infant and toddler products designer and manufacturer Munchkin Inc.'s third-annual Project Pink campaign celebrity auction. All the proceeds from this month's week-long event went to Susan G. Komen.

Lastly, Aimee Teegarden hosted the 5th annual YMI Jeans Fashion Show on Oct. 9 which raised money for the charity as well.

Other major breast cancer charities include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, whose supporters include Liv Tyler, P. Diddy, and Sir Elton John, and Breast Cancer Care, whose celeb spokespeople include Charlotte Church, Emma Thompson, Jamie Cullum, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Kidman, Sharon Osbourne, Sienna Miller, and Sting.

But you don't have to be a star to Do Something about breast cancer. Get started right now by getting educated: Check out our 11 quick facts about breast cancer.

FYI: Ever wonder where the pink ribbon originated? According to Wikipedia, it was the joint idea of Self magazine and cosmetics company Estee Lauder. However, the Susan G. Komen staff were reportedly the first to distribute pink ribbons a year earlier during a race for breast cancer survivors in 1991.