Oxfam launches Global Ambassadors program, including Scarlett Johansson, Coldplay, Djimon Hounsou, Kristin Davis, Colin Firth, Minnie Driver and Helen Mirren

Oxfam launches Global Ambassadors program, including Scarlett Johansson, Coldplay, Djimon Hounsou, Kristin Davis, Colin Firth, Minnie Driver and Helen Mirren

LOS ANGELES, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Scarlett Johansson has become the latest celebrity to join Oxfam's Global Ambassador program, officially launched today. Johansson joined following a trip to India and Sri Lanka with Oxfam where she visited a school for girls, and survivors of the tsunami. She joins an influential group of international artists and public figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Djimon Hounsou, Colin Firth, Gael Garcia Bernal, Annie Lennox and Dame Helen Mirren, who support the international humanitarian and development agency

"I want to be a part of the great work that Oxfam is doing, and am glad that by being an Ambassador I can continue to be involved with the organization," said Johansson. "Once you've met amazing people like the Dalit girls I met on my trip you just can't turn your back. I was shocked by a lot of what I saw, but seeing the fantastic work Oxfam was doing I also felt that there was hope."

Actor Djimon Hounsou, said: "As an African, born and raised in Benin, where cotton is the main source of income for farmers, it is important for me to join forces with Oxfam, an organization that works to fight against the unfair trade laws that keep farmers poor and unable to provide for their families. Subsidies in developed countries are killing the chances of hardworking farmers in Africa of earning a decent wage. It is an honor to be able to represent Africa and Oxfam when I'm meeting with the powerful politicians that create these laws."

Actor, Gael Garcia Bernal said: "I am a firm supporter of Oxfam's campaign because I believe that only through a concerted effort will we be able to make a difference. We have to help small-scale farmers to have a voice and then - together with millions of others - exert huge pressure on decision makers to change the trade rules. This is the only way to fight poverty."

Oxfam has benefited for many years from the support of numerous celebrities around the world, whose dedication and commitment continue to make a huge contribution to its work. The new Global Ambassador program will formalize relationships with some of the international development agency's most well-known supporters and enable them to go further in their work to help the agency meet its goals of overcoming poverty, hunger and injustice.

"Our Ambassadors are listened to across the world, and their support helps to give a voice to people who would not otherwise be heard. Through their work, Oxfam's campaigning messages can reach a much wider audience and have a huge impact on decision makers. We are delighted to have so many credible and passionate Ambassadors from across the globe," said Claire Lewis, Oxfam's International Artist Liaison Manager.

About Oxfam International: Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organisations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.

Current Oxfam Ambassadors: Angelique Kidjo, World Music Singer, Benin; Coldplay, Rock Group, UK; Colin Firth, Actor, UK; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa; Djimon Hounsou, Actor, Benin; Gael Garcia Bernal, Actor, Mexico; Helen Mirren, Actress, UK; Miguel Bose, Actor, Spain; Scarlett Johansson, Actress, US; Tegla Loroupe, Runner, Kenya; Annie Lennox, Songwriter, UK; Minnie Driver, Actress, US; Anthony Wong, singer, Hong Kong; Emmanual Jal, Musician, Sudan; Neil Finn, Musician, New Zealand; Kristin Davis, Actress, US; Rahul Bose, Actor, India.

Oxfam also continues to be grateful to celebrities from the worlds of music, theater, art and sports who also support the charity.

For more information about Oxfam's Ambassador Program go to: www.oxfam.org/en/news/ambassadors

First Call Analyst:

Source: Oxfam International

CONTACT: Lyndsay Cruz, Oxfam International, +1-562-331-0698,
lcruz@oxfamamerica.org

Web site: http://www.oxfam.org/

Note to Editors: For more details and images, or to arrange an interview contact: - Lyndsay Cruz: 562-331-0698, lcruz@oxfamamerica.org

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