News
HRH features in an online film for The Prince's Rainforests Project
4th May 2009
The Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry make cameo appearances alongside a frog today in a star-studded online film for The Prince of Wales's Rainforests Project.
The Dalai Lama, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Pele form an unlikely line-up alongside The Princes in the 90-second clip to boost awareness of The Prince's Rainforests Project.
They all appear with a digitally-created amphibian in the film which will be broadcast on several websites, including The Royal Channel on YouTube, tonight.
In the clip, William and Harry, sitting side by side, say they are trying to save the environment "for all of us".
The Prince's spokesman, Paddy Harverson, said the video was an "unprecedented" move by The Prince of Wales.
The video - which also features comedian Robin Williams and singer Joss Stone - is the latest mission in his ongoing bid to save the world's rainforests.
The Prince said the internet provided the opportunity for "global determination for change on a vitally important issue".
He added: "Our aim, with your help, is to build an online community to call, from the bottom up, for urgent action to protect the rainforests, without which we will most certainly lose the battle against catastrophic climate change.
"One of the internet's strengths is that it can enable diverse communities to come together to ensure that everybody's views and actions can really be made to count."
Over the past 18 months His Royal Highness has stepped up his campaign against deforestation as a way of combating climate change.
The animated frog, which prompts raised eyebrows from William and Harry when it makes a belching sound during the clip, was created by Framestore, the Oscar-winning creators of The Golden Compass.
Briony Mathieson, a Prince's Rainforests Project spokeswoman, said the connection between Princes and frogs was not lost on them.
Ford, best-known for his roles in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, has campaigned for the environment for several years.
He said: "What happens in the rainforest has an immediate and powerful effect on our lives.
"I believe it is our moral responsibility to protect the environment, to save what we can of the planet's resources for future generations and our children."
James Bond star Craig added: "I was prepared to support such an important issue."
Brazil footballing legend Pele said he thought the video was an opportunity to "think about the future and new generations".
The Prince of Wales hopes the new project will improve public understanding of deforestation's effect on the climate.
The Prince, who will attend a reception at the National Geographic Store in central London to launch the video tonight, is urging the public to demonstrate its support for action by signing up to the website http://www.rainforestsos.org/.
The launch is the latest mission in his ongoing bid to save the world's rainforests; he has been speaking on environmental issues for more than two decades.
A follow-up film was unlikely but more stars were set to join the online campaign, a project spokesman added.
Singer Stone said she "didn't have to think twice" about featuring in the video.
Williams added: "There are so many things in the rainforest that must be preserved - I believe it is an exquisite part of the world. It needs us and, much more importantly, we need it. Please help."
Click here to read the press release about the launch of the online public awareness campaign.