The entertainers have signed on to climb the continent’s highest peak — Mt. Kilimanjaro, at more than 19,000 feet — to raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide.

The Summit on the Summit expedition, set for January, is the brainchild of singer and producer Kenna. His father suffered from waterborne diseases as a child in Ethiopia.

Biel, 27, said she was “astonished” to learn that more than a billion people across the globe have no access to clean water.

“This is a basic human necessity that needs to be addressed now,” Biel said in a statement, adding that she’s proud to climb Kilimanjaro with the celebrity team “to help any way I can in order to raise awareness toward the life-threatening clean water crisis happening not only in Africa but around the world.”

Justin Timberlake — who’s been romantically linked with Biel — may also be joining the climbers: He told GQ magazine earlier this year that he was preparing for a major mountain climb.

Representatives for the climb declined to comment on the 28-year-old singer’s possible participation.

Kenna said more celebrity climbers will be announced in the coming months, and he urges fans to follow the climb online. A donation as small as a dollar can provide 1,000 liters of clean water to those who need it, he said.

“We wanted to make sure there was a way people knew this was an issue and a way for them to do something about it,” he said Wednesday. “This is a global issue. It’s not an Africa problem. It’s not a South America problem. It’s a world, global problem. In America, 11 million people go without clean water.”

Visit summitonthesummit.com for more information.

Source: The Associated Press

The $7.3 million Daylesford – Lead a Double Life – campaign will kick off tomorrow night on television screens around Australia.

In the TV advertisement, Lucas explores the dual attractions of the region by frolicking at a decadent soiree by night and recovering the next day with a stroll through the countryside and a dip in the natural mineral springs.

Tourism Minister Tim Holding said the state’s industry had held up better than anywhere else in the nation through the global financial crisis.

Last year, for the first time in decades, interstate tourists spent more money in Melbourne than Sydney, he said.

“Melbourne has outstripped Sydney as the preferred destination for Australians,” Mr Holding said today.

“But we can’t be complacent in what are the most extraordinarily difficult circumstances that our industry has seen.”

Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa general manager Kim Whitehouse said the bushfires, which were only 2km from the heart of Daylesford, along with the end of the summer school holidays period, saw a 40 per cent drop in visitors to the region during February.

“We certainly felt the impact of the fires and Easter was a fantastic recovery time for us,” she said.

Lucas, whom is also an environmental activist, is tipped to win a leading role in the remake of war film, Red Dawn.

She appeals to over 25s and the Baby Boomer market, Ms Whitehouse said.

“She certainly appeals to young men who are booking a lot of the weekend escapes.”

Tourism Victoria chief executive Greg Hywood said other states have more outback, nature-based experiences but Victoria is compact and can offer more intimate, village experiences.

Baby Boomers who are attracted to Melbourne for its romance and style are growing more interested in their health, Mr Hywood said.

“So we are moving that market from Melbourne out into regional Victoria,” he said.

The Run Rabbit Run campaign promoting the Yarra Valley, which began in 2004, led to an 18 per cent jump in visitors to the region in the first year.

Mr Hywood said he was confident the Daylesford campaign will see similar results.

Last year, the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region attracted more than 1.7 million domestic visitors.

Source: News.com.au

Reportedly arriving at the Seven soiree with Getaway hunk Jason Dundas, the Transformers actress later showed up at Nine’s party at the Crown Casino.

Barely noticed by her fellow Logies revellers, the boho babe slipped in wearing very casual attire, which included black trousers and little boots.

While she was also seen chatting with Dean Geyer and thought to be dating Joel Edgerton, it is not known why Lucas has returned from her LA base.

Source: News.com.au