Monday night’s Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin saw Sharp Europe unveil its latest philanthropic venture – the ‘Sun and Stars’ project. The project will help supply electricity to some of the world’s most impoverished countries by financing and installing PV systems.
Haiti, which was struck by a catastrophic earthquake last January, is to be the first country to benefit from the initiative, and, when installed, the system will help power hospitals and public buildings across the island.
“The topics of peace, environment and energy are directly related,” said Peter Thiele, Sharp Europe's executive vice president. “Jointly with the organisers of Cinema for Peace we have developed a concept, which raises awareness of the unbelievable poverty suffered by many people in our world and provides aid by means of concrete actions.
“Sharp is pleased to support the ‘Sun and Stars’ initiative. This is a unique opportunity for us to promote the increased utilisation of solar energy, together with famous names in the film industry.”
Sharp founded the ‘Sun and Stars’ initiative alongside the Cinema for Peace foundation, which brokers energy partnerships in developing regions, and it hopes the Haiti project will encourage other renewable energy companies to lend their support. The Berlin gala was attended by the Haitian Relief Organisation’s founder, Sean Penn, and several other Hollywood glitterati, including Nastassja Kinski.