Joey McIntyre on the 2012 Hear the world Calendar

Hear the World Calendar 2012 stars pose for the good cause

2011-11-07, Zug, Switzerland

What do stars such as Diane Kruger, Renée Zellweger and Jenson Button have in common? They have all been photographed by Bryan Adams for the Hear the World Calendar 2012. By adopting the pose synonymous with conscious hearing, with one hand behind the ear, the stars are raising awareness of a neglected issue – the importance of good hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. With its striking black-and-white portraits, the calendar is perfect if you are looking to give someone a unique present and do some good at the same time. Proceeds from calendar sales will go directly to the Hear the World Foundation, which is committed to securing equal opportunities and a better quality of life for people with hearing loss. A limited edition of the Hear the World Calendar 2012 will be available from November 25, 2011 at www.hear-the-world.com for EUR 24.90.

Hear the World, an initiative launched by the Swiss hearing instrument manufacturer Phonak, was set up five years ago with the aim of improving public awareness of the topic of hearing and hearing loss and offering support to those affected worldwide. Rock legend and photographer Bryan Adams has been involved since day one and has now taken over 50 pictures of celebrities in the pose synonymous with conscious hearing, which are both a rallying cry and a work of art.

Twelve portraits have been selected for the Hear the World Calendar 2012 to produce a unique collection of photos. These include Diane Kruger, Renée Zellweger, Freida Pinto, Pixie Lott, Jenson Button, Moby, Jared Leto and Josh Groban. Some of the celebrities have a very personal connection with the topic: New Kids On The Block singer Joey McIntyre’s son was born with hearing loss, and the star is involved in Hear the World’s efforts to raise awareness, particularly among young parents and families, of the importance of detecting hearing loss at an early stage. Scottish musician KT Tunstall also has a very personal reason to support Hear the World’s educational work: her brother was born with severe hearing loss. KT thus knows from experience the challenges that people with impaired hearing face.

Working together to improve hearing and fight hearing loss
The facts confirm the importance of Hear the World’s mission: across the world, over 800 million people – 16 percent of the global population – are affected by hearing loss. Much more important than the statistics, however, are the consequences for every single person affected: hearing loss means much more than not being able to hear well. If left untreated, hearing loss can leave those affected facing social isolation, relationship problems, difficulties at work or even depression.

The situation is even more critical in developing countries, where around 2,000 children every day are born with impaired hearing. For them, there is no chance of their condition being diagnosed in good time and prospects of receiving expert medical treatment are equally bleak. They therefore have difficulty learning to speak and tend to develop more slowly than appropriate for their age group, as well as being denied decent access to education and being ostracized from society. By buying the Hear the World Calendar, everyone can support the efforts of the Hear the World Foundation, whose work includes campaigning to give children like these the chance to lead a normal life.

Source: http://www.hear-the-world.com/en/about-hear-the-world/news-events/detail/back/54/read/hear-the-world-calendar-2012-stars-pose-for-the-good-cause-1.html