Latest news with #Fonda
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Jane Fonda warns climate and democracy are both in crisis
Fonda said her PAC is 'building a firewall' against Mr Trump at the local and state level. Jane Fonda, one of Hollywood's most outspoken actors and campaigners, has urged fresh action to tackle failures in politics and progress on emissions reduction. 'We have two essential crises and for both, it's now or never: democracy and climate,' 87-year-old Fonda told the Bloomberg Green Seattle conference on July 14. 'We're losing the democratic infrastructure and norms to deal with climate, and we're losing the climate stability that is essential for democracy. We have to solve them together.' Fonda has spent much of the past decade raising attention to the issue. Her climate activism started in 2019, when she launched what she called Fire Drill Fridays, a series of weekly protests near the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. She started her protest to denounce climate inaction and call for the end of fossil fuel use, and was arrested more than once. 'I turned 82 in jail,' said Fonda. When protesting was not bringing about change fast enough, Fonda got more directly involved in politics. In 2022, she launched the Jane Fonda Climate Political Action Committee, or PAC, to support political candidates and other groups. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Opinion What we can do to fight the insidious threat of 'zombie vapes' Asia China's economy grows 5.3% in first half of 2025, momentum slowing amid trade tensions Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport Poor water quality off Sentosa delays World Aquatics C'ship open water swimming event by a day The PAC raised nearly US$2 million (S$2.56 million) in the 2022 election cycle and more than US$5.7 million for 2024, according to data compiled by nonprofit Open Secrets. To make the biggest impact, Fonda said, her PAC is laser-focused on supporting down-ballot state and local elections, including for mayors, city councilors and state legislators. The group has exclusively backed Democrats. 'The most important thing is to elect climate champions up and down the ballot, all over the country, starting yesterday,' she says. The PAC has already endorsed or supported some 170 candidates who won their races, according to Fonda. Climate policies are under assault at the national level in 2025, with US President Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of both branches of Congress. Mr Trump has rolled back a number of policies and cut climate grants and signed a law earlier in June that winds down tax credits for renewables and other carbon-cutting technology like electric vehicles. Fonda said her PAC is 'building a firewall' against Mr Trump at the local and state level. But she argued it takes more than money to address large challenges – and implored the room of attendees to take action. 'Everybody rise up, protest, make yourself heard,' Fonda said, adding it was important to help people understand what's in Trump's tax law. 'Let's just not sit around talking about it – let's really do it. We have to do something really brave here. This is worth saving.' BLOOMBERG
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Firefall Guitarist's Travels Go Way Beyond Colorado's Mountains
Firefall's Jock Bartley (left) and Steven Weinmeister perform as part of the Stagecoach Music Festival in 2010 in Indio, California. (Photo by) Getty Images The band Firefall has always been synonymous with Boulder, Colorado. As the veteran rock group releases a new album and readies for a tour that will take them to seven states, founding member Jock Bartley reveals his love for other travel destinations besides his everyday Rocky Mountain high. 'For me, Hawaii is No. 1 for beaches and warm, windy weather,' Bartley says. 'Paradise! The road to Hana in Maui—wow—and the (Lahaina) harbor in Maui is unbelievable. There's also Haleakala Crater and Haleakala National Park. I've only been to Hawaii four to five times, but they are always the best vacations I have ever had.' Lead guitarist Bartley is the only remaining original member of Firefall, which formed in Boulder in 1974 and scored several hit singles, including "You Are the Woman," "Just Remember I Love You," "Strange Way" and "Cinderella." The new album, entitled Friends & Family 2, is comprised of cover versions of songs by bands and musicians who shared the stage with Firefall members in the 1970s. Firefall's new 11-concert tour begins July 12 in Orland Park, Illinois and runs through mid-November. Bartley recalls a 1970s Firefall concert in Hawaii attended by the late actor Peter Fonda, who was friendly with the group's drummer Michael Clarke. Fonda made the trip unforgettable, inviting Bartley to a sail on his 'magnificent wooden schooner, the Tatoosh , in Maui harbor.' Firefall performs outdoors in Kanagawa, Japan in 1979. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/) Getty Images Fonda had bought the boat in 1969 and then spent many memorable vacation days on it until selling Tatoosh in 1985, according to a 2014 post by Fonda on his website. The schooner took Fonda to deep-sea dives through lava tubes off Lanai with musician David Crosby and on sails that, he says, made him 'totally free and happy' around the Hawaiian Islands. Other coastal destinations have impressed Bartley during his vacations. 'California and Florida have great beaches, and I've loved taking boat trips in the ocean or the Gulf to get away,' he says. 'And, I've been to the Bahamas twice, but, frankly, things at times seemed so hurried on those vacations that I couldn't totally wind down. But Hawaii for me was different. Talk about time to chill out.' There was often, though, little time to chill out and enjoy the many destinations Firefall traveled to as performing musicians. 'Yikes—45 to 50 years of rock and roll touring!' Bartley exclaims. 'Much of those tours, I'd see the airport, hotel, gig, hotel and back to the airport—a total whirlwind of being on the road.' Yet, even the glimpses were memorable. 'So many states are amazing and scenic, and there's so much diversity in American cities and towns,' Bartley says. 'I've sometimes had time to explore California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, all of New England, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona and New Mexico. The list goes on and on. I particularly love the great Northwest, the fertile, lush countrysides of Oregon and Washington, Florida with its year-round warm temperatures and palm trees and the great Southwest with the Grand Canyon and other high desert locations.' Every Firefall tour, of course, ended with a return home to Colorado. Bartley's family moved from Kansas to Green Mountain Falls, Colorado—in the Rocky Mountains about 15 miles northwest of Colorado Springs—when he was 9 years old. They later moved to nearby Manitou Springs—'at the foot of Pikes Peak,' Bartley notes—and he moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado, 'right next to majestic mountains.' Boulder and its majestic Flatirons attract locals and visitors to Colorado and always feel like home to Firefall and its lead guitarist Jock Bartley. Gary Stoller 'Colorado!' Bartley shouts. 'I absolutely love Colorado! Colorado has been my life. You know, half of Colorado is Kansas, and the other half is Switzerland. I have always lived in or near the mountains. I would travel all over the country having fun, playing and meeting people, but I always knew I'd be going home, home to Colorado.'
7NEWS
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
‘Raise a ruckus': Fiery Jane Fonda ends Aussie tour with a bang
Hollywood legend Jane Fonda has wrapped up her tour of Australia with a powerful message — she'll return, but first, she's heading back to the U.S. to 'raise a ruckus.' The 87-year-old Oscar-winning actress and outspoken activist captivated audiences in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the Wanderlust True North Series. In conversation with veteran journalist Liz Hayes at ICC Sydney on Sunday night, Fonda reflected on her film career, activism, and personal journey — offering a glimpse of what's next. 'I'm coming back,' she said, revealing she's already received an invitation to trek through the outback. 'I met a fantastic woman — I can't remember where — she said she'd hiked 26 miles, so I'm gonna come back and do it, and spend time with some Aboriginal women.' But as her whirlwind visit drew to a close, Fonda admitted it hadn't been easy watching events unfold back home. 'I love Australia, but it is very hard being here and looking at what is happening in my country, my city, my state,' she said. 'I go home tomorrow, and I'll just go home and raise a ruckus — it's hard to do it when you're not there.' That promise to 'raise a ruckus' wasn't just rhetoric. 'There's an oil well in Santa Barbara, California — in 2015 it leaked and spilled oil everywhere — they're trying to start it up again, so I might chain myself to that,' Fonda said, adding that she had been meeting with Greenpeace during her trip Down Under. At a previous event in Melbourne — rumoured to have earned her a $300,000 speaking fee — she gave a blistering critique of American politics. Known for her lifelong activism, Fonda didn't hold back, targeting former President Donald Trump with an expletive-laden tirade that stunned the crowd of over 1,000 attendees. 'F**k those neoliberals and fascists and people who don't move to love,' she said. 'We have to move to love and empathy.' Her call to action was fiery and unapologetic, as she warned that many working-class Americans would soon experience 'buyer's remorse' over their political choices. 'In the United States, 78 million people voted for Trump — not all of them MAGA,' Fonda said, explaining that many blue-collar voters had been failed by the Democratic Party. 'But people are hurting — men and women — and they're going to realise it.' This unwavering political voice is nothing new for Fonda. She first stirred controversy as an activist in the 1970s for her support of the Black Panthers, the Women's Movement, and the plight of Native Americans. Fonda's opposition to the Vietnam War and the U.S. government's involvement in it sparked huge backlash. After a controversial trip to North Vietnam in 1972, her critics slammed her with the moniker 'Hanoi Jane,' and some U.S. politicians even called for her to be tried on charges of treason. Asked on Sunday about the hatred directed toward her during that period, Fonda said being part of a 'movement' helped her endure. 'I was not alone — I was part of a posse that had my back. I knew that what I was doing was right... you just go through it. 'And then they die or go to jail, and you're left,' laughed Fonda. 'I'll outlive all those f******,' she said to an applauding audience. Fonda has since been arrested multiple times throughout her 80s for civil disobedience during climate rallies. 'It feels so good to be arrested,' she joked. Fonda's legacy is as layered as it is iconic. The daughter of Oscar-winning actor Henry Fonda and sister to the late Peter Fonda, she's known for roles in classics like Barefoot in the Park, Barbarella, 9 to 5, On Golden Pond, and Monster-in-Law. Some of her most acclaimed work came in films with powerful social messages, such as They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Klute, and Coming Home — the latter two earning her Academy Awards for Best Actress. She's also picked up seven Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, an Emmy for her work in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, and nominations for both a Grammy and a Tony. Earlier this year, she was honoured with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, delivering a rousing speech urging empathy in politically divisive times. From Hollywood screens to protest lines, Jane Fonda remains a powerhouse of passion, purpose, and provocation — and if her time in Australia is any indication, she's not slowing down anytime soon. But what's the octogenarian most proud of? 'If your early childhood is traumatic, you put an armour around your heart,' explained Fonda, who has spoken at length about losing her mother to suicide at age 12, and her often emotionally distant relationship with her father. 'It's hard to get rid of that armour — it takes a lot of work. 'The armour is beginning to fall away and my heart is beginning to soften — that's what I'm proud of.'
The Age
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
At 87, Jane Fonda feels and looks fabulous, but does admit to one fear
If celebrity health and wellness is your jam, there can be no celebrity that embodies your message more closely than double Oscar-winning aerobics queen Jane Fonda, now 87 years young. Fonda is on our shores on a mini-speaking tour at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday and Sydney's ICC Theatre on Sunday, brought out by wellness brand Wanderlust True North. The company's executive chairman is Radek Sali, who made his multimillion-dollar fortune similarly mixing up a celebrity/wellness brew that proved marketing catnip for Swisse vitamins, which was subsequently flogged to the Chinese for $1.7 billion in 2015. Last year a similar Wanderlust gig pulled in large audiences with Drew Barrymore producing onstage tears from singer Tones and I when the singer revealed fame had ended her relationship with her best friend. Before Thursday's main event, Sali hosted a VIP event for celebrities including podcaster and journalist Jessica Rowe, journalist Liz Hayes, performer Rob Mills and punters who had paid from $1000 for a premium meet and greet ticket. Loading At 6pm, the door opened to reveal a startled Fonda, clearly expecting a full house rather than the 200 seated for a media preview. But she recovered instantly with aplomb. The star took to the main stage for an intimate conversation with Hayes about passions, defining moments and how life shapes you. Well, as intimate as you can get at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Plenary, which at full stretch can seat 5500. We can report that at age 87, Fonda is still looking fabulous and making people feel fabulous. Not so much the proof is in the pudding, but the proof is in the low-carb keto-approved spinach mushroom tomato mini frittata.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary Actress, 87, Stuns in Monochromatic Purple Look
Legendary Actress, 87, Stuns in Monochromatic Purple Look originally appeared on Parade. Jane Fonda knows how to work it in front of the cameras. The iconic actress and activist, 87, got plenty of attention at the MOCA Gala at The Geffen Contemporary in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 31. There to deliver remarks honoring philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, Fonda looked stunning in a monochromatic purple look. The Oscar-winning actress and mastermind behind Jane Fonda's Workout wore a violet suit. Under the purple blazer, she wore a matching purple collared shirt. She paired that with metallic silver sandals and wore her gray hair in soft, thick waves as she worked the carpet next to Schmidt. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Last month, Fonda opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about her incredible career trajectory and explained that she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. But instead of taking on intense dance cardio these days, she prefers walking and strength training. 'It has to do with how you move, how you carry yourself, your posture,' she told THR. 'And you can't carry yourself well and have good posture if your back isn't strong. So staying strong and flexible — and I work a lot on balance — this is all critical for staying young. I'm 87, and I'll tell you what, I was a lot older at 20 than I am at 87, and it has to do with what's going on in your head. So in some ways, I'm younger today. But it also just makes a huge difference as a performer; walking down a red carpet, for example, you can do it with confidence, because you don't worry about falling down. It just makes all the difference in the world, and I feel very grateful that I'm able to continue doing it.'Legendary Actress, 87, Stuns in Monochromatic Purple Look first appeared on Parade on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
