Last Tuesday, Mexico suffered a 7.1 earthquake that caused catastrophic damage to the country’s capital. This quake followed an early 8.1 one that struck on September 8th on the coast near Chiapas. The Mexico City earthquake came on the anniversary of a 1985 earthquake that killed 10,000 people. The current death toll for this earthquake is over 270 people with hundreds still missing. The quake brought the city to its knees. However, the citizens have launched into action to assist in rescue efforts. Among those helping are Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal. Gael is presently filming Mozart in the Jungle in Japan but obviously was deeply affected. So much so that he did not know the fate of his father and asked for help for information on him (he’s safe but had no power and could not contact Gael). Diego was in Mexico at the time. He and his family are safe, something he tweeted to his fans immediately, but he has devoted most of his time and energy to the rescue efforts. In addition to Diego’s boots on the ground work with rescue centers and emergency officials, both Diego and Gael have coordinated fundraising efforts through their Ambulante organization with Omaze to try and get much needed resources to the area.
Mexican actors Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal are asking for support on behalf of their native Mexico following the devastating 7.1 earthquake that rocked their homeland on Tuesday.
Now, the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star and Mozart in the Jungle Golden Globe-winner are teaming up to help garner more international support for the victims of the earthquake.
“For those of you asking how you can help Mexico, we’ve created a grassroots platform for raising funds that we will make sure go to helping those who need it most,” Luna wrote on Instagram, while encouraging people to check out the links on his bio.
The duo also created a video (above) to help spread the word. “As of recent reports, 273 people have died, more than 100 people are still missing. They’re estimating that 100,000’s of people have lost everything,” Luna says.
While Bernal notes that Mexicans have responded to the disaster with “inspiring and powerful solidarity,” Luna adds, “we still need help from those of you seeing this disaster from afar. We still need you.”
Here are their videos (Gael’s Spanish version is here):
Tragically, as of this writing, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Oaxaca was just reported. Donations are vital, you can donate here. As mentioned, Diego has been hands on in the rescue efforts in addition to posting vital information to both his Twitter and his Instagram. Of course, Diego and Gael weren’t the only celebrities affected, nor were they the only ones tweeting about it but their immediate action is admirable.
And admirable is exactly what I need from Diego right now on the heels of the news that he’s signed on for Woody Allen’s next film, which means I will cross him off my Current Crush List. And it looks like I’m not alone. So forgive me if I cling on to his efforts in Mexico before we part ways. Now all I need is a shot of Diego, Gael and Frida the Rescue Dog who is doing God’s work down in Mexico.
To everyone in Mexico and Puerto Rico: Nos mantenemos unidos.
Su valiosa ayuda y amor por el ser humano, hacen que de su máximo esfuerzo para salvar vidas #perrosrescatistas pic.twitter.com/jpidngFREV
— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) September 21, 2017
Gracias Remezcla!! "Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna Start Earthquake Relief Fund" https://t.co/s3stv13V1I
— diego luna (@diegoluna_) September 23, 2017
Photo credit: WENN Photos, Instagram and Getty Images
You and me both, Hecate 🙁
Mexico, PR and the US Virgin Islands need help and the WH is too busy with petty beefs with athletes to even tweet condolences.
I donated to a few local charities for Mexico and Virgin Islands and Lin’s for PR. Truly awful that they are slow to get these people help.
They are really doing an amazing job, especially Diego on the ground. Really fantastic.
I shrugged at the Allen news. Whatever. He’s in the company of Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, Chiwetel Ejifor, Colin Firth, Javier Bardem, Steve Carrell, Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Tom Hiddleston….yes I can keep going. So I get why. He’s still a firm crush for me. It’s Hollywood folks.
Let’s not forget that Liev Schreiber and Jude Law are credited on the same Allen movie as Luna.
However, the former adopted puppies on TV , so everything OK. Let’s not forget a perenial boyfriend on this site, Ewan Mc Gregor who managed to work with both Polanski and Allen in the last decade, but is apparently always worth swooning over.
Some get cancelled, some don’t. It will be interesting to see what awaits Chalamet, the new sensation of this season, who’s currently shooting with Allen.
He’s working with Woody Allen? Ugh. Can’t support him anymore 🙁
Oh come on. Look at the list in my post. Can you honestly say you have not and will not support a single one of those actors? And I haven’t even named all of them…or the actresses. You don’t have to support Allen movies (I don’t) but freaking out at the actors is just silly at this point. Better just to give up on Hollywood period if that’s the case.
Yes, because clearly Goats is the problem here. Silly Goats!
Yep, I can say that. Woody Allen is a disgusting child molester, and I’d rather have fewer films to watch than support him or anyone who works with him. I also don’t watch projects from Scientologists, Johnny Depp, or (at the moment) Angelina Jolie.
I realize you may be able to separate an actor from who he works with, and more power to you, but this is what I need to do to be able to live with myself.
Fair enough Goats but I pretty much guarantee there is a problem or poor decision with someone in every movie you have watched. That’s why absolutism is tricky.
But let’s leave it there. As Amelia said below this is pulling focus from the real issue, the relief efforts. Diego’s twitter and Instagram is a great source of local info right now as he’s been constantly at the volunteer centre. Really great effort. Hopefully folks will donate what they can to this and the hurricane relief.
@Goats –
It’s interesting comparing these comments to the ‘Kate Winslet works with Woody Allen’ comments.😶
But I guess since Luna hasn’t given an interview on this, makes it easier to rationalise.😪
As a mexican expat living in the UK this situation is devastating. It seems like natural disasters are happening to fast and too often these days. I applaud the efforts of celebrities that use their platforms for these causes. Thank you Hecate for bringing light on this matter. My thoughts and prayers as well as donations are with my sisters and brothers in Mexico, PR, US and all the islands that don’t receive recognition by name. Also, I hope we could just focus on these issues also the genocide of the Rogynghias in Burma. Jesus..
Can this year just be over…
Well said Amelia, focus should be where it’s most important. I’ll leave it there.
Slightly disappointed with Diego but I understand him. It is not everyday that a Mexican gets roles that are not stereotypical. You have Salma Hayek and yeah, just Salma Hayek. I think he is very much aware about his fans dismay. The thing is he is a very woke guy, not just twitter woke, he is very much engaged in various causes. I hope he will have a change of heart and rethink this Allen project
Cheers to him and Gael. I love that they are hands-on and give update. I love that his kids are involved too. Here’s hoping he scrap that Woody movie and just remake old Hollywood classics.
As a foreigner living in Mexico City, I am amazed at the efforts of all Mexicans and foreigners who helped / helping the victims of this massive earthquake.
I was there when it happened. The earthquake alarm went off at 1:15 pm, and the apartment where I live started shaking like crazy. I live on the second floor so there was enough time for me and my husband to go out of the apartment. I could hear glasses breaking, people crying, and structures collapsing. It was surreal; like a scene straight out of a movie. I still haven’t had any decent sleep.
Wow. Living in an area that does not have earthquakes, I have never experienced anything and have no idea what it would be like. I am glad you were not physically injured.
Are we, the USA, doing anything to help Mexico? I recall that the President of Mexico offered their help after Harvey hit Texas.
Are you kidding?! The administration we have now is probably thinking of ways to use all that rubble to build the wall!
My heart & prayers and money go out to all of our brothers and sisters affected by these recent disasters. May healing and recovery be swift.
It’s so sad. In the times of need like in the 2010 earthquake and this year with the worst forest fire in our history, we were helped from the international community, specially our hermanos latinoamericanos. If you can help, please do it.
Fuerza México y Fuerza Puerto Rico
I have never never been more proud of my Mexico and my people. You would never believe the generosity and solidarity my people are capable of. I wasn’t aware. I’m still afraid, I still hear the sound of the sismic alert all the time, but we will recover stronger.
Did 100,000 people really die in the 1985 earthquake? Heartbreaking
10,000* Yes, that’s the estimation. And the citizens were the ones rescuing the affected because the government didn’t send help at all until days later. I wasn’t alive but I’ve heard stories.
And now it’s the same story: the government doesn’t do anything for the people who lost their homes and need food and assistance. Citizens are the true heroes.