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By Michael Lopez

In case you were wondering, today marks a lot more than the start of a new month. Around the globe, December 1 has officially become known as World AIDS Day. And this year, plenty of famous faces are speaking out to support the cause.

President Barack Obama made an impassioned speech at George Washington University this morning, telling reporters that the fight to end HIV and AIDS is far from over. He implored nations like China to contribute to the cause by donating funds to save the millions who are infected.

"Today, we come together, as a global community, across continents, faiths and cultures, to renew our commitment to ending the AIDS pandemic – once and for all," he said. "This fight isn’t over. Not for the 1.2 million Americans who are living with HIV right now. Not for the Americans who are infected every day."

In the Twitterverse, several celebrities helped spread the word too. Using the popular #WorldAIDSDay hashtag, stars like Martha Stewart and The Jonas Brothers encouraged their fans to donate.

"Want to fight for an AIDS Free Generation by 2015? Today’s the day: #WorldAIDSDay," Zach Galifianakis wrote.

Coldplay posted,

"Today’s #WorldAIDSDay. Fight for #endofAIDS."

On the Huffington Post, blogger Destiny Lopez specifically called out to the Hispanic community for support. In her article, she explained that Latinos account for one in five new HIV infections. She also published alarming stats, saying that 1 in 36 Hispanic men will contract HIV in their lifetime.

Alejandro Sanz and Paula Fernandez are doing their part to get the word out in Latin America. Their charity, “Positive Generation,” raises awareness about the disease and helps infected children in South Africa.

You can contribute too, by visiting the official World AIDS Day site and donating to help put an end to this deadly disease.

Do you know anyone who’s been impacted by AIDS? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, AIDS, Alejandro Sanz, Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Coldplay, Cultura, Destiny Lopez, Health, HIV, Paula Fernandez, Positive Generation, President Obama, World AIDS Day, Zach Galifianakis

By Michael Lopez

We're not quite sure what Benetton's latest ads have to do with selling clothes, but they certainly are attention grabbing. The famous fashion house has decided to get political with their new campaign, by releasing doctored photos of world leaders locking lips.

The ad that seems to have gotten the most attention showcases a passionate kiss between Barack Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. We've got to admit, the Photoshop skills being used here are pretty impressive, but they're also causing a whirlwind of controversy.

The White House has already spoken out against the ads, criticizing Benetton for using the President to sell their products.

"The White House has a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the president's name and likeness for commercial purposes," D.C. spokesman Eric Schultz said.

Several other nations seem to be irked by the campaign too. Besides the Obama/Chavez pairing, Benetton has shown smooch shots between France's Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel, as well as Pope Benedict XVI and Egypt's Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb.

What do you think about Benetton's new ad campaign? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Benetton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Hugo Chavez, Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb, Nicolas Sarkozy, Politics, Pope Benedict XVI, popnews, President Obama, Style, United Colors of Benetton

By Michael Lopez

It sure looks like President Barack Obama made the most of his recent visit to Los Angeles. Not only did he get to enjoy the signature flavors of Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, he got to mingle with stars like Antonio Banderas, Eva Longoria, and George Lopez!

Banderas even so far as to host the Prez at his private home. Monday night, Antonio and his wife Melanie Griffith welcomed Obama for a private event. Catering mostly to Latino fundraisers, the affair attracted over 120 guests at $5,000 a ticket.

Lopez and Longoria were spotted shaking hands with Barack, as was L.A.'s Mexican-American mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa. Hoping to stir up Hispanic support for his 2012 re-election, Obama pledged to fight for immigrant rights and fix the economic crisis.

And proving that he could still connect with the public at large, the President hit up Jay Leno's Tonight Show too. While there, he touched on important issues like the death of Moammar Gadhafi, the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and what candies his wife plans to hand out on Halloween.

Will you be voting for Obama in 2012? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Antonio Banderas, Antonio Villaraigosa, Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Jay Leno, Melanie Griffith, Politics, President Barack Obama

By Vanessa Beatriz Soto

President Obama's office announced today that they have named four individuals to key administration posts, and Shakira is among them!

The posts in question are four seats on the President's Commission On Educational Education for Hispanics, which is described as "a multi-agency working group within the Department of Education charged with strengthening the nation's capacity to provide high quality education while increasing opportunities for Hispanic American participation in federal education programs... closing the educational achievement gap for Hispanic Americans."

The individuals who have been honored with these appointments are:

Montgomery County, Maryland Councilperson and Education Activist, Nancy Navarro

Executive Director of the Partnership for Community Action, Adrian A. Pedroza

Phoenix, Arizona High School Superintendent, Dr. Kent P. Scribner

Activist and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

That's right - the President of the United States just hired Colombian-born pop star Shakira!

We are totally thrilled to hear that Shaki will have a hand in shaping the minds of generations of Hispanic youth. After all, she brings tons of experience and insight to the role, and will add a global perspective to the team:

"Per the White House: Ms. Mebarak Ripoll has been involved in a number of global educational efforts. She founded the Barefoot Foundation in 1995, which operates schools and educational projects in Colombia, South Africa, and Haiti, feeding and educating approximately 6,000 children.  In 2010, she collaborated with the World Bank and the Barefoot Foundation to establish an initiative that distributes educational and developmental programs for children across Latin America", says the statement.

And it adds,

"In 2008, Ms. Mebarak Ripoll served as the Honorary Chair of the Global Campaign for Education’s Global Action Week.  In 2005, she became a founding member of Latin America in Solidarity Action, a coalition of artists and business leaders seeking to promote integrated early childhood public policies."

Wow! An impressive resume! And she sings a little, too.

So, is this appointment also a clever political maneuver to curry favor with Hispanics and particularly Hispanic youths in what is sure to be a difficult presidential re-election campaign for Obama? Is the President merely giving his Hispanic Education initiative a friendly and recognizable public face with built-in publicity value? Would a republican president have made a similar appointment?

What's your take? Speak out in the comments!

Tags Barack Obama, blogger: Vanessa Beatriz Soto, Education, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, popnews, Shakira, white house

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, Marco Rubio has packed quite a lot of activity into his 40 years. The Cuban-American Florida Senator is a former football star, a seasoned attorney, and the newest BFF of Nancy Reagan. So now he's decided to write it all down with a new memoir, which should be released within the next year.

Interestingly, Rubio isn't the first young Senator to crank out a book about his background. President Barack Obama first gained national attention for his memoir, Dreams of My Father. Obviously writing a book worked out very well for the Prez, so could Marco be purposely trying to follow the same path?

Rubio is still staying very quiet on his political ambitions. Many in the Republican party have hinted that he may be a VP contender on the 2012 ticket, a notion which he has continually denied. As far as the book goes, Marco claims its main purpose is to get a message out to the people.

"[The book] isn't about creating a profile," he said. "It's more about communicating.”

And when asked about Obama's memoir, Rubio responded,

"I don't agree with him on a lot of public policy, but I thought [Obama's books] were very well written and interesting."

Would you be interested in reading Marco Rubio's memoirs? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Dreams of my Father, Marco Rubio, Marco Rubio Memoirs, Politics, President Obama

By Michael Lopez

A few weeks back President Barack Obama pledged his support for Hispanic Heritage Month and now he’s carrying through on that promise. Appearing at a live online roundtable today, the Commander-in-Chief answered questions about immigration, the DREAM Act, and even the possibility of a Latino President.

"I am absolutely confident that within my lifetime we will have a Latino candidate for president who will be very competitive, and may win," Obama stated at the conference.

Though, by the sounds of it, the President didn’t believe that candidate would come from the Republican party (or at least not now). Obama went on to explain how the GOP lacked leadership on topics like immigration reform.

"Only a few years ago, you had some Republicans who recognized that we needed to fix our immigration system," Obama said, referring to his predecessor, George W. Bush. "Right now you do not have that kind of leadership coming from the Republican party."

But that of course begs the question, what would Obama and his fellow Democrats do to help with the issue? The Prez was quick to bring up the national DREAM Act again, which would give undocumented college students and military personal a path to citizenship. He said he has continually pushed Congress to pass the bill and that he is more than ready to sign it.

Obama also addressed issues like Puerto Rico’s statehood (which he believes will remain a commonwealth) and Cuban relations.

"We are open to a new relationship with Cuba," the President went on to say. "If the Cuban government starts taking the proper steps to open up its own country and provide the space and the respect for human rights that would allow the Cuban people to determine their own destiny."

All of Obama's remarks toward the audience did sound very encouraging. But will he follow through on his promises to help the Latino community? Perhaps the real answers will reveal themselves after the 2012 Presidential Election.

Would you vote for Obama in the next election? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cuba, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Immigration, Politics, President Obama, Puerto Rico

By Sugey Palomares

Eva Longoria was one of the many stars honored at Variety magazine's 3rd annual "Women of Power" event on Friday. The ceremony also celebrated the charitable works of stars including Mary J. Blige, Glee star Lea Michele, and Olivia Wilde. Eva, who was recently named the highest paid Latina actress in television, was honored for her organization Eva's Heroes, which supports special needs children.

While on the red carpet, the Texan spoke about politics and her support for Obama:

"I'm a big Obama supporter and so I'll be helping him campaign again. Hopefully with a second term, if we get him elected, he will be able to do more for the country because his hands won't be tired."

"I'm worried about a lot of things. There are a lot of issues that he is going to have to tackle. I wouldn't want his job."

We can't think of many people that would want to be in his shoes right now! Hopefully he continues to tackle on immigration issues.

What political issues matter most to you?

Tags Barack Obama, Eva Longoria, Eva's heroes

By Michael Lopez

In case you haven't noticed, President Barack Obama has put a much stronger emphasis on acknowledging Hispanics these days. Is it because he feels more drawn to the Latino struggle? Or is it because he wants some votes in the next election? That remains to be seen. But what is worth noting is the White House's big plans for Hispanic Heritage Month.

The President and First Lady kicked off HHM with an appearance at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Awards. Better known as the CHCI's, the gala brought out Tr3s faves like Luis Enrique and even Prince Royce (who sang the national anthem). Notable honorees of the night included civil rights leader Orson Aguilar and Chris Weitz, who directed the critically-acclaimed A Better Life.

At the reception, Obama made a impassioned speech to the 3,000 CHCI guests, emphasizing job creation and the national DREAM Act. The DREAM, if passed, would give undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship via college or the military.

"I will do everything in my power to make the DREAM Act a reality," Obama said. "The truth is reforming our immigration system is central to repairing our economy."

And, per a recent White House press release, the HHM acknowledgements do not end there. Prominent Latino members of the Obama administration will be writing posts on the White House blog and video interviews with community leaders will be available on the President's website.

Additionally, FEMA will conduct a "Hispanic Heritage Month Preparedness Summit" on Thursday, followed by a special message from First Lady Michelle Obama at the evening's HHM Awards. Later in the month, the Oval Office will hold a special screening of the documentary Citizen USA, which profiles modern-day immigrant issues in America.

When summing up Hispanic Heritage Month, the White House website made a point to include a snippet of Obama's famous interview with Jorge Ramos where he said,

"Hispanics constitute the country's largest and fastest growing minority group. They have had a profound and positive impact on our country through, among other things, their community's strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. Our country was built on and continues to thrive on its diversity, and there is no doubt that the future of the United States is inextricably linked to the future of the Hispanic community."

Do you think President Obama sincerely cares about the Latino community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A better life, Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, CHCI, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Politics, President Obama, Prince Royce

By Michael Lopez

In case you were wondering, there was an actual purpose behind the three-day weekend we all just enjoyed. Though the true meaning of Memorial Day can sadly get lost in the shuffle of beach outings, BBQs, and department store sales, several celebs made sure to recognize the millions of military personnel who have given up their lives for this country.

Rihanna wrote a very heartfelt message to her fans,

"Happy Memorial Day!!! #Cheers to the troops!!! And to their wonderful families! You are the heart of this Nation and We love you so much!"

Justin Timberlake tweeted a very inspiring message to his 4.6 million followers,

"Everyone please Thank veterans, active personnel & their families this wknd for sacrifices they have made for us. I'm very thankful!"

Jennifer Lopez made a point to express some military Twitter love too,

"Let's take a moment to send love to all the service men and women around the world!!!!"

In fact, a rather large amount of famous tweeters added the #MemorialDay hashtag to their posts. And we're sure that the hundreds of thousands of soldiers currently stationed overseas greatly appreciated the gesture.

And country star LeAnn Rimes, who has a long history of supporting the troops, made sure to acknowledge the important holiday as well,

"To all of the soldiers who have fallen for our country, Eddie [Cibrian] and I will never forget the ultimate sacrifice you have made for our country. To all the families who have lost their loved one's, our hearts go out to you this Memorial Day and always. God Bless you all!"

Other famous Memorial Day shout outs came from David Archuleta, Mark Sanchez, and former American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry.

Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama carried out his traditional Presidential duties on Monday by visiting Arlington Cemetery and laying a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier.

"To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart breaks, goes out to you,” the President said. “I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot imagine losing them. I can't imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war."

Did you do anything special to commemorate Memorial Day? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Celebrities, David Archuleta, Holidays, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, LeAnn Rimes, Memorial Day, President Obama, Rihanna, twitter

By Michael Lopez

It's that time of the year again. The time when students across the country don those caps and gowns and prepare for their "next big journey." But before the 2011 grads step out into the real world, they'll get one last bit of wisdom from their university's commencement speaker. And this year, several colleges are booking some A-list talent to step up to the podium.

As expected, most of the top schools get their speeches from world dignitaries and trusted scholars. But one huge political leader is taking an entirely different route. President Barack Obama gave his commencement speeches to graduating students at Miami-Dade College and Tennessee's Booker T. Washington High School. Centered in one of the poorest districts in the country, the latter campus won the honor to hear Obama after participating in a Race to the Top competition.

Ex-Commander-In-Chief Bill Clinton spoke to a slightly larger crowd for his NYU address. Talking to a packed house at New York's Yankee Stadium, the former President drew massive cheers when he stepped onto the field in his purple gown.

Adding some Latin flair to the commencement world, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made an impassioned speech at New Jersey's Ramapo College. Dressed in a black gown, the 56-year-old trailblazer spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the importance of following your dreams.

"I have lived all my dreams and, more incredibly, have far surpassed them," she said. "Dreams do not come true simply because of luck or innate talent. They only come true if you work hard to make them come true."

Interestingly, Sotomayor had some personal reasons for speaking at Ramapo. Her godson, Tommy Butler Jr., was part of the graduating class, having earned his master's degree in nursing.

Another Latino leader, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is set to say some very inspirational words to the parting students at Stanford University. A graduate from Harvard, Calderon's speech is expected to draw a flurry of activity. So much so, that the faculty is planning to stream it live.

But don't think it's just the political elite that are getting the Class of 2011 worked up. Several celebs are offering their unique perspectives to the new graduates as well. Comedienne Amy Poehler will be speaking at Harvard on Wednesday and earlier in the week, Tom Hanks drew big cheers for his address at Yale.

And all of you Team Coco fans may want to check YouTube for bootlegs on June 12. That’s the day when comedian Conan O’Brien takes the mic at the Dartmouth graduation and we’re sure it will be very quotable.

Which celeb would you most like to hear a commencement speech from? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Poehler, Barack Obama, bill clinton, Celebrities, Class of 2011, College, Conan O'Brien, Education, Felipe Calderon, Graduation, Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks