Today heads of state from around the world meet in Tokyo for the G8 Summit, where they will discuss and debate how to ease one of the biggest issues effecting the world today, rising food costs. And their wives (and the husband of German Chancellor Merkel) will be taking the opportunity of being together in front of the world's media to discuss another matter close to their and ELLE's hearts this year - The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.

The charity, which was set up in 1999, campaigns to prevent women dying in childbirth, reduce infant mortality rates and improve hospital conditions for mothers and babies in the third world. Sarah Brown, Britian's first lady along with Mrs Sarkozy, Carla Bruni are huge supporters of the charity, which ELLE is also campaigning for this year.

And it's not just ELLE who want to raise the profile of this charity. Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured), Claudia Schiffer, Yoko Ono and Christy Turlington are just some of the world's most famous women - and mothers - who have signed an open letter to the G8 first wives, urging them to push the work of the White Ribbon Alliance, and the plight of mothers everywhere to the top of the political agenda.

They write, 'Every minute of every day a woman dies in pregnancy. That’s half a million women dying each year; over 80% of these days are avoidable. This is inexcusable and it has to stop now. Your partners can help do this.'

And whilst the letter has been signed by some of the world's biggest stars, anyone can make their voice heard by signing it today

Lorraine Candy, Editor in Chief of ELLE magazine, urges us all to join the campaign now, 'We are very committed to this charity at ELLE because it has the power to make very big differences very quickly to the lives of a huge number of underprivileged women. ELLE readers have a tremendous amount of choice about how they live their lives and they are intelligent and driven enough to want to help women like them in countries where they have little or no choice about their lives. Women are dying because of the lack of the most basic supplies – supplies we have access to in every day life and often take for granted. I feel ELLE and its readers can make a real difference to the day to day lives of women that are supported by this charity. And it is also all our responsibilities to highlight what is happening to women less fortunate than ourselves worldwide.'

Click now to sign up.

By Laurelle Gilbert

Posted: 7 July 2008