SINGAPORE - As world leaders prepare to adopt the Global Goals at the United Nations (UN) on Sept 25, artistes and other celebrities have been busy making sure the goals get the necessary reach.

Last week, the Global Goals campaign, with its bid to reach 7 billion people in seven days with news of the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, kicked off as various companies, organisations and public figures lent their voices to the cause.

Founded by British film-maker Richard Curtis in partnership with the UN, a highlight of the campaign is the film, We The People (http://wethepeople.globalgoals.org), a crowd-sourced film where people are invited to join some of the world’s biggest names. The film will be unveiled on the Google homepage when the Global Goals are adopted on the Sept 25.

Written and directed by Curtis, whose film credits include such as Notting Hill, Four Weddings And Funeral and Love Actually; and Mat Whitecross (Road To Guantanamo) and created by The Rumpus Room, people around the world have the chance to co-star alongside some of the world’s most famous people to help tell everyone about the Global Goals.

Celebrities and personalities who have lent their voices include Hollywood stars such as Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Redford and UNICEF supporter Tom Hiddleston; as well as chef Jamie Oliver, footballers such as Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and members of the Liverpool Football Club, scientist Stephen Hawking and musicians Paloma Faith, Gilberto Gil, Stevie Wonder (who is also a UN Messenger of Peace) and One Direction, who last week unveiled Dear World Leaders, a film made by their fans - nearly 80,000 of whom submitted photos and videos describing the world they want to live in.

Over in Asia, several of the region’s celebrities have also supported the cause. They include Hong Kong singer G.E.M., actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador for China Zhou Xun, pianist Lang Lang (who is also a UN Messenger of Peace), UNDP Champion Michelle Yeoh, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan.

Indian superstar Kumar, who is championing Goal No 5, Gender Equality, said this was a “chance to stand together and give all we have to end every form of inequality”, adding that he was supporting Gender Equality “as I believe women should have equal rights, and equal opportunities”.

“I started my self-defence classes for women as I believe every woman in this world should have the right to feel safe,” he continued. “Choose the goal you’re passionate about by adding your voice to the We The People video. This is our generation’s chance to truly save our planet.”

Of the ground-breaking collaboration, Curtis said: “The new Global Goals for Sustainable Development give us the opportunity to end it for good. There’s no point in going half way. By making the Global Goals famous we can give them their best chance of working around the world - and help make us the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change.”

Amina J Mohammed, UN secretary general special advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning said it was “critical” that all 7 billion people around the world “know about and act to make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality”. “This agenda is by the people and for the people and we need to make sure that everyone on the planet knows about it and that no one is left behind.”

Other events slated for the Global Goals campaign include a special one-week pop-up radio broadcast called Radio Everyone, the release of a special song called Tell Everyone and The Global Goals flags, a artwork by world-renowned Chinese artist Liu Bolin, who will create a piece of art called The Future, which features 193 flags from every country in the world and the Global Goals.