Hayden Panettiere gets Gretchen Wyler Award for efforts to save dolphins

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere was honored Saturday night to receive the Gretchen Wyler Award, for protesting the annual dolphin slaughter in Southwestern Japan last year from the Humane Society. The activism award is given annually at the Genesis Awards to a celebrity who brings attention to animal causes. Beverly Kaskey, Senior Director of the Humane Society’s Hollywood Office said Hayden Panettiere is “an inspiring example to her generation, using her compassion, courage and celebrity to help animals in a very effective way.”

Hayden Panettiere - Seventeen Magazine - April 2008

Hayden Panettiere dishes in the April issue of Seventeen magazine about her life and wanting to save the world. The Heroes hottie talks about her fight against whalers in Japan, why voting matters and her very personal crusade to find the right guy!

Enjoy some interview snippets:

On breaking up with Stephen Colletti:
“I just knew I wanted to breathe. I wanted to be single at the time. It just hit me like a ton of bricks: This is the time I need to be with myself. It takes such a secure person to be with someone like me—it takes so much confidence; it takes so much trust.”

On wanting to be girly and just have fun:
“If I was a wonderful person, I’d run around in whatever clothes and have one outfit – and then I’d donate the rest of the money to charity. But no one is perfect, and no one is saying you have to give up everything in your life to change the world.”

On what it was like fighting whalers in Japan:
“It was great! There’s very little that scares me. I’ve always been a physical person. And I feel like a lot of time in this industry, a lot of people loan their face to a cause, which is great, but it doesn’t do as much as getting out there and actually physically doing something.”

Hayden Panettiere - “Fireflies In The Garden” Premiere at the 58th Berlinale Film Festival

Hayden Panettiere Talks Politics

Hayden Panettiere stocks up on groceries at Whole Foods supermarket in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 18-year-old Heroes hottie loaded her own car with eco-friendly reusable grocery bags and shared a laugh with the parking lot security guard. She wore white track pants and Uggs and toted around a gold Kooba handbag.

Hayden continued to wear her support for the Save the Whales Again! campaign by wearing a gold Save the Whales! pendant on her necklace. She just returned from Washington DC after attending a rally to support the cause.

As for her politics, Hayden has been talking to parties from both sides of the fence.

“You know, I haven’t really picked who I’m going to support yet,” she told E!. I have spoken to Barack about the whales and the situation going on there, and I asked him his views on it, and he grew up in Hawaii. He’s got a very wonderful outlook on it. Hopefully later on, [I’m] having a phone call with the McCain party and also in the midst of contacting the Clinton party. I’ll hopefully be hearing from them on the whole situation and what they’re willing to do to stop it.”

Hayden Panettiere: Save the Whales… Again!

Hayden Panettiere led the rally against the resumption of commercial whaling in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Heroes hottie was greeted with rousing applause as she gave her speech in front of two dozen supporters, including her momager Lesley. Milo would be so proud of his girl!

Tomorrow, Hayden will meet with representatives from the embassies of Japan, Norway and Iceland to question their outdated whaling practices. You can also check out her recent interview about saving the whales on CNN.

SAVE THE WHALES!

Hayden Panettiere to Lead Whale Rally

Hayden Panettiere will lead a rally against a resumption of commercial whaling at 1 p.m. this Sunday, January 27, in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The event kicks off a whirlwind trip to the Nation’s Capital for Hayden, who will later speak with policymakers and students to encourage increased whale protection.

The 18-year-old Heroes star is a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, which is calling on the United States to stand up for whales at the International Whaling Commission and take diplomatic and economic action against whaling countries. After the rally, she will speak at Georgetown University. On Monday, she will meet with representatives from the embassies of Japan, Norway and Iceland to question their outdated whaling practices.

“Whales face increasing threats from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, and chemical and noise pollution, yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers,” Hayden said. “I am looking forward to talking with officials who actually make and carry out our policies, as well as fellow young people who will be voting in the upcoming election—I want our voice to be heard.”

On Tuesday, Hayden will speak at a 1 p.m. press conference hosted by House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall (D-WV). She will be joined by Rahall and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in urging the US Government to reinstate its former leadership role protecting whales from commercial slaughter. An evening reception with Members of Congress and their staff is the final stop on her trip.