We are living on borrowed time. As dramatic as this sounds, I have never been more sure than I am now, that it is the absolute truth. I was having a quiet dinner with some close friends, one of whom is a scientist working very closely with various government's around the world and she deals specifically with the global warming crisis. I had a question burning in my mind but I was loathe to ask it out of fear that I wouldn't like the answer. This was one of those rare moments where I hated being right! My question was, "How long do we have before it's too late?" She hesitated for a few seconds and I could see her inner battle as she debated with herself whether to ease my mind or to give me the brutal, honest truth. "Give me the truthful answer, not the candy-coated one," I said. Her answer? Five years. We have five years to reverse the damage already inflicted on the planet. After those five years, it will be too late to undo what has already been done. She looked me straight in the eye and, with a frighteningly solemn voice, said to me, "My advice to you? Don't have children."
My mind began racing. I've been putting off having children because I had a career to get off the ground and I wanted to be able to give them the kind of childhood I hadn't been able to have due to lack of money. Now she was telling me that, if I had children, they would be the one's suffering the consequences of our generation's selfishness and thoughtlessness. Perhaps she was exaggerating. How does one really know for sure? All I know is that this is her job. She travels the world assessing these situations and she's a scientist. They have an obsession with facts and numbers and don't lend themselves to the dramatic. It scared me enough to stir me to action.
I have been recycling for about 3 years and trying to find ways to conserve energy and I have tried to get my friends to do it too but it has been a half-hearted attempt because I am not the type to force my beliefs on anyone. I've now come to realise that this is not a belief. It is a fact of life and everyone is responsible for the situation and is required to do their bit. I began a group called Green Celebrities and sent the word out. I had a plan and a very specific reason for focusing on celebrities.
Celebrities have more power than politicians when it comes to influencing people. It is a sad truth that, while a lot of these people are plastic, superficial and self-involved, the world has put them on a pedestal and goes out it's way to mimic their every move. Of course, I am generalising but, being in the public eye myself, I am very aware of how people watch my every move and comment and criticise and, most importantly, listen to what I have to say. It's such a powerful position to be in and a position that, I feel, is greatly abused. However, if it is used in a positive way, so much can be gained.
I take my responsibility as a role model, very seriously but I am just one person. For this reason I have been actively trying to recruit new celebrity members and I have been very fortunate in how many people have been willing to help with the initiative so far. I have been asked if the group is only for celebrities and my answer confuses many, I am sure, but I really do believe that we are all celebrities to at least one person in our lives.
People only seem to acknowledge a person's importance by how many magazines and tv shows they appear in. We undervalue our own importance all the time. The truth is, there are unsung heroes in everyone's lives and you are a role model to someone whether you know it or not, and what you do will impact directly on those who aspire to be like you. We all exist in our own little circle of life, touching and affecting everything in our immediate vicinity, without realising it. It starts with one person changing their mindset, seeing the effect they have on things within their own circle, and deciding to use that in a positive way. People need to begin realising their own power. It only takes one little step and you can change a situation, a life, the world, if you choose to. If you are being watched by those that aspire to be like you, it is almost guaranteed that they will do the same as you.
Here is an example of what we are doing to our environment by throwing out that takeaway carton that had a burger in it: When raw materials are used for packaging materials (glass, paper or plastic), Carbon Dioxide is released into the environment and energy is used. Changing them from their natural form is energy intensive. Transporting these materials to factories uses energy and other resources like water and again Carbon Dioxide is released. The container is then transported to where it is filled, using more energy and emitting more Carbon Dioxide and then the product is transported to shops for sale, emitting yet more Carbon Dioxide. You buy the product, take it to your house, use it once and throw it away and it ends up in a landfill. Multiply that by millions now... The toxic juices from these landfills then leach into the groundwater posing a serious environmental threat to our water quality which affects not only us, but wildlife as well. These landfills are almost filled to capacity. Once they are filled up, what then?
Nature has always recycled. Why can't we? It takes minimal effort and even if it does take effort, what could be more important than ensuring a safe and healthy planet for your children and your children's children? I urge anyone with a conscience, to begin setting an example and start reducing your carbon footprint. It's such an easy thing to do and so very necessary.
If we are not taking steps already, we are being entirely remiss. The proof is right in front of us and we are the only ones who can stop what, right now, seems inevitable. We have the power to make changes, if we step outside of ourselves for just a few minutes and see the bigger picture.
I challenge you.
Take that first step.