So-Called “Green� Celebrities Are Missing the Boat…And The Tofu
Posted in News on 03. Dec, 2009
In the recent Times Online article, “Taking the private jet to Copenhagen,� an interesting dichotomy is raised: How can celebrities who claim to stand up for the environment justify flying in private jets (eh-hem, John Travolta) or owning seven homes (ouch, Sting, that hurts)? The first line of the article reads: “Hypocrisy is the vice we find hardest to forgive, but it’s also the one we most enjoy discovering in others.� That said…
A recent Worldwatch Institute report estimates that over 51% of greenhouse gasses are caused by livestock production – a true inconvenient truth that even Al Gore is starting to notice. So speaking of hypocrisy, perhaps these “green-minded� celebs should jump on that (cruelty-free) bandwagon. Not that they should take a private jet regardless, but if they do, the least they can do is order the seitan picatta.
As James E. McWilliams, author of Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, says in his recent Washington Post article, “Vegetarianism is not only the most powerful political response we can make to industrialized food. It’s a necessary prerequisite to reforming it.�
But props to the Times Online, who actually featured two true-blue eco-friendly stars, pointing to their veganism as proof they are practicing what they preach: Ed Begley, Jr. and Woody Harrelson. Here’s how we know these guys are the real deal: Begley, Jr. has flaunted his eco-prowess in an episode of The Simpsons – which is kind of the ultimate marker of success; and as for Harrelson, word has it that he’s currently trying to conceive the world’s first 100% hemp baby. (It could happen!)
Outreach has a price. It would be wonderful to change the world with nothing more than remarkable online texts and photos, but sometimes more action is called for. In order to change the world there have to be people out there with their fingers in its eye. This can’t always be done from behind a computer, given time constraints it’s not always something that can be done within a bicycle commute from home, and to be most effective the resulting message will have to be spread in a variety of ways. True green star Gene Baur’s jet travel has contributed greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, but the resulting impact of his travel is highly likely to have a far more positive long term impact on the environment than the immediate negative impact. What is the impact of Gene Baur’s jet travel compared to the closure of even just one factory farm and the end of all those pollutants? What is the impact of Al Gore’s jet travel compared to the fellow politicians he has positively influenced who are now working towards stricter environmental legislation around the world? There is a cost associated with changing the world, and I appreciate that people such as Gene Baur and Al Gore have the strength to resist the rebukes of people who aren’t capable of such big picture thinking.
Despite my great respect for Al Gore I am very disappointed that he is not yet vegan. He is an educated and committed man though so I do hold hope for him. Someday he will no doubt find that what he now suspects is inconvenient – veganism – will turn out to be quite easy after all.
Thanks to John Travolta and Sting to whatever contributions they have made to the environmental movement. The environmental movement is not their life’s work though, so has not been the criteria by which either of them have made every decision in life. We have every right to expect more of these two men just as we expect more of ourselves, but it may be unfair to expect either of them to be impeccable green ambassadors.
Good comment Rob. I agree with much of what you said.
I would add that while I do think people such as Gore et. al. should be willing to take it farther (can he at least give up flesh and seafood?) I don’t really get stressed out when people don’t. There is a strong all-or-nothing current in both animal rights communities and environmental activism communities, and it would serve us well to remember that most people can’t do everything.
When I got a friend to give up flesh, she was distressed to find a lack of support for her decision to continue to consume dairy and eggs. Why? She was made to feel that wasn’t far enough. One step at a time, while pointing a person towards the goodness of the future (such as becoming vegan), is a good thing. Better to do something than nothing.
It doesn’t make much sense to me either–make grandiose gestures and not do the Obvious. Great post!
xo
Eco Mama