Celebrities and the Environment

[rainbowsmiles]

Do you think it is beneficial to have celebrities preaching to us "regular folk" about environmental issues? What if they aren't practicing what they preach - could what they be saying have a reverse affect on those listening if they aren't being good examples to follow?

[Fibonacci]

I know there are alot of celebrities out there saying that we should all be driving Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius. I say I'll buy A hybrid as soon as they stop making them looking like Gay Spaceships!!!

[Clint]

Look, the way I see it, if you have vocal chords capable of hitting high C you know all you need to know to set policy on anything.

Originally Posted by rainbowsmiles

Do you think it is beneficial to have celebrities preaching to us "regular folk" about environmental issues? What if they aren't practicing what they preach - could what they be saying have a reverse affect on those listening if they aren't being good examples to follow?

Then we could call them hypocrites and not see their latest offering

[rainbowsmiles]

^

I have people tell me that because celebs have a voice that will be heard that they should use that voice. I'm not too sure about that. It is the same around election time - do the celebrities hurt or help the candidates running? I think they can hurt, depending on who is doing the listening. If you get this celebrity who lacks moral fiber telling us who the good politicians are, that might hurt a bit

And as someone who believes in environmentalism, I find it a bit annoying to see celebrities out there preaching to use about global warming and hybrid vehicles and how WE should change when they themselves lack the motivation for change. They tell us to drive hybrids while littering in parking lots (Scarlet Johannsen), they tell us to plant trees while they date supermodels who work for companies that destroy endangered forests (Leonardo DiCaprio dating Gisele Bundchen while Victorias Secret chops down the Boreal Forest to make VS catalogs), they tell us to drive hybrids while they themselves are jumping into their SUVS (Charlize Theron).

It just makes me wonder, what good are they doing.

[Marie5656]

I think it may depend on the celebrity, and he clout they may have with the public. For example, the TV actor Ed Begley JR has always been a staunch environmentalist, he advocates for his believes but does not preach them, in my opinion.

I think I would listen to him about such things over, say, Tom Cruise, and they way he advocates for his beliefs.

[rainbowsmiles]

I think it may depend on the celebrity, and he clout they may have with the public. For example, the TV actor Ed Begley JR has always been a staunch environmentalist, he advocates for his believes but does not preach them, in my opinion.

Your right! That is true. There are some celebrities that do live with they preach and I think they are good examples for those to follow. I guess I'm just a bit heated by the hypocrits and their influence over the fanatics.

I promise to listen to David Beckham when he goes on about football/soccer or the latest make-up for blokes. I won't listen to him if he opens his mouth about British foreign policy

[Lulu2]

Perhaps I see this differently.

Imagine that YOU and I have celebrity for some reason. And suppose that we each have areas of interest that we consider extremely important--be they environmental or political or even spiritual.

Wouldn't we want to use our access to the media to convey our interests to the public? I know DARNED WELL that I would!

As a frequent visitor to Africa, I know first-hand how bad the situation there is. I'm delighted to see people like George Clooney, Sting, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and anyone else with the public ear speak up and direct attention to the plight of people AND animals on that continent.

Celebrities are just people....like you & me...and if they're thinking beyond their own lives to help others, HOORAY FOR THEM! It'd be easy to slip into the vapid, self-centered, narcissistic world of Paris Hilton, for example.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by rainbowsmiles

Do you think it is beneficial to have celebrities preaching to us "regular folk" about environmental issues? What if they aren't practicing what they preach - could what they be saying have a reverse affect on those listening if they aren't being good examples to follow?

Yes. Some people actuall think these "celebrities" have some worth! Strange,
but true. It does not matter to the great unwashed whether "celebrities"
practice what they preach, in general, so I'd say that anything uttered that's
got a possibility of actually being taken in must be a Good Thing.