The Environment Goes Hollywood!

Concerns about and active participation in environmental issues, specifically global warming, climate change, and animal rights, have moved from the realm of granola eating, Birkenstock wearing, tree hugging hippies to the world of fashion aficionados and Hollywood stars.

After all, would you pay attention to a scientist wearing a white lab coat using long words in a monotone voice or would you be more inclined to listen to Pamela Anderson speak out in support of animal rights?

Global warming and climate change first appeared in the American consciousness thanks in large part to the work of environmental scientists in the 1960s. News reports about the environment told cautionary tales about the impending doom the Earth would face if people kept producing greenhouse gases. Sadly, these early warning messages generally fell on deaf ears because the American people were not willing to listen to these “alarmist” scientists.

The problem about global warming and climate change is that their effects take many decades to be noticed. Because global warming “causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere” closest to the Earth, people don’t notice a dramatic change right away. Many of these same people dismissed the concerns of the scientific community as overly cautious and pessimistic.

Fast forward to the late 1990s. Environmental issues, such as climate change and global warming, were a major issue for the international community because their consequences have international implications. In December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was finalized for signatures. This agreement was the first attempt at international cooperation on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases produced by industrialized and developing nations. To date the Kyoto Protocol has been signed by over 160 countries but the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases, the United States, has not ratified the agreement.

Although the United States government has yet to ratify this important environmental agreement, the debate surrounding the Kyoto Protocol thrust Al Gore, then Vice President, into the national spotlight. With his departure from the White House in 2000, Gore became more active with environmental causes. He embarked on speaking tours of colleges and in 2006, his book, The Inconvenient Truth, found itself on the New York Times Bestseller List. Gore also released a documentary of the same name in 2006 which won 2 Academy Awards, Best Documentary and Best Original Song.

Although Al Gore isn’t a movie star or Hollywood heavyweight, he is lending his political clout and name to environmental causes. Other Hollywood celebrities have been actively involved in environmental issues, such as Ed Begley, Jr. and Tom Hanks. Ed Begley Jr. promotes eco-friendly items such as the hybrid Toyota Prius driven by celebrities such as Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts. Tom Hanks advocates for the use of alternative fuels and drove an electric car in the early 1990s.

Another cause which celebrities are involved with is the movement for animal rights. One of the most famous (and infamous) animal rights organizations is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA has used celebrities as spokespeople in their various campaigns, including the ongoing anti-fur campaign. PETA runs ads in which celebrities and supermodels, such as Christy Turlington and Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend, are photographed nude. The caption underneath them reads, “I Would Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur.” This controversial advertising strategy has done its job: the American public is aware of the alleged inhumane behavior of furriers toward animals.

Pamela Anderson has been a major spokesperson for various PETA campaigns including the campaign against Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Allegedly KFC is killing the chickens which they serve in an inhumane way and PETA has called for a boycott of the fast food chain. Anderson has been the major spokesperson for the campaign and has mobilized some support from the American public.

Even though many of those supporters may have been enticed by Pamela Anderson herself rather than their love for chickens, she has used her celebrity status to bring attention to the plight of those poor chickens.

These trends of Hollywood activism suggests that some celebrities have decided to use their famous status to speak out against the ills of society instead fight for a table at Mr. Chow’s or club hopping on the Sunset Strip.

Although increased activism by celebrities for causes such as climate change, global warming, and animal rights have brought more exposure to these causes, I can’t help but wonder if the American public is capable of thinking by itself or does it need movie stars and politicians to lead the way? The answer to this question appears to be a resounding “Yes!”

I don’t think it really matters in the long run how the American public is mobilized. It matter that they ARE mobilized and actively supporting issues of national and international importance.