In need of ethical role models

Joanne Kelly looks at celebrities, or the lack of, who endorse an ecological and ethical lifestyle.

For the environment there is David Cameron, whose main campaigns for the Conservatives have been to cut Britain’s carbon emissions Neighbours’ own Karl Kennedy is picking up from where The Good Life left off Where are the females?! There’s Felicity Kendal in her famous role as Barbara in The Good Life, but that was 30 years ago and she’s not even real

Being environmentally and ethically aware has dominated the media of late, with everyone encouraging us to buy Fairtrade and to cut our carbon emissions, but how many high-profile role models are seriously taking a lead on these issues?

Well, for the environment there is David Cameron, whose main campaigns for the Conservatives have been to cut Britain’s carbon emissions. Yet politicians don’t always stick to their promises and he has failed to introduce any significant policy on increasing aid to Africa or cancelling Third World debt.

Bono and Bob Geldof have both pioneered successful campaigns highlighting the plight of developing nations and Sting is known for his environmental campaigning, yet they fly around the world to promote their causes, leaving large carbon footprints in their wake.

Prince Charles, whose public image has benefited slightly from the recent explosion of environmental awareness, could also be a candidate. That then leaves us with Kermit the Frog singing ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’ or Neighbours’ own Karl Kennedy picking up from where The Good Life left off in demonstrating the benefits of green living (even if it is only fictional!).

Whilst there are many celebrities endorsing Fairtrade goods- for example Scarlett Johansson modelling for Bono’s Product RED range and Chris Martin giving continuous support to the Make Trade Fair campaign- there are few other role models in the public eye re-enforcing the importance of ethical consumption. As Fairtrade is focused on assisting developing nations such as Africa, perhaps this is a signifier that the issue of increasing aid to Africa and dropping the debt – after being campaigned for rigorously in 2005- has now fallen off the political agenda, in which case this needs rectifying.

So, we’ve unravelled some possible candidates for the position of eco/ethical role models, but where are the females?! There’s Felicity Kendal in her famous role as Barbara in The Good Life, but that was 30 years ago and she’s not even real.

Eco/ethical role models are needed to bring both the environment and Fairtrade to the masses. Rightly or wrongly, we live in a society dominated by the image of celebrities, in which people look to them for inspiration, guidance and reassurance. Consequently, if celebrity culture can present a positive example, let the race for eco/ethical celebrities commence!