VIEW POINT
so I’m extremely careful not to waste it - I’ve What are your thoughts on the future of any signifi cant impact to change peoples’
been caught out with a head full of shampoo society? behaviour. While there is a general dumbing
and an empty tank too often to forget. Unfortunately, I have to say, without change, down in the media, when it comes to
I think the future is pretty bleak. As much important matters people want to be spoken
What actions do you feel politicians should as people talk about change and try to do to on an intelligent and adult level, and I
be taking? their bit, people won’t stop fl ying, businesses can’t help but feel that World Toilet Day falls
Having lived in Egypt for the past four years, will continue to look for the biggest profi t somewhat short of that.
I am increasingly struck by the contrast margins. Carbon offsetting is surely one way
between the political attitude to sustainability. to reduce the impact and to raise awareness, Do you think international sportsmen and
The West has the luxury of being able to but I do feel pretty down about it all when I women aggravate the situation with all the
afford sustainable solutions and powerful sit down and think about the future. travel they undertake?
PR machines behind corporations to I think my choice to live in such a basic Hmmm, that’s an interesting question.
promote corporate social responsibility community like Dahab came in part from this I think it’s futile to point the fi nger at any
(CSR) campaigns, which, it is clear most feeling of helplessness and a need to connect one group as international travel is a global
organisations have accepted they need to more directly with nature and the source of epidemic, but if you compare the travel done
adopt to keep up with consumer demand. life on a daily basis. by athletes, compared to business travel
Egyptians don’t necessarily all have that and even politicians, we barely register
luxury, and particularly in the rural areas, What do you think is the biggest challenge on the carbon footprint monitor. Speaking
there simply isn’t the infrastructure to support we face? personally, I don’t earn enough to travel and
sustainable campaigns. Phew, all those challenges out there and being in a sport which isn’t yet recognised
In the UK I was impressed by certain I have to choose one? I would say it’s the by Sport UK, or receive any funding, I’m
politicians to revert to tap water rather than scale of the problem that is in itself the major extremely limited in the amount of travel I do
bottled water in the House of Commons - this problem - where on earth do we start? This for competition or training. More’s the pity.
sends a strong message to the population that overwhelming sense of doom creates lethargy
there are achievable daily changes that we in people, even those genuinely concerned n Sara is the current world champion freediver
can all make that will make an impact. feel that they are too small to make a and has held three world records (www.
Politicians need to lead by example in all difference. And the more PR scare campaigns sarafreediver.com). She is ambassador for The
they do - they have a responsibility to do so, that are launched, the more we overload BLUE Climate and Oceans Project (www.
morally and professionally. our psyches, which drains our energy and theblueproject.org) and, together with the
contributes to this sense of disempowerment. Linden Consulting Partnership (www.linden-
If you were prime minister for a week and It’s a vicious circle. Returning to some consulting.co.uk), aims to raise awareness
you could push through one piece of green old-fashioned values, simplifying our lives, about climate change.
legislation, what would you choose and will go a long way to reducing our impact
why? without us having to feel that it’s some huge
I attended an exhibition by the BLUE Project mission. And I think in the long run we will
FACT FILE: BLUE
at the House of Commons in the summer. all be happier if we can simplify and get a bit
The BLUE Climate & Oceans Project:
BLUE is committed to raising awareness of closer to nature in our daily lives.
The BLUE Climate and Oceans Project
the importance of our water environments to is a sport environment initiative and
the future of the planet. Do you think a TV programme about carbon features some of the world's most
The new Marine Bill was about to pass reduction would help?
inspiring sports men and women
through and I was shocked to read again and Anything that helps make people think about
who use their projects and incredible
again that the aim was to ‘halt the damage’ to the situation has the potential to help.
adventures to educate, inspire and
motivate people to reduce their impact
our marine environments. However, I wonder how much really goes
on the world’s climate and oceans.
Surely a really effective bill needs to in. I remember being in the UK in February
n For more information about Sara
not only halt the damage; but put in place when Panorama did the documentary about
Campbell’s adventures and how you can
measures to repair the damage already done, bottled water. Really well thought-through,
to get involved with BLUE events and
and turn things around for the good or our presented and researched factual programmes adventures, visit www.theblueproject.org
future generations. like this can make a huge impact in changing
Water is one of our most important peoples’ behaviour as we saw this year,
Be a champion for the environment...
resources, yet we undervalue this scarce but they are few and far between and often
Make a Blue Pledge TODAY!
resource. Only 2.5% of the earth’s total water media awareness tends to feel too much
Sara Campbell and The BLUE Climate
and Oceans Project are asking you to
is fresh water, and in many places around like PR spin, which it is, and people are
make a BLUE Pledge - a simple promise
the world such as China, India, and Africa, getting wise to this. For instance, recently I
made online to change just one extra
demand exceeds supply. read that it was World Toilet Day - in order
thing in your life to make a difference
Over the next 50 years, the world’s to raise awareness of how the lack of good
to the world’s climate and oceans.
population will increase by 50%, and without sanitation in many poorer countries causes Together we CAN make a difference, go
implementing conservation and water illness and disease. It was a real issue and to www.theblueproject.org/makeapledge
recycling, we won’t have enough water. creating a ‘World Toilet Day’ may have got a
to make your pledge TODAY!
mention in the paper, but it won’t have made
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS December/January 2009 59
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