by Louise Baker
Celebrities are often defined soley by their talent, other times by their public antics. We now present to you a list of five famous eco-conscious individuals. And now, the envelope, please ...
1. Mel Gibson
This Aussie has certainly come under fire for some of his recent tantrums and socio-political beliefs, but he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to the environment. He was one of the most prominent supporters of the first EV1 electric cars; he's even seen professing his love for it in the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car."
He also donated a large sum of money to the El Mirador Basin Foundation, money that went to preserve Central America's shrinking rainforest and support archeological research of ancient Mayan culture. In 2007, he also helped a Malaysian company called Green Rubber Global expand its tire-recycling efforts into the United States.
2. Willie Nelson
It's a shame that the younger set probably knows Willie as "the old stoner guy in all those movies" more than as an iconic country music outlaw. Still, many lovers of Mary Jane are also lovers of Mother Nature, so it's no surprise he's on this list. Willie is a very outspoken activist, throwing strong support behind environmentally-friendly political candidates. He also founded Willie Nelson Biodiesel, a company that markets fuel made from vegetable oil that can be used in most diesel engines.
3. Cate Blanchett
This bright, rising star has her hand in all sorts of environmental concerns. She works with the Australian Conservation Foundation as an ambassador for whoonearthcares.com, an online campaign to get Australians involved in conservation. As an important member of the Sydney Film Festival and a patron of the SolarAid group, Cate is using her influence to make the Sydney Theatre Company's building as eco-friendly as possible. The building will be equipped with solar panels and rainwater collection systems, much like the actress's own home.
4. Richard Branson
Ok, he's not a movie star, but as the founder of the Virgin Group, Branson is famous for being one of the richest men in Britain. He was once a global warming skeptic but later made a complete 180. In 2006, he vowed to invest all of the profits from Virgin's airline and rail transport business in green research. He's also been heavily involved with the Picnic Green Challenge, a contest that rewards the year's best new green initiative.
5. Harrison Ford
Looks like the real-life Ford is more Indiana Jones than Han Solo. Captain Solo smuggled hazardous materials, and he flew an old beater that couldn't possibly have passed an emissions test. The actor, however, is known for supporting environmental causes.
Ford has been a member of Conservation International's board of directors for more than ten years, In 2002, Harvard Medical School recognized his efforts with its Global Environmental Citizen Award. That's not all, either: he's had a couple of newly-discovered species named after him, and he has lent his famous voice to EarthShare for numerous public service messages.
Louise Baker ranks online degrees for Zen College Life. She most recently wrote about the best colleges online.
