Syrian celebrities took to the streets of Damascus to promote green living. Releasing balloons, were they drawing attention to the environment or to themselves?
A group of Syrian celebrities gathered in Damascus to try to promote environmentally friendly lifestyles recently, personally urging individuals to change their habits. Unfortunately, however, it looks like this was a case of green washing rather than genuine green living.
The celebrities encouraged people to use paper bags (arguably not much less offensive than plastic and definitely not as good as cloth) and released a large number of balloons into the sky (which could be harmful to birds and other forms of wildlife). So what was the real message?
Sometimes, the only message is the messenger. Which in this case consisted of the glamorous celebrities. The group of Syrian celebrities patrolling the center of Damascus included Doreid Laham, Salim and Yara Sabri, Bassem Yakhor, Shokran Mortaja, and many more.
But maybe a good dose of famous positive role models is exactly what is needed sometimes in a city like Damascus where supposedly 15 million plastic bags are used every day.
In addition to taking to the streets, promoting paper bag usage, and releasing balloons, the celebrities released a new song for the occassion, “Hat Edak wel Iha’ni”. The song was performed in the center of Damascus at Masrah Teshreen.
Green washing or not, we hope the message was heard and received.
Read more about Syrian environmentalism:
Syria Campaigns to Curb Country’s Voracious Plastic Bag Appetite
Syria’s Master Plan for Renewable Energy
Syria Brainstorms on Renewable Energy at International Event
Image via: worldwidewandering
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
They were trying to help the planet but were slightly messing it up a little in the process! Typical behaviour of celebrities…