August 9, 2012
Eco News Network presents our favorite eco-celeb of the week. We love seeing what celebrities are up to, and that doesn’t mean when it comes to movies, television or music albums, but with how they’re giving back to the planet. This week, Ricky Gervais caught our eye, as he sticks up for animals and contributes greatly to the environment. See how the actor/comedian lends a helping hand in protecting Mother Earth.
Funnyman Ricky Gervais is famous for his role on “The Office” and his antics while hosting the Golden Globes. The natural comedian and talented actor is also known for showing the planet and animals love.
Let’s start with his animal activism. Most recently, Ricky spoke out against cosmetic testing on animals. Some companies that previously announced they would no longer test on rabbits have currently changed their minds, in order to start selling products in China. For those cosmetic companies to sell in China, they must test their products on rabbits.
Well, Ricky quickly spoke out against these actions, “By law, rabbits must have cosmetic chemicals dripped in their eyes or spread over their sensitive skin, causing sores and bleeding, “ which makes him “particularly angry that some previously cruelty-free companies are abandoning their principles and returning to animal testing in order to profit from the Chinese market.”
He also added, “You cannot put a price on morality and compassion.”
In addition, the 51-year-old has also joined forces with the Humane Society International and even launched a global campaign against animal testing by partnering with Cruelty Free International.
Animals aren’t the only thing Ricky tries to protect, but he also does what he can to benefit the planet.
For example, in 2007 he announced that he would no longer brush his teeth to help the environment. After attending a series of Live Earth concerts in London, Ricky realized he wasn’t doing enough for Earth and declared, “I don’t do enough. I recycle, I’m a bit green. I don’t leave the tap running when I clean my teeth, which annoys me because I like to see it running. So what I do now is just not clean my teeth. It’s perfect.”
To keep up with Ricky’s environmentalism, be sure to follow him on Twitter. Also, to see him in action, watch this video.
-Allyson Koerner
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Thomas Atilla Lewis
