The Brockovich Report

I have been watching very closely the current movement of the "green" effect going on not only in America, but throughout the World.

I have spent the past fifteen years working on the environment, studying the impact that a wounded environment is having on health and safety.

I am grateful for the celebrities who use their fame to make statements, who start and support movements on behalf of cleaner air, cleaner water, and a healthier world for us all. It is admirable for celebrities who lend their images to the screen and grace the covers of magazines to try to get the public more involved in creating a cleaner and better environment.

However, I have to make an observation.

Celebrities are the Glitterati.

I know that's not really a word, but I hope you will know what I mean by it. The real word is "Literati" which dates back to 1621, and is derived from Latin. It means men and women of letters; the learned class as a whole.

So who are the Glitterati?

This is a play on words. You know glitter--the stuff that shines. Well that's what stars and celebrities are, and this is what they do--they shine. They cast their ornamental light, and our celebrity conscious world looks up and follows that light. It is admirable for the Glitterati to make efforts to put their fame to good use, and I can only applaud their efforts, because not all celebrities make an effort to do public good.

So the observation I am about to make reflects well on our well-meaning stars who do such good work: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who thinks that the Environmental Movement should be sexy; Matt Damon host of Journey to Planet Earth; Ben Stiller, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Will Farrell, and Jack Black who will be in two upcoming Laurie David global warming tv specials, Dan Aykroyd and Woody Harrelson who have long been involved environmentalists, Leonardo Di Caprio who's eco-site discusses such green topics as global warming, fresh water, biodiversity, the oceans and sustainability, among other topics; and Brad Pitt who is calling for entries in New Orleans Sustainable design competition....the list goes on.

The truth is that the Glitterati's only power is their popularity. Who has the real power?

Industry. And that is where we truly need to shine our spotlight.

I am concerned that in our quest for a cleaner, healthier world, we are missing one big link. The one link that people think I am after all the time.

Industry!

Yes, I said it. Corporate America.

Corporate America has the power. And what are they doing with their power, their vast resources of manpower, and science?

They are making money.

Now, I have no objection to commerce. Commerce makes the world go round. I am just suggesting a tiny change in priorities.

Let us speculate–and I sincerely doubt that anyone would argue with me about that top priority–that Corporate America's top priority is making money. Let us be charitable and suggest that their second priority is keeping the world clean and green.

What would happen if they switched those two priorities? What if keeping the world clean and green was the TOP priority and making money was the SECOND item on the list?

What if all the vast resources, the manpower, the professional think tanks of big business all focused on getting the world clean and green?

What if I didn't have to nag corporations about burning more efficient fuels, relying less and less on oil dependency in other countries, not using plastic bags, solar power, etc.?

What if the source actually stepped up to the plate?

What if I didn't have to knock on Boeing's doors about more efficient burning of fuels and evaluating how much is deposited into the air upon take off?

What if I didn't have to beg the powers that be to address the over 1,600 toxic dumpsites in America that continue to destroy the environment, our water and our air and ultimately our health?

Our Politics are failing us.

The EPA is being dismantled.

Industry isn't being held to even the low standard, much less a standard of environmental excellence.

Industry has chosen to be the villain. But if Industry changed its vision of its own priorities, it could choose to be THE HERO!! Yes, the HERO!

We advocates talk a lot but what is industry really doing?

Is Boeing addressing the fuel dumps as they take off?

Is PG&E addressing more efficient ways to have power and cleaning up all those dirty sites?

Is anyone at all cleaning up after all the dumps left behind by businesses which no longer exist?

Think of it. America is a superpower. Industry has more power in its little finger than Spiderman, Batman, Superman and the X Men combined.

Industry has the person power, the funds, and the technology to take charge of and lead us into a green America! A safer America ! The America we want our children to inherit!

The America where humans from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe, want to live!

Just image–if Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Boeing, Phillip Morris, Kraft, ConAgra, Chrysler, Ford, PG&E, Sempra Energy, Starbucks, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, and all the others– Just image if they created a "committee of one" through all their resources and their trillions of combined dollars to fund the cleanup.

What if they themselves put into place all the new technology and monitoring of fossil fuels and coal burning facilities and mining companies all of which enjoy the benefits that the planet has to offer?

What if Industry took itself to give back to the very source of where all of our pleasures come from?

Think of it.
All of what we take from the planet for food, heat, clothing, shelter–
Everything we depend on–
Everything we enjoy–
If we all–led by Industry–give back by replenishing–
We would have in fact, a green world.

Just think if each one of these Corporate Giants donated 5% of their profits into one pot, think about where we would be!

Corporate America–what if your number one priority were to keep the world green, and your second priority was to make a profit? Think of the world your children would inherit.

Corporate America–we are missing our greatest allies and we need to call upon you. We, the little people, are looking for heroes.

Corporate America–join as one and each fund a little, apply new technology a little, and each get involved a little.

Think of what you could do if you made a clean world YOUR top priority?

After all, it's your world too.