Global warming awareness was the final test of grace under fire at this past Sunday’s Miss Earth 2006 competition in Manila, Philippines. Established in 2001, the mission of the Miss Earth competition is to seek out “beauties with a cause” with a specific focus on environmental education and conservation. And this year’s competition focus? Global warming. Grueling elimination rounds based on talent, national costume, personality, swimsuit, and long gown narrowed the 82 international contestants down to the top four. The fate of the final four – Miss Chile, India, Venezuela, and Philippines – was decided by this last question: “What kind of effort must a country’s government exert to stop global warming?”
In response to the final question on global warming, Miss Venezuela Marianne Puglia highlighted the importance of environmental education campaigns; Miss Philippines Catherine Untalan pointed to the Kyoto Protocol and the importance of mandatory targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions; Miss India Amruta Patki reminded the audience that the responsibility belongs to all individuals, not just NGOs and governments; and Miss Chile Hil Yesenia Hernandez called for aggressive laws to protect our future children.
While I am anxious for the Miss Earth Competition and Carousel Productions to reveal more about how they greened this year’s event, I am excited by their promotion of a Low Carbon Diet.
Congratulations to the newly crowned Miss Earth 2006 Hil Yesenia Hernandez of Chile and to all of this year’s contestants. These women deserve many kudos for their courage and for bringing positive attention to environmental issues. This climate movement needs environmental leaders to step up from every walk of life – from scientists, to politicians, to celebrities, to students, to high school teachers, to local eco-heroes of diverse backgrounds, to, yes, beauty queens. I want to thank these leaders for proving that the “go green” movement holds the very qualities these women embody: intelligence, beauty, grace, compassion, and a deep concern for our planet’s future.
Now what I really want to know: do any of these beauties have an eco, organic, reused or recycled pageant dress that I can borrow in January?!
Check out the Manila Standard Today for the full story.
Brilliant! Alli for president ……………………………..