Sting -- Celebrity Green Report
Written By Katherine Sansom
May 22, 2007
British musician, Sting, has been a vocal supporter of a variety of social and political causes since the 80s, and is perhaps best known for his support of Amnesty International. But the rock star is also passionate about the environment and has spoken out on issues surrounding climate change and the depletion of our natural resources.
Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, set up The Rainforest Foundation in the late-80s in an attempt to raise awareness of the destruction of Brazilian rainforests and support the indigenous peoples who makes these landscapes their home. The foundation now supports the preservation of all the world’s rainforests, and seeks to raise the inhabitants out of poverty by providing teacher training, agricultural development and provision of new crops, plants and farming equipment. Publicity- and funding-raising enterprises organized by the foundation include marathons and a London to Paris bike ride.
Sting is also a supporter of Bette Midler’s organization, New York Restoration Project, which has been working for more than a decade to clean up New York parks and protect urban natural areas. The organization has so far been responsible for the removal of more than 80,000 tons of waste and the creation of Swindler Cove Park on the Harlem River. Sting and Trudie were presented with an award for their environmental work during the organization’s tenth birthday celebrations in 2005.
Sting’s wife, Trudie Styler, also received the UNICEF award for longstanding commitment to the organization in 2005, in honor of her use of celebrity to benefit poverty-stricken women and children around the world. The award was presented by Robert Downey Jr.
