Actor Don Cheadle has been named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the organization’s environment agency, the U.N. News Centre reported on Saturday.
The announcement was made during a ceremony for World Environment Day in Rwanda, where Mr. Cheadle took part. The actor is best known, perhaps, for his role in the film Hotel Rwanda, which gave much needed public attention to the Rwandan genocide and afforded Cheadle an Academy Award nomination.
Of his new role, the actor said, “I would love it if we were able to live in a world which is in harmony with its environment. But it is money over people, money over environment, money over everything.
“We need to educate people on the environment and draw clear connections now—it is not disparate pieces, it really is a chain of life. We have to connect the dots. I am surprised the environment is not at the top of the agenda. What is more important than clean air and a healthy planet?
“I hope this designation as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador will give me the opportunity to motivate the public to take action and bring people together to tackle environmental challenges.”
The announcement was made during a ceremony for World Environment Day in Rwanda, where Mr. Cheadle took part. The actor is best known, perhaps, for his role in the film Hotel Rwanda, which gave much needed public attention to the Rwandan genocide and afforded Cheadle an Academy Award nomination.
Of his new role, the actor said, “I would love it if we were able to live in a world which is in harmony with its environment. But it is money over people, money over environment, money over everything.
“We need to educate people on the environment and draw clear connections now—it is not disparate pieces, it really is a chain of life. We have to connect the dots. I am surprised the environment is not at the top of the agenda. What is more important than clean air and a healthy planet?
“I hope this designation as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador will give me the opportunity to motivate the public to take action and bring people together to tackle environmental challenges.”
