Zhou Xun is China's first UN Goodwill Ambassador on the Environment
Source: Daylife

I can't claim to have seen any of her movies, but apparently Chinese actress Zhou Xun has apparently done something right, as the United Nations has selected her to be a Goodwill Ambassador on the Environment.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced on Monday that Chinese actress Zhou Xun was appointed as its first National Goodwill Ambassador with a special focus on promoting environmental sustainability.

"Zhou Xun has set a good example in her own life to protect the environment that also impacts people around her. It only seems fitting that she has chosen to help the United Nations promote environmental awareness, in particular, on the challenge of climate change," said Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in China.

He said UNDP would work with Zhou Xun to motivate individuals to take part in the fight against climate change by adopting simple lifestyle habits such as using reusable chopsticks in restaurants or switching to more efficient, energy saving light bulbs.

Having signed the Letter of Designation, which must be for the smallest amount of money she has ever signed for - one dollar a year, the multi-talented award winner Zhou Xun described her appointment as an honour and responsibility.

"It's not about the message, but the delivery.The issue is how to get people to voluntarily practice the green tips they have already known and be proud to practice them. Our goal is to find a clever way to make green tips hip, fashionable and fun," said Zhou Xun.

"Everyone must do his part to tackle the challenge of climate change head-on, rather see the reduction of carbon emissions as something to be tackled by government and big industries. Everyone can make a difference," she added, citing she managed to persuade her colleagues to use reusable chopsticks when shooting film in Yunnan Province.

Some people will say that silly little appointments like this don't make any difference, but I tend to disagree. I think that at some point everyone gets a little starstruck, and celebrities can do an outstanding job of communicating a message for change. Even if their advice isn't always taken, celebrities have a power that we regular folks sometimes don't. That is, they can get people to listen.

Just yesterday I posted that George Clooney was meeting with the British Prime Minister about Darfur, which is good a step in the right direction. Gordon Brown isn't very likely to invite me to his office and listen to my complaints, but he'll damned sure listen to George Clooney.

Even if there's no immediate action, celebrities fulfill a very important function by generating dialog. And once people start talking, a few of them might actually decide to do something, and that's how change begins.