Poor celebrities; they never get any respect when their inner moral voice tells them to get involved in an initiative they feel passionate about.
At least that’s the case for more celebrities. George Clooney, for example, has long been an advocate for several initiatives, the genocide in Darfur the primary one, and he has been taken very seriously by both the public and in the governmental world.
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and U2’s Bono are other examples of entertainers who consistently take up worthwhile causes in an effort to help those around the world who are in need.
Miley Cyrus, however, has not received the same level of reverence as Clooney, Pitt, Jolie or Bono.
B.C. conservation group Pacific Wild recently invited Cyrus to tour the Great Bear Rainforest, located along the central coast of B.C., in an effort to teach the young pop star what it believes is the negative effect the provincial government’s approved wolf cull and grizzly bear hunt has on the area, and the two species.
The Eagle did a story on the B.C. government’s approved wolf killings, which it says is a necessary step in its efforts to salvage a herd of endangered caribou in the province’s southern interior.
Some conservationists have disputed the claim that a wolf cull will help save the caribou, including the local Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, with director Georgina De Caigny saying it is not wolves causing the decline in caribou, but loss of habitat.
Following her tour in B.C., and prior to it, Cyrus went to social media saying that the wolf cull and grizzly hunt must be stopped, adding that ‘science was on her side.’
The B.C. Liberal Party, let by Premier Christy Clark, did not take kindly by being called out by the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and said the 22-year-old entertainer should ‘stick to twerking’, a reference to a style of dance the singer popularized a few years ago. Why the harsh and juvenile attack from the B.C. government?
Celebrities often take up causes, some justified, others not so much – which category each falls into would depend on an individual’s outlook of the world.
Some may look at Daryl Hannah’s Keystone XL pipeline protests as ridiculous, while others see it as brave and necessary.
There may even be some who still look at Jenny McCarthy’s stance against vaccinations, which she claims causes autism, as a valid one, even though pretty much the entire medical world contradicts the entertainer’s allegation.
People in general tend to take up a particular cause when something has a direct affect on their lives or a loved one’s – McCarthy has a son with autism.
Celebrity causes can at times bring the wrong kind of exposure to an issue – much as the McCarthy vaccination issue has – as public perception is drawn to the star power rather than scientific evidence.
Though Miley Cyrus is by no means an expert on wolves, caribou or grizzly bears, it should be noted that many in the conservation world agree with Cyrus, and are also calling for an end to the wolf cull.
Humans (governments included) have long attempted to ‘balance’ species in the wild, often killing some predatory animals in an effort to save another. Though this may be a noble endeavour, it can backfire, as last week’s Eagle article pointed out in Yellowstone National Park.
Why the B.C. government chose to respond to Miley Cyrus’ concerns in the immature manner it did is perplexing, and should be concerning.
But, if Ms. Cyrus’ concerns leads to greater research and effort being put in to saving wolves, caribou and grizzly bears, then good on her.
