Olivia becomes U.N. ambassador on environment
Olivia Newton-John becomes U.N. ambassador on environment
UPI 11 June 1990
UNITED NATIONS – Pop singer Olivia Newton-John, appointed Monday as a U.N. ambassador on the environment, said she will urge people to make changes in their daily life but will avoid “hitting people over their heads.”
Mostapha Kamal Tolba, the executive director of the U.N. Environment Program, said Newton-John will serve a two-year term in the post, which is designed to help “promote U.N. goals and activities in dealing with environmental issues.”
A beaming Newton-John told reporters she wants “to get people to realize that they can make changes in their daily life to help with the world’s problems.”
She said she can offer ‘friendly tips’ on how to preserve the environment through songs.
“I recorded a few songs on environment and I want them to be entertaining, of course, and without hitting people over their heads,” she said.
Newton-John, who grew up in Australia and is now a U.S. citizen, said she became interested in environment causes four years ago with the birth of her daughter Chloe and has written several songs for her.
The United Nations said Newton-John took part in the “Gift for Song” concert for the U.N. Children’s Fund in 1979 and last year helped in the filming of a documentary entitled “Spirit of the Forest.”
Her recent album, “Warm and Tender,” offered 10 pieces of advice on what people can do to improve the environment such as planting trees, recycling newspapers and avoiding chemicals that can endanger animals.
As an ambassador for the U.N. Environment Program, Newton-John will visit the UNEP headquarters in August for a ‘Celebrity Safari,’ and participate in the world conference on environment and development in Brazil in 1992.