Green Giant talks about coming full circle on eco-issues
Date: 01-06-2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamCanada |
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s he stood before a ballroom full of business leaders preaching his go-green message, even the movie-star-turned-politician had to admit the whole scene was a bit "odd."
"I'm getting so much attention about the fight of global warming," California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told the gathering at the Pacific Economic Summit in Vancouver yesterday. "But the fact is, three-and-a-half years ago when I ran for governor I had environmental protesters with signs: 'Get rid of your Hummer; You're flying private planes; He'll be the worst governor; He'll be the worst for the environment.' Now, I'm on covers as being the Green Giant and the saviour of the environment. So this is how odd life is."
But Schwarzenegger, who spent the day touring Vancouver wearing a matching green tie with Premier Gordon Campbell, knows the key to any crusade is savvy marketing.
"That's what I studied when I was in high school," he said. "Little did I know then that for the rest of my life I'd be using those skills promoting and marketing bodybuilding, promoting and marketing my movies and now promoting and marketing all the different policies including the environment."
And promote he did in a day filled with photo-op after photo-op. First off was a morning welcome in which First Nations kids performed an eagle dance. As Schwarzenegger happily stood watch, Campbell bopped along, tapping his feet and nodding his head.
After addressing the Pacific Economic Summit to a standing ovation, the duo strode out to pose for the cameras as they talked to companies showcasing green technology.
Among those who spoke to the politicians was Sara MacIntyre, a once-vocal critic of government spending as the former director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in B.C. After years spent criticizing the Campbell government, MacIntyre now works for Naikun Wind Development, a company specializing in windfarms. "It's nice to . . . talk about good news for once," said MacIntyre.
Canada Line construction workers at 2nd and Cambie seemed equally happy to meet the politicians, albeit for different reasons.
"I've seen Schwarzenegger's movies since I was a little kid," said worker Jose Tavares. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
