With five private jets,
Travolta still lectures on global warming
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23390848-details/Air+miles+Travolta+urges+fans+to+%27do+their+bit%27+for+the+environment/article.do
30.03.07
His serious aviation
habit means he is hardly the best person to lecture others on the environment.
But John Travolta went ahead and did it anyway.
The 53-year-old actor, a
passionate pilot, encouraged his fans to "do their bit" to tackle
global warming.
Happy landings: John
Travolta's plane collection parked at his home in Florida
But although he readily
admitted: "I fly jets", he failed to mention he actually owns five,
along with his own private runway.
Clocking up at least
30,000 flying miles in the past 12 months means he has produced an estimated
800 tons of carbon emissions – nearly 100 times the average Briton's
tally.
Travolta made his
comments this week at the British premiere of his movie, Wild Hogs.
He spoke of the
importance of helping the environment by using "alternative methods of
fuel" – after driving down the red carpet on a Harley Davidson.
This is your captain: Travolta on tour
for Qantas
Travolta, a
Scientologist, claimed the solution to global warming could be found in outer
space and blamed his hefty flying mileage on the nature of the movie business.
But his appointment as a
"serving ambassador" for the Australian airline Qantas doesn't seem
to have much to do with the movies. Nor does a recent, two-month
round-the-world flying trip.
"It [global warming]
is a very valid issue," Travolta declared. "I'm wondering if we need
to think about other planets and dome cities.
"Everyone can do
their bit. But I don't know if it's not too late already. We have to think
about alternative methods of fuel.
"I'm probably not
the best candidate to ask about global warming because I fly jets.
"I use them as a
business tool though, as others do. I think it's part of this industry –
otherwise I couldn't be here doing this and I wouldn't be here now."
Travolta's five private
planes – a customised £2million Boeing 707, three Gulfstream jets and a
Lear jet – are kept at the bottom of his garden in the US next to a
private runway.
Indeed, such is his
enthusiasm for flying, he persuaded his wife, actress Kelly Preston, to name
their son Jett when he was born 14 years ago.
Five years ago he piloted
his own Boeing 707 on a 13- city "Spirit of Friendship Tour" for
Qantas, taking in Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo, London,
Paris and New York and amassing over 35,000 flying miles.
More recently, a
gruelling promotional schedule for his two latest projects, Hairspray and Wild
Hogs, has seen him fly extensively over the past year.
This includes a
country-wide tour of the US and a visit to Canada as well as this week's
appearance in Leicester Square.
Such prolific mileage
means that, over the past 12 months, he has accumulated around 800 tonnes of
carbon emissions.
According to a recent
study by the government-funded Carbon Trust, this means he boasts a carbon
"footprint" nearly 100 times that of the average Briton, who is
responsible for 10.92 tons of Co2, from his flights alone.
One of the world's
leading climate change businesses, the Carbon Neutral Company, has written to
Travolta, suggesting ways he could reduce these alarming levels.
He has yet to respond to
their advice. Environmental groups were quick to criticise Travolta for
"discrediting the cause".
John Buckley, managing
director-of CarbonFootprint.com, said: "John Travolta has such a high-profile
celebrity status, so what he says carries an extraordinary amount of weight.
"So it is such a
shame when someone of his standing is so outspoken about green issues, yet
fails to practise what he preaches.
"Unfortunately
someone of his standing ends up discrediting the cause itself, because he is
saying people should protect the environment on one hand, yet travelling on a
private plane on the other.
"Green issues are
serious and should be treated as such.
"It is vital for
celebrities to toe the line when they speak out in support of it."