P&P campaigner profile: Beth Taylor
Every month People & Planet profiles an individual campaigner, in order for us to celebrate and highlight what P&Pers are doing. If you think one of your friends should be displayed on this page then then get in touch with us. This month's offering is...
Name: Elizabeth Taylor, initials E.T -thus either way making me incredibly old and haggard looking - my parentsī sense of humour amazes me!
Beth
Age: 20
School/university: The University of Warwick (midlands)
What are you studying? French and History
What inspired you to start campaigning? At school I set up a recycling scheme and that really brought home just how much waste big institutions like that go through but more importantly how setting up something like that can encourage awareness among a large population of people and lead to even the most apathetic finding some inspiration in the changes theyīve had to make to their lives. I was also quite involved in the Campaign against Climate Change and their Kyoto rallies which always gave me a sense of purpose and context to the changes I was making in my own life towards more sustainable living.
Describe your most memorable P&P experience: Warwick University recently held a GO GREEN WEEK and that was by far my most memorable university experience! The sense of collective responsibility was infectious and itīs amazing to see how many others were inspired by the fostering of that. We made huge leaps forwards in terms of getting our Vice chancellor on board with Recycling and an environmental officer. We got 3000 signatures and held a brilliant day of sustainable living awareness with bicycle powered smoothies, bands playing using wind turbine powered electricity, hybrid cars and free advice on ethical careers and student friendly energy saving tips!
How did you first hear about P&P? At our freshers fayre I was lured me with Fairtrade chocolate - nuff said!
With many commentators suggesting that apathy is rife amongst young people, what can be done to engage young people in the campaign for social justice? For anyone to be less apathetic they need to know that any decision they make counts. No one will reduce or recycle or campaign or vote unless they can see the big picture and thus see the urgency of the issue and the high profile it has. That is why it is so important for universities without People & Planet groups to receive speakers and others who are inspirational. There has to be a combination of the national/political campaigning to really encourage action and the support network on campus and in schools to encourage sustainability of action and relevance to peoplesī everyday lives.
What do you think is the most pressing issue in the UK today? I think climate change and poverty are the most underrated of issues facing the UK today and very reflective of the global situation in general. They need to be put firmly onto the political agenda and events like the Carbon dating the other week are starting to address that.
What was the last album you listened to? I was listening to Demon Days by the Gorillaz this morning.
Where would you most like to visit? Teeside! Iīm intrigued as to where exactly it is as the furthest north I`ve been is York and the Teeside massive made quite an impression at the forum!!
What are your ambitions for the future? This summer Iīm working in France on some sustainable development education centres and that is where I see my life leading. I love campaigning but the buzz is about getting others who donīt normally think about issues such as Trade justice or sutainable living making the beginnings of changes to their lives.