Yesterday I published THIS POST from the press room of New York City’s Sheraton Hotel while attending the Clinton Global Initiative. It began by noting the presence of actor Jim Carrey, who was there in a serious capacity as founder of the Better U Foundation. The post contrasted the huge array of government officials from all over the world, academics, actors, writers, business types and corporate leaders who were there to find solutions with the kind of politicking going on outside where the goal is to take something, be negative and create a sound bite to get similarly minded partisans all riled up.
And so it seems only fitting that our Quote of the Day really should be this chunk of Jim Carrey’s Huffington Post piece where he explores his other incarnation — one that may not rake in the money and adoration that his screen career does, but one arguably having the potential of having the greatest impact. It’s always nice to see someone who has fulfilled their own dreams try to help others fulfil theirs — or even just help them be alive to be able to dream:
In 2005, I established the Better U Foundation with the goal of promoting transformational and sustainable ideas that can improve the lives of people around the world. One innovation that has captured my attention is a revolutionary yet simple methodology known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). In a nutshell, SRI produces over 50-150 percent more yield while using 50 percent less water, 90 percent less seed and no fertilizer or pesticides.
For the past five years, I have been committed to learning as much as possible about SRI and have dedicated resources to its promotion and expansion. In partnership with Cornell University, the Better U Foundation has also funded and established the SRI International Network and Resource Center, which conducts research and strives to educate farmers, development practitioners, policy makers, and many others in the promise and potential of SRI.
I may not be a scientist, but I know a great idea when I see it. Since its humble beginnings in the 1980s on the African island of Madagascar, SRI has spread to 40 countries and has been endorsed by presidents, prime ministers, leading conservation groups, and agricultural scientists. The practice has thrived in some of the harshest climates the planet has to offer. The SRI method includes planting young seedlings earlier, planting single seedlings, utilizing wider spacing, avoiding flooded soil, ensuring soil aeration, and using organic fertilizer. Most importantly, SRI has proven to be more resistant to droughts, cyclones, typhoons, and pests, and is readily available to farmers with no additional costs.
The collateral environmental and thus human benefits of SRI are equally impressive.
There is a lot more so go to the link and read it in its entiretry.
Footnote: If people are true to form there will the usual almost instantaneous, dismissive, cliched sterotypical reaction of some towards anything someone in show business says about trying to find a solution to a problem. Or Carrey will be pigeonholed either here or elsewhere as a “liberal” because the whole way our politics now operates is trying to grab any chance to stick someone in a political category, demonize them or negatively define them so you discredit them and whatever you can to whip up resentment against them because they might belong to a different political party or (God forbid) see things differently in ideological terms. But read his post in full and make your OWN decision on the merits of what he advocates. Carrey was typical of the quality and seriousness of people who attended the CGI and tackled big issues in segments free from people screaming over each other or hurling political terms at each other.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.