Heros of the 21st Century

by Linda Raya Carel

It seems after the Twin Towers fell, so lifted America’s dysfunctional apathy. The World Trade Center financial genocide marked the beginning of the 21st Century, catapulting a shift in mass consciousness from self concern to increased global participation for the common good.

This new era is ushering in more account ability, honesty, social responsibility, active philanthropy - and with the arrival of Obama, those riding the evolutionary cusp obtained their figurehead. This one man personified the essence of what the next chapter of humanity is all about - common decency, genuine compassion, integrity and the courage to change the status quo to something better. Barrack Obama being elected President radiated an acceptance of wisdom over what was previously perceived as power - family connections and financial wealth.

Indications of a changing of the guard are everywhere. Newscaster personalities often indicate the ‘behavior du jour’. Yesterdays uptight, stoic disposition has been replaced and a down to earth manner is encouraged. Buzzwords are ‘truth’ and ‘real’, and although there are questions how authentic reality shows are, the fact that they exist reflects the general public’s interest in more authenticity. Widespread internet capability has connected the world, and familiarity has lead to more caring and mobilization of those who do. Humanity is more than waking up, it’s standing up, and a global healing is in motion.

Philanthropy is being embraced like never before. Financial wizard Warren Buffet's unexpected & unprecedented $31 billion gift to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is helping fund revolutionary breakthrough vaccines and medicines for Malaria and Aids which are working miracles in Africa. Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens donated $7 million to Hurricane Katrina victims, while his wife Madeleine hired a cargo airliner and saved the lives of 800 cats and dogs, getting them out of Louisiana to dryer ground. Madeleine is currently campaigning to save the lives of 33,000 wild horses caught on our Midwest plains by the US Bureau of Land Management.

Emerging are true heros, those who have sacrificed themselves and their time to be of service to others and the earth. Such is the case with a girl in her early 20's, who in 1997, climbed 180 ft. up a Redwood Tree and set up camp, refusing to come down for 2 years, bringing attention to the cutting of our ancient forests. You did read that correctly, 2 years in a tree. A courageous and selfless feat being a ‘human shield’. She saved the tree (whom she named Luna), and a one mile radius around it from demolition. Logging of our forests depletes the very air we breathe and contributes to global warming. Her name is Julia Butterfly Hill, now THAT’S a hero. It’s a new day.

Named one of Time Magazines 'Heros for the Planet', Bobby Kennedy Jr. is a father, tenacious (very much like his own father), environmental attorney and active founder of the Waterkeepers Alliance, an international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the earth's Lakes, Rivers and Oceans from toxic polluters. Kennedy sued those mucking up the Hudson River and saved it from becoming a toxic dump. The steadfast Bono and Bobby Shriver’s organization ‘Red’ has raised $130 million for Aids in Africa. Brad Pitt not only donated money but designed and built eco houses in New Orleans. Since 2001, Angelina Jolie has tirelessly traveled the world as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations. Together they have donated a kings ransom and are parents to a rainbow global family. For 10 years Leonardo Dicaprio has been using his celeb status to help raise awareness and alter the status quo of apathy, to environmental concern. Oprah built an $40 million dollar girls school in Africa, on 52 acres complete with state of the art classrooms, 600 seat theatre, beauty salon and yoga studio.

Ed Norton has long worked to create affordable Green public housing in America, as did his Grandfather James Rouse. Ed donated over $1 million in 2004 to the Foundation, which is the largest non-profit developer of low-income housing in America. He has championed BP Energy to lead in alternative energy sources. Fearless Captain Paul Watson who founded Greenpeace and is now Captain of Sea Shepherd, gallantly saves our magnificent whales and marine life from extinction. You may have seen on the hit show Whale Wars (Animal Planet), Watson isn’t afraid to ram his sailing vessel into a Japanese fishing boat while it’s illegally poaching our ocean’s gentle giants. Some have used the T word, but aren't those killing endangered species who are spawning, creating their next generations, in an area designated as a whale sanctuary...the terrorists? Perspective is changing, shifting, veils are lifting.

A profound sign of the paradigm shift is David Mayer de Rothschild, a seemingly unlikely member of the elite banking family dynasty, who has become an Xtreme earth advocate. Using his inheritance to contribute to the greater good, de Rothschild travels the globe on risky expeditions to bring attention to pressing eco concerns. He started Adventure Ecology in 2005, a creative internet based educational site, which allows the public to virtually experience David and friends on their eco missions. The next adventure will be traveling 11,000 miles on a boat made of recycled plastic bottles, through the 'Pacific Garbage Patch', read about this fantastic voyage for yourself - www.theplastiki dot com. The ultimate goal is raising awareness of environmental frailties and bringing about positive change. When not trekking rugged terrain, he is the informative host of Eco Trip, a show on the Sundance channel which uncovers everyday eco offences - and solutions.

Woody Harelson and Laura Louie, Ed Begley, John Mellencamp, Daryl Hannah, Matt Damon, Rosario Dawson, Adrian Grenier, Willie Nelson and countless unknown heros have ushered in a new age of active awareness. Caring people fighting the good fight. Warriors who have been steadfast in their support of what is right,who walk their talk and represent the new consciousness. They are authorities on the subjects people now seek. That’s what’s hot now - ego in check, heart open, knowledge, unquestionable intent. No hidden agendas. True heros of an awakening world.

In this era of accountability, those who operate below grade standards of awareness and integrity are failing. Enron, Fannie and Freddy, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Bush, Cheney and even Madonna are institutions and icons of yesterday who have lost popularity and credibility due to a trail of greed, ignorance or both. The fact that powerful ‘establishments’ have money for PR and know how to use it to forge a positive ‘image’, can only fool the public for so long. An increasingly aware public is now connecting the dots and keeping track of rhetoric and hypocrisy. The current revered currency is the measure of one’s soul - which cannot be bought with image changing PR campaigns and using tax shelters for charity.

At a time when the very environment which sustains us is being threatened, superficiality is a luxury we can no longer afford as a species. We are in a race against apathy to cure the damage that been done to our planet. All hands on deck and man your stations.

Currently if you are not doing something to help, you are asleep at the wheel. And if you’ve been fighting the good fight with sincere intentions, you most certainly rock, deserving of tremendous accolades, which of course, you really don’t give a damn about. This only adds to your appeal – in the new paradigm.

Jane Goodall - full of grace