by Bob Schaller // Special
Correspondent
Amanda Beard’s
marketability is being taken to a new level.
Her
two-year success as spokesperson for Defenders of
Wildlife has been so well received that Beard will
be moving into other areas of wildlife and nature
advocacy.
Now,
before anyone thinks this is some blood-throwing,
car-blocking path that Beard is headed down, think
again.
“The
whole idea is about educating younger kids who are
ready to understand and respect the environment,”
said Beard, who was tabbed to help with
dolphin-related issues because of her swimming
status. “I have always been involved with animals,
my whole life. It’s been a great learning experience
and helped educate me about things.”
Beard, who says she still eats meat and is for
“responsible activity” in the environment, said the
goal is to respect nature.
“We
don’t need to drop oil solvent and those sorts of
things and destroy natural habitats,” Beard said.
“We just need to be more aware of what we do to the
oceans, rain forests and other areas.”
So
Beard is searching for an accord with groups – and
citizens – who abuse animals or the environment.
“That’s exactly what Defenders of Wildlife like to
do – find a compromise,” she said. “We want
solutions that aren’t outrageous, but that actually
work into everyone’s desires.”
Since
her first campaign was so successful – getting
dolphin safe labels on cans of tuna and thus making
sure the cans contain only tuna – she will continue
in the field. Still, having that success in
protecting dolphins is something she feels good
about.
“It
said it was dolphin safe, but it wasn’t,” Beard
said. “There’s no reason to be harming dolphins for
tuna – it is an awful and cruel thing.”
The
next animals up for Beard are probably manatees and
grizzly bears.
“We’ll shoot some public service announcements for
that,” she said. “It’s great for me, because I learn
so much. And I’m able to hopefully educate others.”
She’s
giving a voice to those who can’t voice their own
opinions or defend themselves – animals.
“Since they can’t speak up for themselves, we as
people have to look over the environment, both for
the animals and for our own future,” Beard said.
“It’s ridiculous that we have neglected this for so
long, because it’s so easy to get involved with this
kind of thing.”
Beard
said the role is a logical career move for her,
because she feels so passionately about the
environment and animals.
“When
you get older, you start reading more, watching the
news and learning more about the world around you,
so when you figure out that, ‘This isn’t right, it
shouldn’t be happening,’ you get involved and try
and make the world a better place,” Beard said.
“There are a lot of great organizations that I’d
like to get involved with, but I don’t want to
spread myself too thin. I just want to be involved
in something that brings people together to work in
a responsible way with other groups to have a good
affect on these things that mean a lot to me.”