Roz Savage Has a Plan to Save the World, One Eco Hero at a Time (Interview)

by Leah Lamb

You've probably heard of her, that British woman who left her corporate job in the name of rowing into a greener future and saving the oceans. A self proclaimed latecomer to the life of adventure, in her mid thirties, Roz Savage left a consulting job at an investment bank to become the first woman to row solo from California to Hawaii. In 2009 she continued by rowing from Hawaii to Kiribati. The third and final stage of her Pacific row began on April 17th, 2010, and she's attempting to row from Kiribati to Australia. But this time around, she won't be the only eco hero we're watching, if Roz has her way we'll be watching each other as well via her new social networking meets eco heroes game. I caught up with her via email just before she flew to Tarawa.

Planet Green: You have served as a point of inspiration for many, what is motivating you to turn the spotlight on others?

Roz Savage: Over the last couple of years I have used my ocean adventures to publicize environmental issues and to ask people to take action - on plastic pollution in 2008, and CO2 emissions in 2009. Eco Heroes is the latest phase of this ongoing mission, and I believe it will be our most fun and effective challenge yet.

As time goes on I'd like to turn the spotlight on others even more. I have dreams of creating a foundation, called the Ripple Effect Initiative, which will provide financial and moral support to individuals who have a calling to do something extraordinary. It is amazingly uplifting and inspiring to see someone living out their life purpose, and I'd love to be able to encourage more people to find and pursue the life they were born to live. So I'm starting to fundraise for the Ripple Effect now.

PG: You have traveled all over the world telling your story, who inspires you?

RS: There are many incredible people doing amazing things for the planet, everything from setting up community gardens to the global vision of organizations like 350.org. I was very inspired by the story of No Impact Man, Colin Beavan, who with his wife and baby daughter set out to minimize their environmental impact for a year. They walked and bicycled everywhere, ate local and seasonal food, and bought only secondhand items. They even went without electricity for the last few months of the experiment. While they freely admit that this was extreme, their point was to prove how little we really need. And they discovered all kinds of huge benefits, like increased fitness and energy, better health, and more quality time together as a family. I've met Colin personally, but he also wrote a book and made a film about their experience, so everyone else can get inspired too.

PG: There are so many programs where people sign up online and commit to doing something different in relationship to the environment, but it's hard to take them seriously. How is yours different?

RS: Eco Heroes is loosely based on the concept of the wildly popular iPhone game Foursquare, in which users check in at public places like coffee shops, restaurants, schools, etc. It has become quite a phenomenon, with people of all ages accumulating points to unlock badges. We wanted to take that concept and apply it to an eco initiative.

I think it will be the community aspect - and friendly competitiveness - of Eco Heroes that will set it apart. It gives people another reason to do the green thing, beyond just the feeling of satisfaction and virtue that comes from being environmentally responsible. It makes it more fun, and gives them the sense that their efforts are being recognized at the same time as connecting them into a global community of people all pulling together to make a difference.

PG: What role does inspiration play in the environmental movement of the 21st century?

RS: It is essential. In the 20th century, the environmental movement was dominated by scientists putting out their data in the belief that any sane, rational human being would be horrified and immediately take action. But it didn't work. Maybe there was too much information and not enough guidance on what to do with it. It was a bit overwhelming, and rather depressing. The average person just doesn't have the time or inclination to wade through it all - especially if it makes them feel bad.

So I think we need to make sustainable living more aspirational. We need positive role models who can show that it is possible to live a simpler, but richer and happier, life. We need to show that being green can be fun and fulfilling, and better not just for the planet but for humans too.

We are already starting to move in the right direction. And I hope that Eco Heroes will take us a bit further down that path towards a greener, healthier, happier future.

If you want daily inspiration to your twitter feed, you may enjoy following Eco Heros on Twitter.