Actor Ian Somerhalder was featured on E! News September 7, 2011 for more than his charming good looks or acting talent on the hit television show Vampire Diaries on the CW channel. Apparently, the entertainment news channel took note the sexy Hollywood hunk is an active environmentalist who recently testified before congress!
According to their television report, Somerhalder — who says he was raised as a home school student through his high school and college years — started model at the age of 10. The Louisiana native and son of a massage therapist was raised modeling in New York and Europe, giving him a global perspective.
Somerhalder was very proud to have been able to speak in front of congress in a plea for environmental conservation. Truly an eco friendly celeb and political activist, you can follow him on Twitter to learn more about #green news.
For instance, today he tweeted, “California passes shark fin ban – http://bit.ly/pfE2jd! Thanks to all who helped #stopsharkfinning! Long live #sharks!”
He’s also tweeted support for organizations like the World Wildlife Foundation and exchanges tweets with fellow green celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio (who recently founded a save the tigers charity).
Other than acting in the popular vampire series, he is a co-owner of a pizza joint in Idaho with his sister and has started his own charitable foundation.
The Ian Somerhalder Foundation is an eco friendly animal welfare organization that, “aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.”
They work with other charity benefits and non-profit organizations to help improve public awareness that everything in nature is connected. Plant, animal, geological and human elements are interconnected in such a way that harming one harms all.
Focusing on the eco-impact concerns humans have on habitat, they strive to prevent species extinction, to prevent deforestation and pollution, and to legally advance conservation efforts. In addition, they support green technology and generally promote animal welfare.
So what makes a Hollywood television star care so much about the world around him?
Somerholder believes, “Nature does not behave independently. It works in unison with all its elements. Working independently to transform our planet is like trying to playing a violin without strings.”
Just like a true artist, recognizing the aesthetic balance of nature and speaking to reflect an awareness of the divine balance between man and nature in such a way that helps us understand both ourselves and the world around us simultaneously.