Green Celebrity: Ringo Starr

No more fan mail for Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer for one of my favorite groups of all time, the Beatles.  Now before you begin to think that he is not grateful for his fame and his fans, his decision is two folded.  First of all, can you imagine how many letters Starr receives on a weekly basis? And not just letters, but items that fans would like for him to sign for them – where do you suppose the majority of those items appear for sale? On eBay of course!  I’m sure it doesn’t make you feel good to have your “fans” use you as a profit making machine.  The former Beatle explains his 40 second video posted on his website by insisting the ‘ban’ on fan mail was “in direct response to an inordinate amount of items which have recently appeared for sale on eBay, and to those that repeatedly send cards and items to be signed.”

He also adds, “(It’s) a waste of paper and we all should be mindful of our carbon footprint.”

Quick Fact: the average American uses more than 730 pounds of paper each year, which ends up making close to 40% of our garbage.

Starr adds the video was not aimed at his “real fans” who have recognized that he “has always signed items and is in fact the only Beatle to have been doing so.”

The drummer says he is “amazed” by the reaction to his video message, and urges fans to “read this in a mellow way.”

So perhaps we could still send our “peace and love” to Richard Starkey via email or text message? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it’s always a step in the right direction when attention gets pointed to the importance of being aware of our carbon footprint.