He's immortalised the characters of Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Jack Ryan on screen, but Harrison Ford's most long-standing part might just be that of activist.
The actor, 76, has been campaigning for myriad causes since the early '90s, championing environmentalism, sustainability and archaeology, among other issues. The Air Force One star is perhaps most passionate about the issue of climate change, a topic he will explore on-stage this week as part of the World Government Summit in Dubai.
Ford will speak at the Future of Our Oceans plenary session on Tuesday, February 12, where he will deliver a 20-minute address on marine conservation to audiences. Ahead of his appearance, the trained pilot released an impassioned video, revealing that climate change presents "the greatest moral challenge of our time".
“Fresh water shortages, higher greenhouse gas emissions, unprecedented fires, worldwide destruction. Is this the world we want?" he asked. “Our planet, the only home we’ve got, is suffering. This is the bare truth. This is our reality. It’s up to you and me to act, now.”
Below, ahead of his talk, we explore the causes closest to Ford's heart.
Conservation
The actor's work in protecting planet Earth's natural resources dates back more than 25 years, with Ford joining Conservation International's board of directors as vice-chair in 1991.
The American non-profit is dedicated to conserving food and water sources, livelihoods and a stable climate, and has helped protect more than 601 million hectares of land, marine and coastal areas, according to its website.
"I suffered an unconscionable excess of resources and was looking for some way to redeem myself morally," Ford told a Fortune conference in 2013 of becoming involved with the organisation. "[Coming] from the world I normally exist in, to be part of that conversation is really very stimulating for me."
The actor has also fronted campaigns for EarthShare, an environmental network that brings together hundreds of America’s conservation organisations, and volunteered with Riverkeeper, flying his personal helicopter over the Hudson River to identify and prevent water polluters.
Ford also donated more than 350 acres of his own property in Wyoming to the Jackson Hole Land Trust, for use as a reserve.
His numerous accolades include the Jules Verne Spirit of Nature Award, the World Ecology Award from the International Center for Tropical Ecology, and the Global Environmental Citizen Award from the Harvard Medical School, among many others.
Climate change
As part of his work with various conservation societies and organisations, Ford has spoken out about the threat of climate change on multiple occasions.
In 2018, the veteran actor spoke at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, where he urged voters in the US to support politicians that recognised the dangers ahead. "Stop giving power to people who don't believe in science, or worse than that, pretend they don't believe in science for their own self-interest," he told guests.
While accepting the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Patron of the Artists Awards last November, Ford revealed he does hold hope for the globe's future, particularly thanks to the younger generation. “Young people around the world recognize the need and are committed to meeting the challenge," he said during his acceptance speech. "They’re curious, they’re innovative, they’re more educated than ever before, they’re demanding solutions. They’re going for it. They’re all in. That gives me hope."
In 2014, Ford appeared as the first guest presenter on Years of Living Dangerously, a documentary series that interviews people affected by, and those seeking solutions to, global warming.
Archaeology
He played legendary archaeologist Indiana Jones on screen, and the actor has also shown an interest in the field behind the scenes. Ford was elected on to the board of directors of the Archaeological Institute of America in 2008, and still acts as a general trustee of the institute, which advocates for the preservation of historically important sites, today.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo
Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 28
Sector: Financial services
Investment: $9.5m
Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
|
United States
|
2.
|
China
|
3.
|
UAE
|
4.
|
Japan
|
5
|
Norway
|
6.
|
Canada
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
8.
|
Australia
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.