Green Gladiator of the Week: Houston Rocket Yao Ming!

Since a big part of my blog is spreading the best green messages and practices of athletes, I've decided that every Friday I'm going to highlight one that has made a positive contribution to the planet. He or she will be the "Green Gladiator" of the week. Please feel free to make suggestions for future Fridays!

To start off the "Green Gladiator" tradition I decided to go with someone who has publicly stood up for something I feel VERY passionate about. For those of you who don't know me well, here's a little secret...I LOVE ELEPHANTS! I think they are the most adorable and lovable creatures out there. Nothing in the world would make me happier than a baby elephant, I'm serious.


Unfortunately, poachers around the world kill elephants for their valuable ivory. Not only are they depleting the elephant population, but they also leave baby elephants orphaned. Luckily there are places like The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust that rescues the orphans and takes care of them until they are ready to return to the wild.

Poaching is a serious problem and is impacting ecosystems around the world which is why it's so important for athletes to use their fame to help solve the problem. Fortunately, one athlete has and that's why Yao Ming is the "Green Gladiator" of the week. Yao Ming has denounced illegal poaching and did a PSA for WildAid. He also spoke out against the hunting of sharks for their fins which is a delicacy in his native China. He's a great example of how athletes can use their celeb status to help save our planet. Thank you Yao Ming!!

Here are two great videos of the Green Gladiator of the week Yao Ming that he made with WildAid.





I hope that Yao Ming inspires people around the world to stop buying ivory and shark fins. The "delicacies" simply aren't worth it and should be seen for what they really are, fragments of a murdered animal.