Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel made more than one fashion statement when he arrived at the Canadian GP field on Friday, wearing a T-shirt that said, “Stop mining tar sands for Canada’s climate crime.”
And the driver known for being honest about climate change did not back down when asked about it at a press conference later that day.
“What is happening in Alberta is a crime, because you cut down a lot of trees and you basically destroy the place just to extract oil and the way to do it with tarsand mining, oil mines, is horrible for nature,” he said. the 34-. said father of about three children.
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And the Aston Martin team driver said he plans to wear a helmet when running in Montreal with a similar message.
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Sebastian Vettel’s helmet for the 2022 Canadian GP. # CanadianGP # SV5 #Vettel #Arai pic.twitter.com/cJzfnCI6Us
– Jens Munser Designs (@JMD_helmets) June 17, 2022
Vettel, whose car is sponsored by Saudi Aramco, wore a similar T-shirt to Miami last month that said “Miami 2060 – First Grand Prix Underwater – Act Now or Swim Later,” highlighting the effects of the change climate in the lowlands.
Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage responded on Twitter, saying the apparent hypocrisy “carries the cake.”
“Saudi Aramco has the largest daily oil production of any company in the world. It has a reputation for being the largest contributor to any company’s global carbon emissions since 1965,” Savage wrote.
Instead of demonizing bituminous sands, which are on their way to clean zero, people might try to reduce their personal carbon footprint. Maybe a pedal car for Formula 1? 👍👍🏎️ 3/3
– Sonya Savage (@sonyasavage) June 17, 2022
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“Instead of demonizing the oil sands, which are on their way to zero net, people could try to reduce their personal carbon footprint.”
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While on a British TV show, Vettel was asked if his position on the environment made him a hypocrite given his involvement in a “gas-eating” sport.
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“He does, he does, and you’re right when he laughs,” he replied. “There are questions I ask myself every day and I am not a saint.
“Some things are under my control and some are not. My passion is to drive a car, I love it and every time I step on the car I love it.
“When I get out of the car, of course, I’m also thinking, ‘Is this something we should do: travel the world, wasting resources?'”
At the same press conference on Friday, Vettel stressed the need to take care of the Earth for future generations.
“I think it’s fair to take care of him and not destroy him.”
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Vettel is the latest in a series of celebrities and public figures to talk about oil sands.
sebastian vettel is proof that being a good person makes you great pic.twitter.com/HLSmXXcyQ8
– leen (@LEENIAJ) June 16, 2022
In 2008, actress Neve Campbell toured the oil sands, becoming one of the first celebrities to speak out against the industry.
Since then, several prominent figures such as director James Cameron, anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu, singer Neil Young, actress Jane Fonda and actor Leonardo DiCaprio have made similar trips to draw attention to concerns. environmental.
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– with archives of The Canadian Press and Reuters
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