Amazon the Green Gladiator
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Zoe Williams, had an unlikely change of career. Having qualified as a doctor in Newcastle, she decided to apply for becoming a contestant on Gladiators. They were so impressed that she was offered a role as Amazon and has now put her full time career on hold to become the face of Sky's green campaign.
Zoe is not an eco warrior just yet, although passionate about the environment, she is making small and practical changes to her lifestyle "being green is about being aware and remembering", she says, "making simple changes like changing to energy efficient bulbs, recycling, buying local not only helps the environment but also save you money". She believes that everyone can make changes and by just starting out with a few small steps you can quickly start to make an impact on the environment, your money and of course your health and wellbeing.
"Making these changes gives you a sense of wellbeing, knowing that you are doing your bit"
I asked Zoe about the changes she had already started to make, and the list was quite impressive. She is using the car less for short journeys preferring to walk, cycle or use public transport, she buys local and organic food, choosing items with little or no packaging. " I buy mushrooms loose and in a paper bag instead of buying the plastic packaging, it means that I can put the bag in my compost when I am finished". She is also enthusiastic about her new wormery. "I recently visited a wormery and was really impressed with how it helped the environment and how it could reduce my household waste", although she is quick to point out that it needs a little more attention than a normal composter.
She is happy that the supermarkets have removed the plastic bags from the end of the aisle and thinks feeling guilty about asking for a bag may encourage more people to remember to reuse old bags.
Zoe has recently had a water efficient shower head fitted and has replaced all her light fittings with energy efficient bulbs. "Personally, I'm really passionate about the environment, and I've always tried to be energy efficient and non-wasteful, but now I'm making some bigger changes and documenting them, and I'm hoping this will encourage people to follow suit."
So have these changes made a difference to your wellbeing?
"I do a lot more exercise without even thinking about it", says Zoe and she believes that these changes have not only increased her exercise but also helped her to eat more healthily and has even made one meal a week totally vegetarian.
When she isn't training outside with Michael Pellegrino, Be-Fit Body Management and flipping tyres she is visiting schools to promote the Appetite for Action campaign, a free educational website for all Primary Schools in the UK and Ireland that helps schools tackle a range of sustainability issues through the topic of food.
Although Zoe is also a qualified doctor currently working as a locum in Newcastle to fit around her filming she plans eventually to specialise in General Practice. While she was training she did learn about the various forms of complementary therapy and is interested in looking at ways of preventing illness, and is certainly a good embassador for health, wellbeing and the environment.
schools.appetiteforaction.org.uk
