Actor Rainn Wilson, best known for playing Dwight Schrute in The Office, has changed his name in protest of climate change.
Wilson has taken to Twitter to urge others to do the same and spread awareness of the devastating effects of global warming.
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Global warming is well and truly upon us.
There’s no denying that little has been done to change the devastating fate of the world.
Unfortunately, no matter how many documentaries David Attenborough creates…
Without the help of the government putting essential changes in place, it feels as though there’s little we can do.
However, there’s one celebrity that’s trying to get us to fight back.
Rainn Wilson.
You’ll more than likely know him as Dwight Schrute from The Office.
But away from the cameras, Wilson is a big environmentalist.
He has a passion for helping the planet.
In 2008, the actor co-founded the digital media company SoulPancake, now called Participant.
The channel has over 3 million subscribers and millions of video views.
SoulPancake’s main tagline is: “We make stuff that matters.”
One of the many videos posted by the channel is Wilson’s section titled: An Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change.
In the videos, the actor takes a comical and educational look into why we need to address the issue.
In one of his videos, he interviews Greta Thunberg, the so-called poster child for climate change.
In the interview, he discusses his “arctic adventure” with the activist group Arctic Basecamp in 2019, where he visited Greenland to learn the “fundamental basics of climate change.”
In the video, Wilson explains how we need to get to 0 emissions by 2050, and how he’s worried we won’t be able to achieve it.
The pair also discusses how we need to reduce our carbon footprints.
And Thunberg makes an even more interesting point…
That “we need to pressure companies and governments to take real action.”
And “vote for candidates that support the science.”
As well as those that “end investments in the exploration of fossil fuels.”
It seems his talk with Thunberg and his exploration in the Arctic have pushed him to try and spread awareness of what’s really going on in the world…
And how our small acts of activism can ultimately make big changes.
The actor recently took to Twitter to speak out about the climate emergency…
As you might be aware, the climate change conference COP27 is currently underway in Egypt.
He shared that he had changed his name using the Arctic Risk Name Generator…
Highlighting the devastating impact global warming will have on our lives if we don’t do something.
Wilson is a board member of Arctic Basecamp…
According to their website, Arctic Basecamp is a “team of Arctic experts and scientists.”
They have been working for “the last five years,” to bring attention to the devastating effects climate change is having on the arctic.
“The Arctic Basecamp at Davos concept was created by Executive Director Gail Whiteman, as a vehicle to bring this message to global leaders.
“She, along with a small team, has brought the event to the World Economic Forum each year from 2017 to 2020…
“Calling for action from global leaders to apply responsive and responsible leadership to address global risks from Arctic change.”
Despite saying he’s changed it, the actor’s name still remains as @RainnWilson on his social media profiles.
It’s not known whether he has legally changed his name.
But the point still stands.
“With the help of my scientist friends at Arctic Basecamp, I’ve changed my name,” Wilson said in the video posted to Twitter.
“This is not a joke, I’m as serious as the melting Arctic, which amplifies global risks including extreme weather events around the globe.”
“I’m hoping this name change brings attention to this growing… er, melting issue,” he added.
“We need world leaders at COP27 to take notice and take action.
“The Arctic is melting at millions of litres per second, yet this problem can’t seem to make a name for itself, so it’s up to us to make a name for it.”
He also urged others to do the same…
“Go to ArcticRiskName.org and create a name that will bring attention to this problem.
“Then – and this is the important part – change your social media profile or display name to match your new ArcticRisk name.
And if enough of us do this, then maybe COP27 will be where our world leaders sit up and notice Arctic risks and introduce a solution.”
Wilson also revealed what the generator changed his name to, and it was a bit of a mouthful…
Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson.
It definitely gets the point across.
What do you think?