Rocio Castellanos - Miss Earth Dominican Republic 2012 Profile

Rocio Castellanos

Miss Earth Dominican Republic 2012

BIO:
Age: 25
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 135lbs.
Vital Stats: 36"-26"-38"
Hometown: Santiago de los Caballeros
Profession: Artchitect and Model
Notes: Competed in Miss Continente Americano 2009; 4th run-up in Reina Hipanoamericana 2009

INTERVIEW:

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?
I’d create awareness among people through educational campaigns by providing information on how to protect and care for our mother earth. The world is being affected by technological progress and rapid population growth, upsetting the biological balance of the earth, and these affect directly or indirectly the human being. With simple facts, like using low consumption bulbs, saving water, not throwing garbage in inappropriate places, using less plastics, etc., we could contribute to heal the earth. In the world there is almost 7 million people and the responsibility is for each and every one of us. Remember, sometimes little things can do a big difference.

What makes you proud of your country and what can you promote about it?
What makes me more proud of my country is the people, by the greatness they possess as human beings, the love they give, the values ​they hold, the sympathy and joy that they transmit, the way they see life. I am proud that God gave me the privilege of being born in the Dominican Republic. A little island, located in the heart of the Caribbean, endowed with beautiful beaches, a wonderful mountain biodiversity, rivers, a small sample of wilderness, a pleasant tropical climate, a country full of culture and a very interesting history, We are the first city in the new world, we have a colonial city known worldwide for its history.

Describe your childhood/growing years:
My childhood was based on the family; I come from a strong family with strong ties, a family based on love and values. Since childhood my belief in God was instilled in me. My parents worked hard to gave me the foundation to be a good person in the society. Since my childhood I remember in my parents the gift of help others. Thanks to that foundation I had from my childhood, I am the person who I am today, a determined person, fighter, honest and persevering, but especially with a huge desire to help, to serve and to be able to face any challenge that comes in my way.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
Through the various experiences that God has allowed in my life and what my parents have taught me, I learned that the most important thing in a person is his integrity. Being honest and sincere, and always have as an irrevocable entity the values ​and principles. My philosophy of life are in two sentences, "I am the architect of my own destiny" and "Live to serve, not serve to live."

What is your most memorable moment?
It is so difficult to choose one memorable moment of my childhood/growing years, cause almost all of the memories I have are amazing in their particular way. However, choosing one of it, I must say, that the most memorable moment was two years ago when I went to make a donation of medical equipments to Haiti a couple of months after the disaster. I together with some other members of a foundation went to donate a medical equipment, when we got to Jacmel. We went to visit a tent city which was more or less like a homeless shelter. There we saw how men, women and children try to go on with their life with the little things that they had and with no humanitarian quality possible, with shortages of food, no medicine, but still, hopeful, full of joy amidst their own grief and with a huge desire to live and to move forward. I came home with a broken heart but saw life in a totally different way. Many times we worry and give importance to what really does not matter, for that reason it’s my passion to help the environment prevent pollution. We can mitigate and reduce these natural disasters which happens in defense of our mother earth.

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose it?
As an architect, I've been working with the term sustainable architecture for some time, that’s why I choose the green roof. Green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air temperatures and mitigate the heat island effect. Worldwide, of the 100% water that exists, 97.5% of it is salty and only 2.5% is fresh water. Of this percentage, 70% is locked, meaning it is retained in icecaps or permafrost, 29.6% is stored and only 0.4% is available for human consumption in the world. Of the 65% of that 0.4% is used for agriculture, 27% for industrial use and only 8% is for domestic use. The FAO and the ONU estimates that by the 2025 the war in between countries is going to be for water. That’s why, by recycling rainwater, and using it for domestic household, we are reducing the waste of freshwater in the world.

What tip can you share to promote sustainable energy for all?
I emphasize creating awareness again, that is the most important step, the rest comes along. In my country, the cost of the energy is quite high and the service is very poor, that has led the people and businesses to find sustainable energy alternatives and have opted for solar panels. Despite its high cost it is preferable. Despite doing it for financial reasons or quality, the truth is, perhaps without noticing, they’re helping the environment reduce pollution. We all can make a big difference; by just adding a grain of sand.

Other information that you would like to share with the Miss Earth Management:
It’s an honor for me to participate in the Miss Earth pageant. First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an ambassador of my lovely country. For me as an architect and as a beauty ambassador I commit to be a voice for the care of Mother Earth.

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* See also Miss Earth 2012 Special Coverage