Sara Pender - Miss Earth Scotland 2012 Profile

Sara Pender

Miss Earth Scotland 2012

BIO:
Age: 23
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 133lbs.
Vital Stats: 32"-26"-36"
Hometown: Lanarkshire

INTERVIEW:

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?
As I work for one of the biggest retail giants in the UK I want to work with them to reduce their carbon footprint and help them with the recycling and reduction of plastic bag usage. We already want to reduce our energy costs by L700,000 and become a greener work place. I have already done research into how we could encourage customers to use eco-friendly bags and ways to encourage customers to recycle their old plastic bags. I am intent to try and implement my ideas throughout the Glasgow Branch and then hopefully out to the rest of the partnership.

What makes you proud of your country and what can you promote about it?
Scotland although a small country, is one of the most beautiful in the world. The central belt of Scotland is busy, full of culture and seeped into a dark history. However, with a half hour drive you are in a totally different environment, where there is plentiful greenery and stunning views. It is this natural beauty of Scotland environment that makes me proud to be Scottish.

Describe your childhood/growing years:
I found these years pretty difficult, changing from being a child into a teenager was hard especially. Moving from primary to secondary school was a huge test. I was much taller than all the other boys and girls and some people picked on this attribute, making me very self conscious. I did however, have a group of very close friends and family and overall I had a pleasant upbringing.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
I learned that even when times get tough and you fall low, keep on fighting to fulfill your dreams because one day you will realize that it was all worth it in the end.

What is your most memorable moment?
When I was 17 I won the Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition in London. I was shocked that I had managed to come first out of 10,000 entrants. This launched my modeling career which I have loved ever since.

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose it?
To reduce the use of plastic bags in the UK retail industry. I choose this as it is something that I am involved in on a daily basis. I do consume products but it is more to do with the fact that I see the wastage of plastic bags on a daily basis in my work. People do not realize the damage that they are causing to the environment when they misuse plastic bags. Plastic bags take over 100 years to degrade and damage our world’s oceans and the animals within these oceans. Also making and transporting these billions of plastic bags has a profound effect on the by environment adding to air pollution. I propose to encourage everyone to own a eco-friendly bag, and to promote it by introducing a loyalty scheme in John lewis. I also want to introduce recycling points throughout stores where customers can replace their old plastic bags and for John Lewis to come up with a new way of disposing these which would be more environmentally friendly.

What tip can you share to promote sustainable energy for all?
To promote sustainable energy I think we need to start right at the beginning. First of all we have to re-educate people on the damage we are causing to the environment. People are unaware of the amount of energy they use on a day to day basis. We need to make the message clear of what the damage is and what this will escalate to if we do not make the change. I feel this would be a hard hitting message. First of all, gain people’s attention, then show the solutions and make them aware of the benefits of using sustainable energy resources.

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