Cruise, Tom
In 1989, Tom Cruise witnessed first-hand some of the uncontrolled destruction going on in the Amazon rain forest. He served as master of ceremonies for Earth Day in Washington, D. C. and was keynote speaker for the entertainment industry's environmental conference. He was also a contributor to Cry Out, an environmental booklet for children. His 12 films include Born on the Fourth of July, for which he received an Oscar nomination.

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The rain forests are burning at the rate of a football field a second. Heaven Is Under Our Feet, 1991.

The most important thing I learned in the Amazon was that care for this planet has to start in your own front yard. How can we ask the Brazilians to stop environmental genocide when we have been the accessories to this crime in the United States for many years. Ibid.

Certain U. S. companies export for profit pesticides that are banned as too toxic in the U. S. to unsuspecting third world countries. Ibid.

Only 4 percent of our ancient forests are left, and these are under siege. Ibid.

Parts of our national forests have been sold to the Japanese as wood pulp. Ibid.

Some fifty-five pesticides are used that are known or suspected of causing cancer and which can leave residues on food. Ibid.

We must preserve our ancient forests. It is unacceptable to negotiate them away anymore. Ibid.

Recycling should mature from a nice idea to second instinct in all American life. Ibid.

The ingenuity that produced a light bulb lasting ten times longer, using one-third the energy of a regular bulb, has to be exploited and nurtured. Ibid.

We must demand sensible environmental policies from government. If we get none, we must elect leaders with the courage to do the right thing. Ibid.