Melanie de Laat is not just a stunning beauty. She is a stunning beauty with genuine interest in preserving Mother Earth. She talked in length on what are the most urgent environmental problems in her country. The word Netherlands actually means low lands with large chunks of its land below the sea level. But with global warming and the sea levels rising, Netherlands is literally fighting for its survival. The Dutch are known for their eco-friendly culture like the extensive use of bicycles (even before the word Global Warming was invented) and tapping the air energy via windmills. These and many more, will surely make Melanie proud to represent her country at Miss Earth 2008 pageant.
Complete Name: Albertha Melanie de Laat
Age: 22
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 54 kgs
Eye Color: green/grey/blue
Hair Color: brown
Occupation: Management Assistant, Modeling (after the Miss Earth I’m going to study again)
Date of Birth: 07-12-1985
Place of Birth: Utrecht (the most beautiful city in The Netherlands)
Please describe yourself in three words.
Such a hard question because a lot of words reflect my personality. But if I must choose these are the best three words: outgoing, headstrong and ambitious.
What is the most urgent environmental problem in your country right now and what do you think is the solution?
Air pollution is the biggest problem in the large cities of the Netherlands. The quality is very bad, so many people die sooner annually. The cause is mainly the motor traffic and to a lesser extent other types of traffic, such as motorbikes, boats and so on. The still increasing energy consumption is also a big problem, while the use of durable energy sources rises too slowly. It is necessary to adapt all new housing and existing house building and functional architecture at the climate change. The houses and offices will have to be as economical in energy as much as possible.
Deforestation is a very big problem on a large scale and also the continued increase of CO2-discharge as a result for example of airplane movements. More and more industrial sites are being built at the expense of scarce green space. Fortunately there are a lot of organizations in The Netherlands that look after the environment to keep Mother Earth as clean as possible.
Flash Flooding
In the near future, it will become increasingly difficult to take water for granted as we do now. The likelihood of floods will rise, for instance. Because the earth is slowly heating up, ice formations will melt, and the total water volume within the seas and rivers will increase eventually, the water levels will rise. These developments will have several consequences for the safety of people living in coastal areas.
Nowadays in the south of the Netherlands we already have flooding problems when the snow in the Alps start to melt.
Since approximately half of the Netherlands is below sea level, any climate changes will probably have influence on the millions of people living in these areas.
Solutions
Air polution:
One of the solutions in our big cities is a number of car free Sundays , where no cars may drive in the centre. Our capital is leading in this campaign as some parts of Amsterdam are even car-free.
Also public transportation is promoted by the government: students get free tickets for bus, tram and train.
For me a good solution to this problem would also be free public transportation in the big cities so people will leave their cars in the outskirts. This is already the case in Hasselt,Belgium and in Curitiba,Brasil.
Deforestation:
It still remains a problem because the Netherlands is densely populated so we have less space for nature to flourish freely.
As we know a green seat is a choice. But I think it would be better if the price for a green seat is included in the regular ticket fare, so we’re sure the CO2 emission is partly compensated.
If we travel more by public transport we don’t have to cut down more trees.
Flash flooding:
All the measures taken since the big flood in the fifties will not work in the future. Scientists keep on finding solutions for this problem like making the dikes stronger.
I hope we will solve this problem together which finds it’s origin in global warming.
We in the Netherlands tried to protect our country already for centuries, even today , but with global heating we have to face the fact that we are too small a country to solve it on our own. We have to deal this problem not as one nation, but as one world…
What environmental activities are you currently engaged in?
I recycle paper, glass, and other waste and use green energy. For example I use solar energy for the lights in my national costume. In buying groceries I prefer for the packaging with recyclable materials.
Does it take a beautiful woman to remind all of us the need to preserve the resources of Mother Earth.
Every important issue needs its Ambassadors, so Miss Earth contestants must use their beauty and public status to remind people how precious Mother Earth is. It is also the responsibility of every citizen every day to act for the good of the planet and we can remind them of that responsibility.
Beauty and vulnerability are often closely linked, so a beautiful woman can represent very well the fragility and vulnerability of Mother Earth as a role model.
What do you hope to see in Manila, Guam and Bali - hosts to Miss Earth 2008?
Miss Earth Netherlands 2007 Milou Verhoeks shared with me her experiences in the Philippines, like the friendly people, the nature and their culture. I hope to experience that also in Guam and Bali.
Lastly, a message to all the web visitors of Missosology.Org.
Mabuhay, kumusta kayo? (Hello, how are you?) We all know that we and Mother Earth are facing a lot of environmental problems. I am a positive person and I still believe in the fact that we all can make a change because, habang may buhay, may pag-asa (as long as you are alive there is hope). If we want to make a big diffrence, we must be united together like the strongest roots of Mother Earths trees, magsama-sama at maging malakás (stay together and be strong). Be responsible for your own actions and inspire others to do that also!
Missosology wishes to thank Melanie and the entire Miss Earth Netherlands Organization for the interview and great photos. Melanie is now working together with the SLF foundation. It is a new foundation that will help and support the Philippine people that live in poverty. SLF will do it's best to help as much people as possible and a lot will be focused on children. This is a small foundation with big ambitions. They want to reach as much people working as well-organized while keeping the cost low.
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