STYLE / Watches
IMAGES: ROLEXBanningsingle-useplasticswillnot necessarilysave
Planet Earth, but making the right choices every day will,
says Rolex Testimonees and seasoned environmental
activists Sylvia Earle and David Doubilet
BY TERENCE LIM
Forsomeonesoestablishedinenvironmental
conservationcircles,Americanoceanographer
andRolexTestimoneeSylviaEarleis not
a radicaltree-hugger.Herapproachto
curbingecologicaldeclineis onebuilton
pragmatism. She is even candid about her own
carbon footprint—she is constantly jetting
off to different places around the world to
identify “Hope Spots” under Mission Blue,
the non-profi t organisation she founded to
protect the oceans.
“I leave a big carbon footprint because of
my travels,” she openly admitted during the
Rolex Perpetual Planet Symposium, held at
the National Gallery Singapore in August.
“But I try to make every trip worthwhile and
make the most out of them. If you travel for
self-indulgence, you can take what you have
seen and tell and spread the stories or bring a
kid along for him to experience something—
that will already pay your way.”
Together with long-time collaborator,
celebrated marine photographer and fellow
Rolex Testimonee David Doubilet, the
84-year-old addressed the topic of climate
change to an audience comprising tertiary
students, undergraduates and environmental
activists. The symposium was organised by
Rolex under the umbrella of its Perpetual PlanetMarine photographer and
Rolex Testimonee David Doubilet
takes a pragmatic approach
to saving the earth, which can
also be said for his long-time
collaborator and fellow
Rolex Testimonee, Sylvia Earle
(pictured below left), who
joined him at the Rolex Perpetual
Planet SymposiumSound Advice
116 singapore tatler. october 2019