Aussie Orange Is The New Black actor Yael Stone made headlines in January when she declared she was giving up her US green card to combat climate change.
Yael opened up about her brave and selfless decision at the VAMFF International Women’s Breakfast presented by Myer and Marie Claire with the mags editor Nicky Briger:
“We are right smack bang in the middle of a time to act.
“This is it. This time, this life that we’re allotted.”
“For this five minutes, I have influence. Can I use it? Can I use it to engage you with these issues
“Putting your own life on the line and walking the talk.
“It feels like the behaviour is going to hurt a little bit. Am I making a bunch of decisions that are going to affect my career?
“Yes. The short answer is yes.
“But the solutions are there if we can move the conversation towards the solutions.”
The actress made the announcement on Instagram In January in an emotional speech:
“So what sacrifices am I going to make? Good question. To begin with, I’d like to announce that I’m giving up my green card. After a long, considered process, we’ve come to understand that it’s unethical for us to set up a life in two countries, knowing what we know. The carbon emissions alone from that flying… it’s unethical; it’s not right.
“So I will be going through the process of giving up my green card and saying goodbye to a life in America.”
Being International Women’s Day it’s hard not to speak about the female dominant show that is Orange Is The New Black. Yael says OITNB “started a conversation about representation and diversity”.
“That show is a wake up, an immediate wake up.
“I grew up with a white-washed television screen and I didn’t noticed cause I’m white
“Orange woke me up to my privilege.”
Yael spoke briefly about the allegations of sexual misconduct she made against Geoffrey Rush in 2017. She thanks her loving family and husband for being the support system she needed so she could speak out.
“It’s very uncomfortable for me to talk about.
“I was lucky where I could make that decision because I had a loving family and a husband who supported me.
“That privilege means that I could make a decision like that, if you get fired you’re done for and there are thousands of people out the door who will take your job.
“All I know is I only had one choice to make and it took a really long time to make it and it was really hard.”
Other speakers at the annual event included: Amy Thunig, Jean Hinchliffe, Asher Keddie, Matina Jewell and Elyse Knowles. The 2020 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival is here from 4 – 14 March 2020. To buy tickets to the festival head to vamff.com.au.
Image: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
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