EXCLUSIVE: Katy Perry and co’s very short-lived ‘vanity’ jaunt into space has led Greenpeace to call for ‘space joyrides’ for the rich and famous to be banned altogether
Greenpeace has called for “space joyrides” for the rich and famous to be banned after Katy Perry’s “vanity” jaunt.
The global environmental pressure group launched a stinging attack on the all-woman 10 minute 21 second junket to the edge of space aboard one of billionaire Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rockets.
In a blog on the Greenpeace website digital engagement lead Jackie Zamora branded the mission – which she claimed cost “tens of millions of dollars” – a “blatant display of excess” while millions are “struggling to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare and shelter”.
She said such “space joyrides” were the “epitome” of the “inequality and climate impact gap between the super-rich and the rest of us”.
If the aim was to “inspire women with a ‘you can achieve anything’ message, it failed”, she said. “Why would we be inspired by a vanity ride to space?,” Jackie said.
“Nothing significant has been achieved for regular people. Entire communities are being torn apart by increasingly frequent and devastating climate disasters. Natural resources are depleting, and our planet is facing irreversible damage.
“At a time when the world is facing growing economic inequality and extreme impacts of the climate crisis the idea that the super-rich can spend these vast amounts of money for a few minutes in space just to realise ‘we need to protect Mother Earth’ feels incredibly out of touch.
“Much like their private jets these space joyrides are a blatant display of excess and a polluting lifestyle for luxury and convenience. These vanity space rides are marketed as advancements for humanity.
“But they in reality highlight the disconnection between those who can afford to literally reach for the stars and those who are directly impacted by extreme weather events and inequality.
“We’re constantly told there’s ‘not enough money’ to solve these global crises. The truth is that the money is there, it’s just in the wrong pockets.
There’s more than enough wealth to fix these problems but it’s hoarded by a small percentage of people who profit off exploitation, pollution, and systemic inequality.
“We must hold the super-rich accountable and redistribute the resources to build a fair, sustainable future for all. We need global tax rules that work for regular people, not multinational corporations and the super-rich.
“No more joy rides into space. No more hoarding extreme wealth while communities burn and people struggle to make ends meet.
“If governments taxed the super-rich we could build a more just and green future for everyone where families aren’t forced to choose between putting food on the table and keeping their homes warm, where people could have access to quality public services, affordable healthcare, green homes and sustainable public transportation.”
Katy, 40, serenaded her five fellow astronauts – including Bezos’s fiancee Lauren Sánchez – with Louis Armstrong’s 1967 classic What A Wonderful World as she looked down on Earth during a mission she hailed “the highest high”.
The I Kissed A Girl singer planted a smacker on the ground after she was whisked 62 miles into space at 2,243mph where she briefly floated around in micro-gravity before splashing down in the Texan desert watched by a host of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
Afterwards Katy pledged to write a song about the “incredible” adventure a fortnight ago which she said was the “second best thing to being a mum”.
“I feel super connected to love,” she said. “I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, how much love you have to give and how loved you are, until the day you launch.
“It’s about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it.”
But Katy has reportedly since been surprised and disappointed by some of the backlash over the mission – the first involving an all-female crew since 1963.
Dr Gareth Dorrian, a space scientist from the University of Birmingham, said: “Let’s call it what it is and not tell ourselves that it is contributing meaningfully to science or space exploration.
“I am afraid I do still think these flights are essentially just joyrides for the super-rich.”
Neither Katy nor Blue Origin had responded to requests for comment.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
