There's more to the Divine Miss M then merely an outstanding entertainer. She is a compassionate human being who has a need and a dream to make this planet a greener, and greater place to live. Ms. M has been a longtime advocate for the environment. While living in Los Angeles, Ms. Midler became involved with both the California Environmental Project, primarily the "Adopt a Highway" and the "Adopt a Canyon" campaigns, the cities were unable to fund the cleanup, and so people could pledge themselves and their funding to keep areas clean. In 1990, she worked on a special called, "Earth and the American Dream" or "the Earth Day Special", which brought together an amazing cast of celebrities, who all wanted to make a statement about the horrendous situation of our environment. "Mother Earth" was dying and they needed to do something in order to keep her alive for future generations. Ms. Midler played "Mother Earth" and in the end of the film takes off the role, and speaks from her heart. It was a plea for everyone to begin doing something about pollution, litter, recycling. A great way to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day, but a sad reminder that not a lot had changed in the past 2 decades. As the 30th Anniversary of Earth Day is upon us, Ms. Midler has not tired in her quest at least, and has focussed on the city of New York to make a difference, her difference. On commenting to the New York Times after she and her family moved to New York she said, " When I came to New York about three of four yars ago, I said, 'My goodness, what a beautiful city under all this rubble, and I decided I would import the only cultural advance that California has-- cosmetic surgery." (Nov, 17, 1999) What did this mean for New York? DIVINE INTERVENTION. Ms. Midler created an organization called The New York Restoration Project, and serves as chairwoman. NYRP, is not an organization to which Ms. Midler merely had her name attatched. It is an organization of employees and volunteers which works to clean up parks, and to restore over 51 gardens which it recently purchased from the city. As well, there is a project which involves cleaning up the area, and raising funding for building a boathouse on the Harlem River, and the boat building has already begun. Ms. Midler is completely involved in this organization, and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I realized I needed to actually do something, even if I had to pick up the stuff with my own two hands." and she did and continues to do so. The self proclaimed "Queen of Compost," has been called other things in the presses since the creation of NYRP, New York Times has said of her cleanup campaign "Always Divine, now garbage has made her a saint," and "The self proclaimed Queen of Trash, known for her exuberant music, movies and costumery, adds another title- the Queen of Green." Journalist Frank DeCaro refered to Ms. M as "From Queen of Trash to Queen of Clean" BUT no matter how they refer to her, they all agree, that her intervention is DIVINE. For more detailed information on NYRP, press releases, news stories, the organization, volunteering, donating, and information about the annual "Hulaween" fundraising event, please visit the OFFICIAL NYRP site Her recording of songwriter Julie Gold's song, "From A Distance" has been used to describe movements for peace, as it was the most requested song during the Gulf War, a song of personal reflection and a song about taking care of this place in which we live, this planet. "From a Distance, the world looks new and green, and the snow capped mountains white," from a distance they look that way, and can look that way again, as they once were, and were intended to be. BUT, in order to make them so, there have to be people to stand up and make a difference. There has to be a conscience effort from all of us to make a difference in whatever way we can. So you're thinking that you can't start up a clean up organization on the scale of NYRP, and you don't live near NY and therefore can't get involved. WRONG, you can start doing things within your own community, recycle, pick up garbage at the beach or in the parks or along the highways. It's the whole planet in danger, and we all need to think about it. If donating money to a charity isn't within your means, that's fine, using your own two hands to pick up a plastic bag off a tree branch doesn't cost you a cent. "Creating a new park in New York City is a perfect example of public/private partnership at its very best. I hope that we can set an example for communities across America. The message is simple. Pay attention to the basics -- children and our environment -- and the quality of life will improve dramatically." (Bette Midler) **Notes and acknowledgements** The second is of "tire alley" one of the sites NYRP is working to restore, and The fourth picture is Secretary-General (UN) Kofi Annan (right)Bette Midler and Joseph Pupello visiting a restoration site. Both pictures are from http://www.un.org (photos (UN/DPI Photo# 196010C by Evan Schneider)& (UN/DPI Photo# 196080 by Evan Schneider) respectively) I would like to thank Kristy at NYRP, for her help and taking the time to provide me with of large amount of information, news articles, press releases etc.