New Delhi, Feb 2: He has been the icon for fitness enthusiasts all over the world and now Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to inspire the world to go green.
The 64-year-old actor on his maiden visit to India said that he wishes to make a significant contribution as a crusader for the environment the same way he did for fitness.
“I began to weight train at the age of 15 and was awarded the title of Mr Universe at 20. At that time I wanted to inspire people to be fitness conscious. Now it feels great to see gyms in offices, in schools, in hotels.
“Fitness was my crusade then, and green is my crusade now. I want to inspire people for sustainable living, the same way I did for fitness,” Schwarzenegger said at the 12th Sustainable Development Leadership Summit here today. The ‘Terminator' star, who took time off from shooting his latest film ‘The Last Stand' to visit the country, said that he always wanted to come to India.
“I was shooting for ‘The Last Stand' and I asked them to speed up filming, so that I could be free to come here. I always wanted to come to this land of culture and tradition,” he said.
Schwarzenegger, who has also served as the Governor of California from 2003 until 2011, has been praised for his contribution in increasing green economy of the state. He said that his mission is to now take green revolution all around the world.
“California's green economy is booming. There are 10 per cent more jobs against the whole of US. The state is 40 per cent more energy efficient than the rest of the US. I will stop at nothing. I want green revolution all around the globe. That is my mission,” he said.
The actor praised India's efforts towards a clean, better environment.
“India doubled up renewable energy share in the total energy production to 11 per cent. Renewable energy investments also went up by 52 per cent than the last year. This is the reason India now leads the way in renewable energy investments. We need such economy-changing innovations and movements for the world,” he said.
