ABC/Lou Rocco(NEW YORK) — Macklemore is an advocate for human rights, but he’s an environmentalist as well. He’s joined the fight to clean up the Duwamish River, the only river that runs through his hometown of Seattle, Washington.
On his website Macklemore, born Ben Haggerty, writes about how over the years, the river has become contaminated with toxic levels of waste, making it one of the most polluted and the most dangerous in the U.S. He adds that the life expectancy for those who live in the neighborhood nearest the river is eight years less than that of Seattle overall, and 13 years less than those who live in the city’s most affluent areas.
“I believe that it is our responsibility as members of Seattle to clean and restore this river back to health, and to make sure that ALL children can grow up and have access to a clean and safe environment,” he writes. “To ensure that the salmon they eat will act as nourishment and not lead to disease.”
The rapper adds, “We are Seattle. No bridge, boundaries or invisible man-made lines divide us. This is our home, our people and our community. This is our city’s only river, and I want to do my part to make sure that it’s safe for all that reside here. I stand in solidarity with community leaders and families who have organized for years to right this injustice.”
Ben’s also seen posing front and center on a website called RiverForAll.org, which is working to raise awareness of the problem.
To get fans excited about helping the cause, Macklemore is offering a cool prize: Instagram a photo of yourself and tag it with #riverforall and @duwamishcleanup, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a kayaking trip on the river with the rapper himself.
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