KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mr World Jamaica finalist Raymond Morrison is making waves beyond the runway with his fervent advocacy for environmental conservation and climate change through his pioneering initiative, ECHO — Environmental Conservation and Humanity’s Obligation.
ECHO seeks to include, inspire, and empower communities to take concrete actions against climate change, promote sustainable practices, and ensure the preservation of our planet for future generations. Morrison’s love for nature propelled him into environmental activism, culminating in the creation of ECHO.
“I realised that our island’s natural beauty is not just a treasure, but a responsibility. This is why I started the ECHO initiative,” Morrison explained. Guided by five core values — compassion, urgency, inclusion, integrity, and hope — ECHO reflects Morrison’s commitment to transparency, honesty, and accountability in all its endeavors.
Morrison emphasized, “We care deeply about the well-being of people, animals, and the planet. Our commitment to transparency, honesty, and accountability underscores our work, and we remain optimistic and dedicated to creating a better world.”
Given Jamaica and the broader Caribbean’s heightened vulnerability to climate change, Morrison highlighted the impact of Hurricane Beryl on southern Jamaica as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate resilience. He stressed that rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events demand immediate action.
One of ECHO’s recent initiatives saw Morrison and his team tackling Morant Point in St Thomas, a crucial area for the country’s ecosystem. “We identified a large amount of plastic waste, which can absorb and retain heat, potentially influencing ocean temperatures. Pollution and waste are key contributors to climate change, which can impact hurricanes,” Morrison noted.
As part of his efforts as Mr World Jamaica, Morrison aims to collaborate with global leaders to address environmental challenges and promote climate resilience. In addition to clean-up projects, ECHO focuses on creating sustainable solutions. During a coastal clean-up, the initiative upcycled beach waste, turning glass bottles into vases and creating art from trash as part of a hands-on demonstration of sustainability.
“ECHO is not just about clean-ups; it’s about creating solutions. To create an impact, we took it a step further during our coastal clean-up by upcycling materials found on our beaches. This is sustainability in action,” Morrison elaborated. He added, “The world is shifting towards sustainability – in fashion, education, and well-being. I’m passionate about being part of this movement. This platform would allow me to amplify ECHO’s message, inspire global action, and collaborate with leaders to mitigate climate change.”
Morrison aspires to be crowned Mr World Jamaica on September 1, 2024, representing his country at the prestigious Mr World competition. Founded by the Miss World Organisation in 1996, the Mr World competition is a globally distinguished event, currently held by Jack Heslewood, an aerospace engineer from England, crowned on August 23, 2019.
With ECHO, Raymond Morrison exemplifies how pageant platforms can be powerful vehicles for inspiring societal change and environmental stewardship.
