Pop Culture

The Man Burns Green

Marcus — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:15:03 -0400

Last week, I had the privilege of making my second excursion into the Nevada desert for Burning Man 2008. Situated two hours east of Reno, Burning Man is a weeklong arts, music, and cultural festival, and takes place in a temporary community known as Black Rock City that’s erected exclusively for the week of the “Burn.” The desert is peppered with dozens and dozens of dazzling art installations from some of the world’s most incredible designers, and custom designed “mutant vehicles” cruise through the desert night, lights flashing and music playing, to create a truly unique and dazzling landscape. The 2008 theme was “The American Dream,” which made for some very thought-provoking—and critical—pieces that dealt with a variety of aspects of our nation. In a word, it was awesome.

This year marked the largest turnout ever for the event, which was started by a handful of San Franciscans some fifteen or so years ago, and has blossomed into a desert pilgrimage that over 50,000 people embark on each year. It’s also the world’s largest Leave No Trace event, a staggering accomplishment when you consider the scope of how large Burning Man actually is.

As someone who’s attended Burning Man, it’s quite easy to understand the commitment the festival makes to maintain the natural environment that serves as the event’s venue. The Playa, as the desert is affectionately referred to by Burners, is treated with reverence and care. First off, there are no garbage receptacles at Burning Man. Burners are expected to take out whatever trash they bring in, and leaving MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) on the Playa is considered a serious faux pas. Second, each person is required to bring in all their own food and water, and take it all with them when they pack up and leave when the week is over. Finally, each camp is required to have containers to collect “gray water”—that is, any water that’s been used for cooking, teeth brushing, washing, etc—to avoid dumping any tainted water directly onto the desert surface. While there are port-a-potties that are fairly well maintained, showers are out of the question (unless you bring your own—and some people certainly do), so most Burners settle into a shower-less, sand-encrusted existence, where considering yourself “clean” is only a baby-wipe to the armpits away. Comforts are relative in the Black Rock Desert.

Surprisingly, though, once you settle into the Burning Man lifestyle, it’s relatively easy to adjust, and the lack of dependence on modern societal comforts is actually quite refreshing. It’s exhilarating to be completely off-the-grid, and it’s something I would recommend everyone try, if even for a short while.

On top of the environmental challenges campers face, Burning Man’s parent company, Black Rock City LLC, is also committed to ensuring that the Burn has the lowest environmental impact possible. In 2006, they issued an environmental mission statement outlining their ongoing commitment to the earth, and in 2007 the theme of the Burn was “The Green Man” to further highlight the importance of successfully carrying out an environmentally responsible Burning Man. Black Rock City LLC also plants trees and purchases carbon credits to help offset the emissions generated by the thousands of cars and RVs that journey to the desert each summer.

Having attended Burning Man for two years now, I think the thing that most impresses me about the event’s commitment to the environment is how genuine it is. People actually care about the space they’re inhabiting, from the campers, to the artists, to the event organizers themselves. It’s an incredibly refreshing feeling to be a part of such a positive community, and it’s something that I’d highly recommend. Hope to see you there.

Top 10 Green Excuses

kbutler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re reading this article, odds are that you’re probably at least a light pale green in your commitment to Mother Earth. (That or you’re a friend or relative I’ve harassed to read my blog – you guys rock!) So in honor of the many shades of green out there, I present a list of top ten green excuses for your every day use.

TOP TEN GREEN EXCUSES

10. “I know I smell, but you couldn’t possibly expect me to shower longer than 1.3 minutes and waste an extra 3.6 gallons of water.”

9. You can’t eat dinner at your mother-in-law’s because you can't be subjected to another helping of her non-organic food/soul-crushing criticism.

8. “Of course I’m tired. I was up all night trying to figure out exactly why Madonna is on the cover of Vanity Fair’s 2008 Green Issue.”

7. “I’m sorry, but attending your son’s Bar Mitzvah/daughter’s confirmation/sister’s wedding will offset my carbon footprint.”

6. When you’re pulled over for speeding, you say, “How about I give you 25 useful facts on solar power to make this whole thing go away? Okay, make it 50.”

5. You walked into that adult sex shop because you thought that sign read “We’re totally organic!”

4. “What do you mean, I can’t set up an industrial wind turbine farm in my front yard? What is this, Communist Russia?”

3. You tackled that distinguished gentleman on the street because you thought he shared Al Gore’s dreamy profile.

2. When you’re mistaken for a homeless woman, you explain you’re just taking “reduce, recycle, and reuse” to the next level.

1. “Oh, like you’ve never tried to run a Hummer off the road!”

Smog Envelops Beijing on the Eve of Opening Ceremonies

Marcus — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:38 -0400

Apparently, it’s unclear whether or not the “fog” that International Olympic Committee president James Rogge reported seeing earlier today in downtown Beijing is due to pollution or excessive heat and humidity. Either way, today’s haze marked the smoggiest day of the past week and, with the opening ceremonies just a day away, the I.O.C. is concerned that it may have to postpone events due to noxious air. Outdoor events, especially cycling, triathlon, and marathon running, are the most at risk, and I.O.C. officials are taking every precaution to ensure athletes’ health and safety. While Chinese authorities are confident that the air quality will remain at safe levels, the air pollution in Beijing is often three times higher than the U.S. limit on any given day.

It’s going to be interesting to see whether or not athletes opt out of tomorrow’s opening ceremony, where they’ll have to be outside for several hours. Look for Beijing’s pollution to become a theme over the course of the games—it may unfortunately play a significant role in the way several of the events unfold. There’s already been some controversy over American cyclists getting off the plane with pollution-cutting masks on. The smog, in conjunction with some serious humidity, not to mention the rising tensions of the China-Tibet conflict, could make things a little bit sticky over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

“WALL•E”: The Greatest Environmental Film… Ever?

Marcus — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:22 -0400

Once the opening strains of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” from the Broadway musical “Hello, Dolly!” began at the start of the film, I knew that “WALL•E” was going to be an experience I wouldn’t soon forget. And I was not disappointed: what followed was a truly groundbreaking cinematic achievement, not just in the realm of computer-animated features, but in film, period. “WALL•E” writer/director Andrew Stanton, who dazzled audiences in 2003 with the impeccable “Finding Nemo,” has outdone himself, and in turn has provided us with one of the finest films likely to hit the screens this year.

But forget how visually dazzling the epic, dystopian version of the future that Stanton paints is. Forget how effectively the film is able to convey robot emotion through the use of minimal dialogue and two songs from a musical written over fifty years ago. Forget, even, that “WALL•E” is one of the most poignant, heart-warming, resonant love stories in recent memory. Even without these elements, “WALL•E” remains an important fable about the dangers our planet faces, and the potential catastrophic results in store if we don’t amend our ways.

The world that “WALL•E” is set in is a world in which humans have incorporated mass consumption so inextricably into their lives that the earth becomes completely submerged by garbage. Eventually, conditions get so dire that the entire human race leaves on massive, cruise-ship-esque space stations, only to let their bodies and minds deteriorate over generations as they rely on machines to do all their physical tasks and thinking for them. WALL•E himself is created for the purpose of helping to collect and aesthetically redistribute garbage but, as all humans abandon the planet, he soon becomes marginalized, a relic of a bygone era programmed to perform a service that is no longer needed in the absence of human life.

And yes, it’s certainly amusing to watch the humans in the film bumble around like disoriented infants, and the message is not exactly subtle, but that doesn’t make it any less timely or relevant. While it may be unlikely that Broadway-loving robots will become intergalactic heroes in the centuries ahead (then again, what do I know?), the finite, fragile portrayal of our planet and its resources is all too real. The fact that WALL•E’s resilient spirit and optimism are eventually what turn things around for him (not to mention all of mankind) is a testament to the fact that positive, proactive thinking about the state of our earth is the only way to go from here on out. Without giving away too much of the plot, let’s just say that WALL•E is instrumental in helping the humans he encounters to realize the joys and value of preserving the natural wonder of the earth, and his tenacity comes as a much-needed breath of fresh air. “WALL•E” shows us that, while we’re facing some challenging obstacles as a planet, it’s not time to throw in the towel yet.

In short, see the movie. Oh, and if you get a chance, check out “The Dark Knight.” It’s bad ass.

Related:

Check out RiverWired’s Top 10 Eco-Films

Sex and the City Lingerie Line Uses Bamboo

ckane — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:36:09 -0400

The media blitz surrounding the "Sex and the City" movie has been relentless, and until now RiverWired was one of the only sites on the Internet that hadn't mentioned it. Until now! But there is a green angle.

Cosabella is a lingerie line featured regularly throughout the HBO series, like in bedroom scenes when Carrie wore bras to honor her no-nudity clause. Just in time for the movie, Cosabella has released a "Sex & the City"-inspired line (with no overt references to the show, just the personalities of the characters, and the tags inside the undies). The line has looks named for each of the four main characters, and the comparatively modest Charlotte line uses bamboo fabric. The press release describes Charlotte's line as "more like typical sleepwear - since she seems like the most likely candidate to actually lounge at home in her pajamas."

Figures they'd give the eco line to the lamest character. But it's cool that they did include the bamboo fabric.

Also in the same press release--HBO's VP of licensing and retail mentions efforts to be eco-friendly with their other S&TC merch.

Image: The Lingerie Post

Top 10 Green Complaints about Hollywood

kbutler — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Hollywood has long been a supporter of green issues. But what happens when the entertainment industry falls short of eco-expectations?

TOP TEN GREEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOLLYWOOD

10. When an agent buys a Prius and nobody notices.

9. That Eric Bana and Christian Bale have yet to star in a movie that brings together essential green concepts like “shirtless,” “well-oiled,” and “loin-cloth.”

8. Callous producers who forced a certain 30-something skin-conscious female television writer to picket in ozone-depleted sunlight for three months in a row.

7. Why pay $15 to see tidal waves and earthquakes destroy the planet when you can watch The Weather Channel for free?

6. Melting glaciers aren’t that interesting – unless they’re shot on a digital hand-held crashing through the streets of Manhattan!

5. In Baywatch, no one ever seemed to be actually watching the Bay.

4. No Academy Award for greenest celebrity.

3. Actresses whose body parts aren’t organic.

2. That you can’t get green props for Botoxing. After all, it is an organic plague.

1. A rather inconvenient lack of sex and violence in An Inconvenient Truth.

Top 10 Lesser-Known Myths about Global Warming

kbutler — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Sure, there’s lots of finger pointing when it comes to who is to blame for global warming. Kyoto Protocol aside, there are whispers of other mysterious figures who may responsible for August arriving in May. (At least in Los Angeles, where the idea of “Hey, at least we don’t have humidity” is being swiftly losing ground to “When did the Mojave Desert expand into Santa Monica?”)

It’s a conspiracy by…

10. The fur industry to get animals to abandon their fur.

9. Bitter athletes who want to end Canadian dominance in hockey. Not so cool when you skate in slush, is it?

8. Evil supermodels sick of having to cover up in the winter.

7. Annoying guys who walk around saying “Hot enough for ya?”

6. Hollywood, who wants less money spent on heating oil and more money spent on blockbusters about the ravaging effects of global warming.

5. Pot smokers who want to see how high they can get off trapped greenhouse gases.

4. The pork industry, who wants to promote bacon by openly frying it on the sidewalk.

3. Failed plastic surgeons eager to see people’s faces melt off.

2. Icelandic folk sick of wearing Icelandic sweaters.

1. Real estate magnates who have already bought up the soon-to-be balmy south coast of Antarctica.

Want to learn more about global warming?

New Report: Doubts Grow About Global Warming

Send an Instant Message, Fight Global Warming

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Global Warming

Global Warming Cartoons

Jared Leto Pushes Back on Global Warming

Clean, Renewable Energy: The Answer to Global Warming

What You Eat Can Affect Global Warming, New Study Shows

Wedding Dresses Made From T.P.! Don't Squeeze the Charmin

ckane — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:59:16 -0400

Seven New Zealand brides competed last month before a wedding expo to see who designed the best toilet paper wedding gown, according to the website Stuff. Flushing bride (I wish I made up that joke, but I didn't) Vicky Heir was the winner. Here's another pun I wish I'd made first, from the article: something old, something new, something borrowed from the loo.

Participants were allotted 16 rolls of Cottonsofts toilet tissue with which to create their dresses, and most took about 8 to 10 rolls. Expo manager Peta -Marie McLeod had this to say about the entries: "They were absolutely stunning. It was just amazing -- the amount of effort some put in. They looked like the real thing."

The contest was concieved as a promotion for the expo. As to why this particular dress material was chosen, I remain completely in the dark and the article offers no clues. But hey, anything made of toilet paper biodegrades, right? And it's not the first time: here are toilet-paper-dress contest winners from last year on Cheap Chic Weddings. (Do check it out, some of the entries are unbelievable.) The grand prize was $500, so theoretically she could have made dozens of more gowns with the prize money...

Photo: Stuff

New Report: Doubts Grow about Global Warming

jkraft — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you thought the red state/ blue state divide was extreme in our nation’s politics, now there’s evidence for increasing polarization between green states and grey states… of mind.

How you feel about global warming these days largely depends on your demographic. The more conservative you are, the less likely you are to trust Al Gore and his cohort of climate change scientists.

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released a report on May 8 showing that while 84% of Democrats and 75% of independents say there is evidence of global warming, only 49% of Republicans do.

The partisan divide also holds when Americans consider the cause of purported global warming. While nearly 60% of Dems and half of Independents blame human activity for the atmospheric sauna, only 27% of Republicans agree that we’re the cause.

Yet when the believers in both parties were polled about possible solutions to the problem, they both attest that we’ll be able to curb its potentially disastrous effects. But despite the optimism, nearly half the public believes that “major sacrifices” will be required to roll back climate change.

Overall, global warming seems to be slightly less of a priority concern for both parties than it was one year ago; however, Republicans put it at the bottom of the list of their top 21 issues.

Want to learn more about global warming?

Top 10 Lesser-Known Myths About Global Warming

Send an Instant Message, Fight Global Warming

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Global Warming

Global Warming Cartoons

Jared Leto Pushes Back on Global Warming

Clean, Renewable Energy: The Answer to Global Warming

What You Eat Can Affect Global Warming, New Study Shows

Want to learn more about Eco-Politics?

Check Out Obama’s Global Warming Plan

See What McCain Will Do About Climate Change

Hillary Clinton on the Environment

There’s More Than One Way to Hug a Tree

Top 10 Signs You’re Not Running a Green Campaign

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall… Who’s the Greenest President of Them All?

World Class Wrestler Goes to Sea to Fight for Eco-Causes

Julia — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

El Hijo del Santo, 25, or Jorge Guzman, is a world-renowned Mexican wrestler, but that's not all he fights for. His latest and most important endeavor is saving the environment.

El Hijo del Santo is the new spokesman for Wildcoast, a California- and Mexico-based conservation organization. He is working hard to teach the Mexican people the importance of conservation and preserving the environment.

His main focus in on the preservation of endagered sea turtles. He says that oftentimes, turtle meat ends up in various soups, and in tacos; the turtle eggs get sold on the black market. Turtle eggs are popular because many people believe that they are an an aphrodisiac.

A Wildcoast study also found that, due to coastal contamination, hree-fourths of the people who regularly swim in the ocean near the border cities of Tijuana or San Diego have suffered some kind of health problem, including intestinal and skin diseases.

It's not a good situation, by any means, but there is hope!

El Hijo del Santo is one of the most famous stars of Lucha Libre, a specific type of professional wrestling, popular in Mexico and Latin America. A lot of people look up to him, and he knows that kind of impact his actions can have on the rest of the country.

It is because of high-profile individuals, like El Hijo del Santo, and activists like you, that the environment is getting more attention than it ever has before, and that is imperative!