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deborah — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:13:43 -0400

An Earth Day Blast from the Past

deborah — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In 1990 I spent Earth Day at Central Park where I and thousands of others watched the b52s rock out. I was 25 then and this is the first real Earth Day celebration I remember. It was huge and Earth Day was finally being celebrated all over the city - and all over the world. I remember a reporter asking some people sitting near us if they were environmentally conscious all year round, or just for Earth Day and the b52s. The people told him they were very much into the environment, but they left soon after and their soda cans were on the lawn.

I also remember all the people sitting in the trees trying to get a closer look at the show. Speakers such as Ralph Nader and Jane Fonda and the performers kept begging the people not to sit in the trees, but they were still going up there.

I don't now how much of the message was sinking in then, but I'm happy to see it sinking in now.

While we're discussing Earth Day 1990, check out this video from an Earth Day special that same year - it features a young looking Meryl Streep and Kevin Costner:

It may sound smug but I was feeling kind of superior on Earth Day in 1990. My parents recycled since I was a toddler. We used to go on hikes to clean up the Appalachian Trail and we were taught to take care of the earth at a very early age. If that reporter spoke to me that Earth Day I would have told him I thought about the earth year round. And when I left, there would have been nothing left behind.

Image: EarthDayNY.org

Blythe Danner Shows Off Garbage Trucks, Adrian Grenier Gets Green Award

deborah — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

What's going on in the world of the green celebrities and entertainment? When you consider Earth Day is soon upon us, lots! Here it all is in a nutshell"

Time magazine's green issue raises a lot of eyebrows. The cover depicts the statue of the flag raising at Iwo Jima, but instead of a flag the soldiers are raising a tree. Controversy ensues.
Adrian Grenier was in Vail to accept the Blue Sky Tribute for environmental activism. During an interview he said it means more to him to win an award for an environmental cause than acting.
Planet Earth is coming out with a series of board games. Sort of like a Trivial Pursuit for the green people, the Planet Earth games are filled with "green" trivia.
Elizabeth Hurley is going into the meat business. She's starting a cattle farm to produce organic beef.
Blythe Danner helped NYC show off a fleet of natural gas powered garbage trucks this week.

Enjoy! Be green!

That Power Cord Nightmare Under Your Desk Could be Worth Lunch with Chris Knight and Adrianne Curry

deborah — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

If you're like many Americans, you have a jumble of power cords under your desk. (Mine is hidden behind a large piece of cardboard.) That might be a good thing. Green Plug, a developer of digital technology enabling real time collaboration between electronic devices and their power sources, is having a "What's Under Your Desk?" contest. That's right, what's coming out from behind your desk will no longer be a secret after you submit your photograph for consideration.

“Consider this a case of show and tell,” said Green Plug CEO Frank Paniagua, Jr. “We’re looking for examples of a problem that plagues each and every one of us -- that unsightly tangle of wires, black bricks and wall warts that supply your computer, printer, phone, desk lamp… and who knows what else. Just multiply what’s at your feet by millions – that’s how it is that a staggering 379 million discarded and obsolete external power supplies are destined to end up in U.S. landfills this year alone.”

This contest is a great way to show the magnitude of this issue. We have all these power cords and extension cords - eventually all this junk is going to end up being dumped somewhere. Why not work out a way to consolidate or eliminate many of these products?

From the press release:

The sweepstakes highlights the need for a single, universal power architecture for electronic devices. Such a standard could prevent hundreds of millions of power supplies every year from being tossed into landfills – maximizing resources, minimizing solid waste, and conserving energy.

Oh and there's a prize too. First prize is lunch in Beverly Hills with reality television stars and green people Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry. Second prize is a $500 gift certificate for Walmart and third place will donate $250 to your favorite green organization. Nice.

To enter, take a picture of what's under your desk and submit it to the Green Plug blog and don't forget a caption! The winner will be announced April 22, that's right, Earth Day.

Image: PR Photos

Stars Lend their Voices to Eco Fairytale

deborah — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Kid friendly "eco movies" are a great way to educate the younger generation and teach them of the importance of caring for the environment. Spirit of the Forest will feature the voices of Sean Aston, Giovani Ribisi, Anjelica Huston, and Ron Perlman.

Spirit of the Forest is about two gophers living in a forest destined to be destroyed in order to put up a new super highway. The gophers, assisted by an oak tree, team up to fight the greedy developers and hilarity ensues. The part of the two gophers will be played by Ribisi and Astin, Perlman plays the oak tree and I'm sure Anjelica Huston will be deliciously wicked as the developer.

More films like this please! Kids love to learn through books and films and the more fun "ecotainment" we throw their way the better. When my son was two years old our favorite book was the Lorax and we still watch the VHS version often. Because of that book he knows how eco systems collapse when you start mowing down forests and how it takes many years, if ever, to clean up messes made by humans.

We're going to see this one in the theater...and I bet we buy the DVD too! A 2009 release is expected.

Universal Studios' Earth Day Celebration

deborah — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

How does a big Hollywood studio celebrate Earth Day? If you're Universal Studios you'll be celebrating the day with a family friend "Eco Fair."

On Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Universal is promising a fun, star-studded family affair featuring "over 30 engaging and educational displays, celebrity appearances, an offer of free parking for hybrid vehicles, and a hazardous waste disposal drive sponsored by the City and County of Los Angeles."

Melora Hardin from "The Office" and Lauren Koslow from "Days of Our Lives" will be on hand to sign eco friendly bags and give out some energy efficient lightbulbs at the Environmental Media Association booth.

Other highlights:

A display featuring "vital impact" reptiles.
Knitting yarns made from organic matter.
Hazardous waste collection - Get all that old motor oil and paint thinner out of your garage.
Displays and presentations from over 30 environmentally friendly businesses.

If you're coming, do drive your hybrid or electric car so you can get in free!

Dolly Parton Releases an Eagle Back into the Wild

deborah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A bald eaglet that had been rescued in Sanibel Island Florida was released by Dolly Parton and introduced back into the wild. The nestling had fallen and was rescued by the American Eagle Foundation, which is headquartered at Dollywood.

Dolly, with the assistance of Al Cecere, the AEF's founder and Gloria Askridge, the Associate Director of Sales and Marketing of the US Mint opened the door to the eagle's cage last Thursday morning."Dollywood and the American Eagle Foundation have an incredible partnership," Dolly said before releasing the majestic raptor. "It's a real blessing to be able to assist the foundation in its work to rescue these breathtaking birds."

I wish I had permission to post the image here, as it's a beautiful bird but you can see a picture of Dolly and company before its release at Ecorazzi.

Image: PR Photos

Tyra Banks to Plant a Tree in New York City

deborah — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Tyra Banks joined New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg in planting an oak tree on Ninth Avenue yesterday. The pair, joined by several of America's Next Top Model's latest contenders will be celebrating "Million Tree Month."

In New York City, April is Million Tree Month, an initiative being launched to encourage New Yorkers to plant one million new trees by 2017. I think this is a wonderful idea. As someone who lived over 30 years in Queens I can attest that beautiful trees are in short demand. The problem is many realtors are encouraging residents to cement over their front gardens and side yards to use as driveways as it raises the property value. Trees are much more beautiful than driveways and they too raise property value.

"They cool the temperature, they create shade, the transferation from the trees cools the ambient temperature. They add real estate value,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Water that's running off the sidewalks goes into tree pits, and into the soil rather than into the sewer system, overwhelming the sewer system. And they make streets and neighborhoods look beautiful.”

The show will air sometime after Earth Day.

Image:PR Photos

HT: Just Jared

Celebrities to Receive Eco-Friendly Gift Bag

deborah — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Celebrities receive swag for every occasion and Earth Day is no different. Green celebs can look forward to receiving an "Earth Day in Hollywood" gift basket Including Sanani's Original Mocha Coffee. Some of the celebrities slated to receive the gift bags are RiverWired favorites:

Leonardo DiCaprio
Cameron Diaz
Jake Gyllenhaal
Sting
Justin Timberlake
Kate Bosworth
Orlando Bloom

The gift bag, which is being distributed by Distinctive Assets, is featuring the coffee because it still uses the same cultivation methods as when it was introduced 400 years ago.

“Coffee grown in soil that has never been touched with harmful chemicals is exactly the type of product we want included in our Earth Day in Hollywood celebrity gift bag,” said Lash Fary, Founder of Distinctive Assets “Because it’s naturally organic, it has the type of distinctive flavor that celebrities will appreciate.”

Not for nothing, Lash, but I'll bet some non-celebrities might appreciate it too in case you want to send a basket my way. For the record, I'm trying to find information as to what else is in the green celebrity swag bags and hope to bring that to you soon. In the meantime, we do appreciate Sanani's commitment to the environment and to great coffee.

Image: stock.xchnge

Introducing: Planet Green

deborah — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

The Discovery Channel's much anticipated all green, all the time eco channel "Planet Green" will launch June 4th. Formerly "Discovery Home," Planet Green will feature 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming.

"Planet Green represents a full spectrum of life experiences, personalities and points of view," said Eileen O'Neill, President and General Manager, Planet Green. "Working with a broad range of partners, our goal is to find innovative ways to engage people of all ages and backgrounds through content that's entertaining, relevant and accessible. Planet Green is about motivating people to take an active role in a new conversation about the future of our planet."

The bad news is I won't get Planet Green. At least not yet. I never get the good channels, but then, in my neck of the woods we're lucky we have cable TV.

But I digress...

Expect to see specials and programs featuring Emeril Lagasse, Adrian Grenier, Tom Bergeron, Tom Brokaw and Tom Green. That's the Green Tom Trifecta right there. Previews of Planet Green will begin to appear on Video on Demand and also through the PlanetGreen.com website starting April 17th.

Programs include:

Emeril Green - Emeril Lagasse's new green cooking program. The focus will be on organic and locally grown foods."
"G" Word -The "G" word, of course, is "green." Not so taboo anymore though. Expect to see lots of green news and products.
The Green Life - Adrian Grenier will show us how we can become green like him.
Greenovate - As one would expect, this series is about making one's home more green.

That's only a sampling of the wonderful programming coming to us on June 4th. Well coming to you. I'll probably have to wait a few years until it gets to my neighborhood.