Culture & Celebrity

What do a style guru (Zem Joaquin), an architect (William McDonough) and an actor (Orlando Bloom), have in common? A desire to 'green New Orleans and advance sustainable cities, urban schools, and affordable housing across California and the US.' For that was the aim of the fundraiser they all attended last week, thrown by Global Green USA, the American affiliate of President Gorbachev’s Green Cross International. The press release quotes Global Green President Matt Petersen, "Green design and sustainable building are critical to addressing the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, air and water pollution and forest destruction. We have the technology to reduce global warming and pollution through the choices we make in our homes, at work and all parts of our lives.” The event was called Gorgeous Green and also attracted actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Salma Hayek, with the latter suggesting, “We can all do our part to tackle global warming in a way that also improves the lives of those on the edge, whether it is the Inuit people in the Arctic Circle or low-income families in San Francisco or Los Angeles." It raised $250,000 USD, some of which will find its way to support the New Orleans green design housing competition that Brad Pitt previously joined as a judge. ::Global Green USA. NB: Our own TH luminary, Nick Aster, also attended, and will be relaying his first hand account of the event tout de suite.