Demi and Ashton's Green Project, Miley Cyrus' Eco-song,Dave Matthew's Green Concerts, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 07.22.08
Unlike some "green grand-standing celebs", Demi and Ashton keep their do-good work low-key. According to ecorazzi, the power couple quietly slipped off to Guatemala to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. The charity group is supporing the countries' indigenous organic farmers. ...And these two did seroius hands-on labor. "Demi and Ashton were actually building houses with tin roofs and schlepping breeze blocks in the midday sun. Ashton's father is carpenter so he has some experiences," reports a British media source.
Thanks: ecorazzi
Miley's Eco-song:
The teen phenom wants her generation to 'wake-up' and do their part for a greener future. Cyrus, who got slammed for her provocative Vanity Fair photos, now hopes to spread an inspiring eco-message to young people in her new song, "Wake up America." Miley told me, "It's the kids who are driving this earth. It's up to our generation to be eco-conscious and make sure we can pass down a healthy planet to our kids."
Dave Matthew's Green Music Festivals:
...Dave Matthews wants his concerts venues green. The singer and his band, who were the first to get biodiesel buses, are now dedicated to lowering music festival's ugly carbon footprints (think mounds of beer bottles and paper plates). The band recently played at Michigan's Rothbury festival, which set up composts throughout the site. And at Denver's Mile High Festival, concert-goers who carpooled (four or more people) were entered to win VIP passes. Plus, at all their gigs, folks who throw their trash into assigned recycling bins are eligible to win an upgrade to a first row seat.
Thanks: sprig
Victoria's Secret Green Model:
Green is sexy and everywhere behind-the-scenes of Victoria's Secret's recent shoot with supermodel Adriana Lima. The crew, who were shooting the companies' Miracle bra ad in the hundred degree heat out in Long Island, New York, made sure to keep their water bottle count down. Signs were posted everywhere, reminding folks to limit themselves to one bottle and refill. ...It's a small step, but at least it's out there and reminding people to act eco-smart.
Read More on Eco-Friendly Celebrities:
angelina-jolie-organic-diet
lindsay-lohans-eco-fashion
gwyneth-paltrows-eco-smart-life
I general, I think it is important for individuals to find creative ways to help the environment and increase their utility. I came across a neat website that stops your postal junk mail while also reducing paper waste. Check it out at http://www.simplestop.net
This is a great example of how the even smallest green promos by celebrities can have a huge impact on the public. I would do anything Adriana Lima asked of me. Anything.
Another way to describe these shallow "eco-celeb"-rity worship postings would be - designer environmentalism, Hollywood and the unspeakable narcissism of the West.
Another way to describe these shallow "eco-celeb"-rity worship postings would be - designer environmentalism, Hollywood and the unspeakable narcissism of the West.
Dave Rocks!
I just sent him an email telling him about biomass gasification as a way to not only green his concerts, but power them as well with waste paper products, eco plastic, wood scraps, and other dry biomass.
Gasification costs 1/10th the price of Solar, produces huge electricity when YOU want it and any backyard mechanic with a welder can build one.
Watch me build one on Youtube. Maybe you will get inspired!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RCtLZWnTuog
@anonymous: it may seem meaningless, if that's all anyone did. But the fact that they're out there doing something green and promoting themselves as green is what we need to sway the trends and the masses into deeper action.
The only other incentive (for the masses) that has seemed to work is economic force, and I think we'd all rather it didn't come to that.
Bring the green celebs, shallow or deep!
If the sucess of the environmental movement rests on the shoulder's of "green celebs" - one of the most ridiculous phrases to have been coined in some time - well, then, we're screwed.
It does liltte more than turn environmentalism into a trend, and a shallow one at that. And we all know what happens to trends - they fall out of fashion.
And let's not even touch upon the absurdty behind such shows as Tommy Lee going green - the same Tommy Lee who is not willing to give up the 5000 sq ft monument to himself - where he lives.... alone.
I would argue that just as many people are turned off by celebrity grandstanding and preaching , as are turned on.
ps - I was the author of the anonymous post.
Since you brought up the "unspeakable narcissism of the West," perhaps we should address one of the biggest hindrances to the green movement with regard to the general public - the elitism and self-importance of those who believe their green lifestyle grants them a moral high-ground over "the masses."
The environmental movement DOES rest on the shoulders of green celebs - just as it rests on your shoulders and mine. Is a 5000 square foot house absurd? Yes. Life is absurd and contradictions abound. Get over yourself.
Two comments: yes, these celebs are doing small things and making a big noise about it. The fact is, some people are heavily influenced by them and will blindly follow them. That is good. If we all took those small steps to soften our footprint, the world would be a better place.
Comment two: Victoria's Secret cannot be touted as a green example as long as I continue to receive a catalogue every week from them, in addition to daily email. I have never purchased from their catalogue; I shop online only. Of course they are not the only company not to connect these dots.
The bottom line is it is supposed to be REDUCE, Reuse, Recycle. In our world, the focus is too heavy on the recycle and not heavy enough on the reduce and reuse.