Green Daily

In 2007, the Sundance channel launched a series called Ecoists -- "short, intimate dialogs with some of today's most active and recognizable environmentalists." It's a great way to get more info on eco-friendly, but moreover, it's a great way to get inspired by some truly passionate, intelligent people who are working for the planet. We'll be syndicating these profiles on Green Daily, so you have a chance to catch up on any episodes you might have missed.

In this video: Amber Valletta discusses saving our oceans.

Top 10 Green Celebs

While most governments are reacting to the global food shortage by growing more food (which is so predictable), the Chinese have decided to grow the same amount of fruits and vegetables -- just really, really big.

But wait, there's more! This out-of-the-box idea gets even weirder, as it turns out the reason these foods can grow so huge is because they've been sent to outer space. The seeds get blasted to the stars, and, after they return, transform into enormous eatables -- but no one knows why.
Picture 210-pound pumpkins, 2-pound tomatoes, and cucumbers that are over 2-feet long -- that's what currently feeds families in 22 of China's provinces, and governments in Europe, Japan and elsewhere are taking notice. All of this in spite of the fact that scientists have no explanation as to why "space seeds" produce such exceptionally-sized food. Some speculate that it's the result of cosmic radiation, mico-gravity, or magnetic fields, but beyond that guesswork, there's seemingly no reason that space seeds should be a miracle food.

For all we know, there's some friendly aliens doing us a favor and swapping out our crappy seeds with super-duper-ET food when we're not looking.

And that's exactly what concerns environmentalists. Well, kind of. No one's really worried that extraterrestrials are tinkering with our tomatoes, but in the same way that genetically modified foods may present an as-of-yet unknown danger to our health, some worry the same is true of food from space. Or, there's China's nagging problem of quality control. Would you eat freakish fruit from the country that gave us toys covered in lead? Wait a couple years, and that's a decision you might have to make.

[via Environmental Graffiti]

Next time your cell phone dies or your iPod runs out of juice, don't reach for the nearest electrical outlet -- reach for your chest! Thanks to a new invention by Triumph International (the lingerie-makers that brought you the chopstick bra), you can now power your gadgets with your boobs (kind of).

The new Solar Power Bra comes complete with an honest-to-goodness photovoltaic panel attached to the front. Sunlight is harnessed by that panel, which it then converts into energy that you access via a small outlet on the side.

Unfortunately you won't be able to purchase this eco-minded undergarment anytime soon, as it's not exactly practical. For starters, the bra is rendered useless if you wear it under clothing -- meaning you'd be giving your friends and neighbors quite an eyeful every time you needed a charge. Plus you can't wash it, which is a little gross.

That said, it certainly opens the door to many possibilities for the future. Fingers crossed, one day your lingerie might save the planet.

In March, Major League Baseball partnered with the National Resource Defense Council to reduce the league's environmental impact. Each team was issued a Team Greening Adviser, and will be taking steps over the course of season to make their organizations more sustainable. We'll be checking in with a new team every Tuesday to see how our favorite ball clubs are working toward a better planet.

The Blue Jays play at the Rogers Centre in Toronto (a venue you may know by its former name, the SkyDome). This enormous entertainment center has played host to over 2,000 events and 50 million people since it first opened in 1989, and the tireless efforts of staff to make the facility more eco-friendly continue to make it an industry leader.

Here's a few green initiatives the organizations has underway:

Admittedly, sometimes it's hard to let your partner know when you're in the mood. You drop hints over dinner, just happen to let him catch you changing, blah blah -- anything to avoid coming right out and saying: "please have sex with me before you fall asleep on the sofa" (cause nothing kills the moment like having to ask).

Good news, bad communicators, now your panties can do the talking for ya! These new heat sensitive skivvies actually change color when they get warm. So when you're...uh...hot...so are they, and your partner will be able to tell without any additional suggestion. From a man's perspective, let me tell you: that's pretty damn handy.

But the best part is that these bad boys are totally green! Check it out: "As well as being a wonderfully fun pair of pants, they are also Fairtrade labelled, and are printed with organic vegetable based inks, so you can buy them with a clear conscience."

They're about $30, which isn't the cheapest pair of underwear you'll ever buy, but given the associated benefits, I'd say that's a bargain.

[via Gizmodo]

As I mentioned before, Harrison Ford, plucky environmental-loving celebrity that he is, offered to rip out his chest hair on television to save the rainforests. He explains to Mel B (who interviewed Harrison about his chest-waxing, tree-hugging efforts) that his hair is "an analogy" for the forests, because "every acre they lose other there, hurts us over here."

Sure, it's a loose analogy -- and, I'll be honest, I don't really have much add to last week's post. But admit it, you're dying to see if Indiana Jones will flinch when some lady yanks out his short and curlies -- right?

10 Hottest Eco-Hunks!

[via ecorazzi]

Don't forget, the latest Bond villain isn't an evil communist with his heart set on world domination -- he's a greenwasher. That's right: mislead the public about your environmental intentions and 007 will kill you.

So, in keeping with that eco-friendly spirit -- even though he's not technically James Bond anymore (but he always will be in our hearts!) -- Pierce Brosnan is offering a series of easy-to-implement tips for green living that you can incorporate at home.


Check out the gallery for our five favorite tips, or visit Pierce's (somewhat over-the-top) personal website to read the full list.

[via ecorazzi]

As the green movement becomes increasingly popular, a growing number of celebrities are using their fame to raise awareness about environmental issues.

We can pester you all day long about the benefits of changing your light bulbs, recycling, and countless other ways you can reduce your environmental impact. But sometimes things just make more sense coming from a cartoon. With that, we present Greenimation: a series of fun, animated shorts that take a playful stab at eco-friendly living.

In this episode: Do you really need to drive 20 blocks to get a pint of ice cream? (vanilla, at that) Some people would say, no...as well a few others. Going green may be not only smarter, but forced upon you if you're not careful.

Green Daily's Greenest Cartoons

In 2007, the Sundance channel launched a series called Ecoists -- "short, intimate dialogs with some of today's most active and recognizable environmentalists." It's a great way to get more info on eco-friendly, but moreover, it's a great way to get inspired by some truly passionate, intelligent people who are working for the planet. We'll be syndicating these profiles on Green Daily, so you have a chance to catch up on any episodes you might have missed.

In this video: Daryl Hannah discusses solar power.

Top 10 Green Celebs

As you're preparing to throw together a last-minute gift idea for Mother's Day (again) this year, consider the following: I bet, right now, your mom is thinking to herself, "Sure, it's nice that the kids remember every year, but really, I wish we could all spend a little more time thinking about how our actions affect the planet."

So true, right?

Good news, now can kill two birds with one stone. The Climate Change Chocolate bar will not only satisfy mom's sweet tooth, but will also buy 133 lbs of carbon offsets -- the average daily use of one American.

Then you can burn her a CD of your favorite mom-friendly music and send her an e-card instead of picking something out at the store -- not because you're lazy, but because you love your mother, and she loves Mother Earth. Aww. Cute.

[via Alternative Consumer]

In case you need reminding about why the increasing number of plastic bag bans are probably good for all involved, here's an image captured from one of Google Street View's cameras in Alaska. Just when you thought you'd get a closer look at the address you needed to find on Minnie St, you discover that it's been eaten by a large, angry sack from the local supermarket. Fie!

And honestly, that's probably the least of your worries. If you remember, there's an entire "island" of discarded plastic crap that's twice the size of the continental US currently floating off the coast of Hawaii. Plus, if you believe Edward Norton, over 500,000 billion plastic bags are used every year worldwide, the majority of which never fully biodegrade.

So maybe it's time you picked up a cute reusable bag? (Or any reusable bag, for that matter.) Sure, it's a small change, but it's an easy one to make.

[via Gizmodo]

Stella McCartney, the planet-loving designer famous for her eco-friendly bags and cute organic panties, is now stalking Scarlett Johannson, apparently. In the wake of news that the actress is getting hitched to her long-time boyfriend McCartney recently told reporters that she'll be making the wedding dress.

However, Scarlett doesn't know that yet.

OK, I'm sure Stella's statements were taken out of context, so it's probably not nearly as creepy as it sounds -- and, in fact, it's fairly common for designers to create clothing specifically for famous people who may or may not wear it. However, McCartney did joke that she wanted to make the gown out of "Latex. Latex for Scarlett!" So...um.

In any case, Stella has wedding experience (she made Madonna's presumably eco-friendly bridal outfit when the singer married Guy Ritchie back in 2000), so if Scarlett does decide to take her up on the offer, it wouldn't be a bad idea. Plus, who wouldn't want a gown that's good for the planet?

Sharks aren't doing too well. Humans have been using them for food and cosmetics (or just accidentally killing them) for far too long, which has left over 200 shark species in danger of extinction. Even if you're not a big fan of large, scary-looking sea monsters that can slice you open with their teeth, it's important to remember that sharks are a vital part of the ocean's fragile eco-system (not to mention that they make for really awesome nature documentaries!).

So, any attempt to bring attention to this endangered animal is commendable.

However, I'm not sure that's what this guy had in mind. The above video shows some lunatic surfer as he first baits a shark with raw , bleeding meat, and then proceeds to take a ride on his surfboard -- pulled by the flesh-eating fish.

Wow. Just. Wow.

[via VideoSift]

Can you guess the 10 hottest eco-hunks?

Sure, at first it might sound like a suspect ad from your paper's personal section, but in fact this entrepreneurial effort is the brainchild of Omar Soliman -- who, as a college senior, dreamed up a business model that was both highly profitable and good for the planet. That idea earned him a $10,000 grant from the Leigh Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition, and quickly became College Hunks Hauling Junk -- a junk removal service that employs "the friendliest and most trustworthy junk haulers in the industry. Law students, medical students, undergraduates, and athletes have joined the College Junk Team to earn money and gain valuable business experience."