Green Daily

Do You Like Frogs and Have an SOS for the Rainforest?

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Climate Change

Have you always dreamed of costarring in a film or video with an animated partner, like Paula Abdul and that dancing cat in "Opposites Attract"? And do you have a message for the world about saving the rainforest? If so, The Prince's Rainforest can help you achieve both of these dreams.

HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales, created The Prince's Rainforest Project to simply raise awareness of the connection between deforestation and climate change. The campaign has a frog mascot who appeared in a video with Prince Charles, as well as Princes William and Harry, Daniel Craig, Pele, Harrison Ford, and perhaps inevitably, Robin Williams.

One of the coolest things about the campaign is that you can make your own video, with the frog, urging world leaders to take bold action to address climate change at Copenhagen. It's hard to imagine that world leaders haven't heard this message yet, with all of the activism going on practically every day, but if anything will catch the attention of the last few resisters, I'm betting the frog is it.
Several celebrities have shown their support by making their own videos. The Vivienne Westwood video is worth watching, just because she's so crazy she seems normal dressed up as a frog princess (or maybe that's just what she was wearing that day -- it's possible). Also fun are Stephen Fry, ("ballerina ... retired"). And who can resist the spiky-haired yet sensual appeal of Rod Stewart and his lovely (third?) wife Penny, who both flirt with the frog?

For my money, the creepy-but-compelling Blue Men in the video above do the best bit with the frog, but you can check the over 200 celebrity videos, plus ones made by regular folks who care a lot, on the video page of The Prince's Rainforest site -- there are hundreds posted, and more added every day,

Do You Like Frogs and Have an SOS for the Rainforest? originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Edward Norton Running NYC Marathon for a Cause

Kristen Seymour — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism

Photo: Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust

You already know Edward Norton is a darn cool guy. After all, who else could have made "The Hulk" even greener? But now, he's doing more than just speaking out. He's even going beyond putting his money where his mouth is. Norton is running a marathon!

Though he might have occasional super powers on-screen, it turns out that, when it comes to running, he's just like everybody else and is experiencing common running ailments. But there's no way he'll quit -- he's running for a cause.

Norton is running the New York Marathon to benefit Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, an organization that seeks to protect the ecosystem in the area with which he became acquainted with 10 years ago on a trip to Kenya. His 30-person team is an eclectic mix of celebrities (Alanis Morrisette, David Blaine) and Maasai warriors (some of whom are still deciding whether to run in shoes or sandals.

To learn more about the cause and Norton's commitment to the race, check out the exclusive interview at AOL Health!

Edward Norton Running NYC Marathon for a Cause originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ed Begley, Jr. Talks to GreenDaily About Going Green for Cheap

Josh Loposer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Home

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

If you're a "Living With Ed" die hard, you already know that Ed's green living show was picked up by Planet Green for another exciting and environmentally-friendly season. With the premiere already locked and loaded for October 21st at 9PM EST (that's tomorrow!), I was lucky enough to catch up with Ed for a few minutes to chat about the upcoming season, as well as Ed's green living philosophy.

GD: I heard a rumor that you guys are undergoing some major home renovations. Can you tell us whether or not you'll achieve your dream of living completely off the grid this year?

EB: No, I still can't do it. There's a good side of the problem; there's a lot of shading on my roof. I can never get fully off the grid unless I built a second story because of the shade from my neighbors' houses. But the shade actually keeps the heat off the roof, so that's good.

I've got our energy bill down to about 300 or 400 bucks a year. Now that we have three people in the house and I'm putting about 10,000 miles on my electric car doing speeches, the demand is higher than what it used to be. Even on the grid, the power I've got at my house is completely renewable. For only three cents extra per kilowatt hour, I buy power that comes completely from renewable sources through the LA power grid.

GD: I frequently have to toe the line at my house, trying to reduce our footprint while not going so far as to cause marital unrest. Do you have any general advice for those of us who may be living with a spouse that's not completely on board with our vision of a green, hermit-like lifestyle?

EB: I say, pick your battles. I used to fight on everything that I thought would save energy. Like the rain barrel. Rachelle thought it was ugly, so I said, 'Live to fight another day.' I put the cistern underground where it's not visible. I met Rachelle halfway on a lot of stuff. The same thing with our drought tolerant plants. They used to make my house look abandoned. Now, I've got some help and they look great. She's enriched my life. Before, I didn't care about aesthetics, I think I just wanted to live in an energy-efficient bunker.

GD: Since the economy blew an O-ring last fall, have you noticed a significant change in the green movement?

EB: It's a challenge, but it creates opportunity to do the cheap and easy stuff first. Pick the low hanging fruit. Like what I did in 1970s: weather stripping, home gardening, lighting, taking public transportation, riding a bike when weather permits. It took me 15 years before I could afford any of the expensive upgrades like solar panels.

GD: On a scale from 1 to 10, what stage would you say your conflict with Bill Nye is at right now?

EB: There's a certain détente. There's a demilitarized zone in between his house and mine. I just did a grey water system. So, we'll see what happens with that. Even with three people in my house, I'm using less water.

GD: Can you give GD readers your top three effective yet inexpensive ways to go green at home?

EB: Sure! Check all weather stripping around doors and windows, upgrade to energy-efficient lighting, and installing an energy efficient thermostat. That's all very inexpensive and effective.

Another feel-good thing that's cheap and practical is a home energy audit. In many parts of the country it's free. It gives you a heirarchy so you can prioritize what makes sense to do next. Also, you can get $1,500 assistance from the Obama administration for home energy efficiency tax credits.

Ed Begley, Jr. Talks to GreenDaily About Going Green for Cheap originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

January Jones: Shark Protectress

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Plants and Wildlife

January Jones, Shark Savior Credit: Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Shark conservation is an urgent issue. Last month during "Shark Week" I mentioned the efforts of the Ocean Conservancy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to support the Shark Conservation Act of 2009.

Oceana is another organization working hard to save sharks. They're also supporting the legislation and working with "Mad Men's" January Jones, one of the faces of a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring the shark populations.

January's catch phrase is "We should be afraid for sharks, not of them." To prove her point, she and Oceana made a PSA of her swimming with sharks.
Oceana also has another interesting short clip posted of the research the organization is doing at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas. They hope that understanding sharks better will improve their ability to help these ancient creatures.

As trippy as it is to see January Jones in scuba gear, it's even more impressive to see that the actress isn't scared to mess up her hair to help a great cause.

Actually, her hair doesn't get messed up. She looks flawless and amazing, even when she's underwater wearing goggles.

It's still a great cause. Save the Sharks!

January Jones: Shark Protectress originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

'CRUDE': A Documentary by Joe Berlinger

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Movies, TV and Books, Activism

Sometimes it's easy to forget just what a dirty, messy, polluting process it is to get crude oil out of the ground so we can turn it into fuel. That's because most of the pollution takes place "somewhere else" -- in another country, in another part of the world.

The indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon don't have that luxury. As we see in "CRUDE", a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, the rainforest where they live has been polluted across an area the size of Rhode Island in an effort to extract black gold. It's an environmental disaster referred to in the film as being thirty times more devastating than the Exxon Valdez spill.

"CRUDE" is the story of the $27 billion-dollar, multi-year environmental lawsuit brought against Texaco -- now owned by Chevron -- on behalf of 30,000 rainforest dwellers. Berlinger shows both sides of the story, which is by turns sad, outrageous and inspiring, but never preachy. The filmmaker leaves conclusions up to you.
(That said, OMG, it's so obvious that Chevron-Texaco needs to admit responsibility, and fix this mess. I mean, come on, failing to clean up ponds of sludge? Just covering them with dirt and letting people build homes on top of them? Fouling drinking water sources that now shimmer with the rainbow slick of oil? And responding to a twenty-day old baby, covered with sores from bathing in that polluted water, by blaming it all on "poor sanitation" -- lame.)

In many ways, "CRUDE" is a classic David and Goliath story. We meet lead attorney Pablo Fajardo, the young Ecuadorean trial lawyer who put himself through law school -- this is his first case. Ever. You can't help rooting for this hero who has sacrificed so much to help his country.

By comparison, the Chevron executives seem like cold, corrupted corporate shills, particularly when juxtaposed with footage of a brave but helpless mother of a teenage girl dying of cancer. There is also an impressive appearance by Sting's wife, Trudie Styler, who has been instrumental in helping get clean water to the people of the region.

"CRUDE" is about of human rights, environmental stewardship, and the question of international corporate responsibility. It's also a well-constructed story that Sundance (and seemingly every other festivals) deemed worthy of seeing. It's even being touted as an Oscar-contender. Add my voice to the flood of accolades!

'CRUDE': A Documentary by Joe Berlinger originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Clinton Global Initiative Starts Today

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism

Former President Clinton and President Obama. Credit: Jim Watson for Getty Images

It's a big week in New York City! Yesterday we had Hugh Jackman kicking off Climate Week NY°C. Today marks the start of the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting, which will focus on urgent global issues. Finance and climate will be at the top of the focus list, which also includes education and health.

The meeting is a who's-who of global leaders. President Obama is addressing the opening session, and more than 60 current and former Heads of State will attend alongside Hilary Clinton, Kofi Annan and Al Gore. The CEOs of major corporations like General Electric, Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, and JP Morgan Chase will also be there.

And what green-global-minded gathering is complete without celebrities like Demi Moore, Matt Damon and Barbra Streisand? Oddly enough, Pam Anderson and PETA are not on the invitee list, but you know Angelina Jolie totally plans to crash -- she wouldn't miss an event like this!
The interesting thing about the Clinton Global Initiative is that these are active working sessions. Attendees work together to formulate an action plan to create change, and each attendee is required to make a "commitment," i.e. pledge to accomplish certain goals. There are follow-up tools and ongoing contact throughout the year to monitor and support the commitment.

And these aren't just "be a better person" pledges -- CGI members get real stuff done! The accomplishments listed on the site include:

Cut CO2 emissions by 60 million metric tons
Protected or restored 33 million acres of forest
Given 48 million people access to better health care
Funded 270 microfinance institutions, assisting 3 million micro-entrepreneurs

Want to be a part of the CGI team? Sorry, the only way to become a member is by invitation, and then it costs $20,000. (Of course, for most of the attendees, that's chump change, and $19,000 of it is tax deductible.) If you're determined to get involved, and you're an undergrad or graduate student, there is CGI University, a training institute for young activists.

For us older, less illustrious activists, we can make our personal commitment to donate goods, pledge dollars, or volunteer time on CGI project site MyCommitment.org. Not as glamorous, but free!

Clinton Global Initiative Starts Today originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Hugh Jackman Kicks off Climate Week in NYC

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Climate Change

Hugh Jackman, Sexiest Man Alive. Credit: Junko Kimura for Getty Images

The UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) is less than three months away. This week in New York City, government and business leaders from around the world are gathering for meetings and events to demonstrate their support for strong action on climate change at COP15: Climate Week NY°C.

2008 Sexiest Man Alive and Global Ambassador for humanitarian organization World Vision Hugh Jackman will be in attendance to kick off Climate Week NY°C and "speak on behalf of the billion people in developing countries who will be the hardest hit by changing weather patterns, by the droughts and floods that destroy their crops and threaten their food security."

I think seeing Hugh Jackman is reason enough to show up, but for the more strictly climate-issue-minded, there will be a dizzying array of NY°C events from which to choose, including:

Harrison Ford (Sexiest Man Alive alum, Class of '98) and Team Earth event on the importance of protecting tropical forests
a panel discussion on carbon neutral media plans
a roundtable on electric vehicles
the Global Premier of the film, "The Age of Stupid"
a demonstration of New York's first solar powered electric vehicle charging station
the Head of UN Climate Chage Dr. Yvo de Boer, is speaking at the NYC Bar Association
"Food and Climate Change," a discussion about animal agriculture
Several religious services

Climate Week NY°C is presented by a partnership that includes The Climate Group, the United Nations, the UN Foundation, the City of New York, the Government of Denmark, Tck Tck Tck Campaign and Carbon Disclosure Project.

Hugh Jackman Kicks off Climate Week in NYC originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

It's Friday a.k.a. Naked PETA Pamela Anderson Video Day

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

'Cruelty Doesn't Fly'-Learn More at PETA.org.

Summer is over, vacations finished, and it's back to the daily drudgery of working long weeks -- but PETA has a little something special to get your weekend off to a bangin' start: Pam Anderson as a sexy TSA agent!

Yeah. Like at the airport! Only instead of keeping people from sneaking on bombs, or box cutters, Pammie keeps them from bringing fur or leather on board.

The campaign is called "Cruelty Doesn't Fly", and wow, it took some serious nerve to launch it so close to the anniversary of September 11th. But PETA is nothing if not shockingly inappropriate -- hey, they're trying to save bunnies! And goats! This is frickin' serious, folks.

There are, of course, naked people. The gentleman with waxed, six-pack abs is allowed to stroll right through the metal detector. A punky woman turns up wearing "Fake for the Animal's Sake" badge on her faux-leather jacket also gets Officer Pam's (sexy) nod of approval.

Then Andy Dick turns up. With a fur-coat, leather-boot-wearing companion, who totes a snakeskin bag. Strike one, two ... and ... three! Clothes are stripped off people. It's so typical. And as usual, you can't look away.

As if the video wasn't enough, you can also enter to win Pam's Naughty Cop outfit designed by stylist Cannon, which "consists of knee-high boots, skimpy Chips-esque shorts, and a jeweled baton."

It's just the kind of thing your average vegetarian stripper needs to round out her performance costume wardrobe. What are you waiting for? Go! Go!

It's Friday a.k.a. Naked PETA Pamela Anderson Video Day originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Patrick Swayze, Actor and Conservationist, Dies at 57

Kristen Seymour — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

Photo: Michael Caulfield, Stand Up To Cancer via Getty Images

Patrick Swayze died today at the age of 57 after a 20 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Maybe you knew him best as the misunderstood dancer Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." Or perhaps your favorite memories of him are from the amazing fight scenes in "Road House." We all have our favorite Swayze moments, and it's with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to the screen icon and one-time "Sexiest Man Alive".

Not only did he have a major impact on cinema, but he was a conservationist as well. While filming "King Solomon's Mines" in South Africa, he was moved by the people and animals in the African bush.

"Out of this experience was born an idea for a global conservation documentary series that is turning huge," Swayze told the LA Times in 2004. "I've got some of the leading paleoanthropological scientists in the world coming on my team, and award-winning wildlife documentarians."

In the same interview, he admitted his African experiences even made him re-evaluate his acting career: "Playing this game of rancher and wildlife conservationist, and musician and actor, director and producer, I feel like I wasted time with stardom back in the '80s."

The documentary might not have made it to fruition, but Swayze's love of wildlife and animals was evident. He and his wife split their time between two ranches, which he discussed in 2005. "There's a small one north of LA called Rancho Bizarro, because so many strange things happen in my life. It has just eight horses, three dogs, three cats and some peacocks," he explained. "Most of our horses are at the main one in New Mexico."

Our thoughts are with Swayze's family at this time.

Patrick Swayze, Actor and Conservationist, Dies at 57 originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Clean Up and Get Down at the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Concert

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism

Clean up a beach, then listen to great music! Credit: Barefoot Wines & Surfrider Foundation

Calling all people who like wine, clean beaches and live music, and can get to Asbury Park, NJ: Saturday, August 29 is your lucky day.

Barefoot Wines and Surfrider Foundation have been working together for three years, sponsoring beach clean ups that are followed by thank you concerts for the volunteers. This summer alone they've held 25 clean up/concert combos!

On August 29th, they're teaming up to host the biggest and best of the cleanup and concert combos, which will also be a celebration of the Surfrider Foundation's 25th anniversary. The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Concert at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, will be a major party!

Following a day of beach clean up, volunteers will enjoy the musical stylings of:

Joss Stone
Gavin DeGraw
Cold War Kids
Mason Jennings

All of this for free! And if you're over 21, you can also toast your fellow beach cleaners/concert goers with delightful Barefoot wines.

Who wants to go? All of the details, including RSVP info, can be found on BeachRescueConcert.

Clean Up and Get Down at the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Concert originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Skip the Michael Vick Protests - For Now

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

By now you've heard that the Philadelphia Eagles signed convicted dog-fighter Michael Vick, prompting a frisson of protester energy to pulse through the Internet. Most common were vows to protest at every Eagles game, as if that would actually change anything.

Yahoo sports blogger MJD at Shutdown Corner did an interesting post, basically telling protesters just that: You can't make Eagles fans turn against the team, and it's the wrong place to put your energy anyway. His extremely relevant point is that protesting games doesn't draw any attention to the evils of dogfighting, which is the goal, right?

Sure, use Michael Vick to get the issue in front of people, but don't make the NFL your battleground. Because when it comes to football vs. anything else, even hideous animal abuse, fans will pick football every time. You can find it wrong or disgusting, but it's simple fact. At least as long as the team is having a winning season.*
I already weighed in with my two cents that it could be good to have Vick in a public role, if he uses his position to discourage kids from getting involved in dogfighting in the first place. We asked for your feedback in a poll in that post, and you are evenly divided into thirds about whether Vick could use his powers for good:

33% said he was evil beyond redemption
33% said let him work with the Humane Society but not the NFL
and the final 33% said, he'd done his time, let him have his life back

In this video from Human Society of the United States, Vick seems uncomfortable, but like he's making a decent effort. Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle is being incredibly patient, letting Vick find his way back into society and the media spotlight, reiterating his support for Vick's rehabilitation and unique potential to get the message out against dogfighting.

It remains to be seen how well Vick will live up to that potential. For that matter, no one knows how he'll do in the NFL. But to MJD's point, now that Vick's return to the NFL is a done deal, if people really want to do something to stop dogfighting, they need to be smart about their actions.

So please, skip the protests. Put your energy into raising awareness about the issue, and give Vick a chance to live up to his very public pledge to help do the same. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to rally an angry mob if he fails to hold up his end of the bargain.

*Here's a hint from a football fan's wife: it's all love and roses now, but if the Eagles have a bad season, those Philadelphia fans will be much more likely to get behind your "Hate Michael Vick" Campaign. For reference, please see Tony Romo/the Jessica Simpson Jinx.

Skip the Michael Vick Protests - For Now originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

What if it's Good That Michael Vick is a Public Figure?

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, News, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by Getty Images)

Yesterday saw a lot of outrage and disbelief that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated convicted dog abuser Michael Vick. This means he can practice through the pre-season with teams, and even play by the sixth game of the season, although (so far) no one has extended an invitation to him. It's also being perceived as a subtle and public act of forgiveness for something that most of us find unforgivable. And that's pretty upsetting.

In addition to financing the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting ring, Vick was also sickeningly -- and personally -- cruel to the animals in his care. He served two years in prison, lost all of his endorsement deals, and was suspended indefinitely from the NFL.

Vick is a gifted athlete, but for most of us, participating in dogfighting is a deal-breaker. It automatically and forever makes you a sicko, and trying to make money off of it makes you a sociopath. It's not a sport, and there is absolutely no way to put a good spin on it.
During his incarceration, Vick did his best to try spin it as much as possible. He took his case to the court of public opinion, releasing statements about how much he regretted his actions. He's talking now about how he's matured with the help of mentors like Tony Dungy. And after a false start with PETA, who broke up with him when he wouldn't submit to a psych eval from one of their shrinks, he's working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on an anti-dogfighting campaign.

In the surprising role of (literal) devil's advocate is Wayne Pacelle, President of the HSUS. Pacelle has a fascinating post on their blog about why the organization is working with Vick on the intervention program to prevent young people from getting involved in dogfighting in the first place, and why it's the right thing to do.

Pacelle freely admits that he's unsure of Vick's commitment. But he's very dedicated to the organization's campaign against dogfighting, and he points out that an intervention program could have helped Vick 15 years ago and prevented him from committing such terrible crimes. It sounds different when you put it like that, doesn't it?

So is Vick's reinstatement to the NFL -- which includes a tacit "role model" status -- acceptable if he actually does turn over a new leaf and start providing a good example to kids? Is it worth letting him make money and receive the accolades that go with a pro ball career if he uses his position to teach a generation of inner-city youth that you have to treat dogs, and anyone or anything weaker than you, with respect and care?

Is Vick getting the second chance he deserves, or is the NFL and HSUS just extending special treatment to someone because he's famous and talented?

What if it's Good That Michael Vick is a Public Figure? originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer

Josh Loposer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Food, Alternative Energy

(Photo by Geoff Burke, Getty Images)

There's a new eco-friendly beer on tap in The Great Lakes State, and the brewmeister is none other than terminally shirtless rap/rock/country crooner Kid Rock. Apparently, Mr. Rock has been carefully perfecting this beer's flavor for the past year and now it's ready for mass consumption. Here's how Kid Rock describes the beer to the Detroit Free Press:

""American-style lager ... easy to drink without an aftertaste... I'm American, that's what I like to drink, and from looking around the parking lot before my shows, I know that's what my fans drink,"

Thoughtfully dubbed "American Badass Beer," the brew was unveiled at two of Kid Rock's concerts in Detroit last week and is now available statewide in Michigan. American Badass Beer (I'm already getting really annoyed with that title) will be available nationwide over the next year.

If you were getting excited about the prospect that Kid Rock might hang up the microphone and work full time at the brewery, sorry, no such luck. The Michigan Brewing Company is undertaking the production duties, which is also the reason it qualifies as a green beer. The Michigan Brewing Company, like a few other major green breweries, produces its own power from biodiesel generators.

In fact, nearby MSU students are unwittingly aiding Kid Rock's efforts to market his poorly-named green brew. Fryer grease from their cafeterias is powering the aforementioned generators. If the food at Michigan State's cafeterias is anything like the ones at my school, there should be grease aplenty. There was probably enough grease pumping out of our cafeterias to power the entire campus.

I'd warn other green brewers like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada to watch out, but I don't think American Badass Beer is really targeting their demographic. Something about the name and the beer's celebrity spokesman leads me to think that ABB will not be a favorite among the Prius-driving public.

Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bubbles the Chimp Living Happy Ever After at the Center for Great Apes

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Plants and Wildlife

We've been relatively (some would say blissfully) free of Michael Jackson coverage around here, but I can't resist the opportunity to mention the wonderful work done by the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida. Bubbles the Chimp, who traveled the world with Michael for several years, and learned to moonwalk, is a resident of the Center, and is living out his showbiz retirement in cucumber- and banana-noshing comfort.

Along with Bubbles, 14 orangutans and 27 other chimps enjoy the safety and tranquility of the 100+ acre sanctuary in central Florida. There are different habitats, sleeping areas, and a very cool elevated "tunnel and chute" system that lets the curious chimps and orangs safely wander through the sanctuary's wooded areas.

Some people (like the stupid, ignorant Kardashians) think it's cute and funny to play with baby apes. But as we saw with the Travis the chimp tragedy in Connecticut, cute baby apes grow into strong adults who can't be controlled in domestic settings. However, once they've lived with humans, these chimps and orangs also don't have the skills to live in the wild. Most post-showbiz and abandoned-pet apes wind up in circuses ... or worse.

The Center for Great Apes was founded as a non-profit organization in 1993, by Patti Ragan, with the mission of providing "a permanent sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees who have been retired from the entertainment industry, from research, or who are no longer wanted as pets."

Patti understood the need for this kind of sanctuary from first-hand experience. In 1984, she volunteered for a wild orangutan rehabilitation project in Borneo. Because of this experience, several years later she was asked to care for a baby orangutan. When it came time to find a permanent home for the tiny red ape, she discovered that there were few options -- zoos didn't want a hand-raised animal, and sanctuaries simply didn't exist.

With years of hard work, and the help of generous volunteers, Patti created a safe haven for that orangutan, and many others, but today the Center is at capacity. Even though there are many more apes who need a place to happily grow old, until funds are raised to build more enclosures, there's no room at the sanctuary. They need our help!

And that brings me back to Michael Jackson. Presumably in response to the frenzy of media attention, with the world suddenly asking, "What ever happened to Bubbles?" the Center has set up a "Bubbles and Friends" fund.

If your preferred memory of MJ is his love of animals, consider making a donation to support the Center for Great Apes and help ensure that the sanctuary can continue to do great work for great apes. Bubbles will thank you, and it's really the least we can do to thank him for entertaining us!

Bubbles the Chimp Living Happy Ever After at the Center for Great Apes originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Al Gore Asked Me to Help Repower America

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Polit-eco, Climate Change

This was a pretty exciting week for me. I got a "personalized" email from Alpha Green Al Gore, asking me to support Repower America's efforts to convince Congress to pass aggressive climate legislation. I think he's the greatest! (And I hope/believe he's secretly doing something to get Laura Ling and Euna Lee released from that North Korean labor camp.)

You may remember Al's awesome speech to the Daughters of the American Revolution, when he challenged America to get 100% of our power from clean energy sources within 10 years. Repower America is the organization that grew in response to that challenge, with over 2 million members across the country.

The video above is the latest ad from Repower America, and it's just plain-talking awesomeness. The totally crusty, hardworking, traditional-seeming gentleman who stars in it hits all of the high points -- like how we're "held hostage by foreign oil" and "borrowing money to buy oil from dictators who don't like us" and "burning it in ways that kill God's green earth" -- using language that makes these ideas accessible and palatable to non-bleeding heart liberals. You know, like the majority of the country.
And I swear he even makes it seem un-American to not be creating jobs harvesting clean, wind-powered energy.

It is thrilling to see this turning point happening, when all the kooky ideas from when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s -- like solar panels and wind power -- are now completely mainstream. It's also a scary time, when the world is taking steps to address the climate crisis, but we don't know if we're doing enough, or if it's too late.

I'm a believer in action and positive thinking, so whatever you're feeling about climate change and our nation's energy policy, go check out Repower America. If you like the ad, you can kick in $25 to help keep it on TV this summer, and help convince more people that clean energy isn't a liberal or conservative idea, it's just the right idea.

Do it for Al, and tell him I sent you!

UPDATE: I just got another email from Al, with a video, asking us to call our Representatives in Congress right now to encourage them to pass the legislation. Just call 877-9-REPOWER!

Al Gore Asked Me to Help Repower America originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

PETA's Latest "Sexiest Vegetarians"

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:09:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Food

(Photo by Getty Images)

On Monday Josh's Eco Beat included an item about Andy Dick dressed as a maniacal Ronald McDonald on behalf of our dramatic friends at PETA.

It reminded me that it's been a while I checked in with those masters of PR and media manipulation. So clicked on over to the PETA homepage and found, to my surprise and delight, that it's been a whole year since Leona Lewis and Anthony Keidis were selected as the Sexiest Vegetarians alive.

That's right, there's a new pair of Sexiest Vegetarians According to PETA! The big winner for the ladies is Kellie Pickler ("Pick Pickler!" -- I guess the fake boobs didn't disqualify her) of American Idol and country music fame. Representing Dude Vegetarians is Hayden Panettierre's ex-boyfriend, and Heroes co-star, Milo Ventimiglia.
Pickler is a true product of PETA. She was up late one night and goggled some of those scary PETA videos about how food animals are basically tortured. Kudos to Kellie for actually being able to watch them; I get way squicked out by the chickens without bills.

Ventimiglia is an interesting case. The lifelong vegetarian claims to have even been "vegetarian in the womb" which is pretty impressive. He seems to have all of his own teeth and enviable skin -- so I guess you really can get all of the nutrients you need as a vegetarian!

If you're inspired by these nice looking famous vegetarians, check out PETA's free "Go Veg" starter kit. It has tips and recipes, and probably some cool stickers -- these guys know what they're doing. And if you want to keep it lean and green, you can even download a paper-free version!

PETA's Latest "Sexiest Vegetarians" originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Stella McCartney Opens Her Door for 'Home' Premiere

Kristen Seymour — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

(Photo by Getty Images)

Designer Stella McCartney might not have been in attendance, but she was there in spirit as Hollywood's environmentally elite showed up at her L.A. boutique for a screening of the eco-documentary "Home." Stars like Cameron Diaz, Emily Deschanel, Anjelica Huston, Rosanna Arquette, Liv Tyler and Rosario Dawson all showed up for the premiere, and were full of praise for the designer as well as tips for eco-friendly living.

According to WWD, Diaz said, "I love that she walks the line. She shows you can have high fashion without having to compromise your ethics," while Arquette added, "She's a great lady, and comes from a great family."

Treehugger had more scoop on the celebs who strutted the ~~red~~ green carpet. Deschanel, who is a vegan, used the event as an opportunity to speak out about global warming, saying, "Reusing is as important as recycling. Don't forget to bring your own bag when shopping. Keep one in the car. Buy natural products. I'm picking up an amazing belt of Stella's that I bought. It's non-leather. The tanning process is terrible for the environment. There are so many things to do."
The screening itself was an environmentally-conscious event, with a vegan picnic including organic wine and Good Karma ice cream as well as eco-friendly furnishings from Livingreen and Brigham.

While the celebs on hand were thrilled to talk about the environment and one of their favorite designers, the main draw, really, was "Home." Until June 14, you can watch the documentary in HD for free and have a green carpet of your own. What are you waiting for?

Stella McCartney Opens Her Door for 'Home' Premiere originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Michelle Obama Loves to Garden, and So Can You!

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Home

(Photo by Richard Termine)

As Josh mentioned earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama has finally made the big time: she did a PSA for Sesame Street! She and Elmo star in the spot, which promotes the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise.

We know that Michelle is big into gardening, which helps you get both, so in her honor here are some tips for starting your own garden in your backyard.

Step One -- Pick Your Spot
Plants needs sun, space, water and dirt. You'll also want a spot that is safe from rabbits, deer, and light-fingered neighbors who crave fresh strawberries or zucchini.

Step Two -- Make a Plan
The experts at BackyardGardener are very clear about this: for a successful garden you need to figure out what you're going to do before you do it, and then you need to stick to your plan. This includes drawing a scale plan of your garden, deciding what you want to grow, and planning for different growing season so that your garden yields as many carrots, tomatoes and beans as possible.

Step Three -- Figure Out Your Soil
Knowing your soil will tell you which plants will do best in your garden, and what fertilizers you need to balance out any acidity or alkalinity, or to compensate for a lack of nutrients. There are ways to test at home, or you can send a sample to a lab and have it done for you.

Step Four -- Get Some Tools
I have to admit, this is my favorite part -- shopping! Your individual needs will depend on your preferences -- do you care if your shoes get muddy, or do you want gardening clogs? Is it more fun to get on your hands and knees and dig, or is it better to have a long pole between you and any odd mushrooms?

Whatever your preferences, some of the basics you'll want to pick up at Target or order from Gardeners.com include:

sun hat
gloves
trowel or rake
bucket
watering can
one of those cool kneeling things
shovel
bucket

Step Five - Pick Quality Seeds (Or Just Buy Some Plants)
If your seeds are duds, no amount of water, fertilizer or prayers to the Gods of Green Things will makes your garden grow. Purchase seeds from somewhere well-known to you, like your local organic co-op, or go to a big store like Home Depot where the high volume of shoppers means the inventory is probably fresh. There are also many well-known online seed sellers, like Burpee. Just remember, this is no time to pick up a deal at a garage sale down the street!

If the seeds thing is stressful, skip this step and buy seedlings, which are plants that have been started for you.

Step Six - Water and Weed
A lot of gardening is about hanging around, making sure everything is neat and orderly (weeding) and getting enough water. Some folks consider this to be the best part: A reason to spend time outdoors, getting a little (but not too much, that's why you bought a hat) sun and fresh air.

Step Seven -- Harvest and Share!
If you've done everything right, after a reasonable period time your plants should bear fruit -- or vegetables or flowers, depending on what you planted! Imagine your pride when you sit down to a big meal and savor food you grew yourself. And it's always a treat to visit a gardener and leave with a big bag full of produce, so enjoy the chance to be generous, even to those light-fingered neighbors. They'll probably appreciate it the most!

Of course there's a bit more to it than what I've outlined here, but remember that gardening is a fun, easy and rewarding way to spend time with your family, or as a time out from the hustle of everyday life. Check out some of these helpful online resources for more information:

Photo caption: First Lady Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street, Tuesday, May 5th, to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop's Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and her pal Elmo talked about eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children. (c) 2009 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

Michelle Obama Loves to Garden, and So Can You! originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 08 May 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Theodore Roosevelt "O. C." - Original Conservationist

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by Getty Images)

President Theodore Roosevelt was colorful. Historian, cowboy, war hero, hunter, one of the dudes on Mount Rushmore -- he sounds more like a cartoon character than a real person. In a way this is fitting, because when it comes to his contributions to the conservation movement, he was a superhero!

It's taken a while for this legacy to emerge. As an outdoorsman and businessman, T.R. (he hated being called Teddy) believed in using land wisely rather than keeping it pristine and untouched by human hands. But he did think about legacies, and the next generation, and how decisions he made would play out in the future.

There is a great article about T.R. in this month's Vanity Fair, which is actually an excerpt from a new book about him, The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America, by Douglas Brinkley.

The story includes some great anecdotes about T.R. One of the most interesting was the trip T.R. took early in his presidency, in April, 1903, with conservationists John Burroughs and John Muir. They toured the West including Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon. Sleeping under the stars, personally experiencing the wonders of these landmarks, and exchanging views with these great naturalists inspired T.R. to use his office to help preserve the wilderness of our country.

T.R. saved those spots, and so many more. He set aside more land for national parks and nature preserves than all of his predecessors combined:

150 National Forests - 42 million acres!
51 Federal Bird Reservations -including Pelican Island and Key West, Floria, East Timbalier Island, Louisiana, and Salt River in Arizona
4 National Game Preserves - including Wichita Forest, Oklahoma, and Fire Island, Alaska
5 National Parks - including Crater Lake, Oregon and Mesa Verde in Colorado
18 National Monuments - starting with Devil's Tower, Wyoming, Muir Woods, California, and Mount Olympus, Washington
24 Reclaimation Projects
several conservation conferences

T.R. also created the National Bird Preserve, which became the Wildlife Refuge system, co-founded the American Bison Society, and established the United States Forest Service. He also benefited from the Antiquities Act, which gave the President the power to create national monuments without going through Congress. The original idea was to use it to preserve prehistoric sites in the Southwest, but T.R. used it to preserve areas of geologic interest and value, too.

Today the struggle to preserve our green spaces continues, both in the U.S. and around the world. We're lucky be able to build on the solid foundation created by Theodore Roosevelt, one of our Original Conservationists.

Theodore Roosevelt "O. C." - Original Conservationist originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Mr. Leatherback Dances - and Speaks - for the Turtles

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Plants and Wildlife

It's a tough time to be a turtle. Their oceanic habitats are getting more acidic, their numbers are dwindling, and there are so many of those plastic bags -- the ones that look just like delicious jellyfish, but seriously screw up turtle innards -- floating around.

Lucky for the turtles, they have an advocate and ambassador: Mr. Leatherback, a.k.a. "The James Bond of the animal kingdom."

Mr. Leatherback is a character who travels around the world -- he's been to 43 countries so far -- helping to raise awareness for his gentle and critically-endangered brethren.

In addition to his in-person educational appearances, Mr. Leatherback is big on the internet. He has a brand new website, plus he's on twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube! Definitely check out the photo gallery -- it's pretty funny to see a giant turtle in front of the Coliseum and Great Pyramids!

Also, as you can see in the video, he's quite an accomplished dancer. Especially for an oversized reptile.

He and Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines are sharing announcing duties for the Great Turtle Race, which starts today in Nova Scotia.

The race follows 11 turtles on their annual migration from the cold waters of Canada to the Caribbean and South America. You can visit the Conservation International site to meet the racers, who all have names and distinct personalities. Mr. Leatherback, along with cool race sponsors like R.E.M. and Pearl Jam, hope the race will spread the word about the plight of the turtles, but in a fun, non-doom and gloom way.

With friends like Mr. Leatherback looking out for them, I'm feeling a little more optimistic for the turtles!

Mr. Leatherback Dances - and Speaks - for the Turtles originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments