Green Daily

I'm sure a few of you will agree with me that the Eco/Green Movement can be a bit lacking in the sense of humor department. But two men -- two Yes Men -- have made it their mission to remedy both corporate wrong doings, and the dearth of laughs in the discussion.

Mike Bonnano and Andy Bichlbaum are the Yes Men -- or at least, those are their stage names. The two activists/performers/pranksters/identity thieves -- although they call it "identity correction" -- star in the new documentary "The Yes Men Fix the World," which showcases some of the big "Borat"-style hoaxes they've played on corporate world, all in the name of drawing attention to the way things should be.

The film opens with Andy Bichlbaum preparing to appear on the BBC as "Jude Finisterra", a representative of Dow Chemical. He is endearingly, and understandably, nervous, because he's about to tell a whopper of lie to the entire world: that Dow accepts all responsibility for the Bhopal chemical accident and ragedy, and plan to sell off subsidiary Union Carbide to finance $12 billion in reparations.

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.

I was born in 1969, so the environmental movement has always been a part of my life. Over the years I've absorbed bits and pieces of the way it started: that "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson inspired a generation of activists; that the first Earth Day was organized as a teach-in by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, on April 22, 1970, and that 20 million people participated in it.

But in general, my attention, along with most of the world, has been trained on the future of the movement, not the past.

Award-winning documentary film maker Robert Stone believes that it's also important for us to understand the history of the environmental movement. In his new film, "Earth Days", he combines archival footage and present-day interviews with nine eco-pioneers, to construct the first Genesis tale for the green movement.

Last week I encouraged you to go see "No Impact Man", the documentary about environmentalist Colin Beavan's efforts, with his family, to live for a year impact-free, in New York City. In the film and companion book, "No Impact Man," Colin shares the story of the experiment that he, his wife Michelle and their two-year-old daughter, Isabella, conducted over the course of a year.

They reduced their trash to zero, ate only food grown within 250 miles of their home, (which meant giving up coffee -- eek!), and stopped using electricity, which meant dealing with nine flights of stairs to get in or out of their 9th floor apartment every day (double eek!). Their story is funny, and thought-provoking, and manages to make the idea of giving up toilet paper and electricity, in the middle of New York City, see accessible -- even possible.

I had a chance to meet Colin on the press tour for "No Impact Man," along with Beth Terry from Fake Plastic Fish. We got to ask some follow up questions about the No Impact Man experiment, plus get Colin's first-hand advice on living impact-free.

You know those times when you suddenly notice that you've produced seven bags of trash in one week, or you calculate the carbon footprint of a bowl of strawberries from Chile and realize eating them is like 200 bazillion times worse than burning tires in your backyard?

Me too, and I always vow to do better, then don't get around to it. Colin Beavan was like us, filled with good ideas but fallible in the execution. Then he decided to really try to make a difference. For one year he did everything he could to make as little impact as possible on the Earth: Reduce the trash he produced. Only eat local, vegetarian food. Live without electricity or toilet paper ... in the middle on New York City.

Calling it the No Impact Project, Colin wrote a book about the experience, and kept a blog during the year. A documentary about the experience, called "No Impact Man," is about to be released in theaters across the country. Colin sets a great the example, but it's his wife, Michelle, who steals the show and makes you believe this kind of change is possible for everyone.

(Photo by Getty Images)

You know how being "green" used to have a sort of, well ... wimpy reputation?

Hey, you know it's true. I don't make it up, I just report it!

Well, those days are over. Eco-friendly is so cool it's now badass. Ashley Braun and Katharine Wroth at Grist created a killer list of the 13 most badass greens, and there is not a wussy treehugger (not that there's anything wrong with that, we love treehuggers and Treehugger) to be seen!

The post has a poll for you to vote for your favorite Badass Green, but I seriously could not pick just one. My top picks include:

(Photo by FT Press)

You've greened your diet. Your home. Your commute. Your office. But what about your interior?

Now that the benefits of green external conditions are becoming well known, it makes sense that the next "green frontier" would be the landscape of the mind. In a new book, "The Genius of Instinct: Reclaim Mother Nature's Tools for Enhancing Your Health, Happiness, Family, and Work,", psychologist Dr. Hendrie Weisinger explores the benefits of being "psychologically green."

Just like so many environmental problems come from being disconnected from our surroundings and the planet, Dr. Weisinger believes that we can be more successful, happy and mentally healthy if we get back in touch with the instincts that are "hard wired" into our brains.

In the book she lists six primary instincts, and ways to get back in touch with them.

(Photo by Thames & Hudson)

For many of us, climate change means water shortage. Regions all over the world are experiencing drought, with corresponding restrictions on when and how you can use water. Gardeners feel these restrictions in a particularly sharp way. After all, the traditional, lush garden requires copious and regular irrigation, a practice that is becoming increasingly difficult -- even impossible -- to maintain.

The Dry Gardening Handbook - Plants and Practices for a Changing Climate is a new book by Oliver Filippi that offers an alternative perspective on the role of water in a planned garden. It provides options and techniques for a "dry garden" that leverages the natural traits of plants that thrive in "mediterrean" environments, like those found in Chile, California, South Africa, Australia and the Mediterrean region.

Although it's a relatively technical book -- there's lots of talk about dormancy and root development -- there are also hundreds of beautiful photos by the author who, with his wife, has dedicated 20 years to the study and cultivation of plants that thrive in dry conditions. You will gain a whole new appreciation for what defines a "beautiful garden."

The thing that makes this book a must have for gardeners who live in dry (or drying) climates is the A-Z index of plants that thrive without much water. The detailed entries -- over 400 of them, with illustrations -- make this intriguing book a valuable handbook and resource.

Even if you're a novice gardener, or don't have any green fingers at all, it's an educational read, as well as a fun one that communicates the Filippis' love of plants, and passion for this approach. Plus it's refreshing to read something that treats climate change as a condition we can react to, deal with and even learn from!

Neil Young loves the automobile with a passion, it's the giant oil conglomerates and carbon emissions that he's not too crazy about. In support of his upcoming car-themed concept album Fork in the Road -- which has basically pre-panned by critics based on a sample track and the theme -- Neil Young has filmed a low-tech music video in what is undoubtedly the most high-tech '59 Lincoln Continental the world has ever seen: Lincvolt.

I have two small children and because of this, I am familiar with Disney's animated show, Handy Manny (as well as the rest of the Playhouse Disney lineup). Manny Garcia (a.k.a. Handy Manny) is voiced by Wilmer Valderrama from That 70's Show. Unlike "Fez", Manny does not sit around getting stoned all of the time but rather applies his skills to tackling items around town that need fixing. Lately Manny has been sharing how much he is "living la vida verde" and his new DVD, Manny's Green Team.

This new Disney video features our favorite handyman and his team of talking tools learning about conservation. During the show they save some baby turtles, utilize solar power and repair a cooling system. In addition to the stories, there is a printable checklist for you to help your family go green as well as the "Livin' La Vida Verde" recycling game.

So if you are looking for a gift for your favorite preschooler or have a penchant for kid's shows, Manny's Green Team hits the shelves on March 31st.

A few weeks ago I wrote about office supplies from Terracycle, the company that makes cool things out of garbage. TerraCycle tracked me down and offered an advance copy of their founder, Tom Szaky's, new book, Revolution in a Bottle.

I actually read the whole thing, which is rare for a business book. Usually you just read the first two chapters, skim the middle, then read the last chapter. But this is such a wacky ride -- and at 200 pages, doable in an evening -- that you will keep reading to see what happens next.

It's a fun read, mainly because it's the story of how Tom dropped out of Princeton to make and market worm poop and somehow created a successful, cutting-edge green company while sticking to his principles.

Tom turned down a million dollars in funding. He took orders for product he didn't have. He kicked down the door to big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot, despite the green conventional wisdom that you should market through coops and small local stores. And he refused to charge the "green premium" that is the hallmark of eco-friendly products, keeping TerraCycle products affordable and competitive.

Somehow, by doing everything "wrong", Tom invented a better -- more successful -- way to do business. In the process, he proved that doing what's right for the planet and right for people is also a good way to make a profit.

Pick up a copy of the book -- and then pass it along to a like-minded friend -- and get inspired by the creative, almost desperation-driven solutions Tom and the company find for every challenge. You may even decide to start your own company after reading it!

By the way, if you can't get enough of Tom, you can also check out his blog the Eco-Capitalist. This is the kind of thinking that will get us through these freaked out economic times. New ideas, creativity, fearless experimentation. And some worm poop.

Looking for a slightly underachieving, yet effective and inexpensive way to make a difference for Earth Day? Then Disney's got a deal for you. They've offered up a bribe to all nature documentary addicts and/or lovers of the planet to get them to pack into theaters for the opening weekend of Disneynautre's ode to the planet: Earth. If you'll plant your butt in a seat, Disney will plant a tree in your honor.

Pretty cool eh? The trees will be planted in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a place that Disney's conservationists have identified as a global conservation hot spot, since only 7% of the forest remains in tact. Disney's savvy box office bribe might help moviegoers that are on the fence decide to brave the opening weekend crowd and catch what Disneynature's Dick Cook calls "an entertaining and unprecedented view of our planet, with some of the most astonishing imagery and exciting natural drama ever presented on the big screen."

Will Disneynature's Earth rival other monumental planet documentaries like Planet Earth? Find out when it opens on Earth Day, April 22nd.

[via Ecorazzi]

If you are in Austin or on your way there, keep in mind that you can relatively sustainable at SXSW. SXSW is a 22 year old music festival in Austin that is the place to be for musicheads and techie types, and it is in full swing right now.

Here are few things to consider while you do your daily listening:

• SXSW has partnered with Bicycle Sport Shop to provide a variety of rental bikes. Bike, don't drive, or walk. Downtown Austin is not that big.
• Pedicabs are also available. And who doesn't want a ride in one of those?
• Everyone has a battery need at a time like this. Use rechargeable batteries, and buy solar powered battery chargers for your cell phone, iPod, etc.
• SXSW suggests you head to their sustainability panels, and that you read "The Weather Makers" by Tim Flannery.
• SXSW also suggests you avoid the brand new "I was at SXSW" t-shirt in exchange for vintage clothes on South Congress
• They also encourage getting your water bottle out and refilling it with tap water or water from the fountain at the Austin Convention Centre.
• As many will be craving an alcoholic beverage, SXSW also suggests you look for local beers and wines. Local means less carbon created in getting your beer to your lips.
  

And check out the SXSW YouTube site if you can't go.

Why does Val Kilmer keep taking B-movie roles as fanatical scientists, hellbent on proving to an uncaring world that global warming is in fact real and threatening life as we know it. I don't know. Maybe he's having trouble finding work, being typecast, or he's on some kind of weird, poorly publicized crusade to raise climate change awareness. Whatever the reason, his latest starring role in The Steam Experiment marks the second feature length in under a year with global warming overtones. The other being The Thaw.

In The Steam Experiment, Kilmer plays a scientist who holds six people hostage in a steam room rigged to get incrementally hotter until fatal -- a pretty straight forward metaphor. His request is simple, he wants a headline in "big bold letters" declaring his global warming hypothesis in the official paper of record, The Grand Rapids Press (yeah, I don't get it either). If not, the six hostages will experience the supposed realities of global warming: de-evolution, chaos, anarchy and all that good stuff. My so-bad-it's-good meter is off the charts. Check out the trailer after the fold.

[via Ecorazzi]

What do you get when you combine eco-warrior Ed Begley Jr, solar powered vehicles, and snarky cartoon writers? The answer, of course, it that you get last night's episode of The Simpsons. In case you didn't catch it last night, I've posted the snippet in which Ed Begley Jr made his brief but hilarious cameo (thanks Michael).

Begely's 15 seconds of Simpsons fame occurs as he's driving his solar-powered buggy -- which looks suspiciously like the Chrysler PeaPod -- during a rare solar eclipse. With no sunlight, Begley's EV stalls out as he's crossing the train tracks, and of course ... there's a train a coming. Luckily, it's an Ed Begley sponsored solar train, and it too stalls out prior to impact. Leave it to The Simpsons to tackle age-old questions about renewable solar technology with absolutely no deference or seriousness. That's why we love the show, right?

[via Ecorazzi]