This was a big year for films with an eco-message, with "Avatar" at the top of the list. Even though the awards have been given out, and Avatar was passed over for the big nod, it's still worth your time to check out the many eco-minded films that were nominated for an Academy Award this year.

Disney's film "Up" dealt with gentrification and urbanization. According to Grist, "The Fantastic Mr. Fox", nominated for Animated Feature Film and Music (Original Score) is an eco-film because of its anti-meat message. I say go see it because the scenes of the animals eating are the funniest thing on the big screen this year. Also: Clooney.

Treehugger did a great round up of the nominated documentaries, all of which have riveting stories and film-making, plus a wide variety of green perspectives:

As I mentioned here a couple of weeks ago, the widespread use of neonicitinoids (nicotine) pesticides is the latest popular theory to explain the sudden appearance of Colony Collapse Disorder -- a.k.a. The Disappearance of the Bees.

The nicotine-like coatings on seeds deter pests, but they also contaminate the rest of the eco-sphere with the poison, and it appears that bees are particularly vulnerable to it. Researchers propose that the nicotine works as a neurotoxin, similar to mercury poisoning in humans, creating impairment that disrupts the bees' social behaviors. This would explain the odd behavior of bees abandoning their hive.

Environmental groups in Europe have successfully lobbied to ban neonicitinoids pesticides, and bees there seem to be making a recovery. The Sierra Club Activist Network has mounted a similar effort here in the states, called the Pollinator Protection Campaign Project.

After 17 years of litigation, the $27 billion environmental law suit brought against Chevron by the people of Ecuador seems near a decision, and not in the energy giant's favor.

That's making Chevron panicky enough to say or do almost anything to try to get out of paying the huge fine, including making assertions against the Ecuadorian court system, the judge, and most recently that the court-appointed subject matter expert, is biased. This is despite the fact that Chevron insisted that the case be tried in Ecuador in the first place.

Back in October I reviewed the film "CRUDE", a documentary about the environmental disaster and lawsuit. I was also lucky enough to sit down for an interview with the director, Joe Berlinger, and hear first hand from him about the Rhode Island-sized swath of Ecuador that was catastrophically polluted by oil exploration and drilling done between 1972 and 1990 by Texaco, which is now owned by Chevron.

How many of the decade's top 10 eco-documentaries have you seen? What should you do with that post-Christmas heap of wrapping paper? Looking for a sustainable cup of cocoa? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Top 10 Eco Documentaries of the Decade Assuming that no earth-shattering (or should I say earth affirming?) eco-docs get released in the next few days, Ecorazzi has put together a list of the top 10 eco documentaries of the aughties. Hmm ... think "An Inconvenient Truth" made the list?

Will Pope Benedict Go Vegan on January 1st? Noting that this Pope has been a staunch advocate for going green (he put solar panels on the Vatican, after all) and has spoken out against factory farming, PETA's hoping they can persuade him to go vegan for World Peace Day (aka New Year's Day).

Recycling Your Wrap You worked hard to reduce your gift wrap print this year, but you still received a mountain of gifts wrapped in the traditional style -- how can you salvage all that pretty paper? Inhabitots has at least 5 easy ideas for those who want to recycle their wrap.

Wind Turbines Make Awesome Christmas Decorations I don't know how I missed this, but Siemens has been operating the largest revolving Christmas star in the world for the past month. Consisting of 9,000 LEDs fixed to the blades of a turbine in Munich, Germany, the star is 70 meters wide. Check out the video.

Eco Cocoas Sure to Please When it comes to holiday traditions, sometimes the eco-friendly alternatives miss the mark. Soy eggnog?! In the case of eco-friendly hot chocolate, it's not so easy to find a rich, satisfying cup. Fortunately, Grist has endured the mediocrity to find the best eco hot chocolate.

Green in a Flash:

• China is now home to the world's most bullet-like bullet train.
• American Electric Power will install "neighborhood batteries" in Ohio.
• Ladies, would you carry a living plant-purse? They look cool and all, but it just seems a little over the top, no?

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.

How did this whole Earth Day thing get started anyway? Looking for some eco-chic back to school threads? Will your neighborhood golf course become a soybean field one day? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

"Earth Days" Trailer Hits the Web What's even more interesting about a documentary about the environmental degradation going on right now? How about a documentary film about the beginning of the movement that made us start watching documentaries about environmental degradation.

Back to School Goes Green For all of you parents out there faced with the task of outfitting your child in an eco-conscious, yet socially-adept fashion, there's some sweet stuff out there. I wish there were hemp shoes and recycled Ramones shirts for kids when I was in school.

Life in the Agriburbia "Suburbia" has pretty much become a slur in the green blogosphere, but could those sprawling lawns and golf courses one day be re-purposed for something more sustainable -- like agriculture? Developer Quint Redmond has already trademarked the term Agriburbia.

Good News for Meat Eaters Humanity's love of tender juicy beef may not in itself be a driving force behind climate change. It's not the livestock themselves that make conventional meat-eating so carbon intensive. As it is with many factory farmed foods, it's the cultivation process.

Are You Eating Water Hogs? A big part of that wasteful process involves one of our most precious resources: Water. Agriculture uses about 70% of the world's water. Obviously, livestock accounts for a large chunk of that. Other water intensive products include: Nuclear energy, plastic bottles and Coca-Cola.

Green in a Flash:

• Why having a baby is not bad for the planet.
• A UK grocery store is using 5,000 lbs of bad meat to power homes.
• TINSTAFL: The potential downsides of the Cash for Clunkers program.

(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."

Can you picture Cameron Diaz riding around in a mobile home? Want to turn your acid-washed jeans into sweet eco-sneakers? Why are we just now hearing about wild dogs that ride the subway? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Cameron Diaz Stars in Low-Budget Eco-Doc Ever had the urge to just grab a camera, load into a mobile home, and drive around making a documentary? Well, that's the adventure that Cameron Diaz went on after getting all pumped up at the TED conference. Watch Cameron's 5 minute movie.

The Tonys Go Green To raise eco-awareness, the Tony Awards handed out this Sunday will actually be painted green. OK, not really. In all seriousness though, the Tony Awards are upping their eco-image with renewable energy credits, recycled playbills, and even a 100% recycled red carpet.

Levi's Turns Jeans Into Kicks The brains over at Levi's have found something to do with all of the jeans that fall victim to ever-changing denim trends: Turn 'em into shoes. Each unique pair is made from "pre-loved authentic Levi's." The only bummer is that they're not yet available in the US.

Amazing Documentary Will Make you Homesick In the grand tradition of BBC's Planet Earth and Disneynature's Earth, a new brilliantly photographed film capturing nature's threatened spaces called Home goes straight to DVD tomorrow. It looks like one part BBC doc, one part Koyaanisqatsi. Sounds awesome ... and tragic.

Wild Dogs Take the Subway What? You've never seen a dog commuting via mass transit before? Wild dogs in Moscow have reportedly figured out what many Americans have yet to discover: Mass transit is the easiest way to beg for scraps downtown and get back to the suburbs by nightfall.

Green in a Flash:

• Sony Ericsson debuted two new eco-phones today.
• It's official: The Ford Fusion Hybrid is the most patented car in history.
• Changes in the way we conduct agriculture could reduce GHG by 25% right away.

As you know, today is a very special day for the planet, so be sure to wish it a happy Earth Day. To help you do just that, today's Eco-Beat has all the news and tips you need to get your Earth Day party on. Rock on, planet earth!

Plant a Tree Without Even Thinking About It Disney said they'll plant a tree for every ticket they sell to their new eco-documentary, Earth, throughout opening weekend. Grab a ticket, enjoy the show, and plant a tree while you zone out to the mesmerizing images.

Shrink Your Footprint, Get a Free Missy Higgins Song In honor of Earth Day, Missy Higgins will let you download an unreleased version of "Where I Stood" for free. All you've got to do is pledge to reduce your eco-footprint by 2%. Remember people, your word is your bond.

AOL's New Energy-Saving Toolbar is Here! Looking for a way to reduce your computing footprint? A brand spanking new toolbar from AOL can help you save electricity, printer paper, and keep you plugged in to the latest green computing technology.

Do Earth Day on the Cheap! Our friends at WalletPop put together an awesome slide show that gives you 16 ways to reduce your footprint while saving some green. Most of them are pretty simple, but you've gotta check out the Chinese carpenter who built a DIY solar water heater out of beer bottles!

Screw Earth Day? You read that right. Grist says Earth Day is for wimps ... but even so, they're having an Earth Day sign-up special. Register with them and get a free download of their book and a chance to win tix to Bonaroo.

Ed Begley Jr. on QVC Today! We knew Ed had mild super powers, but apparently he is a master at the art of eco-tasking. Not only is he appearing on The Price Is Right today, but then he'll magically fly across the daytime TV universe to give us green demos on QVC!

Need Some Earth Day Snark? It's OK, everybody gets fed up with people constantly telling them how to live. Watch this Howcast about how to have an 'Extreme Earth Day,' vent your frustrations, then get back to saving the planet.

Green in a Flash:

• Is your town one of 'The 10 Best Cities to be in for Earth Day?'
• Take a photo journey through Colorado's renewable energy revolution.
• Watch some awesome eco-documentaries and learn more about the challenges that the planet is facing.

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]

Actor Matt Damon is a charitable guy. That's no secret. He and Charlie Engle co-founded the H2O Africa Project to help communities in Africa gain access to clean drinking water.

Energy independence is a hot topic. It can be hard to personalize such a global subject, but filmmaker Josh Tickell has spent the past few years creating an informative documentary that sums it up simply: we need to change our relationship to oil, and we need to do it fast.

In the tradition of personal journey documentaries, Tickell's Sundance award-winning film, FUEL, produced by Greenlight Theatrical (formerly Blue Water Entertainment) and Open Pictures, covers the government's relationship to the oil industry and the challenges of alternative fuels. He tells the story in the context of the effect of fossil fuels on the health of his family, and how this inspired him to become part of the green energy movement.

There are many eco-celebrities who have been advocating alternative fuels for ages, and some of them appear in the film, like Sir Richard Branson, Sheryl Crow, Julia Roberts and Woody Harrelson.

The film opens on limited screens November 14th. Check out the trailer, and if you live in one of the areas below, make an effort to see it. The rest of us will have to hope it gets wider distribution, or wait for the DVD.

FUEL Screening Schedule:

• November 14-20 – Portland, OR
• November 21-27 – Seattle, WA
• November 21 – Austin, TX
• December 5-11 – Bend, OR

To buy tickets, and learn more about the film, visit the FUEL website.

As many of us are starting to reach our collective saturation point for partisan election season politics, it's nice to get some news that a couple of the leading minds of seemingly contrasting viewpoints might be bridging the gap. According to Hollywood gossip columnists, eco-minded actor/director Leonardo DiCaprio and oilman gone wind-energy mogul T. Boone Pickens might be joining forces on a upcoming documentary project.

Will the film turn out to be The 11th Hour Part Deux? The details are still unclear, but I'm kinda hoping that this one's a bit more uplifting. Because of Pickens' involvement, I have to assume that this flick will focus on the progress being made in the development of renewable energy -- and perhaps Pickens' super-sized wind farm.

At 80 years old, it seems the Pickens' film career is just beginning. Browsing on IMDB, this will be only his 2nd venture into the world of celluloid. Aside from his appearance in numerous Pickens Plan commercials, he was was featured in Flow: For Love of Water -- a fascinating film about the world's water resources.

[via Ecorazzi]