Man Who Stared at Goats Explains ‘Earth Army’

It seems too ludicrous to be real: a U.S. Army unit that sought to acquire and refine Jedi-like powers, and trained by attempting to kill goats through mind power alone. But the movie ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’, starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey, is based on actual events and people.

One of those people is retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jim Channon, who was the brains behind the loopy 1st Earth Battalion.

From Sign On San Diego:

Channon, who is loosely portrayed by a Dudelike Bridges, embarked on a two-year government-funded fact-finding mission that included naked hot tub encounters and yoga retreats so he could write a military manual in 1978 to help Army “Jedi” soldiers reach a higher spiritual plane. He envisioned a more Zenlike approach to combat, with troops wearing ginseng-equipped uniforms, offering symbolic flowers, cradling baby lambs in hostile territory and greeting enemies with “sparkly eyes.”

“If the ideas were instituted and they worked, we would be a far better world,” Heslov says. “Do I believe it could happen? Probably not. But I’ve got to give the military credit.”

Channon now lives on an “eco-homestead” in Hawaii and describes himself as a “global elder” and “mystic landcrafter” still pursuing creative ways to bring world peace. In a video posted on his Web site, firstearthbattalion.org, he takes the movie’s humor with a grain of salt and asserts that his out-of-the-box thinking for his “mythical battalion” wasn’t absurd.

“If soldiers are telepathic during a firefight, that would be very useful,” Channon explains at one point. He ends the video with his trademark “Go Planet!”

The movie definitely takes liberties with the story – director Grant Heslov figures about 65% is lifted from Jon Ronson’s non-fiction book of the same name – but fear not, Jim Channon is here to tell you the real story. His website contains all kinds of information about the 1st Earth Battalion, and he explains some of it below:

Read more at Sign On San Diego.

Link [Sign On San Diego]

Unless Miley Cyrus Returns to Twitter, Fuzzy Will Die

Every celebrity has lunatic fans, but pole-dancing tween queen Miley Cyrus seems to have inspired a particularly fervent devotion among the completely unchained. First there was her extremely creepy stalker, and now she’s got someone threatening to kill their beloved cat if she doesn’t come back to Twitter.

Why did Miley leave Twitter? Who the hell cares? Oh, wait. This dude (or chick?) clearly does. And if Miley doesn’t come back by November 16th, Fuzzy is going to get it.

The other day I asked myself: ‘What can I do to bring Miley back to Twitter?’ Fan video? Petitions? Letters? That never works. Heck, Miley even made her own video about never wanting to use Twitter again. Then I looked at my cat, Fuzzy and I realized, maybe Fuzzy can help. Fuzzy can make the ultimate sacrifice for this cause. It was very difficult for me, you see, as I sincerely love Fuzzy. But my mind is made up. I could always get another cat, but nothing can replace Miley’s tweets for me!

The idea is very simple. I’ve set a deadline of November 16, 2009, when Fuzzy will part with his life and become a meal. I intend to make a cat dish according to our ethnic cuisine. Check out the Recipes section for more information. Also, you can view some pictures of Fuzzy here.

I do not consider myself a cruel person and I do love my cat. Fuzzy will receive quick and swift death and I’ll try to minimize his suffering.

Wondering what, exactly, this unnamed psycho fan is going to do with Fuzzy? Well, you need look no further than MileySaveFuzzy.com, where he/she has posted a recipe for ‘Braised Cat’. This fan swears that it isn’t a hoax or a joke (though, you know how that goes).

Hey, eating cats is as normal as eating chickens in some parts of the world – and there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that. In fact, it’s kind of messed up that we place such sentimental significance on certain species and are totally blasé about the treatment of the ones we eat.

But eating your pet for Miley freaking Cyrus’ TWITTER ACCOUNT? Maybe you should marinate yourself and let Fuzzy put you out of your misery.

Link [MileySaveFuzzy.com]

Denny’s Promotes Vegan Morrissey’s Concert with Free Hamburgers

Talk about tone-deaf, ham-fisted marketing: somehow, Denny’s thought it would be a good idea to promote the very vegan Morrissey’s West Coast concert with free hamburgers. Cue Morrissey’s head spinning like the Exorcist in 3…2…1…

From Ecorazzi:

On recent ticket orders for Morrissey’s upcoming west coast gig,Ticketmaster has allowed Denny’s to run a cross promotion offering a free hamburger. Why isn’t this okay? Only because Morrissey is one of the most outspoken vegetarian celebs ever!

Earlier this year, Morrissey banned all food that “used to have a face” from his concert hall and even walked off stage once because he was annoyed with the meaty smell from the crowd.

No word yet on if Morrissey knows about this promotion, but we’re pretty sure he’s going to FLIP when he does.

Hellooooo, Denny’s/Ticketmaster: this is the man who wrote the song Meat is Murder!

Apparently the company is promoting something it calls a ‘Better Burger’, which is suppossedly higher quality than the meat that it usually offers, and one of the choices is a Boca Burger. So, why not target that marketing a little better and push the Boca Burger? Vegetarians have drunken late-night cravings too.

Lame advertising + missed opportunity = FAIL.

Link [Ecorazzi]

Actress Sienna Miller Unveils Documentary on Congo Women

Last spring, British actress Sienna Miller traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to document the lives of the women who are embroiled in the inescapable political conflict of the region. The documentary, titled ‘8 Minutes’, is named after a horrifying statistic: a woman is raped in the Congo every 8 minutes. The journey changed Miller’s life, and the story she tells is undeniably poignant.

From her travelogues on Take Part:

I met a mother who was running away from a group of militia three days earlier with her baby strapped to her back. They both got shot, but survived and thankfully made it into the facility in time. Her boy is so little and the huge bandages on his arms break my heart. Everything about this place breaks my heart.

These people all have stories which they share with me and there is just simply too much to try to grasp. Everyone has lost something, everyone has lost someone. I meet malnourished babies, mothers, fathers, widows and widowers, malaria sufferers, their eyes glazed, victims of rape and pillaging.

They are all here in massive numbers, and their stories are agonizing. I meet a group of about a hundred who have selected an old man to read out on behalf of them all, their list of grievances. They have no homes and no possessions and they need others to recognize they are in crisis.

Read the rest over at Take Part – and watch the documentary in its entirety at Ecorazzi.

Link [Take Part] + [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Take Part

Ellen Page Likes Shoveling Goat Shit

It’s not often that pretty young Hollywood actresses admit to something weird like enjoying the act of shoveling goat manure. But, Ellen Page isn’t a typical Hollywood actress.

The ‘Juno’ and ‘Whip It’ star told USA Today that she discovered just how relaxing goat shit shoveling can be while taking a break from the spotlight.

“I went to Oregon to study permaculture and lived in an eco-village for a month outside Eugene. It’s called Lost Valley. It was amazing and exactly what I needed.”

“You’re learning how to live in a holistic way with the cycles of the Earth. At one point I was digging goat manure and putting it into a wheelbarrow, and while shovelling it, I just went, ‘Oh, my God, this is exactly what I want to be doing right now.’”

Page definitely seems a lot more down-to-earth than peers like Lindsay Lohan, and you won’t find her hawking nasty spray tan or crashing somebody else’s Maserati any time soon.

“I’m not a fancy person. I love small spaces. I like tiny cars. I don’t buy things, aside from music and books. I don’t get loads f attention and maybe it’s because I’m kind of boring. I don’t think I’m boring, but I have different interests. I don’t go out much, not because I’m hiding but because I’m not a big drinker. I go out and have a good time, I go to concerts and stuff.”

Page stars as roller girl “Babe Ruthless” in Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut ‘Whip It’, which is in theaters now.

Link [Digital Spy]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Matt Damon’s Clean Water PSA Freakout

Does Matt Damon secretly have a wicked temper? The Bostonite has been captured on camera giving a verbal ass-kicking to environmentalist and actor Adrian Grenier while filming a PSA for clean water organization OneXOne as Grenier’s fellow Entourage star Jeremy Pervert Piven looks on.

Damon is set to appear in a cameo on Entourage next week promoting OneXOne, which is his real-life charity. Here’s the scoop, from US Magazine via Ecorazzi:

“The joke is that Matt is very passionate about his charity — almost in a stalkerish kind of way,” Adrian Grenier, who plays movie star Vince, said. “Vince becomes intimated by his intensity. He ends up bullying Vince into giving much more than he should.”

Costar Emmanuelle Chriqui, who plays Sloan, added: “Matt gets Vince to make a massive donation. He’s like, ‘Bro – whip out your checkbook!’”

So, of course it’s just promotional for Damon’s appearance on Entourage. But, it’s still funny to see this notorious ‘nice guy’ drop the F-bomb a dozen times in a two-minute clip!

Link [Ecorazzi]

Jay Leno Show to Feature Green Celebrity Car Races

A new time slot isn’t the only change coming this fall as Jay Leno takes the helm of his own late night show after leaving The Tonight Show. MNN spoke to Leno, who’s a major car buff, about one cool (and somewhat strange) addition to his new show: an eco racetrack, where celebrity guests will face off a couple times a week in the Green Car Challenge.

From MNN:

Ford is supplying electric Focus models outfitted with in-car cameras and microphones.

“All celebrities talk about being green. We want to see who is green and fast,” Leno tells MNN. He got the idea from the attention he’d get — especially from women — whenever he drove one of his electric or hydrogen-cell vehicles (which he parks in a solar-paneled garage) to work.

“It’ll be fun to see if Shaquille O’Neal is faster than Cameron Diaz,” says Leno, noting that Tom Cruise requested a practice run — and was denied. “Nobody gets to practice,” he warns. Drew Barrymore has already accepted the challenge, and Leno would love to get race enthusiast Patrick Dempsey. No word yet on whether first guest Jerry Seinfeld will get behind the wheel.

Hey, it’s a slight deviation from the standard late night older-white-dude-behind-a-desk schtick, so it just might draw in some extra viewers. And Leno knows a thing or two about green cars. Though his huge car collection may not exactly qualify as eco-friendly, a number of those vehicles are ultra-efficient and/or powered with renewable energy. He also co-designed the EcoJet concept, which runs on biodiesel.

“The Jay Leno Show” debuts tonight, September 14th, at 10pm EST on NBC.

Link [MNN]
Photo credit: GM

Green Porno 3 Highlights Seafood Sustainability (and Sex)

If you just can’t get enough of watching bizarre animal sex behaviors acted out by a beautiful Italian actress, we’ve got good news. Season three of Green Porno is coming, and this time, it’ll focus on undersea shenanigans.

Isabella Rossellini spent previous seasons of Green Porno bringing the sex lives of creatures like earthworms and snails to life in vivid detail, donning weird animal costumes, moaning and rubbing against props.

Though we’ve been under the water with Isabella before, exploring the sexuality of whales, anglerfish and starfish, the new season will feature sea creatures that tend to end up in our kitchens.

From the release, via Ecorazzi:

“Green Porno 3″ introduces several new elements to the series as Isabella examines the routines of sea animals popular in human kitchens in the first three films of the series: “Bon Appetit: Shrimp,” “Bon Appetit: Squid” and “Bon Appetit: Anchovy.” The films also feature biologist Claudio Campagna, who talks about what we can do to keep our plates in balance with the sea. In the fourth film, “Harem on the Beach: Elephant Seal,” Isabella explores the curious ways of the elephant seal and journeys to Argentinean Patagonia to see the animals in action. Here, too, she is joined by Campagna, who has studied elephant seals for 30 years.

Check out the starfish episode from season 2:

The season premiere debuts on September 11th at the Toronto Film Festival, and will come to your television on Monday, September 21st at 8pm ET/PT only on the Sundance Channel. It’ll also be available for free viewing online starting September 14th at SundanceChannel.com/GreenPorno.

Link [Green Porno] + [Ecorazzi]

Who’s Who in Green: Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Anti-Nuclear Nun

Mathematician, nuclear science researcher, nun in the order of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, human rights activist and author Dr. Rosalie Bertell knows a thing or two about uranium, and how it effects the human body. Dr. Bertell has devoted her life to speaking out on behalf of those most vulnerable and affected by radiation – women and children, aboriginals and workers in uranium mines and nuclear facilities.

Bertell is an activist of protecting the health of the planet through peace, writing in her book Planet Earth: The Newest Weapon of War,

“It is my belief that we have been treating the symptoms but not the cause of the disease of the Earth. We have been abusing Earth’s natural systems, the way it regulates temperature and water supply, recycles waste and protects life. For me, some of the most fundamental abuses have occurred because of our continued reliance on the military.”

Dr. Bertell is especially vocal about the consequences of the 1984 Union Carbide explosion in Bhopal, India and the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown. Both disasters killed and sickened hundreds of thousands of people and still have an effect today on people who live near the accident sites.

The dual Canadian and U.S. citizen knew from childhood that she would become a nun, but her interest and abilities in the field of science were also clear from an early age. She took a research job at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the world’s first cancer research facility, and it was then that she became interested in radiation and nuclear-related subjects.

Bertell told interviewer Wendy Jewell,

“I was a senior cancer research scientist studying the harm done to a large population by unnecessary uses of diagnostic medical X-ray. I became outraged when I found that nuclear power plants were releasing radioactive materials (like X-rays) at this same level routinely, indiscriminately exposing the unsuspecting public. My first experience was a nuclear plant, which wanted to locate its facility next to the Gerber’s Baby Food Farm in Barker, NY. That plant was never built.”

After suffering a heart attack in 1972, Dr. Bertell spent much of her recovery time in a monastery studying the effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings and emerged as the field’s top expert. She quit her job at the Roswell Institute, which accepted research money from the nuclear industry, after they put pressure on her to keep quiet.

Dr. Bertell is an outspoken critic of the use of depleted uranium in warfare, which has extremely destructive effects on the planet and human health.

Rosalie Bertell has written several books and was among 1,000 women peace activists from around the world nominated as a group for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has also received numerous awards including the Alternative Nobel Prize, the Right Livelihood Award and the World Federalist Peace Award.

Dr. Rosalie Bertell’s Green Score: 79,995

The Pope Goes Solar at Home in Germany

Pope Benedict XVI is continuing his considerable green streak by adding solar panels to his home in Germany. In June, the Vatican announced plans to add photovoltaic cells to the roof of the Paul VI auditorium to illuminate, heat and cool the building. Benedict XVI was also declared “The Green Pope” by Newsweek in 2008 for his efforts to urge Catholics to take care of the earth.

From Ecorazzi:

For his home near near Regensburg, Germany, over 580 square feet of photovoltaic solar panels were installed on the rooftop. The only condition for the project was that no church funds be used — so naturally, everything was donated. When tweaked and running, the panels are expected to output about 5,800 kilowatt hours of energy a year, which corresponds to saving 11 barrels of petroleum.

The project was commissioned not only for the environmental benefits, but also to produce income (which may amount to $3,500 a year), by providing the German electricity grid with energy. According to a German newspaper, the money will go to an association that offers skills and job training to disadvantaged youths.

This is awesome, considering the huge amount of influence the Pope has on so many people. For a long time, many Christians have seemed pretty apathetic about protecting the environment for whatever reason (in the event of the rapture, who cares what’s left of the planet?). So, it’s nice to see things like this – and “creation care” – taking hold.

Link [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Flickr user Wayne National Forest

Who’s Who in Green: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have been born into one of the most privileged families in America’s history, but like his father and many of his aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings, he wasn’t content to live a selfish life of fame and fortune. Named one of TIME Magazine’s “Heroes of the Environment”, Kennedy is an environmental lawyer, author, activist and defender of the Hudson River and has won many cases upholding the Clean Water Act.

Born in 1954 to Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in American history and literature and then went on to law school, obtaining his Masters of Law at Pace University School of Law. In 1984, Kennedy began his storied work with the Riverkeeper organization, suing alleged polluters of the Hudson River.

Kennedy also founded and is current chairman of Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization that connects local waterkeeper groups around the country. He has served as Clinical Professor of Environmental Law and co-director of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic since 1987, and is also Senior Attorney for the National Resources Defense Council.

Aside from his three New York Times best-selling books Crimes Against Nature (2004), The Riverkeepers (1997), and Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr: A Biography (1977), Kennedy has written two children’s books and hundreds of articles, mostly on environmental subjects, which have appeared in a wide variety of publications from The Wall Street Journal to Rolling Stone. He also co-hosts a radio show – ‘Ring of Fire’ on Air America – and writes regularly for The Huffington Post.

Kennedy was one of the most outspoken critics of former President Bush’s environmental policies, and his book Crimes Against Nature called Bush “America’s worst environmental president.” The book reveals, in stunning detail, the many ways in which the Bush administration put industry and big business ahead of the health of American citizens, the land and our natural resources.

This is one environmentalist who isn’t pushing ‘small steps’, but rather, encourages taking direct action. He told Grist in a 2004 interview,

Industry wants us reading those books that say “50 things you can do to help the environment” because it distracts you from what you ought to be doing, which is joining an environmental group and voting for politicians who support the environment and fighting against the lobbyists on Capitol Hill. I mean, you can go out and buy a car that gets 40 miles per gallon, but it’s not going to change the planet.

What’s going to change the planet is if we have somebody standing up to the auto-industry lobbyists on Capitol Hill to pass standards that require that every car in this country gets 40 mpg. I try to focus on that part, not on how individuals are incorporating environmental ethics into their lives. I think it’s important for people to do, but to the extent that it’s distracting you from participating in the political process, it’s not a good thing.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Green Score: 79,844

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Who’s Who in Green: Michael Reynolds

Driving through New Mexico, at one point or another you’re bound to see one: those strange structures built half into the earth, with a bunch of old dirt-packed tires forming the front wall. These ‘earthships’ are incredibly efficient off-grid homes using passive solar energy, thermal mass construction and natural and recycled materials to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Michael Reynolds founded Earthship Biotecture, a company that specializes in designing and building Earthships, in the 1970s. He wanted to create a home that was not only sustainable, but also mostly self-sufficient and within financial reach of the average person. Earthships generally cost between $50,000 to $100,000 and can be built by just about anyone, regardless of whether they have any previous experience.

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Over time, Reynolds began to incorporate technology like solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal cooling, making the homes even more efficient. And, earthships aren’t limited to tires. Reynolds also designed many similar buildings that used other recycled materials like aluminum cans and glass bottles.

Reynolds’ process of developing his earthship concept has largely been based on trial and error. After each one that he builds, he comes up with improvements that can be applied to the next one. The experimental nature of Reynolds’ homes has not exactly made for smooth sailing – he lost his credentials in the 1990s after several buyers filed lawsuits and complaints over defects like leaky roofs. However, his license has since been reinstated.

Reynolds has also applied this natural and sustainable building concept to multi-unit rentals, making them even more accessible to the public. He is also the subject of a documentary called ‘Garbage Warriors‘, which follows him for three years as he builds earthships around the world and lobbies the government for the right to build a sustainable living test site.

His earthships have inspired a whole new generation of green builders, and they remain some of the most iconic examples of green architecture in the world. Learn more about earthships at EarthshipBiotecture.com.

Michael Reynolds’ Green Score: 34,689

Photo credit: Flickr user cer!se

Who’s Who in Green: Chuck Leavell

Chuck Leavell is a tree farmer and long-time environmentalist, co-founding the environmental website Mother Nature Network (MNN) in 2008. He’s also plays keyboard with The Rolling Stones, and was a member of the Allman Brothers Band.

When he’s not playing with one of the world’s greatest rock bands, Leavell is managing a sustainable tree plantation just outside of Atlanta, acting as a board member of the U.S. Endowment for Forest Communities, overseeing MNN.com, writing books on forestry and speaking to Congress about environmental issues.

Born in Alabama, Leavell was inspired to become a musician at the age of 13 after seeing Ray Charles play, and at just 15 played on a number of records including Freddy North’s soul classic Don’t Take Her, She’s All I’ve Got. Leavell went on to perform with Sea Level, Eric Clapton, The Black Crowes, George Harrison and many more in addition to his 27 years in the Rolling Stones (fun fact: Keith Richards reportedly calls him “Boy Georgia”).

Leavell’s forest was a refuge after long stints on the road, and the musician credits his life on the tree farm with changing his views about the world. He decided he wanted to share his love for nature with as many people as possible, hoping to stir them into action.

After many years of work on behalf of the forests of the world, Leavell saw an opportunity to reach everyday people with an environmental website that spoke about important environmental issues in terms that are appealing and easy to understand. TIME Magazine has since called MNN “the green CNN”.

Leavell told Rockom.net,

Theodore Roosevelt said over 100 years ago at a conference on water issues in Memphis, Tennessee that if we don’t address the challenges that face our natural lands we stand little chance of solving other problems. I think he was right then and he’s right now. I do think that now the “sleeping giant” (America) is finally awakening to these challenges. Maybe not everyone, but I think enough of us now see that it’s inevitable we make changes in our lives, our energy sources and energy consumption, our development models and methodologies and so forth if we want to have a beautiful and safe world to live in.

I believe we also have to face some realities in population growth. It seems to me that the Europeans and some other countries have made more strides in all these matters than we have. But with the new Administration now in place, I’m confident that we will do better. Hey, I’m a grandparent now and I worry about the world our future generations will have to deal with.

Chuck Leavell’s Green Score: 54,009

Photo credit: ChuckLeavell.com

New Zealand Prime Minister to Green Actress: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

A New Zealand actress best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Whale Rider’ has been publicly mocked by the country’s Prime Minister for her involvement in a Greenpeace campaign. Keisha Castle-Hughes is one of the celebrity faces of the ‘Sign On’ campaign, which is urging the New Zealand government to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2020.

PM John Key told a crowd of 500 at a business gathering, “My advice to Keisha is this: stick to acting.”

New Zealand’s Labour department is asking the Prime Minister to apologize for the remark.

From The National Business Review, via Ecorazzi:

In Parliament, Acting Prime Minister Bill English was questioned about the remark.

Labour’s Charles Chauvel asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with Keisha Castle-Hughes that telling her to `stick to acting’ is really odd, given that he had previouslyencouraged her to make a submission to the Minister for Climate Change Issues on New Zealand’s pollution reduction target?”

[English] said an ad campaign did not replace serious analysis and a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 would seriously hurt the economy and people’s livelihoods.

In a later statement Mr Chauvel said Mr Key should apologise.

“Young New Zealanders, whatever their profession, should never be discouraged from taking a stand on issues they feel passionately about and the Prime Minister’s decision to criticise the Kiwi actress for doing so to an overseas audience was a bad call.”

Castle-Hughes’ classy response was to offer to meet Mr. Key to discuss her concerns, saying that she knows a lot more about the issue than he realizes. Key has since agreed to a meeting.

The subject of celebrities speaking out about important issues is a tricky one. Obviously, no one is going to take Paris Hilton seriously if she suddenly makes demands about, say, food safety laws. But there are those celebrities who are passionate and knowledgeable about certain causes, and many an organization and campaign has received more funds and more exposure due to the participation of famous faces.

“If I’m going to put my name to a campaign as I’ve done with the Greenpeace Sign On campaign, I want to do more than read brochures and fact sheets. I want to see first-hand what I’m fighting for,” said Castle-Hughes. “I haven’t come out of the trip with the knowledge of a scientist, nor have I come out with all the answers on how to solve climate change, but I do have a stronger passion than ever before to see New Zealand do its fair share in this global crisis.”

Link [National Business Review] via [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Sign On Campaign

Who’s Who in Green: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Long before Julia Louis-Dreyfus became internationally famous for her role as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, the actress made a commitment to sustainability along with her husband and fellow SNL alum Brad Hall. Louis-Dreyfus lives in a green home and is actively involved a long list of environmental organizations including Heal the Bay, Trust for Public Land, the Environmental Media Association and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

While her husband grew up in hippiefied 1970s Santa Barbara, where an oil spill spurred community-wide environmental activism, Louis-Dreyfus told Grist that she never had any one defining experience that turned her on to being green.

I grew up spending a lot of time in Wyoming, hiking and so forth, so I certainly had an early appreciation for the natural world. I also spent years as a kid traveling in the developing worlds. We lived in Sri Lanka for a year, Colombia, Tunisia, where my stepfather was working as a doctor with Project Hope. I was made aware of the idea of being a part of something bigger than you, something bigger than our lives. That impulse is definitely what now drives my environmental work. It’s certainly part of what compelled me to want to live efficiently and build this house — to support solutions to problems that reach well beyond my lifetime.

The expansion of her family was another big motivation. Louis-Dreyfus wanted to make sure that her sons would inherit a healthy world, and in fact, it was the inability to take her firstborn swimming due to toxic waste in the bay near her home that led to her activism with Santa Monica organization Heal the Bay. She’s now a board member.

She also spoke to Grist about the greening of her home, and why she believes that the little things we do to green up our daily lives are so important:

This is a really scary time right now. The war and terrorism in the Middle East, the crisis of leadership in many of these oil-supply countries in the developing world, the crisis of global warming — all these are very clearly tied to energy. I mean, what the hell is going on? Why isn’t our leadership connecting the dots? What’s so frightening about these issues is feeling like you don’t have any control over them. So for me, these lifestyle decisions are a way of having control and feeling less guilty. I walk around feeling a sort of existential guilt all the time; for me this house is a way of feeling less guilty about the universe.

Louis-Dreyfus offered her earnest tips for greener living during an appearance on The Tonight Show in 2008:

The actress has even managed to squeeze some eco-values into her current starring vehicle, The New Adventures of Old Christine. Her character drives a Prius and if you look carefully, you can make out all-natural cleaning products perched on the countertop of the set’s kitchen. They’re small things, but Louis-Dreyfus and her husband believe that making such things everyday sights on television can help Americans accept the concept of sustainability into their own lives.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Green Score: 22,600

Photo credit: Heal the Bay

Who’s Who in Green: Bahar Shahpar

When it comes to retro-chic eco fashion, there’s nothing quite as stylish as the designs created by Bahar Shahpar. The New York-based sustainable fashion designer with a special knack for unusual prints and bright pops of color owns one of the most sought-after labels in the business, and is also co-founder and creative director for The Four Hundred, a showroom representing the best in high-end sustainable fashion.

Shahpar, born in Iran and raised between Georgia, New Jersey and California, launched her first eco fashion collection, called agricult, in 2005, following it up with the debut of her self-titled label.

Shahpar had always been interested in art, having tried her hand at make-up artistry, art direction, event production and owning an art gallery in San Francisco. When she dabbled in designing her own line of accessories, her passion for fashion caught fire. Clearly, it was her calling – Shahpar’s luxurious designs have been featured in Lucky, ELLE, NYLON, Vogue an Women’s Wear Daily.

Of her designs, Shahpar told The Persian Mirror,

I love to work with all natural materials that have texture and come from the earth. Not because I am a hippy or anything but because I feel they carry a history with them. I used feather and was also obsessed with vintage leather. My mother doesn’t understand it. She says I like “old and dirty” things. We promote fashion forward items that are organic yet have style I use organic cottons, silks, vintage items and hemp. I like to have sustainable design.

Shapar could certainly be an inspiration for others who are looking to get into sustainable fashion design. She offered some tips to EcoSalon in a January 2009 interview:

Sustainable design takes many factors into account, not just fiber and fabric choices. The first basic steps are to minimize waste and source and produce locally whenever possible. Cutting down on transportation costs and supporting local economies and fair trade goods can have a huge impact, and designers should look at the big picture ““ sustainable design includes all of the choices we make when we design a product, so we really need to start looking at the full life cycle of that product.

When it comes to fabrics, the reality is that our choices can be limited in some categories, but there are some areas in which we have many sustainable alternatives to conventional materials and there is absolutely no compromise. I encourage all designers to just try to find alternatives to what they’d normally use, without feeling like they have to edit their design vision. Of course, if anyone is interested in learning more about sustainable fabrics, viewing our C.L.A.S.S. fabric library, or taking advantage of our consulting services, please contact me.

Bahar Shahpar’s Green Score: 24,981

Justin Timberlake’s Golf Course is Actually Semi-Green

When we heard that Justin Timberlake was going to be creating a ‘green’ golf course called ‘Mirimichi’, we were skeptical. Golf courses aren’t exactly known for being environmentally friendly in any capacity, particularly because of all the water and chemicals generally used to keep that grass green and lush. Then there’s the fact that golf courses usually displace wildlife.

According to Ecorazzi, Timberlake’s golf course – which had its grand opening over the weekend- is actually quite an impressive effort.

Since the grand opening over the weekend, even more has been revealed regarding the extent of the 28-year-old singer’s mission to create a site where “golf and nature exist in harmony.” For instance, only 85 of the 200 acres are ever mowed — leaving the rest to transition over to “native grasses”. Also, if you’re on the staff, prepare to love weeding — by hand. To limit the use of chemicals, a large portion of the weeds that do grow are pulled out using manual labor.

And speaking of chemicals — as Mirimichi is the first in the nation to be designated as a certified Audubon International Classic Sanctuary – its use of synthetic fertilizers is strictly limited. Surrounding each water feature is an invisible 25-foot barrier where Audubon rules ban the use of chemical fertilizers or herbicides. Where they are needed, the course uses organic or slow-release products to cut down on runoff throughout the property.

According to a Memphis paper, Mirimichi will use a mix of 80 percent native plants and 20 percent exotics.

All that, and it’s still got all of the features that golfers want in a course – deep pit bunkers, elevated greens, lakes and creeks on 7,400 yards of land. We gotta hand it to Timberlake – he pulled it off. Mirimichi is the greenest golf course we’ve ever heard of.

Link [Ecorazzi]

Who’s Who in Green: Irma Muñoz

Far too often, in places like Los Angeles County, California, Latina mothers have helplessly watched their children play in streets, parks and waterways contaminated with pesticides and other pollutants. They worry about the effects that these toxins could have on their sons and daughters, but it seems like nobody out there is too concerned about cleaning up poor communities, which are disproportionately home to factories and dumping sites. What could they do, when they needed to focus all their energy just on making ends meet?

That’s where Irma Muñoz came in. The community organizer, activist and advocate has dedicated herself to abolishing environmental racism and helping Latina women take action against the injustices they’re faced with on a daily basis. She is the President, Founder and CEO of Mujeres de la Tierra – ‘Women of the Earth’, the nation’s first Latina environmental organization.

“Mujeres gives groups of women a platform so they can go to the City Council, the School Board and be a force to be reckoned with,” Muñoz explained in a 2007 interview with Whole Life Times.

Mujeres de la Tierra has six chapters in the Los Angeles area, and Muñoz takes the time to interact on a personal basis with group members as often as possible. She emphasizes the need to tackle environmental problems that have a daily impact on the local community, helping Latino families achieve small victories that add up in a big way.

Asked by Newsweek what she sees as the biggest environmental issues facing Latinos in the Los Angeles area, she said,

“That’s a tough question, but I would say it’s a lack of access to passive and active recreational opportunities, to green space to play, to parks. Latinos in many urban areas are the new mainstream, but unfortunately that does not translate in the equitable distribution of resources – especially in the “green world.” A lot of power plants and factories are traditionally put in minority neighborhoods, and we suffer as a result of that. What we want are all the things that are necessary to good community health in any urban area: trees and clean air quality.”

Muñoz credits her upbringing in Los Angeles and her father’s encouragement when it comes to her strong sense of responsibility and drive to take action for the good of the community. One of seven daughters, Muñoz was brought up in a home with strong family values and a deep respect for their Mexican heritage and cultural traditions.

Muñoz was named in Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Influential Hispanics in October of 2008 and was featured in the November 2008 issue of O, Oprah Magazine. She has also been honored with La Opinion’s Mujeres Destacadas 2007 community award for leadership.

Irma Muñoz’s Green Score: 42,677

Who’s Who in Green: Cate Trotter

The green job possibilities are endless – just ask Cate Trotter, who has the unlikely (and awesome) title of Sexy Sustainability Consultant. That’s right, if you want to know what’s hot, new and green, Trotter is your go-to girl. She’s a green trendspotter and entrepreneur, “working to get people inspired so we can achieve a sustainable future faster.”

Trotter gives up the details about her many green hats on Changents.com:

Insider London’s Cutting-Edge Green Tour, a tour that I devised for the business I founded, showing individuals the latest, most unusual green developments in the city. The tour takes in London’s first five-star green hotel, better-than-fairtrade chocolate, futuristic biodegradable shoes, London’s hydrogen fuel cell bus… this list goes on. Everything from the smallest eco-product to the biggest, healthiest community is covered – pleasantly surprising people at every turn.

Insider Trends, my consultancy that combines my knowledge of what’s great and green with my marketing strategy expertise. I take businesses out and about, giving them powerful first-hand experience of the best initiatives. It means their green work is more likely to be successful, benefiting their business as well as the rest of us who share the planet with them.

Trotter’s Green Tour hits some pretty cool sights in London, so it’s definitely an important stop for any green-leaning travelers headed to the city. Ethical fashion, green architecture, eco food – it’s all on the agenda. Time Out London said “Trotter is a bubbly, engaging guide with a real passion for her subject.”

Taking it upon herself to help spread the word that sustainability is fun, cool, sexy and stylish is what Trotter is all about. Check out her field reports on ‘greenspottings’, vertical gardens and more.

Cate Trotter’s Green Score: 9,128

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