Robert Redford Sponsors Environment-Themed Slam Poetry

Of course, we all know that Robert Redford has been an environmentalist since back when it was still considered eccentric. He has produced documentaries about solar power, lobbied Congress, fought to keep beautiful natural land out of the hands of developers and still campaigns against drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. But, his newest way of expressing his dedication to the environment is a surprising one.

From NPR:

These days, he has a new venue for environmental activism: slam poetry. Sponsored by Redford’s Sundance Preserve, in collaboration with Youth Speaks, a nonprofit that presents spoken-word performances, the Academy Award-winning actor is getting his message out in rhyme.

Redford spoke with Lauren Whitehead, associate director of Youth Speaks, and Simone Crew, slam poet and participant in “Brave New Voices: Youth Speaks! 11th International Youth Poetry Slam,” on Talk of the Nation about his latest project and getting young people involved in the fight against global warming.

Sigh – Robert Redford is cool. Slam poetry is cool. Green is cool. All three together – OMFGGFSMBBQ! No word on whether Robert himself will actually get up on stage. How awesome would that be?!

Link [NPR]
Photo credit: Flickr user jurvetson

Jessica Simpson Gets PETA Smackdown for ‘Real Girls Eat Meat’ T-Shirt

Jessica Simpson is an easy target: she knowingly marketed herself as a dumbass. Therefore, the gloves are off when she does breathtakingly stupid things like wear a t-shirt that says ‘Real Girls Eat Meat’. With sagging album sales and straight-to-DVD films, Jessica doesn’t have much room to alienate people, and yet she walked out in public like that where she knew paparazzi would be waiting. For the most part, vegetarians aren’t likely to be offended, since she’s hardly worth the publicity it would give her. PETA, however, can never resist an opportunity to bash a celeb that promotes the slaughter of animals.

Ecorazzi has it:

On Saturday Ecorazzi told you that Jessica Simpson was seen at the LAX airport wearing a shirt that read “Real Girls Eat Meat.” In the post I predicted that “you just know PETA’s gonna spit when they see this.” Well PETA is spitting alright…spitting a whole bunch of plant-based venom.

PETA released a statement saying: ”Jessica Simpson’s meaty wardrobe malfunction makes us thankful that no one is looking to her for food advice. Chicken of the sea anyone? The woman who thought that Buffalo ‘Wings’ came from buffalos would benefit from some good veggie brain food.” Ouch!

All the brain food in the world can’t save this slag. She’s hopeless. Maybe the controversy will get her a tiny section of the cover of a tabloid, though, and that’s probably what she wants.

Link [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Just Jared

Green Thriller ‘Burn Up’ Too Hot for TV, or So Bad Nobody Wants it?

British-Canadian co-production Burn Up has alternately had gushing reviews in the British press and giggles here in America at the overly dramatic trailer. Treehugger wonders whether the plot is just too controversial for American TV, while Ecorazzi noted that the tone of the voiceover and music might be a signal of B-movie status.

From Treehugger:

Some conspiracy theorists suggest that “Burn Up” is only available in Canada or Britain because the content is too controversial and anti-big oil, and too hot for the American networks to touch; Others point out that it is a British-Canadian co-production and therefore it is logical that Canadians get to see it first. Conspiracy or not, this might have been pitched as Al Gore meets John Grisham, with Rupert Penry-Jones and Neve Campbell smack in the middle of a pileup of Bradley Whitford (of West Wing fame) as a lobbyist, oil executives, environmental activists and politicians stabbing each other in the back or blowing each other up. Rupert Penry-Jones is terrific as the head of Arrow Oil, who quickly finds out that things are not quite what they seem. Kate Taylor at the Globe and Mail writes “This new thriller is hot, hot, hot!” ::Globe and Mail More tomorrow after Part II.

Watch the trailer, below, and form your own opinion. “Friends become enemies in a deadly game of greed and conspiracy!” Dun dun dun!

Link [Treehugger] + [Ecorazzi] + [Canada.com] + [The Globe and Mail]

A $360 Cardboard Bag Coated with Water-Resistant Spray with a Leather Handle is NOT Green

Ecorazzi cued me into a nice bit of high end greenwashing flim flamery. Actor Colin Firth opened a green store in London last year selling Fair Trade and ethical fare and will be selling this, a $360 high end bag made from cardboard.

It’s sprayed with a water proofing coating and has a fat piece of leather for a strap. Designer Giles Miller has the balls call it green because it uses cardboard sources from sustainably harvested trees.

Adding a scoop of shit to a bowl of ice cream does not make for a tasty treat, especially if you charge near $400 for it. I have no problem with stupidly expensive celebrity swag that’s actually green, but if these fashionistas are going to pull out the eco label they should at least make sure it’s actually environmentally friendly.

I guess I’m not expecting much when it comes to someone like Giles Miller, but Colin Firth should know better. This isn’t his first foray into green business and he should know better than to try to cop off this piece of greenwash as worthy of being sold in his store.

Link [Ecorazzi]