ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 14th 2008

Ecorazzi Wants To Give You VIP Access To Planet Green’s Tommy Lee And Ludacris Concert Finale!

Filed under: green and famous — michael @ 4:37 pm

We get to experience a lot of cool private events as part of our hussle to deliver the latest green gos — but often times, we can only share with everyone through the one-dimensional limitations of the Internet. Not this time! We’ve got 5 pairs of tickets for you and a friend to attend the final taping of Planet Green’s Battleground Earth — including VIP Room and green carpet access to rock it out before the concert.

First off, let me just apologize to everyone else not within a reasonable distance of the Greek Theatre in LA. This gig probably will not work for you — unless you have a private jet (I kid, I kid). I’ll try and do better next time. However, for those of you around or near LA — get ready to party. Here are a few more details:

“Discovery Communication’s premiere of Planet Green, the first and only 24-hour eco-friendly lifestyle and entertainment television network, which premieres June 4 and a LIVE CONCERT. The event is part “green” carpet, VIP party and part concert featuring Ludacris, Tommy Lee and other musical performances. The concert is the backdrop of the final taping for the new Planet Green series, BATTLEGROUND EARTH: LUDACRIS vs. TOMMY LEE, which premieres on August 3rd. Proceeds from this event will benefit the fund created to restore areas destroyed by recent wildfires in and around Griffith Park.”

Tickets are available to the public from Ticketmaster or at the box office of the Greek Theater — but before you purchase, we also want to give you the opportunity to attend like a star. Before the concert starts at 8pm, you’ll be ushered down the green carpet at six (after getting free parking — awesome!) and into the VIP party happening outside the theatre. You’ll party there for two hours and then receive great seats for the concert. Besides Tommy Lee and Ludacris, performers will also include Train, Switchfoot, members of Velvet Revolver, Bowling for Soup, Too Short, Blue Man Group, Robbie Krieger from the Doors, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top and Planet Green celebrities.

Want to know how to win? Click here to get all the dirty details!

May 14th 2008

Right Seeing Red Over John McCain’s Green Campaign Swag

Filed under: politics — michael @ 4:02 pm

You know things are starting to change when even the Republican nominee for President is promoting “eco-friendly” organic merchandise — with some even saying “Go Green!” — on his official website. Of course, this has brought out hilarious denunciations from the usual characters like Limbaugh and Harris; who both are “disgusted” by John McCain’s focus on climate change. On this issue in particular, it will truly be a joy to see these clowns go down with the Bush administration’s conservative ship. While McCain may not be the change we’re looking for, he’s certainly not playing by the right’s usual rules of engagement on global warming.

Here’s Limbaugh’s confused and bewildered reaction to McCain’s climate change stance: “The troubling thing here, Senator McCain, is I’m mapping out plans here to try to persuade Republicans to eventually cross over to vote for you and this is not making it any easier,” he said on his May 12 show. “At some point Republicans are going to have to decide whether to cross the aisle and vote for McCain. Clearly, he’s rolling the dice in thinking that the ‘green’ community and the independents and the yutes out there will buy into this global warming business and think he’s different than the average conservative Republican and that will stand him in good stead.”

I think once Rush throws himself into a bamboo “Go Green” John McCain polo, he’ll feel a lot better. To have a look at what else green is available over at John’s official store, jump here.

via Business and Media Institute

May 14th 2008

Oprah Cancels Big Give After Just One Season

Filed under: film-tv, television — parrish @ 2:14 pm

OPRAH WINFREY HAS SPOKEN!!

Oprah has recently canceled her reality television show, Oprah’s Big Give, after just one season. The show — which ran on ABC — featured 10 regular old folks competing to see who could find the most creative ways to raise money for charity. Ecorazzi previously reported that even a few celebrities jumped on board to donate some loot, and by the end, Oprah and friends had raised millions of dollars for charity!

But even though it was a hit Oprah said she would not bring it back. Network exec, Steven McPherson told the New York Post, “We loved that show and absolutely would have loved to bring it back. But it was something Oprah didn’t want to do.”

And let’s be honest —  Oprah gets what Oprah wants!!

thanks:starpulse.com

May 14th 2008

Introducing The ECORAZZI BIRTHDAY SALUTE!

Filed under: green and famous, honors — parrish @ 12:02 pm

Today is an exciting day! Here at Ecorazzi we’re always trying to find clever new ways to celebrate the prodigiously awesome deeds done by today’s greenest A, B, C, D and even sometimes E-list celebrities. So in the spirit of celebration we’d like to introduce (drum roll please) the brand new….ECORAZZI BIRTHDAY SALUTE!

The title pretty much explains it all, but in case you’re still shaking your head with confusion I’ll explain further. Everyone deserves a happy birthday, and what could be happier than an Ecorazzi hip, hip hooray. Each time one those good-hearted, green-living, animal-loving, famous faces gets a year older, we’ll toast their green achievements with this special new feature.

Up first: Stephen Colbert and Bea Arthur! True, their birthdays were yesterday, but this is a brand new feature, people…give us a break!

Yesteday Stephen Colbert celebrated a jolly 44 years of charitable wonderfulness. Stephen’s been featured on Ecorazzi before for his work in raising $171,000 for charity with his broken wrist and raising an additional $50,605 on eBay for Save The Children. We think Stephen’s totally rad and look forward to covering all his future charitable achievements.

The second star we’d like to toast has never been featured on the Razz, but she certainly deserves a salute. Everybody give it up for Bea Arthur who turned eighty-frigin-six yesterday. Bea has spent much of her time as an animal advocate working with PETA and other animal rights organizations. A while back she told The Pet Press, “I’ve always been very intolerant of animal abuse. I don’t know exactly when I started being so aware- it was at a very early age. I work very heavily with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I really wonder about my sanity sometimes, because I will never go to Spain… I will never give them a f–king nickel because of the bullfights. To me it’s like abusing a child.”

We did a little digging and found this PETA video from back in the day. So grab some vegan birthday day, sit back and watch Bea talk about pee. No…I’m not even joking! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU GUYS

May 14th 2008

It’s Official! Madonna To Build Girls’ School In Malawi!!

Filed under: events — parrish @ 10:52 am

In early April, Ecorazzi reported that Madonna was hoping to follow in the footsteps of Oprah and open her own all girls school in Malawi. Well the Material Girl need not hope any longer!

Madonna’s lawyer announced today that plans are set to begin building the multi-million-dollar girls’ school for underprivileged children this year. “A task force of four prominent Malawians has already been formed to head the project which will be on the scale of what Oprah Winfrey has in South Africa,” Madonna’s lawyer Alan Chinula told Reuters.

In other Madonna/Malawi news: Malawi’s High Court is expected to approve Madonna’s bid to adopt two-year-old Malawian David Banda on Thursday.  Oh and also Madonna is requesting the name Malawi officially be changed to Madonnaville. ONLY KIDDING!!

 thanks: justjared.com

May 14th 2008

Joel Madden And Nicole Richie Urge Help For Cyclone Victims

Filed under: campaigns, donations, video — michael @ 10:17 am

We’ve had a double-wammy of disasters this week with the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China — so expect the charity from Hollywood to start ramping up. Yesterday, we told you Clooney and Co. had donated $500,000 to relief in Burma, today Joel Madden and Nicole Richie are hooking up with UNICEF to encourage people to help out through donations. Check out their PSA below:

via JustJared

May 14th 2008

Urban Hippies Need Your Vote For Today Show Dream Wedding!

Filed under: green and famous — michael @ 9:35 am

As they’ve done in year’s past, the Today Show on NBC is giving away a “dream wedding” to one lucky couple brave enough to have the entire process splashed across America’s TV screens. Of course, this isn’t a lottery — the five couples selected will each week perform in a series of challenge races with the weakest team being voted off by the general public. Eventually, only two will remain standing — at which point we imagine there will be some kind of violent, heart-wrenching, P.S. I Love You-style conclusion with the loser facing time in a Turkish prison.

The coolest news, however, is that we have an Ecorazzi reader in the finals! Annie (a self-described urban-hippie) and her fiance Tom are fighting to win it all! In her own words,

“Sure, we’re not a Lohan or a Spelling, but maybe we’ve achieved pseudo-Z-list status. Anyway, we’ve both been vegetarian/ vegan for about 10 years, have a vermicompost (worm farm), sold our car and always use tote bags. After being diagnosed with Lupus, I became committed to eating organic and healthy and it’s worked! I’ve even been know to scold litter bugs. We’d be amazingly appreciative if you fellow greenies would be willing to support our bid to win our dream wedding.”

Fantastic! They have our vote — and we’re hoping that we can get the entire Razzi audience behind Annie and Tom! Better yet, Anne says they want to have a wedding that’s as green as possible — vegetarian across the board! C’mon everyone — lets make this happen for the two of them. To rock the vote, jump here and click on “Anne and Tom”. Their official website is also here. Good luck guys!

May 14th 2008

Lights, Camera, Take Action on Global Warming

Filed under: events: la, politics — michael @ 9:01 am

This past Saturday, Environment California held an event at the home of Paul and Deborah Haggis (80% solar-powered!) to discuss how California can lead the country in addressing global warming and jump-starting a clean energy revolution. Dana Delany, Morgan Fairchild, Peter Horton, Paul Gilmartin, Marshall Herskovitz, Sharon Lawrence, Bobby Moresco, Amy Smart and Alicia Silverstone were among the 100+ in attendance. Event sponsors sponsors and host committee included Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Redford, Lynda & Stewart Resnick, Betty & Stanley Sheinbaum, Lily Tomlin, Ed Begley Jr., Lawrence Bender, Esai Morales, Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon, and Jeremy Sisto.

Wendie Malick emcee’d the program, and speakers included U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney (11th District — a former wind-energy executive who defeated Rep. Pombo in 2006), Cal EPA’s Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, Environment America Executive Director Margie Alt and Environment California Legislative Director Dan Jacobson. Environment California is calling on the Schwarzenegger administration to make global warming polluters pay for every ton of pollution and to create a $1-billion-a-year Global Warming Solutions Fund. Environment America, a federation of state environment groups, is working in 25+ states on similar solutions and also urging Congress to push forward on setting science-based global warming pollution standards.

In addition to contributing to the group, attendees noshed on organic brunch by Akasha Richmond of Akasha restaurant, checked out the new all-electric Tesla Roadster, signed postcards by Governor Schwarzenegger, and left with a recycled canvas Ecobag filled with more info on the organization and ways to take action.

Want to find out more and get involved? www.environmentcalifornia.org and www.enviromentamerica.org

Pictured: Kimberly Larson and Wendie Malick. Photo credit: torphoto.com

May 14th 2008

Mr. Norton Heads To Washington To Discuss Green Building

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, politics — michael @ 8:40 am

Actor Edward Norton is headed to Washington, D.C. to speak this afternoon on green building and discuss how more efficient buildings and better building policies can reduce energy costs and cut global warming pollution.

Speaking in front of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Norton will be joined by Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco, and other experts from the field of green building. Norton is a Trustee for the Enterprise Community and works to bring green building practices to low-income housing development. Most successful and talked about often here on the Raz is his Solar Neighbors program. For every solar installation a celebrity or other notable individual purchases, a person in a low-income area receives a system for free. Most recently, Actor Will Ferrell participated in the program, which resulted in a homeless shelter receiving a brand-new solar array.

We should be getting some video and photos from the event later on this afternoon — so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out our recent interview with Edward Norton here.

May 13th 2008

The Green Quote: Susan Sarandon On Her Activism

Filed under: green and famous — michael @ 6:40 pm

“Sometimes I don’t even understand the ramifications of what I say; all I know is that I just can’t live with myself if I don’t say something. I’m aware that I’ve become some kind of joke in terms of my activism but it’s not something I can worry about. You have to prioritize. And it’s not like my activism is something recent. I come from a generation where, growing up, if you had half a brain in your head and half a heart, you were automatically active.”

–Actress Susan Sarandon in a recent interview with The Independent