ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

July 2nd 2009

Daryl Hannah: “There Is No Such Thing As Clean Coal!”

Filed under: campaigns, green and famous — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 12:43 pm

A little more than a week after being arrested for civil disobedience during a mountaintop removal protest in West Virginia, Daryl Hannah is telling her side of the story in a new article for the Huffington Post. She writes: “Why would I fly across the country on my own dime knowing I would most likely end up in jail in one of the poorest parts of America? Well, have you ever heard of MTR? Don’t feel bad, my friends are intelligent, well-read and informed people, but most of them had never heard of MTR (Mountain Top Removal) either.”

Hannah goes on to explain her position on the destructive practice — including the respect she has for the miners that depend on the work for their livelihood. She also includes some letters that she’s received since her arrest for citizens of West Virginia deeply effected by MTR. “I am sorry you were arrested but I thank you for standing up for what is right,” writes one woman. “We need to work on sustainable communities here in the mountains so that coal miners will have opportunities for jobs not so dangerous.”

The actress then rails against the fallacy that is “clean coal” technology saying: “Let me make one thing clear… there is no such thing as clean coal!!! ‘Clean coal’ is the industry’s attempt to “clean up” its dirty image — the industry’s greenwash buzzword. It is not a new type of coal. ‘Clean coal’ methods only move pollutants from one waste stream to another. Coal is a dirty business!”

Check out the full article — including pictures — over on HuffPo. To see a video of Hannah getting arrested, jump here.

Photo credit: Rainforest Action Network

June 29th 2009

Flashback: UNICEF Blows Up The Smurfs

Filed under: campaigns, film-tv, television — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 1:58 pm

Want to get people’s attention? Take a classic children’s cartoon from the 80’s and inject world events into it. That’s just what UNICEF did back in 2005 with the classic Smurfs series.

With the permission of the family of the late Belgian creator Peyo, the children’s charity animated a carpet bombing of the Smurf village — along with Smurfette left for dead and Baby Smurf orphaned and crying. The clip ends with the words, “don’t let war destroy the children’s world.” UNICEF made sure to air the commercial on Belgian television only after 9pm so that children wouldn’t run screaming through the house after watching it. “We see so many images that we don’t really react anymore,” said Julie Lamoureux, account director at Publicis, an advertising agency that drew up the campaign for UNICEF Belgium. “In 35 seconds we wanted to show adults how awful war is by reaching them within their memories of childhood.”

Point taken. Check out the commercial below — and to donate to UNICEF, jump here.

June 29th 2009

The Green Quote: Sheryl Crow Stamps Out Violence Against Women

Filed under: campaigns, fashion — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 12:37 pm

“There are so many looming causes that need everyone to be involved in and everyone to be conscious of. This is one that I really think does escape people because it’s not happening in our own country and it’s so foreign – the idea of using rape as warfare – that a lot of people close their eyes to it. In our own way of consumer-ship, we can have a voice in what happens over there.”

- Sheryl Crow discussing Stamp Out Violence Against Women and Girls of the Congo – a campaign started by Los Angeles-based fashion brand OmniPeace. OmniPeace donates 25% of its profits towards efforts to end extreme poverty in Africa by 2025. Learn more at OmniPeace.com.

June 29th 2009

My Morning Jacket Dedicates George Harrison Tribute To Woodstock FAS!

Filed under: animals, campaigns, music — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 12:10 pm

Music AND animal sanctuary lovin’? Where do I sign up??!!

Ecorazzi recently got word that Jim James, lead singer of the band “My Morning Jacket,” will donate a portion of the proceeds from his upcoming limited edition EP to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary! The EP is a collection of George Harrison songs covered by Jim James (under the alias “Yim Yames”) that was recorded back in 2001.

A proud vegetarian, Jim wanted to honor both Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Harrison. About the decision, James said:

“I know this is something that George [Harrison] really believed in. George was all about treating all creatures equally and eating responsibly.” 

You can download a free preview song on his website and a full digital download and the CD will come later in July.

To learn more about this rad campaign, visit WoodstockFAS.org!!

June 29th 2009

Stella McCartney Says Meatless Mondays Won’t Make You A Hemp Wearing Pot Smoker

So you'll just have to try harder to achieve that look.

Filed under: animals, campaigns, food & drink — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 9:49 am

“It’s ok to just give up meat for one day, it doesn’t make you a vegetarian if you hate vegetarians, it doesn’t make you a cranky, hemp wearing pot smoker. It’s alright, it’s allowed - it doesn’t make you a kind of the person you don’t want to be. It just means you are doing something positive.”

“If everyone gave it up on a Monday it would be more effective than everyone stopping driving their car on a Monday. We are not perfect. It’s so important to get that across because it’s like oh, those bloody Maccas, talking again about not killing cows! It is boring. But the reality is, I like to think I am trying to do my little bit. I will turn off a light when I leave a room; I will turn off a socket if I don’t want to be using the socket. And those are tiny little things.”

– Stella McCartney speaking with the UK Telegraph on her family’s new campaign to get people to go meat-free one day a week.

UK Telegraph via Vegetarian Star

June 29th 2009

Fiat’s New Ad Campaign Puts Animals In The Crash Seat

Filed under: campaigns, magazines — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 9:22 am

Fiat has launched a new ad campaign in the UK — and while the scenario might be familiar, the occupants of the vehicles certainly are not.

The visuals depict animals like penguins, panda bears, and walruses at the receiving end of a crash test in various Fiat vehicles. Before you think the company has lost their minds, understand that this is all part of a running theme promoting the “reduced environmental impact” of their vehicles. It certainly catches your attention.

Check out all of the ads below. What do you think of Fiat’s new campaign?

via AutoBlogGreen

June 25th 2009

Confirmed: Earthrace Superboat Joining Sea Shepherd Fleet

78 foot trimaran wave piercer to intercept and block harpoons.

Filed under: animals, campaigns — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 8:55 pm

When we first heard the rumors that Sea Shepherd might acquire add the sleek, biodiesel-fueled powerboat called Earthrace to their efforts — we wanted to believe. But seriously, would it be possible? Could an anti-whaling organization land something out of a James Bond movie to further their cause?

Yes.

Outside the International Whaling Commission meeting in Portugal, Sea Shepherd announced plans for their sixth campaign against Japanese commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary - Operation Waltzing Matilda. They also revealed the incredible news that the Earthrace will be joining the SS Steve Irwin in this new operation. And yes, it will change from its current silver to the Sea Shepherd’s striking black.

Read the rest of this entry »

June 25th 2009

Watch: Daryl Hannah Getting Arrested At Moutaintop Removal Protest

"Is it worth it, Daryl?" "Absolutely. No Question."

Filed under: campaigns — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 10:19 am

As we covered previously, Daryl Hannah, along with NASA climate scientist James Hansen and former U.S. Rep. Ken Hechler, were among 31 people arrested during a display of civil disobedience at a mountaintop removal protest in West Virginia on Tuesday.

You’ve seen the pictures — now check out video from the event of Hannah being arrested and the ensuing craziness that erupted after the fact. Hey — at least she got to sit shotgun in the police cruiser.

June 25th 2009

Good Charlotte Goes VEG On Denny’s Rockstar Menu

Filed under: campaigns, food & drink, green and famous — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 8:23 am

Well there’s 4 words I never thought I’d use in one sentence: Good, VEG, Denny’s, Rockstar. But yes, it’s true! 

Good Charlotte recently teamed up with Denny’s to contribute a vegetarian burrito using Boca burgers for their new Rockstar Menu — a series of offerings created by some of the world’s most well-known musicians.

For any international readers who perhaps aren’t familiar with the paltry chain “restaurant”, let me try and help you understand. You know that dingy diner down the street that you only go to drunk at three in the morning to order french fries and sober up? This is Denny’s in a nutshell.

On Benji Madden’s twitter page, he says: “Kids when you order this, I want you to imagine that we’re back here, making it for you, with love.” Kinda creepy, but whatever. 

According to Denny’s website, the Boca Burgers they serve DO indeed have dairy in them — so vegans beware! 

Check out the video below and watch Good Charlotte get there VEG on!

via: vegetarianstar.com

June 23rd 2009

Daryl Hannah Arrested After Mountaintop Removal Protest

Filed under: campaigns — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 8:23 pm

Daryl Hannah has been arrested. Again.

The actress was charged this afternoon with about 30 other people — including were NASA scientist James Hansen and former Rep. Ken Hechler — for blocking State Route 3 near a Massey Energy subsidiary’s coal processing plant in Raleigh County.

Read the rest of this entry »