ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 2nd 2008

Bingo! Marie Claire Nails Green Cover Girl With Cate Blanchett

Filed under: interviews, magazines — michael @ 12:38 pm

It’s good to know there’s still someone out there in the magazine industry particularly concerned with who should grace the cover of their “eco issue”. After duds from mags like Elle, Vanity Fair, and Complex, we were starting to wonder whether getting people truly involved in environmental initiatives to grace the front page was a priority anymore.

Thankfully, the UK version of Marie Claire is featuring the beautiful actress/environmental activist Cate Blanchett. In the interview, Blanchett speaks of her quest to push the climate change issue forward for Australians — as well as her efforts in greening the Sydney Theater Company and personal home, and her charity work for Solar Aid. Here’s a bit from the magazine,

“‘We would have greened the internal offices anyway,’ she says as we stroll along the balcony outside the building, the harbour waters sparkling in the sunlight below. ‘But then Andrew said, “This place is perfect to put solar panels on and take it off the grid completely.”‘ If they manage it, theirs will be the first public building on Sydney Harbour to do so.

‘Our house is progressing now,’ says Blanchett. ‘But I was horrified to see how uncommon greening practices for the home are. We’ve had solar panels installed, but they’re still seen as a left-field idea. We’ve also got rainwater tanks and we’re using natural air flow to cool the house.’”

For their part, Marie Claire is delivering the mag wrapped in a recyclable brown paper bag. A stunt to be sure, since we’re confident next month’s issue will be back to its plastic-wrapped self. We will lightly applaud, however, the fact that magazine has transitioned to using paper from sustainable forests. Marie Claire’s editor, Marie O’Riordan, has not made the shift to recycled paper because she feels “it just isn’t glossy enough.” Damn trees. Oh well, one step at a time.

The June eco issue is available now in the UK. More info on what’s inside here.

May 2nd 2008

Clooney Writes About Brad And Angelina For Time Magazine

Filed under: honors, magazines — michael @ 11:58 am

For Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People”, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were ranked number 21. Who penned their tribute? None other than George Clooney. His words are below,

“It is one thing to talk about the problems of the world and quite another to actually try to change things.

As a team, actors Brad Pitt, 44, and Angelina Jolie, 32, have served as our goodwill ambassadors worldwide. They brought help to Pakistan in 2005, after a catastrophic earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. They have tended to the poor and sick in Africa. And they’ve raised global awareness—and contributed $1 million of their own money—for the victims of atrocities in Darfur. Brad co-founded Not on Our Watch, an organization set up to focus global attention on Darfur and other hot spots.

In the U.S., Brad and Angelina didn’t just talk about, or even just throw money at, the tragic fallout from Hurricane Katrina. They actually moved to New Orleans and have set about trying to make right what so many have made wrong. Brad established a project to finance and build 150 new homes in the Ninth Ward.

Continue on to Time to read the rest of George’s comments.

April 23rd 2008

Elle Magazine Green Issue Getting Punked By Eco-Terrorists?

Filed under: magazines — michael @ 4:11 pm

We have very little information regarding who is behind the hoax, but apparently “Retraction” stickers have been showing up in Elle Magazine’s green issue. They declare a statement related to an article on a group of supposed eco-terrorists. Here’s what the stickers say,

“Following consultation with federal agencies, we at Elle wish to retract this article. Not because of the stream of factual inaccuracies beginning in the second sentence (there has never been a CrimethInc. convergence in Athens, Georgia), but because in the current political climate it is irresponsible to even pretend to give a fair hearing to radical anti-capitalists. Even if Anna’s story is a cut-and-dried case of entrapment, we have to understand this as a necessary defense of our free market freedoms. Not to say that we are not concerned about the environment at Elle. On the contrary, the global environmental crisis offers unprecedented opportunities to promote sustainable fashions (p. 98), give the meat industry a makeover (p. 245), and renew faith in this country’s discredited electoral process (p. 104); even the color green itself is making a comeback (p. 72). Consumer capitalism may be threatening life on earth, but there’s simply no other option—that is, not unless you’re willing to join the ranks of the eco-terrorists.”

These stickers have been found in every issue in at least one bookstore. Anyone else encountered them?

More info over on Crimethinc

April 23rd 2008

Celebrity Teens Go Green! Kewl Magazine’s Eco Issue Is GR8.

Filed under: green and famous, magazines, thegreenpicture, web — parrish @ 1:04 pm

As a mid-twenty, non-parent, only child dude, I am happy to say that I’m totally tweenless. That is, on an average day I have about zero exposure to anything intended for people under the age of about 18. So you’ll excuse me if I step out of my comfort zone and cover something a little more…tweeny.

KEWL Magazine, a magazine considered to be the Entertainment Weekly for kids, is showing youngsters that protecting the planet from global warming can be…well kewl. Expanding on its regular Go Green feature, KEWL celebrated Earth Day with an jam packed green issue, including teen celebrity ‘green’ pledges, information on endangered sites and endangered animals, and tons of information on how your favorite kind-of-awkward, semi-moody tween can get involved.

The issue also featured the Top Ten Green Celebs including Hayden Panettiere, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Bindi Irwin, and more. Also, celebrity posters place top celebs in front of world destinations threatened by global warming. Along with the celebs, over twenty earth-friendly companies donated products as prize give-a-ways in the magazine, including necklaces made of recycled precious metals, re-usable gift bags, and solar cell phone chargers.

So grab that eye-rolling, five-foot-something bundle of joy in your life and go pick up Kewl Magazine’s new green issue or visit their website. GO BAYSIDE! (That’s a little something from my tween years.)

April 18th 2008

Time Magazine Feeling The Heat Over Global Warming Cover

Filed under: magazines — michael @ 9:40 am

Here comes the cover controversy — again.

For only the second time in 85 years, Time magazine abandoned the traditional red border it uses on its cover. The occasion? The fight against global warming.

But this time — to really make their point — they decided to use the iconic photo from the Battle of Iwo Jima (which is the inspiration for the US Marine Corps War Memorial) and do a little modifying. OK, they actually replaced the flag with a tree. Their goal was to make the comparison that the fight against global warming is similar to the fight of WWII. Veterans are understandably upset. From the article,

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” Donald Mates, an Iwo Jima veteran said. “Whoever did it is going to hell. That’s a mortal sin. God forbid he runs into a Marine that was an Iwo Jima survivor.” Mates also said making the comparison of World War II to global warming was erroneous and disrespectful.“The second world war we knew was there,” Mates said. “There’s a big discussion. Some say there is global warming, some say there isn’t. And to stick a tree in place of a flag on the Iwo Jima picture is just sacrilegious.”

Time is standing behind the decision to use the cover with managing editor Richard Stengel saying that a point of view is needed. “You can’t always just say ‘on the one hand, on the other’ and you decide. People trust us to make decisions. We’re experts in what we do. So I thought, you know what, if we really feel strongly about something let’s just say so.”

Personally, I believe it was a mistake to modify a memorial to fallen soldiers to make a point about something completely different. Fighting global warming is very important, but the efforts to rally support for that cause should not be made at the expense of the sacrifices of others.

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April 17th 2008

Melissa Joan Hart To Be The Next Top Chef?

Filed under: food & drink, green and famous, magazines — parrish @ 11:01 am

Melissa Joan Hart is back in the news again!

Just a few days ago, Ecorazzi told you that Melissa spent a little one on one time with OK Magazine dishing about her recent pregnancy and using “hypnobirthing.” In the article, Melissa gives props to her friend, Kellie Martin, for introducing her to the natural birthing method.

Now it looks like Melissa and her birthing buddy are teaming up again, but this time they mean business. Hart recently told In Touch that she and Martin plan on opening a restaurant together. The ex-Clarissa Explains It All star said: “I’m taking a course on opening a restaurant at UCLA. When you’re an actor, all that downtime when you’re not working is killer, so I want to have something fun on the side that I can do.” Hart won’t reveal too much, claiming: “It’s super-secret because no one else has anything like it.”

Can I guess? Can I guess? I bet whatever kind of food they serve it will definitely have a natural/organic twist to it. But that’s just me! What do you think Ecorazzi readers? Post a comment and tell us what you think the “super-secret” restaurant might be like.

April 16th 2008

Cindy Crawford Blogs Green For Vanity Fair

Filed under: campaigns, green and famous, magazines, thegreenpicture, web — parrish @ 5:28 pm

I never thought I’d say this, but: CINDY CRAWFORD STOP TRYING TO GET ALL UP IN MY GRILL!!!! Just kidding Cindy, there’s enough cyber-space for all of us!

That’s right folks, Cindy Crawford is now officially a blogger! It’s recently been announced that Cindy will be blogging for VanityFair.com throughout the month of April to dish about her family’s lifestyle changes and her partnership with PUR water filters.

In one of her first blogs, Cindy talks about her Thirsty for Change program (which Ecorazzi mentioned earlier) and tells us: ” Next month, the PUR “Thirsty for Change” Web site and bottle will launch, and proceeds from every bottle purchased will go towards the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, which helps provide clean drinking water to impoverished children around the world. “

Cindy also explains her green inspiration: “…my eco-awakening happened after I had kids. As a mother, you obviously want to feel good about the Earth you’re leaving to your children, but there was something else going on as well: my kids were making me feel guilty! They go to a very environmentally aware school, where they do beach clean-ups and hand out cloth bags and reusable bottles. I guess it’s part of living in Malibu, but I think my kids would look down on me if they caught me wasting plastic.

Here at the Razz, we’re always excited to see another celebrity go green and we can’t frigin’ wait to read more of your blogs. Welcome to the club!

April 11th 2008

Vanity Fair Fails To Print Green Issue On Recycled Paper — Again.

Insult to injury

Filed under: magazines — michael @ 4:05 pm

At this point, it’s becoming clear that even a boardroom of oil executives might have better organized this year’s green issue for Vanity Fair. First we had the bizarre cover photo of Madonna holding a globe (why?) and then the interview that asked zero questions related to the environment. Now, we have another great article from Frank Locantore lamenting the fact that Vanity Fair once again decided not to use recycled paper for their green issue. From the post,

“The fact is that while other magazines like Shape, Fast Company, Inc. and Every Day With Rachael Ray have made important achievements in environmentally responsible publishing, Vanity Fair and CN (Condé Nast) have only “talked green” in their articles. Do they make any mention of their environmental practices in the magazine? No. Is there information about their commitment to sustainability on their Web site? No. Are they at least using recycled paper? No, not even a smidgeon.”

Locantore says it’s a classic example of “Do As I Say” and in a time when access to high quality recycled paper stock in no longer a hurdle, we couldn’t agree more. Vanity Fair has every opportunity to make each issue a “green” issue, but is only looking at the circulation numbers and less at the big picture.

Sure, writing about the topics in the first place is wonderful — but using that excuse to justify doing nothing yourself is so 2006.

To read the rest of Frank’s great piece, click here.

April 9th 2008

Water: Now More Fashionable!

Filed under: art, fashion, featured charity, magazines — kelli @ 2:10 pm

Here at Ecorazzi, we love us some Sigg. We’ve sung the praises of the versatile aluminum bottles before, but this just might be the most exciting Sigg news to date.

In conjunction with their third-annual Green Issue, Elle magazine has partnered with global warming activist Laurie David to launch a series of 14 limited-edition Sigg bottles. Each one-of-a-kind bottle has been fashioned by some of the world’s most creative designers, and feature the designer’s characteristic styles that we love - Anna Sui’s signature Dolly Girl and Kenneth Cole’s freehand text designs, as well as others from Zac Posen, Savannah and Sienna Miller’s line Twenty 8 Twelve, and Diane von Furstenberg, , just to name a few.

You can view all 14 designs now at elle.com, but you’d better keep an eye on your favorites! The bottles will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting StopGlobalWarming.org, starting April 14 at 7:00 p.m., so you’ll have a chance to get your fashionable little hands on one of these designer bottles yourself!

Kelli Shields is the Major Gifts Associate at the Center for Biological Diversity.

April 7th 2008

Deja Vu: Madonna Is The Cover Girl For ELLE’s Green Issue

Cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria

Filed under: magazines — michael @ 11:41 am

It’s happened again.

Somehow, the creative forces of two major magazine publications have managed to put Madonna on the cover of two green-themed issues. At least she’s not mimicking Atlas like in the Vanity Fair issue.

A portion of ELLE’s interview is now online — but it’s not looking good for anyone interested in what Madonna’s plans for the environment are. If you’re interested in what she’s wearing though, by all means, jump here.