ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 7th 2008

Radiohead Supports Tibet At Opening Concert Of World Tour

Filed under: campaigns, events, green and famous, music, politics — parrish @ 12:09 pm

I think it’s safe to say that Radiohead isn’t afraid of making a little noise.  That is, of course, with their music, but also with their political and environmental agenda too. Ecorazzi has reported on numerous occasions about Radiohead’s constant role in environmental change, and now it looks like the guys are speaking up once again.

On Monday, Radiohead kicked off their world tour by decorating the the Cruzan Amphitheater stage in Florida with Tibetan flags to show their support for the people of Tibet. This comes shortly after Ecorazzi got a surge of comments when we wrote a post detailing Richard Gere’s suggestion that America should protest against China by boycotting the Olympic Games in Beijing.

If you think Tibet is groovy visit FreeTibet.org and learn more!

May 2nd 2008

Arnold Schwarzenegger Jet Commute Update!!

Filed under: not green, politics, travel — parrish @ 3:30 pm

Remember a couple months ago when Ecorazzi told you about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daily 380 mile jet commute to and from work? We took a poll and 77 percent of our readers said that Arnold needed to start walking the walk and give up the damn jet already. Well now it looks like he might just have no choice.

Santa Monica – the city Arnold flies into each day – is fighting to eliminate the landing of all jets in their small, local airport that was originally designed for propeller plains only. The ban would apply to jets that land at speeds of 120 knots (138 miles an hour) or faster which city leaders fear aren’t safe for some residents that live nearly 300 feet away. The FAA disagrees saying, “The airport’s 5,000-foot runway is safe and there’s never been a jet accident.”

This isn’t the first time the city of Santa Monica and the FAA have fought over the aiport and Santa Monica might even have plans to shut down the airport down entirely in 2015 when their contract with the FAA expires.  

True, if the ban passes Arnold would probably just take a helicopter to work instead of relocating or finding a more eco sensitive means of transportation, but at least jet traffic would decrease overall.  The judge is set to rule on May 15th, so stay close! We’ll bring you more information as we learn it!

thanks: bloomberg.com

April 29th 2008

Lily Allen Stands Up For Solar Power

Filed under: campaigns, green and famous, healthy living, politics, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 10:58 am

I assume (because you read Ecorazzi) that most of you try to live as green as possible, but sometimes that paycheck (or lack thereof) can really stand in the way of true and utter greenness. My mom works for a company that sells solar panels which makes that kind of technology a whole lot cheaper for her, but what about the rest of us?  Most individuals don’t have the funds to invest in solar panelling — so what do we do?

The London Paper recently tipped us off that Lily Allen has joined campaigners from Friends of the Earth (FOE) and the Renewable Energy Association to ask members of parliament to give people financial incentives for generating their own power by installing devices such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Lily’s activism comes shortly after she spent time recording tracks at a solar powered studio in Hackney.  Allen said: “Having worked at The Premises solar powered recording studio I have experienced how clean and green renewable energy is. I fully support giving people a renewable energy reward for the power they generate. It’s good to be green!”

What do you think Ecorazzi readers? Should the government (local and abroad) do more to help bring down the initial cost of solar power? Chime in and tell us what you think!!!!!

April 24th 2008

The Green Quote: Al Gore Turns Down Obama’s Cabinet Offer

Filed under: politics — michael @ 2:05 pm

“I don’t intend to be a part of any administration. I’ve been Vice President, I ran for President twice, so I don’t have any interest in being a cabinet member. I think my best use is in building grassroots support. I will, of course, give advice to whoever asks me for advice on this and will work to help, but not in a formal way.”

– Al Gore in a recent interview with The Sun

April 14th 2008

Will Al Gore And Jimmy Carter Act Together To End Clinton’s Bid?

Filed under: politics — michael @ 10:40 am

There’s a rumor drifting online just above a whisper that Al Gore and Jimmy Carter may be about to act either together or in sequence to end the Democratic primary and gather support behind a single candidate.

Such rumors generally come from barely-credible sources, in this case the UK Scotsman, but if true it would be a blow to the one candidate suspected to not be getting the endorsement of either gentleman: Hillary Clinton. From the article,

“Former president Carter and former vice-president Gore have already held high-level discussions about delivering the message that she must stand down for the good of the Democrats. ‘They’re in discussions,’ a source close to Carter told Scotland on Sunday. ‘Carter has been talking to Gore. They will act, possibly together, or in sequence.’ An appeal by both men for Democrats to unite behind Clinton’s rival, Barack Obama, would have a powerful effect, and insiders say it is a question of when, rather than if, they act.”

Other sources claim that such an announcement might be imminent — which would be interesting strategy ahead of the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary.

Stay tuned!

April 13th 2008

Matt Damon Promotes The 2008 Global Day for Darfur In London

Filed under: campaigns, events, honors, politics — parrish @ 1:47 pm

Today, Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso are spending the afternoon in London promoting the 2008 Global Day for Darfur.

According to SaveDarfur.org,it’s estimated that “one million Darfuri children have grown up displaced, living in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons, many without opportunities for education, without knowing the meaning of home”.

The hope is that a Global Day for Darfur will alert citizens to call on their governments and the United Nations to get the U.N.-African Union peacekeepers deployed in Darfur as fully, effectively, and quickly as possible

Tens of thousands of people across the country are finding their own way to honor this important day. Pictured above, Matt Damon is breaking toys to symbolize the destruction of childhood in Darfur.

For more information, or to find a local event in your area, visit SaveDarfur.org and let’s get this done!

thanks: justjared.com

April 3rd 2008

Senator Claims McCain Has Done More On Global Warming Than Gore

Filed under: politics — michael @ 5:26 pm

Let loose the dogs of absurdity! Fire up the flames of incompetence! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have someone other than Senator James Inhofe racking up the points in “Wild ‘n Wacky Quotes From U.S. Politicians”! Drum roll please…

“He’s not going to run away from President Bush but at the end of the day, John McCain has earned a reputation, and has the scars to show it, of doing things that put the country ahead of party,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said, noting McCain has differed with the party on immigration, his desire to close Guantanamo Bay, and enacting robust climate change policies.

“Climate change is the road less traveled but he’s traveled it even more than Al Gore,” Graham said. “Al Gore has talked about it and deserves great recognition but he was around here a long time and never introduced a bill.”

My God! The Nobel Foundation got it all wrong! It’s actually John McCain that has done more than anyone else to draw attention to Global Warming! Of course!

As ThinkProgress points out “Gore held the first congressional hearings on climate change in the late 1970s, well before McCain was even elected to Congress.” Not to mention his work on the Kyoto Protocol, his thousands of talks on the subject, his $300 million dollar ad campaign, successful movie, books, and millions of other hours spent fighting to help educate and push the science of climate change into the collective of important social issues.

Gore hasn’t just walked the road. The man has practically built it.

But maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on Senator Lindsey. Maybe he does have a point about McCain’s environmental record.

“While Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has touted his support for the environment throughout his presidential campaign, the League of Conservation Voters gave him a zero rating Thursday on its 2007 congressional scorecard — making him the lowest-ranking lawmaker among all 535 members of Congress. Carl Pope, executive director of the advocacy group Sierra Club, said in a statement that the senator scored lower than some lawmakers who had died in the middle of the term.”

Or not.

April 3rd 2008

Michael Blooomberg Honored For Environmental Leadership

Filed under: business, events, events: nyc, green and famous, honors, politics, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 11:08 am

Tuesday night New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was honored alongside Bank Of America CEO Kenneth D. Lewis by the Natural Resources Defense Council for their outstanding environmental leadership. The event took place in New York City and had a swanky guest list with names like: Ralph Lauren, Candice Bergen, Lauren Bush, Chevy Chase and Sam Champion.

The NRDC recognized PlanNYC, a project Bloomberg put into place to enhance New York’s urban environment and develop a model for efficiency and sustainable. It’s estimated that PlanNYC will contribute a 30% reduction in the city’s global warming emissions.

Kenneth D. Lewis from Bank Of America was honored for leading the bank on a $20 billion, ten-year initiative that encourages development of environmentally sustainable business practices through lending, investing, philanthropy and the creation of new products and services.

What do you think Ecorazzi readers? Are you happy with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s pick for environmental leaders? Chime in and tell us what you think.

April 2nd 2008

Obama May Tap Gore For Cabinet Position. Or Higher.

Filed under: green and famous, politics — michael @ 4:25 pm

Leave it to Barack Obama to keep Gore-political fever alive. Yesterday, we made a joke that senator John McCain had chosen Gore to run as Vice-President on his ticket; but now it’s Obama that may have the idea brewing in his head. When asked at a town meeting today whether the Illinois senator if elected President would tap the former vice president for his Cabinet, or an even higher level office, to address global warming, he offered this interesting response:

“I would,” Obama said. “Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He’s somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I’m already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now.”

Oh man. As the article points out, Gore’s rise once again in the Democratic party — and his refusal to so far endorse either candidate — is making him the center of attention for both campaigns. As he mentioned in his 60 Minutes interview, he regularly gets calls from both Clinton and Obama.

It’s going to be an interesting next couple months…

April 1st 2008

McCain Chooses Al Gore For Vice President

Filed under: politics — michael @ 12:45 am

In a shocking move of bipartisanship, Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced that he has decided to run with Al Gore for the 2008 ticket. The early announcement has sent shock waves around the world — with most believing he would choose Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina. MSNBC’s Senior Campaign Correspondent Tucker Carlson was moody about the choice. “At this stage in the game, for McCain to make this move is unbelievable”, he said. “I firmly believe he’s going to destroy the party here — we don’t need someone in the White House that’s going to push America in a new direction.”

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter was unavailable for comment after she threw herself out a third-story window and into Manhattan traffic.

Reaction on the other side of the political spectrum was mixed. Said one resident from State College, PA, “I really like Obama, but think Al Gore is completely awesome. Now what the hell am I going to do?” Aprile Pazzo, one of the founders of the grassroots site Draft Gore was equally confused. “We’re excited he’s running, but to join up with the Republican party just kind of sucks. It’s like Luke Skywalker accepting Darth Vader’s offer to join the dark side. I guess I’ll actually have to start paying attention to that old guy he’s running with.”

For his part, Al Gore offered that he would bring a fresh perspective — and new era of partnership — to the Republican party. “With today’s announcement that I’m joining John McCain for the 2008 ticket,” the former V.P. now V.P. candidate announced, “Americans everywhere can look forward to a united government that puts bickering and partisanship behind, in favor of addressing truly important economic, environmental, and social issues, working diplomatically with foreign governments, and ensuring that peace and prosperity can be something enjoyed by each and all.”

The sky then filled with rainbows, butterflies, and an original soundtrack by James Newton.

It’s worth noting that today is April 1st.