Last night was the EMAs (pronounced “emmas”, in case you didn’t know), the annual awards gala thrown by the Environmental Media Association in celebration and recognition of those working in film and TV production who are supporting and promoting the green cause both behind the scenes and on camera. Sir Richard Branson and Jason Mraz were both honored last night along with 2012 producers Centropolis Entertainment and National Geographic’s Explorers in Residence Derreck and Beverly Joubert.

Presenters for the evening included Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Kathryn Morris, Ginnifer Goodwin, Olivia Wilde, Alanis Morrisette, Ed Begley Jr., Blythe Danner, Amy Smart, Simon Baker, Dana Delaney, Emily Vancamp as well as Dianna Agron and Kevin McHale from ‘Glee’. Razzi heroes Louie and Vicki Psihoyos also made it back from the controversial screening of their film The Cove in Japan for the event.

Amy Smart and Simon Baker presenting.

It was a pretty lavish shindig with vendors and screens lining New York Street on the Paramount Studios backlot. Tables were lit with faux votive candles, no paper plates in sight as well as eco-luxury gifts and a variety of gourmet and organic foods available all across the outdoor event.

Toyota and Lexus hosted the eco-luxury lounges.

The very excellent Melinda McGraw, from Mad Men and Hank, was on hand and we chatted a bit about how much there is to learn from pioneers like Ed Begley Jr. as well as what she’s been noticing changing on sets in the last ten years. McGraw pointed out that while many scripts are emailed these days it’s still hard to conserve paper with so many changing scripts drafts. Her pet peeve on set? The air conditioning on sound stages. “It does not need to be that cold,” she said. She also noted that she was decked out in all vintage for the evening.

I also caught up with the very talented actress and EMA board member Frances Fisher to talk about on-set habits. She said that because of the largess and temporary nature of film sets it’s hard to know what the better options are for something like craft services flatware. “What’s the impact of disposable plates versus the water used in washing all of these dishes?” It feels like there’s still a lot of assessment to be done on set.

Bill Nye The Science Guy and Ed Begley Jr. both agree that getting out of our cars is the single biggest thing that we can do to help the environment. Nye, back at the EMAs after a few years away, also said that he rides his bike everywhere much to the amusement of his friends. He also has a powerful solar set up at his house which allows him to sell electricity back into the grid.

Derreck and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic’s current Explorers in Residence (definitley in the running for ‘best job ever’) also launched the Big Cat Initiative last night which aims to protect the world’s big cats, starting on their home continent, Africa, but also spanning the world, bringing together governments and NGOs to save these rapidly vanishing creatures.

Along with honorees Branson and Mraz, winners for the evening included Better Off Ted, Brothers & Sisters, The Cove, Food Inc., Disneynature EARTH, The Lazy Environmentalist and Biz Kid$.

Highlights of the evening included a sneak peek at the upcoming 2012, Alanis working her way through Jason Mraz’s extensive list of eco-accomplishments and Cedric the Entertainer’s attempt to get the crowd to relax. I can also say that I hope that Blythe Danner and Sir Richard’s broken limbs heal quickly. What troopers!

Check out this exclusive clip of Jason Mraz performing “I’m Yours”.

Celebrities came out in force over the weekend to celebrate the Natural Resources Defence Council’s 20th Anniversary Gala Celebration. The event was hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and took place at the Beverly Wilshire. Hitting the red carpet were Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Amy Smart, Chelsea Handler, Heather Graham, Jon Hamm, and many more. Check out photos from the carpet below!

Last night, celebs rolled up in hybrid cars and wore eco-friendly fashion down the red carpet at the 18th annual Environmental Media Awards. Some of the stars seen at the Ebell Theatre included Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rosario Dawson, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Lance Bass, Maria Bello, Amy Smart and Wilmer Valderrama.

Actress Amy Smart, who was dressed in a lovely eco-friendly black gown, says she’s been inspired to go green in her own life. “Once we all realized that there’s been so much destruction and pollution — especially once Al Gore came out with An Inconvenient Truth, and then realizing that the last 8 years, the Bush administration hasn’t done anything about it — it’s now become everyone’s responsibility. I don’t care how much money you make, I don’t care where you live — it’s really easy to be green. You can find products at grocery stores everywhere, now.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus talked about her hybrid car, the solar panels she has installed in her home and her happiness over the outcome of the election. “I think we all know now that the environmental movement is here to stay. And that global warming is real. And I’m so thrilled that we have president elect Barack Obama who does believe that global warming is a true issue,” she said.

It’s awesome how so many celebrities are realizing how much power they have to inspire people to do the right thing. As former N-Syncer Lance Bass told USA Today, they feel like they have a responsibility to take action because the world is watching.

Indeed, we are watching – and proud to see how much good is being done!

Photo credit: Jessica Jacobs

This week a bevy of famous faces came out to support the re-opening of Burberry’s store in Beverly Hills. Not to be a Debby Downer, but Burberry is one of the least eco-aware fashion lines out there, and still stubbornly insist on using fur – a material that most A-list designers have agreed to stop selling.

And yet still, stars like Mishca Barton, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler, Kate Beckinsale, Maria Bello, Molly Sims and Mena Suvari showed their support for Burberry and helped contribute to the cruel company’s 13 percent rise in first half revenue. What I’m most surprised at, is that Proposition 2 supporter and one of our favorite green gals, Amy Smart, also attended — even after she publicly declared her commitment to living a fur free life! Ames, you’re breaking my heart here!

I know it’s not always easy to avoid suffering in this world, but to stop wearing fur is an easy decision that we all can make, and I certainly hope these public figures will reconsider what companies they support in the future.

To find out about all the lovely designers who care about both fashion AND the planet, visit PETA’s Guide To Compassionate Shopping!

via: justjared.com

Last we heard of Amy Smart, she had just paid a visit to the eco-friendly Method Pop-Up Store in Chicago. Yesterday, the actress and former fashion model was backstage at the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show during LA Fashion Week. Amy wanted to meet Rowdy, the monkey, one of the stars from the runway who came out with Sandy Skinner (owner of green brand, EcoSkin) after her collection premiered. Rowdy is a Capuchin monkey and part of a program called Animal Actors Worldwide.

Now, I understand that animals are a part of the Hollywood scene — something that many organizations, such as PETA, are against. With this in mind, I have to question the organization Animal Actors Worldwide. Not only do they carry the “PETA Kills Animals” banner on their site — but they also have “zero” information on how their “affection-trained” animal actors are treated, trained, etc.

Anyone have any thoughts on this organization or experiences? And AAW, if you’re reading, I’d be interested to hear a bit more from your side as well.

Actress Amy Smart stopped by the Method pop-up shop in Chicago on Sunday with her family to pick-up a bunch of eco-friendly cleaning products. They filled up a few reusable “Plastic Bag Rehab” tote bags with goodies including grapefruit all-purpose cleaner, Go Naked all-purpose wipes and the new Smarty Dish automatic dishwashing tablets.

Really digging these Method Pop-Up Shops. Visitors are even encouraged to drop off their toxic chemical cleaners as part of the store’s “toxic turn-in” in exchange for a free method product. If you live near Chicago, check out the store at 2034 N Halsted St between Armitage and Dickens Aves. Open 11am–8pm daily. The store closes October 12th.

Thanks to Danny Seo for the tip!

Love was definitely in the air last Sunday night as Hollywood’s finest came out in support of VOTE YES ON PROP 2 at the “Making History Under the Stars” gala hosted by lovebirds, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi. Prop 2 is the Californian Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act which aims to help stop animal cruelty, improve our health and safety, support family farmers, and protect our air and water.

The star-studded fete, held in Bel Air, brought out passionate and vocal supporters of the Proposition, including Heather Graham, James Cromwell, Amy Smart, Jared Leto and a bevy of others all with the same call of concern for a better quality of life for farm animals who spend all their lives incarcerated in crates, where they do not have enough room to turn around, lie down, or even stretch their legs.

James Cromwell, who is one of the animal kingdom’s staunchest supporters, literally brought us to tears when discussing the reality of farm animals’ lives and suffering. “It’s like being in a concentration camp. I’ve worked with animals and they’re extraordinary creatures.”

One of my personal faves of the green carpet brigade, Constance Marie, who was very pregnant and glowing, told us “It is such a wonderful step in raising our animals humanely, raising them in a more healthy way which in turn will be healthier for us.” Jennifer Coolidge and Meredith Eaton both concurred, whilst Emily Deschanel said, “It’s a no-brainer for people’s health, for the environment and for the humane treatment of these animals.”

Corey Feldman and Esai Morales were having far too much fun on the green carpet but were all business when it came to Prop 2. As Esai said, “If you’re going to eat animals, at least let them live a life.” Corey, a vegetarian for 25 years agreed, “You have to be healthier about it; organic, cage-free, there are so many ways to go. People need to be more collectively conscious of everything that’s going on.” Wendie Malick joined the party and told us that “At the very least when an animal gives up its life for you to be on your table, you don’t want to feel like you’re eating fear and suffering. It’s not a good thing to do.” And Olivia Wilde, who is credited for bringing recycling bins onto the set of House, chimed in that we need to stop industrialized farming in the US. “It’s really scary the road we’re going down, and it’s time to get back to small organic farms.”

The incredible Arianna Huffington could not believe there would even be opposition to the Act and told us that voting no doesn’t make any sense, whilst Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the United States, was thrilled that so many wonderful people had come out in support. “Prop 2 is a measure to promote kindness to all farm animals. All animals deserve humane treatment including those raised for food. There’s just no good reason not to vote yes on Prop 2.”

So there you have it! The overwhelming consensus of the evening was that voting yes on Prop 2 is the obvious choice. For the goodness of animals, for the health of the planet, and for the health of each and every one of us. So come on all you Cali Razzis! This November, just say YES!!!

I never thought I’d hear the words “Jenna Jameson” and “too much sex is bad” in the same sentence. Leave it to PETA to pull that one off. Jenna’s posing for the “Too Much Sex Can be a Bad Thing” campaign to raise awareness about animal birth control.

We know that celebs are giving up their footwear for the causes they love; now they’re giving up eye wear, too. Today at 10 AM eBay will commence the Sightsavers Auction ‘Specs Appeal’, in which Ewan McGreggor, Michael Caine, and other celebs will be giving up their sexy specs to this charity to help alleviate blindness and preserve sight for people in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

According to designer Kelly LaPlante, “Green is a standard, not a style.” Her new book, Ecologique, features some of her custom celebrity eco designs, including a sunroom for Amy Smart and a restored chair for Michael Rappaport.