Sporting a longer than usual goatee/beard, Brad Pitt took to the podium at the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative to give an update on his Make It Right foundation’s progress in New Orleans. “I don’t know how we build any other way anywhere else,” Pitt said, addressing the audience in New York. “We can no longer tell ourselves that implementing this technology is too complex a problem because it’s just been proven on this little spot on the map.”

He also received an honor from the US Green Building Council for all the work he has done in expanding awareness on sustainable building — and improving the lives of people in New Orleans.

“‘Make It Right’ has exceeded my expectations,” he added. “Our criteria from the beginning were at odds, to say the least. We demanded that these homes be sustainable, that they have aesthetic qualities … that they be storm resilient and take safety in mind of the families who live there and that they would be affordable.”

While only 13 of the expected 150 homes have been built, Pitt reported that the benefits are already substantial. The average family pays only $35/month for electricity in one of the homes created by Make It Right. Plans are already underway for the next stage of the project — which will include eco-friendly duplex designs.

The Clinton Global Initiative ends today. For more information — and for videos from the three-day event, jump here.

Russell Simmons’

The benefit party is one of the most anticipated events of the year and helps raise money for Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation — an organization started by Simmons to connect disadvantaged youth with art programs.

The online auction includes a slew of extra special experiences, including a chance to join an intimate (vegan) dinner with Bill Clinton at Simmons’ private residence in New York on July 20. Other items include the chance to meet Deepak Chopra and Ice T, yoga lessons with Simmons, meet-and-greets with Third Eye Blind and Fall Out Boy, exclusive tickets to Coldplay, and much more.

The Art For Life Garden Benefit Party will be held on July 18th and will feature an extraordinary vegan dinner prepared by world famous chef Tom Colicchio. 

To learn more about this amazing event visit RushPhilanthropic.org!  To take part in the online auction, stop by ArtForLifeHamptons.com!

Twilight star Robert Pattinson was definitely a good sport last night when he put himself up on the auction block to help raise money for the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS fund. The actor was in Cannes for the annual film festival, and clearly showed embarrassement over having to endure a rising bidding war for a meet and greet — and a kiss on the cheek. Eventually, two bidders paid $20K each for the 23-year-old’s lip service.

Also up for grabs was one of those ridiculous Chanel-branded Segway scooters (of which Diane Kruger almost fell off of), Bill Clinton’s personal Alpine Alto saxophone (which went for an incredible $130K!), and a joking strip-tease from Josh Hartnett. Fortunately for him, bidding never got high enough. Perhaps they should have asked Robert Pattinson instead.

Proceeds from the auction support amfAR’s work which includes AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and sound AIDS-related public policy. To find out how you can support amfAR, visit www.amfar.org. Check out the video of Pattinson being auctioned below:

This morning — after reading on CNN that between 1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of ice in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska have melted at an accelerating rate since 2003 — I decided to move to Mars.

Because I couldn’t find any reasonable non-stop flights (damn gas prices), I was delighted to hear that both Bill Clinton and T.Boone Pickens have recently announced plans to start improving energy efficiency in buildings.

According to Owens Corning CEO Mike Thaman: “Buildings consume 40 percent of our nation’s energy. That’s more than industry or transportation. Energy efficiency in homes and buildings is critical to the achievement of true energy independence.” Yikes!

So in the spirit of the season (or rather while we still have seasons), the Clinton Global Initiative will team up with the state of Arkansas to enhance and support the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the state by engaging in retrofit programs.

Similarly, Pickens’ organization rolled out a new plank in the Pickens Plan manifesto, for the first time highlighting energy efficiency in buildings as a part of his overall energy independence scheme.

While we’re jazzed as hell to see these two leaders taking necessary steps in the green direction, one can’t help but wonder if it’s too little, too late. 1.5-2 trillion tons of ice is kind of big deal. Fingers crossed, ya’ll.

via: greendaily.com

The 2008 Oceana Partners Award Gala was held in Los Angeles Saturday evening in honor of former President Bill Clinton, Sting, and his wife Trudi Styler. On hand to celebrate were a number of famous faces such as Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen, Barbara Streisand and James Brolin, Dustin Hoffman, Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith, Diane Keaton, Kirsten Dunst, Adrian Grenier, Katharine McPhee, Zach Braff, Melissa George, Rosanna Arquette, Kristin Chenoweth, Arriana Huffington, Laura Dern and Ben Harper, Norman Lear, Sarah Paulsen, Laird Hamilton, Sugar Ray Leonard, Karina Petroni and Lisa Anderson.

Clinton was recognized for this continuing contributions to the environment — particularly through the Clinton Climate Initiative. Trudi and Sting were given honors for their Rainforest Foundation organization and the the more than $25 million they’ve helped raise with their 15 benefit concerts since 1989.

Guests were treated to a special four song surprise performance by Sting. Dustin Hoffman joined him on-stage to play the piano for a song Dustin had written. Rosanna Arquette also served as the DJ throughout the evening.

Over $1.3 million was raised for Oceana from the evening’s festivities!

We’ve got a whole bunch of photos from the event after the jump — so have a look! And congrats to Oceana on another wonderful event and successful fundraiser!

Photo credits: Dahlhouse Productions/Oceana

Adrian Grenier and Trudi Styler pose together for a moment during Oceana’s 2008 Partners Award Gala. The event, which honored former President Bill Clinton — as well as Sting and Trudi — took place this past Saturday. We’ve got a bevy of photos and additional info coming momentarily, but I thought this photo would make a nice tease in the meantime.

Photo credit: Dahlhouse Productions/Oceana

About 630 guests showed up, including famous faces like Bill Clinton, Denzel Washington, Elizabeth Hurley, Simon Cowell and Will Smith, who all had to pay the 3,000 Euro ($4,700) donation simply to enter. DAMN!

The night included dinner, concert and an auction that boasted such prizes as a trip to Africa with Elton John and lunch for six with Bill Clinton. By the end of the night the auction alone had raised $20 million for the charity. 

Don’t have a tiara, white tie OR $4,700? You still can help out! Vist Elton John’s AIDS Foundation to learn more about the organization and to find out how you can get involved!

via: nydailynews.com

Those little pink houses were only the beginning. Today, Bill Clinton joined Brad Pitt — along with 600 students from around the world — to formally break ground on Pitt’s Make it Right project. 150 sustainable and affordable green homes will be built in New Orleans devestated Lower 9th Ward as a result of donations and grants from people and organizations. Along with President Clinton, Pitt and residents from the area, the students cleaned and prepared more than 10 blocks of the neighborhood that will welcome the first returning residents to the area. Said Pitt of the occasion,

“We are so appreciative of the support we have received from the Lower 9th Ward Community, the Clinton Global Initiative, and university students from around the country at our groundbreaking today,” said Brad Pitt. “I especially want to thank former President Bush and President Clinton for their early support of Make It Right. We are excited about today, but need to remember that our project is one small part of addressing a much larger need. Thousands of people still need help in order to return home.”

Clinton was equally impressed, and stressed commitment to the area for the long term as key to getting people back up and running. “The way to really get New Orleans all the way back and all the way back in a hurry is to rebuild in the right way and make it a long-term, five- to six-year commitment, to create a much higher base level of jobs through this whole energy efficiency endeavor.”

Frankly, it’s rather disturbing that Katrina happened almost three years ago and we’re still talking about rebuilding. If it wasn’t for people like Pitt driving attention to this issue, would these residents still be waiting?

So far, 80, of the 150 homes planned have been sponsored. According to the website, each home costs $150,000. To support the effort and help get the people of the Lower 9th in homes before the next anniversary, click here to donate.

As Oprahpalooza kicked off in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire over the weekend, it is clear that when it comes to celebrity endorsements, Obama is the man. A flood of support continues to pour in from a range of celebrities including George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Stephen Colbert, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and oh, Dreamworks (because that is what you get with the three most powerful men in Hollywood – Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen).

Other candidates have their ringers as well. Senator Hillary Clinton has recent endorsements and support from Barbara Streisand, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and Tom Hanks. And of course, her husband former President Clinton. I mean who doesn’t want to see Bill back in the White House, especially with all of his recent socially global and climate driven initiatives. Regardless, the campaign is truly heating up and while at the end of the day it is about electing a leader based on the issues and leadership capabilities, there is no denying the magic of the “O” factor and Obama earns big strategic points on that one!

Check out the latest celebrity endorsements on The Huffington Post Fundrace 2008.

Do you loathe Wal-Mart as much as I do? Because I’m not going to lie to you here, I am an avid Wal-Mart hater! Maybe it’s the smell of pale, salty corndogs covered in high-fructose corn syrup infused dollar store condiments bouncing off the windowless industrial walls that turns me off. Or am I simply offended by that damn patronizing yellow smiley face circle that’s plastered on the back of every hand-me-down, cigarette-stained, dark blue vest that each union-less employee is forced to wear like tattoos at Auschwitz so as to add to my “shopping experience?” Or maybe it’s just a combo platter of both. Anyway, as you can imagine, I am always as shocked as you are when I hear the Wal-Gods are doing something precious for the environment.

Just this month, Wal-Mart held a meeting with U.S. mayors in Seattle and announced its plan to partner with former president Bill Clinton (my main man), and his Clinton Climate Initiative. In the past, The Clinton Climate Initiative has been praised by the likes of Barbara Streisand, Bill and Melinda Gates and Tony Blair. And now you can add Wal-Mart to that roster of good-doers (which is actually the step-cousin of evil-doers). In Seattle, Wal-Mart announced a commitment to help identify new green technology and to bring down the price of eco-friendly products such as lighting systems and energy-efficient building supplies so that more people can afford to go “green.” Moreover, they plan on using their new found enlightenment to take advantage of future eco-friendly alternatives in the lighting of their stores.

Oh great!! Do I have to change my stance on Wal-Mart now? I mean I have to give them a little sugar for at least stepping up to the plate and TRYING to make a difference, but even so, Wal-Mart could plant 5 billion trees, invent a magic car that runs only on positive thoughts and strap Dick Cheney on a spaceship to the moon and I STILL wouldn’t touch those corndogs!