ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 13th 2008

Clooney And Co. Drop $500,000 For Cyclone Relief

Filed under: campaigns, donations — michael @ 6:27 pm

Not On Our Watch — the humanitarian org dedicated to putting an end to mass atrocities around the world — has donated $500,000 to relief aid in the cyclone-devastated country of Myanmar. The foundation was started by George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Jerry Weintraub, and David Pressman in response to the worsening Darfur crisis — but has quickly spread to address the problems occurring in Burma (Myanmar) as well.

The group will give $250,000 to Save the Children for relief efforts to suffering children and families effected by the storm. They will then collectively match the money given by the foundation for an additional $250,000. According to ETOnline, Save the Children is one of the only humanitarian organizations actually deployed in the country and has already helped more than 100,000 people, including about 40,000 young children.

Since last year, Not On Our Watch has granted over $6 million dollars towards the crisis in Darfur. If you would like to help out their efforts to help those suffering on account of these atrocities, please click here for more.

May 5th 2008

Tesla’s New Dealership Celebrates Opening With Celebrities, One Car

Filed under: cars-houses, transport — michael @ 11:41 am

Last Thursday evening, Tesla Motors — makers of the all-electric Tesla Roadster — celebrated the opening of their first ever retail store in Santa Monica, California. Celebrities in attendance included Quincy Jones, Jenny McCarthy, Anna Getty and Jenna Elfman. Also roaming around with a camera, and no doubt thrilled to see such an event happening, was director of Who Killed The Electric Car?, Chris Paine.

So far, only 4 cars have managed to roll off the production line — so that means Pitt, Clooney, Damon, and Schwarzenegger will have to wait a bit longer for their electric fix. Automobile Mag has a bit more on the retail plans for the company,

“Located in Los Angeles, Tesla’s first dealer - actually a factory outlet - occupies 10,000 square feet along Santa Monica Boulevard.  Carrying a price tag of nearly $2 million, the store portrays an airy, industrial feel, thanks in part to concrete floors, visible ductwork, and colorful illumination. That appearance will expand as Tesla opens five stores across the country over the next year.  An outlet at its Menlo Park, Calif. headquarters should be open in the summer, while properties in New York, Miami, Seattle and Chicago could be functional by 2009.”

There’s some pretty crappy video over on Autobloggreen that almost looks like someone shot it with a cameraphone — but if you’re the tiniest bit interested in seeing what went down the other nigh, jump here to have a look.

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.

May 1st 2008

Widespread Panic Agrees To Sponsor One Of Pitt’s Green Homes

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, donations — michael @ 3:05 pm

The members of the band Widespread Panic have come together to donate $150,000 and sponsor a home for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation. The rock group is the closing for tonight’s conclusion of the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. From the article,

“‘This is a place where I believe hope is not lost,’ said Bell, who visited the Lower 9th Ward back in November with his family before revisiting it Wednesday. ‘It’s a real place in New Orleans with real people, people who have lost some or all of their family and their homes but are sticking it out.’ Widespread Panic began helping Make It Right back in January by offering downloads of its new single, ‘Walk on the Flood,” in exchange for a donation to the rebuilding effort. The band raised about $4,000, which was given to Make It Right along with the $150,000.”

So far, 81 of the 150 homes the foundation is aiming for have been sponsored. Celebrities like George Clooney, Will Ferrell, Ellen Degeneres, and many, many others have all given generously. Of course, you don’t have to have deep pockets to make a difference. Jump on over to the official website and see how even a little can help out many.

April 24th 2008

Americans Choose Oprah Winfrey To Share Their Coffee With

Filed under: campaigns, food & drink — parrish @ 2:36 pm

If you could have your morning cup of coffee with either Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Bush, Bill Gates, Al Gore or Brad Pitt who would you choose?

If you picked Oprah you got it right! Well at least that’s what the majority of America said when asked by the Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Millstone Fair Trade Coffee. In fact, out of the 746 adult coffee drinkers polled, 20 percent picked Oprah while Bill Gates came in second with 16 percent and Laura Bush third with 15 percent. Brad Pitt on the other hand only got a shabby 7 percent. Umm..I think maybe the coffee drinkers had other activities in mind for Brad.

Millstone also found that while 52 percent of people said they were aware of Fair Trade certification, only about half of those (44 percent) were able to really explain it.

How would you do on the Fair Trade test? If you think you’re missing a few genius points, visit TransFairUsa.com and bone up. And when you’re done, hit Millstone Fair Trade Coffee and reward yourself for all that hard work.

April 24th 2008

Brad Pitt The Mystery Buyer Of New Eco Home In The UK?

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses — michael @ 12:09 pm

Rumors are floating that Brad Pitt may be one of the buyers connected to the purchase of a wildly-designed new eco-home in Cotswold, England. The architectural plans and site for the building were recently sold for just over $14 million.

The design — which is based on a bee orchid found on the reserve where construction will take place — is expected to produce more energy than it uses, with an underground heat pump, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater and solar and wind power. For the cash, the new owners (in about three years) will get a lakeside home complete with a glass-sided badger set in the garden. What exactly is a glass-sided badger?

Apparently, Pitt has taken a look at the plans for the Orchid Home — and sources are reporting that the anonymous buyer is connected to the entertainment industry. It’s all conjecture are this point, but with Pitt focused on green building, it’s not much of a stretch to tie him to the purchase. What do you think? Like the design?

via UK Telegraph

April 18th 2008

Brad Pitt’s Younger Bro Is Pushing A New Fund For Students

Filed under: campaigns — michael @ 11:13 am

Doug Pitt — younger brother of the more well-known Brad Pitt — has announced a new initiative called the “Care to Learn” fund which is all about kids’ health, hunger and hygiene. The new fund is also being supported by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, a humanitarian fund supported by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. From the article,

“Says Doug, ‘The idea was to help kids that show up on a school day with an immediate need. We need to get to them quick, obviously. So we set up this fund to do just that. Last week, we had a kid need clothes and food. And within 20 minutes - from the phone call - counselors, teachers, principals, make a call to the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. And they’re on it. They now have the funds to address that urgent need.’”

The fund is exclusively setup for the moment to address the needs of Springfield Public Schools only — but we imagine if it takes off there, that more districts will one day participate. For more information, please visit the Care to Learn Fund website. Check out a video of Doug Pitt unveiling the new initiative below:

April 17th 2008

Take A Tour Of Brad Pitt and Global Green’s Eco Home

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses — michael @ 2:31 pm

We showed you a few pictures earlier this week of the first green home completed by the Brad Pitt-backed Holy Cross Sustainable building initiative from Global Green USA. Now, there’s a new video up giving you a tour of all the cool eco-friendly elements of the home — and what we can expect from future models going in around the Lower 9th Ward. Check it out:

via greendaily

April 15th 2008

Global Green Completes First Green Home In New Orleans

Filed under: green and famous — michael @ 11:03 pm

Before Brad Pitt launched his Make It Right foundation to build 150 new sustainable homes in New Orleans’ devastated Lower 9th Ward, he lent his name and cash to assisting Global Green USA with a similar initiative.

Though on a much smaller scale compared to the “Pink Houses” neighborhood, Global Green’s Holy Cross campaign is nonetheless impressive. Five single-family homes as well as an 18 unit apartment complex all built green and saving an estimated $1200 to $2400 a year in utility bills.

“The style is a modern spin on the traditional shotgun-style architecture New Orleans is known for, with an open floor plan and clear view from the front door through the home and out the back door to allow for good air flow and ventilation. ‘It’s all about creating light and capturing that breeze,’ Global Green’s Beth Galante said. The home is long and narrow like a shotgun, but instead of a traditional pitched roof, the roofline slopes from one side of the home to the other. That allows for the solar panels on the roof to get the maximum amount of sun exposure. The solar panels will provide for more than half the home’s energy needs, Galante said.

Costs to build the Global Green homes will range from $150,000 to $175,000, Petersen said, but the cost to homeowners — through subsidies — will be about $120,000-$150,000.”

While Pitt has not visited the house since its completion, Global Green’s CEO Matt Petersen expects it will only be a matter of time. “He contributed significantly to this home being built,” Petersen said. “We’re deeply grateful for all that he has done.”

Click more to view more photos of the home.

Read the rest of this entry »

April 10th 2008

Watch Video Of Brad Pitt From Idol Gives Back

Filed under: campaigns, film-tv, television — michael @ 10:41 am

Below is Brad Pitt’s introduction — complete with the microphone snafu — from last night’s Idol Gives Back.