Today is Blog Action Day 2009 — and the topic that has more than 9,000 blogs in 150 countries with more than 12 million readers buzzing is climate change. The goal is to help facilitate discussion on the issue and get the world ready for the incredibly important Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December. It is there that world leaders hope to come to an agreement on a new climate treaty as a successor to the Kyoto protocol.

Obviously, our focus is on those in the entertainment industry helping to draw attention to this historic event. With that in mind, we’ve put together those individuals or groups recently involved in pushing for tough greenhouse gas emissions limits — and for a successful outcome in Copenhagen. Check it out below the fold:

1. Cate Blanchett

Blanchett has been involved in promoting tough environmental policies down under in Australia for many years now. Most recently, she appeared in Copenhagen in May of this year at the World Business Summit on Climate Change. The actress addressed business leaders, urging them to decrease their carbon emissions and increase sustainable practices. “Political failure at Copenhagen in December is quite simply unacceptable and this powerful room must play a major role in preventing this failure,” she said. “Australia’s best climate scientists have been warning us that we’ll face many more catastrophic fire days in south-east Australia unless the world acts to dramatically cut greenhouse pollution.” [Read more...]

2. Sting

Though Sting’s personal carbon footprint regularly comes under scrutiny, the famous singer is backing Prince Charles’ Rainforests Project — which seeks to limit deforestation and buy the world time to move to a low-carbon economy. Ahead of the Copenhagen Talks, Sting has lent his iconic “Message in a Bottle” song to the campaign — sending a different kind of SOS to the world. [Watch/Read more...]

3. Hugh Jackman

We knew Hugh Jackman was into green filmmaking, but 2008’s World’s Sexiest Man Alive, surprised even us by opening up NYC Climate Week and urging support for a strong treaty in Copenhagen. “I hope to be a voice for the billion people in developing countries who will be the hardest hit by changing weather patterns, by the droughts and floods that destroy their crops and threaten their food security,” Jackman said in a statement. “Climate Week NYC provides an ideal forum to help underscore the urgency for world leaders to secure and fund an ambitious global climate change deal in Copenhagen that is effective, fair and binding.” [Watch/Read more...]

4. Duran Duran, Milla Jovovich, Melanie Laurent, Others | “Beds Are Burning” Remake Climate Song

As part of the International “TckTckTck” Climate Change Campaign, many celebrities, politicians, and old-school bands came together to record a cover of the classic ’80s hit “Bed are Burning”. The effort, which now includes a petition with over 2 million signatures, is a direct challenge to the nations involved in the Copenhagen talks to come to a fair and binding deal.

5. Don Cheadle

As part of the UN-led 2009 Seal The Deal! campaign, Don Cheadle appears in a series of PSAs urging action this December in Copenhagen. The effort, like those above, is meant to galvanize and rally support for strong action. The official website also includes a petition to sign to present to leaders. [Watch...]

Hugh Jackman and his family were spotted yesterday in Connecticut pumpkin picking. Have you hit a local farm and done your own great pumpking search yet?

The world’s sexiest man recently helped opened Climate Week in New York City; urging world leaders to look beyond their borders and recognize the effects of climate change on developing nations.

People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive”, Hugh Jackman, will be hitting the podium to help launch NYC Climate Week this coming Monday, September 21st. The actor will join World Vision Australia chief Tim Costello and speak at a climate change forum in New York alongside world leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

“I hope to be a voice for the billion people in developing countries who will be the hardest hit by changing weather patterns, by the droughts and floods that destroy their crops and threaten their food security,” Jackman said in a statement. “Climate Week NYC provides an ideal forum to help underscore the urgency for world leaders to secure and fund an ambitious global climate change deal in Copenhagen that is effective, fair and binding.”

NYC Climate Week offers a platform for government and business leaders, as well as members of the public, to demonstrate their support for action at the UN Climate Change Conference in Denmark. For more information, hit the official site here.

Photo credit: PR Photos

Even though Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine flick was widely panned by critics (and X-Men fans alike), it still managed to pull in a respectable $363 million worldwide. We also dug the film because it was a heavy hitter in terms of green production value. Producers managed to divert 92% of the 670 tonnes created during filming from landfills; saving almost $55,000 in the process. Jackman also lauded the effort saying he was “proud to be a part of the new generation of sustainable filmmakers.”

Not surprisingly, the sequel to the movie — once more to be produced by Jackman — was announced as in production by the man himself at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday. Supposedly, the plot takes place in Japan — which is potentially good news for yet another sustainable production. The reason I’m hopeful is because it’s not uncommon for studios to film in New Zealand and use the country’s backdrop to mimic Japan’s. It was done with Tom Cruise’s The Samuri and I’m sure it would make financial sense in this case. Additionally, it’s New Zealand that’s pushing these green screen initiatives (where much of Wolverine was shot) — so the same rules would once again be in effect. I’m speculating here, but it’s possible that the Wolverine sequel could carry an even lighter footprint thanks to methods learned on the previous production.

Then again, perhaps the only real question on everyone’s minds is if Bryan Singer will be back to direct this latest X-Men chapter.

Who doesn’t love the Tony Awards? Ok, ok, there are some out there with no love of signing, dancing, and fabulous musical numbers (Thank you Hugh Jackman for injecting some of that into the Oscars), but for those with a healthy appreciation of Broadway, this is the night to celebrate live theater!

For the first time ever, the Tonys are striking a green hot note in collaboration with the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) and with guidance from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). These two organizations have for the past year been working diligently to improve the environmental impact of New York’s theater scene. The 2009 Tony Awards marks the first public display of the BGA’s industry-wide initiative to educate, motivate and inspire the theater community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendlier practices in theater production and reduce its environmental footprint. Here are some highlights of the green happening behind-the-scenes:

>>2009 Tony Awards edition of Playbill will be printed on paper with 30% post-consumer recycled content.
>>500 Clear2Go reusable water bottles with replaceable filters for event guests
>>Hybrid vehicles are being provided for presenter and performer transportation.
>>Recycling bins are being provided at Radio City concession stands for plastic bottles and in production offices for plastics and paper waste.
>>The Red Carpet is made from 100% recycled material with 49% post consumer content.
>>Banners for the show were printed on non-PVC plastics and will be reused or recycled after event.

In addition to the above, Radio City Music Hall also did an energy efficiency analysis of the building resulting in newly installed efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and faucets, and post-consumer recycled content tissue products. “Broadway has landed a starring role in demonstrating to New Yorkers how sustainable practices are easy to implement, and are good for the environment and the bottom line,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Many of the steps the ‘Broadway Green Alliance’ has taken are only visible in the back of the house, but now they will be in the spotlight of the Tony Awards.”

Look for the curtain to rise on the 2009 Tony Awards — with Neil Patrick Harris as host — this coming June 7th on CBS.

The following was received from Ari Soloman, President of the vegan candle-line A Scent of Scandle, in response to recent comments from Hugh Jackman on eating chickens to bulk up for his Wolverine character.

Dear Mr. Jackman,

I’m a huge fan of your work, especially enjoying the Oscar’s this year. You were very charming and brought such a great energy to the show! Also, a sincere congratulations on your star on the Walk of Fame, it is well deserved.

If you have a second, I’d like to discuss a comment you made to a reporter recently regarding getting in shape for you role as Wolverine, “Let me tell you, I’m not vegan. I ate so many chickens to make this body. If there is a place in hell for people who eat chickens, I have booked a suite bigger than anybody.”

While it’s uncertain whether or not a hell exists for people that eat chickens, I’d like to express that it’s crystal clear an undeserved hell exists for chickens themselves. It’s called modern day factory farms.

In the United States, there is no law protecting the treatment of chickens. The Humane Slaughter Act unfortunately does not include birds. Chickens, easily the most victimized animals in the world, are killed at the rate of nearly 10 billion a year – and that’s just in the US. Think for a second of the sheer enormity of that number. Since a chicken’s suffering is given absolutely no consideration and because thousands are killed per minute, they are treated as mere objects. They are brutally tossed, kicked, punched, hung upside down by their legs, and have their throats slit while still conscious. Many are boiled alive in defeathering baths.

Modern science tells us that the dismissal of birds as being not as intelligent as mammals is absolutely false. In fact, many chickens display the same level of smarts as a dog. It is undeniable that these animals feel pain and fear. In fact, the constant sound one hears on chicken factory farms is the sound of hens crying out in distress, calling for a rooster to come save them.

While I’m sure your comment was made for levity, please understand that glorifying eating chickens is no laughing matter. Millions of people look up to you and would love to be as in shape but they can certainly do so while still being compassionate to animals. There are many amazing professional athletes who are vegan or vegetarian. In fact, Stan Price, the world record holder for the bench press, just happens to be a vegetarian. I’m sure he could even out lift Wolverine!

Thank you for taking time to consider the horrific suffering and violence experienced by birds on factory farms and in slaughterhouses. Please know that you can still be gorgeous and buff and choose not to eat them. For more information, please visit goveg.com or check out the myriad of books written specifically for men regarding plant-based diets. Some of my faves are Skinny Bastard and The Engine 2 Diet.

My best wishes for your continued success,

Ari Solomon

Hugh Jackman and his wife Deb have settled on the winning charities to share the $100K pot he offered over Twitter last week. People magazine’s 2008 World’s Sexiest Man received an amazing amount of suggestions after he asked the Twitter community to name a favorite charity — and why he should give them $100K — in only 140 characters. He later followed up his offer by writing, “The more passion shown for your charity the better! Get the support of your friends and teach them the importance of giving.”

Today, the 40-year-old named his two winners — and we’re proud to say that we recommended one of them: charity: water | Here’s his tweet: “Thank you for all of your passionate responses. I have chosen www.charitywater.com and www.operationofhope.com Keep your generous spirit flowing!”

Congrats to both charities — and many thanks to Hugh for giving exposure to many more; as well as the generous donation.

“Let me tell you, I’m not vegan. I ate so many chickens to make this body. If there is a place in hell for people who eat chickens, I have booked a suite bigger than anybody.”

–Hugh Jackman speaking to a reporter yesterday on what he ate to get his body ripped for the new Wolverine movie. The actor was in Hollywood getting his hands and footprints immortalized at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Photo credit: PR Photos

Anyways, Hugh Jackman is on Twitter (@RealHughJackman — obviously, there’s an imposter out there) and is offering $100K to the person who will tell him in 140 characters or less why their favorite charity is most deserving. The World’s Sexiest Man twitted, “I will donate 100K to one individual’s favorite non profit organization.Of course,you must convince me why by using 140 characters or less.” and then followed up a few hours later with “The more passion shown for your charity the better! Get the support of your friends and teach them the importance of giving.”

So, what are you waiting for? Show your support for a favorite charity and reply to Hugh! Make sure you follow us @ecorazzi and let us know what you said. We’ll then post some of those responses here on the Razz to drum up a bit more support!