Edward Norton

Truly, this is a huge boost for organizers to have Norton championing their campaign on a major cable news show. He’s a genuine environmental activist — that also happens to be a famous movie star. It should be a good interview — and we look forward to seeing King try to wrap his head around the concept of Earth Hour this coming Saturday. Check it out at 9pm on CNN.

It’s a bit of deja vu with Brad Pitt holding the same interviews with the same people as last year to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of his Make It Right foundation. Last night, the 44-year-old appeared on Larry King Live and — much like he did with Ann Curry a few days before — updated the host on what’s been happening the last 12 months. Here are some highlights:

On the new green homes already up and running:

“This home you see behind me now, the meter right now is currently running backwards. It’s a sunny day, so it’s — right now it’s off the grid. It’s making its own energy. And the family there is going to save 75 percent off their energy bill throughout the year. They’re — they live in a place that’s comfortable, and with great light. And it’s a real — these homes are about dignity.”

On Barack Obama winning the Presidency:

“I’m — oh, man. I think, overnight, we redefined what America’s about. I couldn’t be any happier and more hopeful for the — for America, for the upcoming — in the upcoming years. And that team he just announced, I’m so impressed with.”

On the LEED certification of the Make It Right homes:

“The other thing I’d like to add is that the homes here are all LEED Platinum, which is the green certification. And that’s the highest standard you can get. And probably, a year from now, this will be the greenest neighborhood in the United States. I think so. So, coming from a place that suffered such injustice, that’s been marginalized and almost forgotten in the sense of really helping people get back, has now become a place that is in the — that can be in the forefront of American communities. So, we’re excited on so many fronts.”

The legitimacy of a charity seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. I’ve been amazed at the responses to the recent post on a Scientology benefit for charity. That conversation may not have been that surprising (I’m not Scientology’s OMG #1 Fan myself!), but when I heard that charities run by Bono — one of my favorite celebs ever– George Clooney, and other famous people might not be as legit as they claim, I was pretty shocked.

Apparently, Bono’s DATA Foundation (now part of One), which works to eliminate poverty and AIDS in Africa, raised $31 million in 2006–but only used $6 million of that for charity. The rest went to transportation, security, and U2 tour tickets. Clooney’s Not on Our Watch (also founded by Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and others), which fights genocide, has some shady dealings with an offshore gambling company. Wyclef Jean, Osi Umenyiora, Tyra Banks, Larry King, Gary Payton, Petra Nemcova, Magic Johnson and Dyan Cannon also seem to have skeletons in their charities’ closets; read more about them here.

So what do you think? Do a few gray areas make a charity all bad? Do any of these charities sound completely illegitimate to you, or do you think they still have redeeming qualities?

Celeb parents Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Kerri Russell all like to tote their wee ones around in Native Baby Pouches. These soft, organic baby carriers are available here.

Larry King, Kristin Chenoweth, Marg Helgenberger, Dayna Devon, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Molly Sims, and several other celebrities are teaming up for the 2nd annual virtual walk to benefit the Gal to Gal Foundation. The walk, sponsored by Design-her Gals, will run October 1-31.

The second annual Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi is going green this year. Festival director Nashwa al-Ruwaini says, “This programme showcases films whose themes are about the environment and humanity’s place in the world.” The festival will run October 10-19.

Google, which essentially has the economy of a small country, has answered Al Gore’s call to come up with a plan to reduce the United State’s dependence on fossil fuels. Google says the plan would cost about $4.4 trillion but over a 22-year period would save a net of about $1 trillion and create new jobs. Highlights include vehicle mileage being raised from 31mpg to 45mpg, complete replacement of electricity generation using coal and oil in favor or renewables, and Increasing use of plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars. [Read more...]

Photo credit: INFphoto.com