ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 12th 2009

DiCaprio, Winslet, Cameron Help Keep Lone Titanic Survivor Afloat

Filed under: campaigns, donations — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 9:18 am

There is only one remaining survivor of the Titanic disaster alive — and Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Director James Cameron are making sure she’s comfortable.

The two actors have thrown their weight behind a fund that would subsidize 97-year-old Millvina Dean’s nursing home fees. She was only 2 months old when the Titanic sank beneath the waves on the night of April 14, 1912. Her father was one of the ship’s 1,517 casualties. She has been living at a nursing home in the English city of Southampton since she broke her hip about three years ago but has struggled to pay the fees.

“We are honoured to contribute to the Millvina Fund. Our hope is that others will feel inspired by Millvina Dean’s remarkable story of survival and hope she can rest easier in knowing that her future will become more secure through this fund,” DiCaprio and Winslet said in a joint statement. All three donated $10,000 each to the fund.

Want to contribute as well? Payments can be made via the fund website at www.themillvinafund.com or via the British Titanic Society or Belfast Titanic Society at www.belfast-titanic.com.

May 5th 2009

Leonardo DiCaprio Writes About Van Jones For Time Magazine

Filed under: honors, magazines — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 8:59 pm

Last year, George Clooney wrote about the charitable efforts of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. This year, Leonardo DiCaprio hit the keyboard to praise green jobs-pioneer Van Jones as part of Time Magazine’s “Top 100 Influential People” for 2009. His words are below:

“When Van Jones was tapped to serve as special adviser on green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality earlier this year, the appointment was heralded as a significant development for the green movement. And for good reason. A pioneer in fusing economic opportunity and social justice with environmentalism, Jones, 40, represents an important progression in our country’s perception and thus our approach to combating global warming.”

Continue reading DiCaprio’s piece on Van Jones…

May 5th 2009

The Stunning Eco Blunder That Will Destroy DiCaprio

Filed under: green and famous — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 4:30 pm

Sometimes you see articles online and you wonder why they’re news. Actually, we’re probably responsible for adding to that growing problem — BUT — this one was pretty amusing. “DiCaprio commits eco blunder” was the headline from The Hundu News — prompting me to wonder what the hell he might have done. Clubbed a baby seal? Taking a joyride in a Hummer with Senator James Inhofe? Burning tires in his backyard? WHAT?!

He asked for a straw at the NRDC’s plastic-free event.

Yup.

From the article,

‘I am a big fan of recycling and saving the earth. I always preach to my family about it. I feel I can do something to help the world!,’ said the 34-year-old star at the NRDC’s ‘Save The World’ fundraiser event. The actor famous for his eloquent speeches on environment issues, had to eat his words when he asked a waiter for a plastic straw only to be politely informed that it was a plastic-free event.”

Bastard. ‘Nuff said. He’s ruined.

April 29th 2009

Video: DiCaprio’s TAG Heuer Campaign Behind The Scenes

Filed under: campaigns, video — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 11:12 am

You’ve seen the pictures, now see the behind-the-scenes video of Leonardo DiCaprio’s photo shoot for TAG Heuer. Proceeds from the sales of the watches Leo promotes will benefit The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Green Cross International.

April 27th 2009

DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Attend NRDC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

Filed under: events: la, green and famous — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 10:06 am

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!

April 23rd 2009

Razzi Snap: Planet Green Network Slammed In NPR Opinion Piece

Filed under: film-tv, movies — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 3:50 pm

Earth Day was a fun time to celebrate green — but for Mark Hemingway over at NPR, it was also the perfect time to grill Discovery’s Planet Green network on their content. Take this gem, “However, even by Planet Green’s already low standards, these shows tend to have the entertainment value of watching soy-based, fume-free, organic-compound paint dry. And I haven’t even mentioned that the channel seems dedicated to airing three hours per day of Emeril Green, the chef’s new cooking show, which despite a few feints at “buying local” is indistinguishable from much of what’s already on the Food Network.” Ouch. [Read more...]

Have you seen Disneynature’s new film EARTH yet in theatres? According to New York Post critic Kyle Smith, the movie “contains the obligatory hints of lefty hysteria”. Um, what? “Included at no extra charge is the mandatory dose of eco-hectoring. Surely “only fragments remain” isn’t the proper way to describe the more than 1 billion acres of forest in North America alone. (Also, isn’t man one of the animals entitled to a habitat? But maybe the deer are working on a documentary gravely warning one another that their species is ravaging the fragile ecosystem of the Hamptons.)” Briliant logic there. Yea, let’s blame the deer. [Read more...]

After 90 bids, the Meet n’ Greet with Leonardo DiCaprio auctioned off by Global Green went for an impressive $11,100.00. The winner got a collection of signed DiCaprio swag, as well a two-nights stay in an eco-hotel and an opportunity to meet the star at the premiere of his new film, Shutter Island. All money raised went towards Global Green’s new “Green Schools” initiative.

April 20th 2009

Razzi Snap: Price Is Right Goes Green, Ed Begley Jr. To Come On Down

Filed under: donations, film-tv, green and famous, television — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 2:51 pm

This Wednesday, Ed Begley Jr. will be appearing with host Drew Carrey on a green-themed edition of The Price Is Right. The actor/activist will introduce a showcase that includes an electric bike, golf cart and Toyota Prius hybrid car. The program will also feature environmentally friendly products including cell phones made of recycled materials, solar charging equipment and a recycling cabinet. My only hope is that these products turned out to be reasonably priced — otherwise the stigma that going green is too expensive will be reinforced through showcases only a celebrity could afford.

Keanu Reeves won the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in a tricked-out Scion tC — netting $5K to his charity of choice and another $5K from Toyota to “Racing for Kids“. Additionally, a $15,000 donation was made in conjunction with the annual “PEOPLE Pole Award” sponsored by PEOPLE magazine. The winner, Danny Way, selected the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) as his charity, to support ASEC’s mission of progressive eco-education and empowering people to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. [Read more]

You know that meet n’ greet with Leonardo DiCaprio Global Green is auctioning off? With only 2 days left, bidding is still at a reasonable-if-you’ve-got-money-to-burn $3,000. The kids’ college education can wait. [Read more]

April 16th 2009

DiCaprio, Redford, Maroon 5 To Party It Up At NRDC Gala

Filed under: events: la, green and famous — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 4:57 pm

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s Southern California office is celebrating its 20th anniversary next week  — and the guest list features some heavy A-list talent coming out to offer congratulations.

Hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and taking place at the Beverly Wilshire on April 25th, the event will be attended by both Robert Redford and Leonardo DiCaprio; among other celebrities, activists, and supporters. Maroon 5 will supply the live music and Rosanna Arquette will DJ the after-party. A short film featuring DiCaprio and Redford that outlines the accomplishments of NRDC’s Southern California office will also be shown.

“You can be tough doing bad things, and tough doing good things. NRDC, in my opinion, is tough doing good things,” Redford said in a statement. DiCaprio, also a trustee, called NRDC “probably the most effective environmental organization in the world. It is willing to take on major corporations and the government itself to hold them accountable for the environmental policy that’s out there,” he said in a statement.

Source: LA Times

April 1st 2009

First Look: DiCaprio’s TAG Heuer Ads Benefiting Green Charities

Filed under: business, campaigns — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 2:56 pm

Leonardo DiCaprio’s new ad campaign with watchmaker TAG Heuer is set to hit magazine pages shortly worldwide — and we’ve got some first shots. As reported earlier, DiCaprio is replacing former TAG Heuer ambassador Brad Pitt — but this campaign has a green twist, with royalties generated from the deal supporting two environmental charities: The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Green Cross International. A promotion for both the NRDC and Green Cross will appear on separate ads per an arrangement between the actor and watchmaker.

In addition to the royalties, a multi-million dollar commitment from DiCaprio will go to support environmental charities, the company said in a release. Sounds like a win/win for all.

Look for the ads to appear in magazines Stateside shortly.

March 30th 2009

Razzi Snap: Kevin Dillon Checks Out Some Electric Wheels

Filed under: cars-houses, events: nyc, food & drink, transport — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 3:08 pm

Entourage star Kevin Dillon was recently spotted by the gang over at INeedMyFix.com checking out some electric bikes in Malibu. Nice basket. I want one. [Check out pics here...]

Rumor has it that Stella McCartney and Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav will be honored at the National Resources Defense Council’s benefit tonight in NYC. Hosting the bash? None other than Leo DiCaprio, Graydon and Anna Carter, and Lorne and Alice Michaels. Sounds like a party. [Read more...]

Ed Begley Jr. has revealed why he became a vegetarian many decades ago saying, “It was part of the whole environmental choice. It was a 1970 choice to be green, to eat lower on the food chain. I had heard it was better for the environment. It took less water, less land, less energy to grow 1 pound of broccoli than a pound of beef. So, for that reason, and in a humane world, the kinds of things that go on in slaughterhouses. It’s not like the old days of raising cows out in a pasture and I’m sorry Bessie but you’ve got to die so we can live. It’s not like that anymore. It’s very bad conditions in these factory farms. The hogs, chickens, cows and I don’t want to be a part of that. But for my own health, I thought it was better to eat a plant based diet. I’m going to be 60 soon and I have boundless energy and I feel really good so I’m all for it.” [Read more...]