ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

April 25th 2008

Conflict-free for Ashlee

Filed under: green and famous — kelli @ 12:37 am

Ashlee Simpson’s new engagement bling from her fiance, the socially-conscious rocker-boy Pete Wentz, is reportedly not only big and shiny, but also conflict-free.

The Fall Out Boy bassist has revealed that the diamond engagement ring he placed on Ashlee’s finger earlier this month is not what is often called a “blood diamond”, but instead has conflict-free origins.

Conflict diamonds are often mined in war zones under human rights violating conditions, most often in Africa, and sold to finance insurgency and warlord activity.

Wentz also sported a tee emblazoned with “Coltan is a conflict diamond!” to this week’s 2008 NME Awards, where he talked about his views on the dirty sparklers. “It’s something I care about,” he told People magazine.

Coltan is a metallic ore often associated with it’s exportation which is used to finance war in the Congo, where it is mined. Coltan is used in consumer electronics, such as cell phones and computers.

The couple will reportedly tie the knot in Southern California next month.

Kelli Shields is an Ecorazzi contributor and the Major Gifts Associate for the Center for Biological Diversity.

March 19th 2008

Fall Out Boy To Jam With Penguins And Team Up With Greenpeace

Filed under: music — michael @ 9:59 am

Chiseling a place for themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records, rock group Fall Out Boy plans to become the first band ever to play all seven continents in less than nine months. Led by singer Pete Wentz Patrick Stump, the group will jump on board a private jet in southern Chile for a 90-minute flight to Antarctica, set up in a gymnasium located on a research facility, and rock out for the assembled team of scientists. We predict crowd surfing and gratuitous nudity during the entire jam session. From the article,

“Fall Out Boy began their multi-continental trek last summer with a gig in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by Europe, Asia, Australia and North America last fall. They’ll play a concert in Santiago, Chile, on March 23, taking care of South America. And then there’s the Antarctica show, which will take place on the Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, a Chilean research base located on the Fildes Peninsula of King George Island. The Frei base is situated near Russian, Chinese and Czech research facilities, and scientists from those facilities will also be attending the FOB concert — which, according to Crush, will feature the band plugging into the gymnasium’s PA system — adding a whole new level of absurdity to the scenario.”

I love it. The group will also be teaming up with Greenpeace to raise awareness of Global Warming — and a film crew will be on hand to document the experience. Of course, FOB isn’t the only group grooving in colder climates. Earlier this year, 30 Seconds to Mars performed less than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland. They also created a short film with the NRDC to highlight climate change, as well as organizing a green website for information about current environmental issues. Kudos to both groups for making the effort.

March 14th 2008

Pete Wentz, Nicole Kidman Ready To Go Lights Out For Earth Hour

Filed under: campaigns — michael @ 2:22 pm

On Saturday, March 29th at 8pm, millions of people, buildings and landmarks around the world will turn off their lights for one hour – otherwise know as “Earth Hour“. The effort is meant to show that the world can come together to make a difference in the fight against climate change. From the Sears Tower to the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sydney Opera House, familiar landmarks in some way will be going dark to show support. There’s even word that The Weather Channel HQ in Atlanta will be turning off all non-essential lighting on their building as well as promoting Earth Hour on their program Forecast Earth. Who wants to bet former founder John Coleman is going to lose it?

Obviously, we’ve got some great star power behind this event as well. Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy, actresses Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman, Dolly Parton, Blake Lewis, Menudo, Lonestar, and many others. In Canada Nelly Furtado is even giving a free concert. To date, 25 cities around the globe have been designated by World Wildlife Fund as official Earth Hour flagship cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco in the United States.

To see how you can participate — though we bet you’ve got that figured out — check out the official Earth Hour site and sign up to pledge your support!

[UPDATE] Looks like Jeremy Piven had lent his voice for a new video for the campaign. Check it out below.