Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

The 11th Hour, A.K.A. Leo's Movie!

5 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 08/21/07

As almost anyone who reads this site knows, we are at a critical point in human history, and I truly don’t think its hyperbole to write that we are utterly screwed if we don’t make some seriously smart choices regarding our environment in the next few years.

This conceit is the same tack that 11th Hour, the doc produced and narrated by Leo DiCaprio takes, and makes no bones about the destruction that humanity has wrought on the planet. The film looks at the whys and the wherefores, and I have to say, for the first 1/3 of the movie, I was sad and uncomfortable to be human. BUT though I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’ it, it was a comprehensive look at exactly the kinds of issues we’re facing. Going beyond global warming, the film documents and explains species’ extinction, the oceans crisis, deforestation and rainforest destruction, and how these are all connected to not just saving the planet, but ultimately saving us.

The second part of the movie is the search for how we are going to solve these problems, and it actually brought tears to my eyes (OK, I cried a bit during the first part too, out of frustration and sadness), but these tears were those of hope and excitement. Showcasing EXACTLY what humanity needs to do, how we need to do it, and how we need to change the way we think about, well, everything, the latter part of the film was nothing short of incredibly hopeful and forward-looking. Changes and more wholistic views of design, architecture, and business were highlighted of course (and readers of this blog or any of the other ‘green’ blogs will know about most of it and more already), but even better was the discussion, by all the amazing folks that got together to lend their perspectives to the film, about how we have to change the way we think about our relationship to our home planet. I won’t say much more, because even if you’re an enviro-head and think you know all this stuff you should definitely go see this movie. It’s nothing short of a call to humanity to save itself.

My favorite quote? “This is all hands on deck time.”

My fave fascinating fact from the movie? There are twice as many people on the planet now as there were when JFK was president (from about 3 billion to about 6 billion). You know, I just didn’t realize that before. The idea of it is a little mind-blowing.

From the official promotions for the film:

The 11th Hour describes the last moment when change is possible. The film explores how humanity has arrived at this moment – how we live, how we impact the earth’s ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course. The film features dialogues with experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau, in addition to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who present the facts and discuss the most important issues that face our planet.

If you go to the site, you can put your zip code in and they will give you info about where you can see the movie near you. If you’ve already seen it, I’d love to hear what you think!

For another perspective, check out Eco Chick blogger Olivia’s review on the Huffington Post.

architecture, business, deforestation, design, farm, Global Warming, Home, mom, oceans, produce, rainforest, sustainable, Tea

renourish!

1 Comment

by Ann Benoit · 07/20/07

Finally! A comprehensive green resource for graphic designers! I was delighted to be forwarded a link to renourish.

renourish is a resource for the graphic design industry. When green design is usually discussed, most people think of buildings, products or even cars, but what about packaging? Shouldn’t magazines, business cards, brochures and websites be green? At renourish, we’re helping to start the conversation on green graphic design by providing defintions, tips, and links to sustainable resources designers can use to make their work a little greener.

Brilliant! Renourish has great topics that run the gamut of paper, ink, printers, packaging, green design firms, sustainable living, etc. Having all of this info in one place is genius. Although green design is something that most designers are concerned about and interested in, I haven’t come across a comprehensive site like this before. I would like to see the site eventually include green vendors (other than paper & printing). I’ve been compiling my own list lately and I think that would be a great resource to have accessible to more designers.

Another green design link to check out run by AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Designers) here.

AIGA, business, car, cars, design, designer, designers, farm, graphic design, magazine, magazines, paper, resources, sustainability, sustainable

Live Earth!

2 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 07/04/07

Madonna’s vid for her Live Earth CD single, “Hey You”. Madge will be performing at Live Earth London

Live Earth is coming up this Saturday, and there are still tickets available to all the shows except the one in London. I’ll be heading to the concert at Giants Stadium on Saturday, and if you can’t or don’t want to go to a live performance, you can watch them online.

In case you’ve been living in a box and haven’t heard about what Live Earth is all about….

Live Earth is a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people on 7/7/07 to raise awareness about global warming. With 24 hours of music across 7 continents, and performances by more than 150 of the world’s top musicians, Live Earth will engage, connect, and inspire individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve the climate crisis.

Not only are these concerts raising awareness about global warming, they are also benefitting the Climate Group, an idependent nonprofit which “advances business and government leadership on climate change”, The Alliance for Climate Protection, which gives practical information on how individuals can reduce their impact on global warming, and Stop Climate Chaos, an organization dedicated to including third-world and developing nations in the development of plans to halt climate change.

business, climate change, corporations, Global Warming, London, Madonna, Music, reduce, spa

A Festivus for the Rest of Us

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by Olivia Zaleski · 06/28/07

Several days ago, on a small area of farmland in Tennessee, 80,000 gathered for the Bonnaroo Music Festival. The four-day celebration featured live music, shops, massage parlors, food marts, restaurants, crafts booths, and a “living quarter” all within a mini city created just for “the Roo.” “Mini city?” Sounds like the perfect chance for an eco-experiment! Starting last year, event sponsors, organizers, and musicians put their heads and wallets together to make Bonnaroo, “the greenest–and greatest–festival on earth.”

This year, the initiative continued with the popular “Planet Roo”—a virtual eco-village. Here non-profit organizations, green-product vendors, and environmentally-minded artists gathered to share information, eat organic food, and support responsible businesses of all shapes and sizes. Local farmers sold organic produce from small carts while Timberland Inc. sponsored a large booth to promote their line of PVC-free shoes. A tree was planted for every patron who visited the booth.

Regina Spector tries on Timberland Inc.’s PVC-free, water based adhesive Luminari Ainsley Thong. Photo courtesy of Frank Mullen/WireImage

Other Bonnaroo 2007 greening initiatives included over 30,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel, a solar powered sound system, and a fancy recycling/composting program—preventing more than 60 percent of the event’s waste from entering landfills. All food vendors were required to provide recycled and biodegradable cups, plates, and cutlery; while security traversed the grounds—looking for violations—on electric-powered golf carts.

biodiesel, business, car, Crafts, diesel, electric, farm, Food, local, Music, Organic, organic food, plates, produce, recycle, recycled, Recycling, restaurant, shoes, waste, water

Striking a Chord in the Industry?

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by Danelle Brown · 06/09/07

Christian F. Martin IV, maker of Martin guitars, along with guitar makers Taylor, Fender, and Gibson have joined alliances with Greenpeace to bring attention to forest management and sustainability. As Martin stated to the NYT, “I have a 2-year-old daughter, Claire Frances Martin, and she can be the seventh generation C. F. Martin. I want her to be able to get materials she’ll need, just as my ancestors and I have over the past 174 years.”

Many species of wood such as mahogany, ebony and rosewood are growing scarcely and it is this team’s mission to maintain and sustain the growth of these trees. This amazing initiative that these 4 guitar makers are embarking on is just another great story of how every industry can do their part to help protect and preserve the environment. Just as many musicians are off-setting their concert carbon emissions, this will help to create a great ripple effect within the music industry. Martin guitars are already a favorite of Sting, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett and John Mayer. Though, it would be cool if someone can develop the technology to make amazing guitars that produce amazing sound using an alternative material that is more of a renewable source.

Make sure to check out the on-line slide show and article showing these music men preserving the music.

business, car, carbon, emissions, farm, Music, NYTimes, produce, spa, style, sustainability, Tea, Technology, trees, wood