Vanity Fair · Eco-Chick

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Crude, the Film, Shows Real Price of America's Oil Addiction (Hint: It's Not Just the Environment)

Crude is the story of a community of 30,000 tribal members in the Amazonian jungle of Ecuador who hold a corporation to bear for its crimes against their land, their livelihood, and most importantly, their lives. The film follows the intricacies of what has been called the “Amazon Chernobyl.”

The indigenous population claims that Chevron, the parent company to the former Texaco, spent thirty years contaminating the air, land, and water of an area the size of Rhode Island which is now called the “death zone.” Cancer, leukemia, and birth defects are among some of the effects of Big Oil. The film was shot and edited over a period of three years, with Berlinger and the crew sacrificing their own safety by facing both environmental (toxic fumes, disease, searing equatorial heat) and man-made dangers (shooting near the Colombian border where drug runners and FARC rebels are very active) to capture a story they felt must be shared with the rest of the world.

Berlinger’s cinematic sensibility paints a picture that captures the lush vitality of the Amazon, the horrendous atrocities endured by the tribespeople, and the complicated path that social justice must traverse, all the while avoiding cliche and stereotypes. Amazon Watch and the Rainforest Foundation have both been instrumental in bringing the Ecuadorian devastation to the public eye.

Trudie Styler, Sting’s wife, and noted activist, appears in the film to lend celebrity to the cause. Repeatedly referring to the Amazon as “the lungs of the earth,” Styler and others point to the far more serious nature of the toxicity than mere dollars can assuage. If Ecuador is in trouble, we are ALL in trouble. If tribe members cannot fish or swim, that affects us directly. Transnationals can no longer act in a vacuum of backyard antics.

Vanity Fair featured an article in the 2007 Green Issue on the case in Ecuador, and attorney Pablo Fajardo, who passionately represents the plaintiffs. In one scene in the film, Fajardo notes that he is not intimidated by the high powered legal team because he has truth on his side, which makes his work that much easier. He doesn’t have to work diligently to create lies about what is happening.

Without sensationalizing the health effects of the toxic swamp left in the Ecuadorian jungle, Berlinger simply allows the water to tell the tale. The water, the rivers, the streams, and pools appear fresh from a distance as children play, women wash, and people drink. Once approached, the rainbow sheen of petrol catches the light and the scent of gasoline sends heads reeling. The ground is soft sludge as the pollutants work their way through the soil and into the Earth. One of the Texaco/Chevron representatives claims: “this is not contamination, this is industrial exploitation that your government permitted.” Amazing. This film must be seen.

In order for this film to have a chance of being seen by the rest of the country, it must nearly sell-out in NY, LA and SF, so tell your friends, blog about it, spread the word…go see this film. Because the film doesn’t have huge marketing dollars, it’s up to people like you and me to spread the word online.

Here are some important screening dates: for locations click here
-NYC: September 9-22
-L.A.: September 18-24
-S.F.: September 25-October 1
-D.C.: October 23-29

Amazon, Cancer, Chevron, children, cities, community, death, exploitation, farm, fish, gas, health, Lush, News, NYC, oil, Outdoors, Politics, rainforest, rum, style, Tea, Vanity Fair, water, women

Madonna is Vanity Fair's Eco Chick!

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by Starre Vartan · 03/28/08

I’ve been a Madonna fan since I was 8 years old. Hers was the first tape I ever popped into my Sony walkman, and just last night I attended a fashion show where they were pumping one of her newer tunes. As big of a Madonna fan as I am, I have to say I’m pretty surprised to see her on the cover of VF’s third annual green issue (Ecorazzi broke the story last night), especially considering she doesn’t seem to be behaving as a friend to the environment with her anti-public transportation stance. I can’t wait to read the story when it comes out and see what Madge is up to! Maybe some awesome recycled hemp and peace silk cone bras?

Madonna, Vanity Fair

Eco Luxury Gift Ideas (and Bikes!) in Vogue

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by Starre Vartan · 12/04/07

I was thrilled to see some seriously fun totally over-the-top delicious green stuff featured in Vogue’s December issue (it’s the one with the impossibly gorgeous Penelope Cruz, above, on the cover).

First up, there’s “Season’s Greenings” by William Norwich, who talks to three fabulous greenies. Sheherazade Goldsmith, author of A Slice of Organic Life, recommends bamboo salad tongs, the Linda Lee Hundred Trees Charm from Barney’s, recycled wallpaper from Lim and Handtryk, and vintage Louboutin mules. She’s also a fan of a cool site, re-found objects, and only buys wooden toys for her kids. (That’s her sitting pretty in a London nursery below). Elizabeth Wiatt, NRDC trustee and LA power-player, likes Dr. Hauschka products, soy candles from Lafco House and Home, and vintage banana-leaf envelope sets. Anna Carter, a trustee for the Natural Resources Defense Council and wife of Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter suggests Paporganics hemp wrapping paper, hand-crafted cushions from Robert Kime, and is a fan of Behnaz Sarafpour’s Spring collection.

In addition to all the green gift-giving suggestions, there’s an article covering the hipness of riding bikes, entitled “Wheels on Fire” (which calls to mind the theme song for Patty and Edina’s misadventures on Absolutely Fabulous). Apparently model Agnyss Deyn arrived at fashion week on two wheels, and Helena Christensen calls riding a bike a “cozy habit”.

The piece points out what visitors to Europe have known for years: On the Continent it’s all about integrating pedaling into your life, so you can wear whatever you like, from ballgowns to heels with skinny jeans. Bikes are designed to carry both people and stuff (including beer!). My favorite quote? “It’s easy enough to wear a skirt on a bike. And guys love it,” says Christiansen. I can vouch for this, as I always ride my bike around in ‘non-sporting’ gear.

So next time you think you need a special outfit to ride your bike, think again (though it would behoove you to have fenders to keep the mud and moisture off). And if you need some tips on cool bikes, and what to wear while doing it, check out the full article.

bamboo, bikes, candles, car, design, Europe, farm, Fashion, giving, hemp, Home, jeans, kids, London, model, Organic, paper, recycle, recycled, resources, skin, soy, sport, spring, style, trees, Vanity Fair, vintage, Vogue, wood

Eco Chick Summer Rayne Oakes in Vanity Fair

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by Starre Vartan · 04/19/07

If you haven’t checked out the second annual green issue of Vanity Fair, you should! Not just because Leo is on the cover, or because there’s some kick-ass coverage inside, but because Eco Chick Summer Rayne Oakes is featured in a two-page spread. Congrats Summer, you look great tailgating in that Tango! (For Summer’s perspective on the shoot, and the car, check out her post from a couple weeks back.)

car, Eco-Chick, farm, summer, Summer Rayne Oakes, Vanity Fair

More Green Issues Than You Can Shake a Stick At

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by Starre Vartan · 09/19/06

After the double-header of the green Elle and Vanity Fair issues, a plethora of mags have shown some planet-consciousness. I’ve been collecting these for the past 2 months or so; all sorts of mags covering green topics from various angles. Here they are, in no particular order:

Innovative Home, Fall 2006: Cover story “How ‘Green’ Design is Impacting Residential Spaces”

Business Week’s Small Biz, Summer 2006: Cover story “Do You Need to Be Green?”

The Futurist, July-August 2006: Cover story “A Plan to Save Our Troubled Planet”

Photo (French), June 2006: Cover story special “A Planet in Danger- The State of Our Place, the Beauty and the Degradation; Earth, Water, Forests, Pollution, Animals, Renewable Energy, Climate Change” (forgive my translation skills)

Garden Design, June-July 2006: Cover story “Best Green Design: The Natural Look + Meadows, Roofs, Pools, Natives, Bionic Plants, More Earth-Friendly Ideas”

The New Republic’s September 4, 2006 issue: Cover story “Apocalypse Now- A Scientist’s Plea for Christian Environmentalism” by E.O. Wilson (a must-read!)

Climbing Magazine is going 100% recycled paper (85% post-consumer recyled) and Urban Climber Magazine‘s October/November issue will be a green-themed issue, and also printed on 100% recycled paper. Via: Treehugger