ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

November 5th 2008

Razzi Snap: Kelly Preston Holds Scientology Concert Benefit

Filed under: babies and bumps, books, campaigns, donations, events, honors, music, politics, shopping — sara @ 4:44 pm

Kelly Preston held a Scientology Concert on Monday to benefit the Sussex Air Ambulance Service. Say what you will of Scientology, but the event did raise $82,000. Sussex Air Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Dave Philpott, says the money will enable them to save 50 lives.

Singer Mariah Carey has revealed that not only does she sleep a whopping 15 hours a night (IS there 15 hours in the night?), she also uses “20 humidifiers around [her] bed.” Yikes. I wonder how much water that is a night? [Editor's note: Not to mention the electricity!]

Marama Davidson, daughter of actor and New Zealand Green Party Member Rawiri Paratene (Whale Rider, Xena: Warrior Princess), painted her pregnant belly with the words “Vote for Me” in green in support of her father’s Party while doing outreach at Auckland University.

Kerri Russell was recently spotted with an organic Ergobaby Carrier when out and about with son, River. Want one for your own green tot? Click here.

The New York Public Library’s 2008 Library Lions benefit was the place to be for many celebs on Monday. Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose, and Ivanka Trump, among others, all made an appearance. The benefit honored Edward Albee, Ashley Bryan, Nora Ephron, and Salman Rushdie; and one of my all-time favorite writers, Nobel Laureate and Library Trustee, Toni Morrison, was the Master of Ceremonies.

October 7th 2008

The Green Picture: Morgan Spurlock Thanks The Monkey At Animal Sanctuary

Filed under: animals, books, events — parrish @ 7:23 pm

Morgan Spurlock, of Super Size Me fame, is pictured here speaking at a Thanking The Monkey book signing party this past weekend at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Last month, Ecorazzi spotlighted Thanking The Monkey’s author, Karen Dawn, and most recently chatted it up with Peter Singer at Dawn’s Birthday/World Vegetarian Day party in NYC! Don’t forget to check out Karen’s site along with 11 other favorites on the first edition of Ecorazzi’s Veg Blog Round-Up: News From Around Web!

October 6th 2008

Ecorazzi Celebrates Vegetarian Awareness Month With Famous Author Peter Singer

Filed under: animals, books, ecorazzi exclusive, interviews — parrish @ 1:55 pm

On October 1st, we here at Ecorazzi celebrated World Vegetarian Day – an annual herbivore holiday that officially kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month. And because we believe in always partying like rock stars, to continue our celebration throughout the month, Ecorazzi will be chatting with some of the world’s most influential vegetarian actors, musicians and writers in a new Vegetarian Awareness Month celebrity interview series. Today we kick off our new feature with words by renowned author Peter Singer.

Peter Singer is a legend in the animal rights world. In 1975, Singer published Animal Liberation – a book widely considered to be the textbook for the animal rights movement. I recently had the chance to chat with the author at Karen Dawn’s Thanking The Moneky book signing/World Vegetarian Party (a full post on that will be coming shortly).

I feel like I’m interviewing a hero. I mean you published Animal Liberation in 1975 and essentially revolutionized the way people think about animals in regards to ethics. How did you get started in this field?

It was a combination of things. I was studying philosophy and I was interested in ethics and interested in ethics in a way that makes a difference to the world. And I happened to meet somebody who was a vegetarian and he was a vegetarian because of his concern about animals — which was pretty unusual then. I mean you had people who were vegetarian because they thought it was good for their health or if they believed in reincarnation, but he just straightforwardly thought that what we do to animals to turn them into meat isn’t right. And I never really thought about that. There wasn’t much discussed at the time. So I put it together with the ethics I was doing and tried to see how you would justify treating animals the way we do, and eventually I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t justify it. And that was a bit of a shock because I was eating meat all my life up to that point. But I thought having realized that, I needed to not only make the change myself, but to get other people to see this. It was obvious this was a major issue that nobody was seeing – we were just blind to it. So that’s why I wrote the book.

Continue reading Ecorazzi’s interview with Peter Singer here…

September 26th 2008

Vegetarian Lifestyle Growing Popular With Vampires

Sucks to eat humans...

Filed under: animals, books, film-tv, movies, television — michael @ 4:26 pm

Not since Bunnicula — the vampire bunny that sucked the juice out of vegetables — has there been such an interest in vegetarian options for vampires. Sure, the immortal “cold ones” get to enjoy a host of benefits not privy to you and me, but that one tiny detail of sucking on humans has many checking out alternatives.

No, I’m not delusional from a long week. Believe it or not, the term “vegetarian vampire” is showing up all over the place — thanks in large part to the popularity of the Twilight book series, upcoming movie of the same name, and new series on HBO called True Blood.

Written by author Stephenie Meyer, Twilight tells the story of a young woman that falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. Thing is, he abstains from drinking human blood, and drinks animal blood instead. Hence, he’s labeled “vegetarian” — which obviously makes no sense according to the true definition but provides a fine analogy.

But seriously — this whole “vegetarian vampire” premise has gotten so big, that there’s even a “how to” for dressing up as one: “Put on gold contacts if you are a “vegetarian” vampire. If you do not want to be vegetarian, put on burgundy contacts. This step is optional.” Now you know.

Regarding True Blood, I guess these guys would be called “Vegan Vampires” since the idea is that an artificial blood source has been created so that vampires do not have to kill at all.

(My God, are you still reading this post?!)

So — there you have it. Next time someone mentions to you that they’re a “vegetarian/vegan vampire” for Halloween, you can tell them how I wasted a couple minutes of your life bringing you up to speed. You’re welcome.

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September 23rd 2008

The Green Quote: Brigitte Bardot Speaks On Behalf Of The Animals

Filed under: animals, books, green and famous — parrish @ 10:44 am

“I think animals help us live; they’ve helped me live. It was only when I began to devote myself to protecting animals that I blossomed completely. Taking care of them, looking out for them, has given my life true meaning, a meaning I hope future generations can experience. Young people are always a hope. More of them must realize that the animal is not an object for profit, not a toy for our amusement, hunted for sport, not some thing to be cut up for his fur. They may see that the animal has the right to live, just as we have the right to live. We, the animals, the plants are the whole, and the whole makes a chain, and if we break that chain, all of humanity will pay. That’s it. ”

- A selection by legendary actress turned activist Brigitte Bardot from Ingrid Newkirk’s new book One Can Make a Difference.  The collection of essay includes inspirational words from people like The Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, Dennis Kucinich, Oliver Stone and many more. Stay tuned for full Ecorazzi review of One Can Make a Difference coming soon!

September 16th 2008

The Green Quote: Best-Selling Author David Foster Wallace Considers The Lobster

Filed under: animals, books, magazines — parrish @ 9:38 am

“[A]fter all the abstract intellection, there remain the facts of the frantically clanking lid, the pathetic clinging to the edge of the pot. Standing at the stove, it is hard to deny in any meaningful way that this is a living creature experiencing pain and wishing to avoid/escape the painful experience.”

- A snippet of best-selling author David Foster Wallace’s “Consider The Lobster”, written for Gourmet Magazine. David Foster Wallace was not only an acclaimed author, but a proud vegetarian and animal rights activist. Wallace passed away on Friday at the age of 46. Ecorazzi salutes you, David!

To read the essay in its entirety, visit Gourmet.com.

September 9th 2008

David Letterman On Global Warming: “We’re Dead Meat”

Filed under: books, television — lori @ 3:35 pm

David Letterman recently hosted author Thomas Friedman who was promoting his book on Climate Change Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why we need a green revolution–And how it can renew America. Dave had a lot to say about the topic and worked himself into a full rant, which called for alternative forms of energy and blamed the Republicans for their lack of leadership.  Though Friedman’s book is flavored with hope and calls for a revolution, Letterman says we’re “too late” and “dead meat”.  Watch the video below to see him go off as only he can.

via: huffingtonpost.com

September 4th 2008

Matthew McConaughey Sets Personal Best At Nike Race For Charity

We're still not sure if he was stoned or not...

Filed under: books, campaigns, film-tv, green and famous, sports, television — michael @ 1:48 pm

Last Sunday, Actor Matthew McConaughey set a new personal best of 6.2 miles in less than 44 minutes during the Nike + Human Race in his native Texas. The global event took place in 25 cities worldwide and helped raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, and the United Nations Refugee Agency, and NineMillion.org [Read More...]

Funny man Will Ferrell has been in Dublin, Ireland promoting his new film Stepbrothers, while also sporting a “Stop Global Warming” bracelet. Good to see Ferrell continuing to support the environment. Want your own? Jump here — 100% of the proceeds go towards the Stop Global Warming Fund.

What book is model Elle Macpherson reading these days while traveling? “Currently, I’ve got four books on the go: The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook by David de Rothschild, which is actually fun (it’s got things in it like how to build a bat box, as well as useful tips on how to live) and..[Read more...]

Look for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid to feature on J.J. Abrams new television series, Fringe. While she’s investigating strange occurrences around town, the character of FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, played by actress Anna Torv, will drive the green vehicle. “J. J. Abrams is a big environmentalist, and he wanted to have a hybrid vehicle on the show,” Ross Mackenzie of Ford Global Brand Entertainment said. “Since Olivia Dunham is the lead character, the Escape Hybrid was a nice fit.” [Read more...]

September 2nd 2008

Exclusive: Author Karen Dawn Discusses Thanking The Monkey

Filed under: books, ecorazzi exclusive, green and famous, interviews — parrish @ 2:22 pm

A few months ago a good friend told me about this funky new book called Thanking The Monkey by Karen Dawn that “I just have to read.†Now even though I’m a loudmouth vegan who preaches the gospel to tens of thousands each day, in real life I hardly have ANY vegetarian friends. So you can imagine how impressed I was that a book which reexamines the way we treat animals had managed to catch the attention of my omnivore compadre. Long story short: I bought the book and by page 30 I’d contacted Karen to set up an interview.

Besides being endorsed by just about every heavyweight vegetarian celebrity out there, Karen Dawn has most recently received praise from the Washington Post and NBC. As the founder of DawnWatch, Karen was given the Farm Sanctuary’s 2008 Outstanding Activist for Farm Animals Award. Dawn recently sat down with Ecorazzi for an exclusive interview and shared with us a BRAND NEW star-studded promo video. Enjoy!

Hey Karen! So great to have you on the site! Now I know you’ve been involved with animal rights for a while, but tell our readers what prompted you to sit down and write Thanking The Monkey?

People who enjoy DawnWatch would sometimes ask me when I was going to write a book. But our movement already has so many wonderful books! Then a friend of mine at a major publishing house went to work for a division aimed at the “18-35 Celebrity Driven Market.” And I realized our movement sorely lacked a book aimed right there. Though I am a little older than that market, I am hopelessly immature — I still watch the VH1 top 20 every Saturday morning and a friend hosts it. And my writing style, while not for morons, has a casual feel, probably well suited for a younger audience. So one morning, in the shower of course, I envisioned a warm, friendly, hip animal rights book, packed with cartoons and gorgeous art and quotes from thoughtful celebs. My friend’s division didn’t end up picking it up, but there was loads of interest from other houses. Harper Collins bought it and Thanking the Monkey was born — an animal rights book aimed at the college crowd, who like some levity with their lessons — or a few beers with their health food.

It’s been estimated that right now on earth there are more vegans and vegetarians than any other time in history. Are people finally starting to make a connection between diet and the world around them or is this all just one big trend?

It is definitely a trend — the whole Green thing. A terrific trend! Trends often become part of solid mainstream thinking and behavior and I am sure that is where we are headed with vegetarianism. We aren’t going to have a choice. The esteemed naturalist EW Wilson has said that the earth could support about 2.5 billion people on a standard American diet and about 10 billion people on plant based diets. Well, there are a lot more than 2.5 billion folks in the world, and even those who don’t care much about animal issues have some interest in feeding all the people, so we are going to have to change our ways. How perfect that compassion for animals and people turns out to be directly linked. I have always said that compassion is not species specific — now that is becoming true in a practical and literal sense.

Continue reading our interview with Karen Dawn

August 25th 2008

Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson Give Tips on Going Green

Filed under: books, green and famous, healthy living, magazines — sara @ 3:51 pm

Good Housekeeping recently published a list of tips from celebrity moms on going green. Julia Roberts actually turns to her yoga instructor, Sophie Uliano, with all her eco questions. Uliano actually started a green group for Roberts and her pals to teach them about nontoxic cosmetics and safe cleaners. The result? One of America’s sweethearts making her own eco friendly cleaning spray, keeping a journal on her environmental concerns, checking labels, and planting an organic garden. Go Julia! You can get Uliano’s advice in her new book, Gorgeously Green.

“I’ve made homeopathic treatments and aromatherapy treatments. I’m constantly looking for the best products out there, and I helped my hairdresser launch a line of organic hair-care products, free of animal products as well as parabens and sulfates called David Babii for WildAid. Ten percent of the money goes toward protecting endangered species,” shares bouncy Kate Hudson on her green habits. Kate’s also pretty creative with her vegetables.

To get more of Kate’s tips, as well as some advice from Sheryl Crow, Brooke Shields, Gayle King, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Aniston, click here.