THINK | EARTH
VOL I
CONTENTS
4
CONTRIBUTORS
6
INTRODUCTION
8
LUKAS HAAS
Lifelong Environmentalist Adds
A Little Rock to his Star
10 ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Lost and Found in Bainbridge
12 LOSING LOUISIANA:
How Restoring Gulf Marshes
Can Bring New Orleans Back
By Aaron Viles of the Gulf
Restoration Network
15 AKASHA:
Baking Eco-Cusine Into The Mainstream
By Fred Ascher
16 SHANE WEST
The Good Kind of Germ
18 NIGEL BARKER
America’s Next Top Role Model
2
21 FROM GREED TO GREEN:
The 12-Step Program
By Sarah Backhouse
22 JOSH KELLEY
And The Tour Bus Recycling Challenge
24 IDEALBITE.COM:
A Sassier Shade of Green
Interview with Heather Stephenson
& Jen Boulden
27 GREG ALTERMAN
Means Business
28 JASON KENNEDY
Bringing Generosity:
Water into the Spotlight
30 ADRIAN GRENIER
Promoting Sustainability
Onscreen and Off
32 LIFE. LOVE. TRUTH. GREEN?
By Michelle Lombardo
34 REID SCOTT
My Boy Rocks (And Renews) Our World
36 ECOSPIRE:
Looking For Guidance
on Going Green?
By Davida Heller of Ecospire
37 ECONATION:
The Business of Going Green
By Ben Bloch
38 ALI HILLIS
Rescue Me!
40 AMY SMART
Loud and Clear for Heal The Bay
41 NEW MOON SKIN CARE:
Nourishment for Body and Earth
Interview with Amy Leavell Bransford
42 RIGHT WHALE, RIGHT NOW:
Saving Right Whales From Extinction
By Anthony Ramos of the Wildlife Trust
44 MALIN AKERMAN
Back to Basics:
Dreams of a Simpler Life
46 SHE’S A NATURAL
Ingrid Seaburn’s Guide
to Fresh, Radiant Skin
47 THE MAN ON TAP
By Bryan Devendorf of The National
SPEAK OUT!
Featuring Scarlett Johansson,
Donald Faison, and David Arquette
48 SUSTAINABLE WAVES:
Parties Powered By The Sun
Interview with Mark McLarry
& Neal Turley
51 ADAPTATION:
An Inspired Floral Experience
Interview with Mike LaSage
& Liz Gudmundsson
52 BRIAN WILLS
Making Waves with String Theory
and Oceana
54 FEATURED CHARITIES
SPECIAL THANKS
STAFF
CONTACT
50 DOODY FREE:
The Ethics of Environmentalism
and Dog Poop
By Chris Connolly
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CONTRIBUTORS
Benjamin Kutsko
Benjamin Kutsko makes films, art and magic
in and about the world that his brain finds
itself. He is currently finishing up the short film
"Petecia and the Quest for the Golden Owl"
and beginning work on a new music video.
www.benjaminkutsko.com
Michelle Lombardo
Originally from Glastonbury, Connecticut,
Michelle came onto the scene by winning
the inaugural Sports Illustrated Fresh
Face Contest in 2004 and was a swimsuit
model for Sports Illustrated's calendars and
magazines. She soon realized her passion
for acting and has been seen on HBO’s
Entourage, Quarterlife, and is currently
recurring on Showtime's Californication. She
is also a host on the cable network Current
TV and resides in Los Angeles.
The National
Brooklyn-based indie band The National
was formed in 1999 by five friends from
Cincinnati, Ohio. Singer Matt Berninger’s
distinctive baritone carries their lyrics, while
two pairs of brothers – Aaron & Bryce
Dessner and Scott & Bryan Devendorf –
comprise the rest of the band. Together they
tour the world, most recently to promote their
universally acclaimed album, Boxer.
www.americanmary.com
Davida Heller
Davida Heller’s career as a Sustainable
Lifestyle Consultant started while working in
the entertainment industry as Vice President
of Production at a film production company
in Los Angeles. Realizing that helping
people incorporate sustainability into their
lives was her true passion, Davida founded
Ecospire, a consulting company committed
to helping people and the environment.
Originally from New York, Davida has been
living in Los Angeles for ten years.
www.ecospire.com
Sarah Backhouse
TV Host, global citizen and free thinker,
Sarah Backhouse professes a love of irony,
secularism and cricket which has ensured
a seamless transition to life in Los Angeles.
With her roots firmly at The G Living Network,
Sarah looks forward to branching out
deeper and darker into this brave new world
of green. From fashion to cars, food to
architecture, celebrity piffle to pressing world
affairs, she’s honored to be able share her
passion for this emerging green lifestyle.
www.sarahbackhouse.com www.gliving.tv
Ben Bloch
Ben Bloch is co-founder of Econation
Chauffeured Transportation and one of
the principals of investment firm Madison
Capital Ventures, LLC. Based in Los Angeles,
CA, Ben is also a freelance columnist for
several domestic publications, including
Los Angeles Confidential, Angeleno and
The Hollywood Reporter.
www.econation.com
www.alternativeapparel.com
Rosemary Elperin
Ingrid Seaburn
Ingrid Seaburn is a Los Angeles-based skincare
therapist who focuses on natural treatments
using products that are non-chemically based.
Her in-home treatments incorporate parabenfree and fragrance-free skin care and skin
nutrition brands that contain no artificial colors
and promote radiant skin.
ingrid.seaburn@yahoo.com
Anthony Ramos
As Director of Marketing & Communications
at Wildlife Trust, Anthony Ramos continues
to work hard to generate awareness of
conservation issues and bring attention to
the negative effects of damaged ecosystems.
Human-induced change to the environment
has contributed to a significant rise in
infectious diseases called zoonoses - diseases
that make the leap from wildlife to humans.
www.wildlifetrust.org
Chris Connolly
When not traveling the world on behalf
the New York Times, Men's Health and the
Travel Channel, Chris Connolly lives and
rages against the machine in Madison,
Wisconsin, with his two sons and his wife.
www.chrisconnollyonline.com
4
Fred Ascher
Fred grew up in East Tennessee and
graduated from the University of Tennessee
in 1986. He came to L.A. in a Toyota Tercel
on a wing and a prayer, and lives the
Hollywood dream as a writer and publicist.
Aaron Viles
Aaron Viles is the campaign director of
the Gulf Restoration Network, a non-profit
network of environmental groups dedicated
to protecting and restoring the natural
resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Based in
New Orleans, GRN is working to ensure
that New Orleans and other coastal areas
in the central Gulf come back sustainably
from the devastating hurricanes of 2005.
Aaron focuses on media, government and
community relations for GRN.
www.healthygulf.org
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THINK EARTH
When we take a moment to look around, it’s hard not to
notice the many issues that deserve far more attention
than they get – schools without enough books for their
students, entire populations who miraculously survive
each day without food and water, an Earth that will
die if we don’t clean it. But as clearly dire as these
problems may be, more often than not, we see them,
feel a pang of sadness, and quickly shift our thoughts to
something – anything – less devastating.
But it doesn’t have to be like that. What if, instead of
automatically ignoring these situations, we actually
continued to think about them until we conjured a
solution? Then what if we followed through with that
idea to create a positive change? We at Alternative
can’t help but wonder what the world would be like if
we did.
Finding out is what inspired us to collaborate with
businesses, nonprofits, and fierce individuals who are
dead-set on changing the world for the better. As we
deliberated on how to get started, we couldn’t conceive
of a more pressing and pertinent issue than the
environment. The finished product: Alternative’s Think
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Earth, a celebration of individuals who are not only
aware of their impact on our planet, but take action
every day to reduce it.
Each person in Think Earth represents an idea or
perspective on the state of our planet and expresses it
by supporting a charity, starting a business, or simply
choosing a Prius over a tricked-out Hummer. However
they do it, their individual actions contribute to a
movement that will hopefully change the world.
We know we can’t singlehandedly tackle every issue,
but we want to try, one at a time, to think about them
– and to get you to think about them, too! Because
in the end, solutions all start with a thought, one little
seed that holds the potential to grow into an idea and
metamorphose into positive action. It is our hope to
inspire you with the pages that follow – not only to think,
but in your own way, to do.
Movements change the world, and they all start with the
actions of a single person. How are you making waves?
Tell us at www.alternativeapparel.com.
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So Lukas, how did you get inspired to be a
part of our project?
I thought it was a really cool concept. I’ve
been active in cleaning the environment since I
was a kid. When I was about 6 or 7, I was anti
underground nuclear weapons testing because
it was ruining the environment. I have a lot of
mutual friends who are very active in the green
cause, so it’s just part of my life.
Is there anyone in particular you admire for
their environmental efforts?
Leo [DiCaprio] does so many things for the
environment, and he’s taught me a lot. I was
pretty impressed by his documentary, The 11th
Hour. But Al Gore is probably the guy I’m
most inspired by because he’s been able to
make such an impact. It was really after his
documentary people started to finally take a
serious look and realize what’s happening.
Now it seems to be a bit of a fad to be green.
But I don’t think it is, because it’s not like it’s
going to go away and all of a sudden we
won’t have to be green anymore…
Very true. On a lighter note, you recently put
out a self-titled EP. Has it been a challenge
to get started in music after your long career
as an actor?
I’ve been writing music all my life, actually. I’ve
always wanted to get my music out there, and
recording an album has been a lifelong dream.
And it happened naturally – I had recorded
some songs, a producer heard them, he asked
to produce them with me, and we basically
recorded the album over the first half of last
year. I’ve got some really good people doing
it with me, like Ben Harper and Chris Cester
from Jet. Actually Chris just called me to play
keyboards on Jet’s new record, and I just got
back from playing live with them in Austin.
It sounds like you’re living the dream! What
else do you have going on right now?
I just did a couple episodes on Entourage, and
I’ve got a few things coming up movie-wise. I’ve
been touring, just played in New York, I played
some shows here [in LA], and then there’s the
Jet album. I might even go on tour with them!
Just doing that kind of stuff. Pretty awesome.
So, you don’t think this movement is just
a trend?
I don’t think it can be. It feels like a trend
right now, but we’ve got a big problem.
Hopefully the movement gains momentum
and we are able to make real fundamental
changes, not only in what people do at
home, but also in the government. There are
a lot of things that the government could do
to change the direction we’re heading. For
instance, alternative fuels could reinvigorate
the American economy and become a whole
new source of income. Even if doesn’t seem
feasible right now, as time goes on it’s going
to become clearer that those things have to
happen.
LUKAS HAAS
LIFELONG ACTOR AND ENVIRONMENTALIST
ADDS A LITTLE ROCK TO HIS STAR
Lukas Haas has been a part of Hollywood since kindergarten, but did you
know he’s been an environmentalist for just as long? Here were learn a
little about his roots in protesting underground nuclear weapons testing,
his admiration for activists Leonardo Dicaprio and Al Gore, and how his
dream of becoming a musician has finally come true.
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ELIZABETH MITCHELL
LOST AND FOUND IN BAINBRIDGE
As at home as Elizabeth Mitchell seems running through the jungle
on the hit series Lost, she’s even more at home with her husband
and son in the sustainable community of Bainbridge. Speaking
with us from her Washington home, Elizabeth discusses her life as
an actress and “greenie” from the start.
Let’s talk a little bit about the Earth: what’s your outlook on the
state of the planet?
I think we’re at a crisis point, and anyone who says that we’re not,
well, I don’t think they’re paying attention. I go to all these science
exhibits with my son because he’s so fascinated by it, and you see the
chain of pollution and what we’re doing with our landfills. I worked
for New York Public Interest Research Group for awhile, and I’ve
pretty much been a greenie since then. So I’m just excited that it’s
fashionable – I don’t really care who started it or when they did it or
how they did it, I’m just glad that people are doing it.
What are some of the things you do to ease your impact?
Here on Bainbridge we only have one car, and we take public
transportation quite often. We filter our water, we compost, and we
try to do everything we can to reuse. We’re not big purchasers, but
we put money into the economy buying organic food and those sorts
of things. What I’m enjoying lately is that the grocery stores here are
going to start charging 3 cents for a plastic bag. I just carry around a
big purse that I can stuff groceries in.
You love the environment, but what about rolling around in the
mud in the woods on Lost? Do you ever get sick of that?
To be honest with you, I don’t. But then you have to think I’m keeping
great company, like Evangeline [Lilly] – being in the mud with her
is pretty fun. I knew it was going to be physical, and the heat is
something, but one of the reasons the show works is that we are out
there running, out there fighting. We’re not sipping piña coladas, and
as a result the reality of the work shows on our faces. I think it makes
the show better.
What it is about acting that compels you?
Well, I was a dorky kid, and all I would do was read and imagine.
My mother is an artist and my great-grandfather was an artist and
everyone around me had these outlets. I’m a terrible artist, but I have
a huge appreciation for it. Anyway, the outlet was very important
to me. If I wasn’t an actress, I don’t know what I would have been.
Probably a librarian, but not a very good one.
If you had to trade in acting, is that what you’d want to do instead?
Oh, that’s hard, because I’ve spent my whole life in acting. I don’t
know, I sang a lot as a kid and as a young woman for musicals and
that sort of thing, so I also really love that. It’s hard to imagine doing
anything outside of the arts; I can’t really imagine being someone
who isn’t allowed to express herself.
How does this concept of “the outlet” and your need for selfexpression play into your acting? I’m one of those odd chameleon
people. I try to work without ego and I really, really listen. I definitely
love when someone has a big personality and they bring it in, but
that’s not me. I love to lose myself in the role. I can just get right in
there, and only someone with a love for it can do that.
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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL O’NEIL
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LOSING LOUISIANA
HOW RESTORING GULF MARSHES CAN BRING NEW ORLEANS BACK
By Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network
In the wake of the devastating hurricane season of 2005, when the world watched in
horror as Katrina, then Rita, wiped Gulf Coast communities off the map and delivered
New Orleans a near knockout punch, many woke up to the importance of these coastal
wetlands. Scientists have agreed that had New Orleans been surrounded by the buffer
of marsh that existed 50 years ago, Katrina would not have threatened the city.
Due to a national need for dependable shipping lanes on the
Mississippi River and oil production from coastal areas, mankind has
impacted the marsh and sped up natural processes so that Louisiana
has been losing coastal wetlands at a staggering rate. Over 900,000
acres of marsh have turned to open water since 1930, an area about
the size of Delaware. Every year, Louisiana loses an additional 25
square miles of coast.
This is not a hopeless tale. Though climate change makes the coastal
crisis even more critical, no coastal area has a tool in their front yard
like the Mississippi River. Just as the river built the land New Orleans
sits upon, when managed differently, the river can rebuild it.
About 15 miles southeast of New Orleans, past the still-hammered
community of Chalmette, sits the Caernarvon freshwater diversion.
Completed in 1991, the diversion was designed to put fresh water into
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marshes south of New Orleans, which had grown too salty due to the
intrusion of Gulf water, facilitated by oil and navigation canals. There
are some 10,000 miles of canals throughout Louisiana’s coastal zone,
most dredged by the oil industry, some by the Corps of Engineers for
navigation purposes. These canals are coast killers, disrupting the
hydrology of the wetlands, and allowing saltwater to travel up the
canals with the tide or with storms, killing the fresh or brackish water
plants, and unraveling the land.
Caernarvon was meant to ‘freshen’ the marsh, not actually rebuild
land. To save New Orleans though, we need to build more, bigger,
river reintroduction projects to put sediment from the river into the
marsh, not just fresh water. We also need to pipe sediment from the
ongoing dredging operations, which suck up muck from the bottom of
shipping channels to ensure the waterways are deep enough for the
ships. Traditionally, this dirt has been dumped into the Gulf of Mexico
and wasted.
(continued )
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Photo by Alen Lin!
AKASHA
(continued from p.13)!
The plans have been developed to rebuild the coast and defend New
Orleans, but they still haven’t been authorized or funded by Congress.
Steps have been taken, though. Due to the work of GRN and other
community and environmental groups, Congress has voted to shut
down a massive navigation canal, the Mississippi River – Gulf outlet
(MRGO – called Mister Go by locals) which has destroyed over 28,000
acres of wetlands. Unfortunately, the Corps of Engineers have failed to
begin the necessary wetlands restoration to mitigate MRGO’s impacts.
Stanton Moore, the drummer for New Orleans’ Galactic sums it up this
way, "New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, and has influenced about
every American style of music that followed, from rock to hip hop. The
next President will need to prioritize restoring our coast to continue the
recovery process. The culture of our whole country depends on it."
Louisiana’s Governor recently announced one billion dollars worth of
coastal restoration projects, the single largest commitment so far to
the coast. The state is expecting federal resources for the effort due
to a new law which gives the state 37% of all revenues generated
from off-shore drilling in the waters off Louisiana’s coast. Unfortunately,
it’s a drop in the bucket. Current estimates range from $30 to $50
billion dollars to rebuild the coast and protect our communities.
About the Gulf Restoration Network
To save the coast we need to convince the nation that Louisiana’s
coast is special and worth saving. It has been done before, for the
Everglades and for the Chesapeake (admittedly with mixed results).
GRN has been working to elevate the issue, organizing house parties
across the country on the past two Katrina anniversaries, and recently
signing on the high profile support of musicians REM, Pearl Jam, My
Morning Jacket, Ok Go, Trent Reznor and some 90 others.
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The Gulf Restoration Network (GRN), one of Alternative’s charity
partners, is a network of environmental, social justice, and citizens'
groups and individuals committed to restoring the Gulf of Mexico
to an ecologically and biologically sustainable condition. The GRN
was formed in 1994 to raise awareness of environmental issues in
Gulf States and to increase communication and coordination of
member activities across the region. They are playing a pivotal
role in providing their members and partners with the technical
information, Gulf-wide networking opportunities, and communication
that empowers local communiti es to successfully address the
environmental threats that they face.
To learn more, visit www.healthygulf.org.
Baking Eco-Cuisine into the Mainstream
Renowned chef and author Akasha Richmond made headlines in
February, 2008, when she opened her Culver City restaurant AKASHA
with a commitment to be 100% Green. “I’m not just talking about
putting a sign on the wall and separating the recyclables in the trash,”
Akasha says, “but really making sure that, in every way possible, my
restaurant sets a high standard for what it means to be Green.”
Akasha’s reputation as a leader in the Green movement is hardearned, and she takes that trust very seriously. “Our kitchen sources
from farms, ranches and fisheries that are guided by the principals
of sustainability.” She brings produce in from local purveyors who
purchase from a number of local family farms that serve Southern
California, and her seafood comes from Clean Fish and other Marine
Stewardship Council-certified fisheries. AKASHA’s chicken comes from
Petaluma Poultry, a pioneer and leader in the organic foods industry,
dedicated to farming practices that renew natural and human
resources. She credits the rich flavor of her cuisine to carefully
selected artisan sea salt, estate-grown olive oils, non-irradiated
spices and other natural and organic ingredients.
Beyond meats and vegetables, AKASHA’s bakery features artisan
desserts and pastries made with organic flours, sweeteners and
healthy but delicious ingredients like spelt, goji berries and acai.
“We purchase from Wholesome Sweeteners and Dagoba Chocolate,
who source from sustainable plantations around the world,” promises
Akasha. “Stonyfield Yogurt, Silk Soymilk, Organic Valley and Horizon
Organic are used in our ice creams and baked goods as well as our
espresso drinks.”
By Fred Ascher
As Akasha prepares to celebrate the restaurant’s one-year anniversary,
she takes great pride in knowing she has broken into the mainstream.
“Some thought my focus on green, sustainable, organic sources would
brand me as a fringe concept, too narrow to compete effectively with
the other top restaurants opening in Culver City,” she says. “I’m proud
to say that we’ve proved the naysayers wrong. AKASHA proves a
restaurant can be run successfully without compromising on quality or
our principles to protect our fragile planet.”
BIELER’S BROTH
| My favorite soup for feeling healthy
1 1/2 quarts vegetable stock
3/4 pound thin green beans, washed, stemmed, cut into 2­inch pieces
5 zucchini, stem ends removed, sliced into 1­inch pieces
1 leek, white part only, cleaned and chopped
2 inner ribs celery, coarsely chopped
!"#$%&'$()*+,-).$')/0,-1$0'/230
1 tablespoon white miso 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or extra­virgin olive oil
In a heavy stockpot, combine the stock, green beans, zucchini, leeks, and celery. Bring to a boil over medium­high heat. Reduce *4$)$0255-/6$%47-/6$)89$%44:$&8*2,$*;-$7-3-*)<,-0$)/-$04.*6$)<4&*$
=>$528&*-0?$@8$)$<,-89-/$4/$.449$'/4%-004/$'&/--$*;-$04&'$A2*;$
miso and butter in two batches until smooth and creamy. Makes 2 quarts.
Being Green doesn’t stop with the food. The wine list has been
crafted exclusively by Tom Simson and Shane Gelinas of Millennium
Wine Consulting, and it is hand-tailored to complement AKASHA’s
unique cuisine and sense of style. Her bar also features top shelf
brands and an exclusive selection of organic spirits, such as Juniper
Organic Gin, TRU Organic Vodka, 4 Copas Organic Tequila and VeeV,
the world’s first antioxidant spirit.
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When did you first get involved working with charities?
My mom got me into that at an early age. Up until now, I have mainly been involved with charities for
battered and abused families, disabled veterans, and urban communities. This is new for me in the
environmental charity world. Getting green is something I am really getting into.
Have you discovered an environmental organization that you like a lot?
I think the Environmental Media Association (EMA) is great, in that we in the entertainment industry must
get environmental issues out to the public.
SHANE WEST
THE GOOD KIND OF GERM
Between starring in The Germs flick What We Do is Secret
and fronting the band in real life, actor/musician Shane
West is super crazy busy. He nevertheless found some
time chat with us about his hobbies, the EMA, and what
he’s doing to help the environment.
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How else do you contribute to eco-friendly living?
I have been an avid recycler for many years, and I even used to have my own compost heap in my back
yard. I also use the same recyclable bag for when I grocery shop. However, I need to get better and
smarter with a lot of things, and I’m working on that now.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
I don’t have much spare time with acting and music being a major part of my life. But I like to read,
collect old records, work out (a major hobby since I turned 30), and spend time with my friends and lady.
I also have a horrible spending habit at Amoeba records – I’m a big movie watcher and lover of music.
It’s no surprise, then, that you’re an actor and musician. If you weren’t, what could you see yourself doing?
Psychology. It’s the only "normal" job I was interested in when I was growing up. That and oceanography.
One of Alternative’s favorite words is “inspiration” – what is something that continually inspires you?
How about a phrase? "I shall grow old, but never lose life's zest, because the road's last turn will be the
best," Henry van Dyke. That and, "The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is
what the man or woman is able to do that counts," Booker T. Washington.
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NIGEL BARKER
AMERICA’S NEXT TOP ROLE MODEL
If any individual stands out as someone dedicated to making a
difference, it’s photographer and America’s Next Top Model judge
Nigel Barker. Whether he’s manning a booth for The Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation, photographing seals and sharks for The
Humane Society, documenting riots in Haiti for Edeyo, or supporting
charities Do Something and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he never
lacks the energy to help a person or animal in need.
In your own words, tell us a little about The Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF).
The EGPAF organizes fantastic fundraisers in both NYC and LA called
"Kids For Kids" and "A Time For Heroes," respectively. Essentially these
events are designed to be like amazing block parties with all sorts of
booths, stores, and fun activities for children to get involved with.
What inspired you to get involved with the foundation?
I believe all children deserve a chance in life, and growing up
with a life-threatening illness like AIDS is crippling for the child and
devastating for the family. As a father I would hope, should the
unthinkable happen, organizations like EGPAF would be there offering
support and advice through such hard times.
In what ways have you participated at their signature events, “Kids
For Kids” and “A Time For Heroes?”
I have volunteered in booths decorating t-shirts, playing fancy dressup, and doing photography. I also have taken photos using a giant
Polaroid camera. A year ago I took photos of about 10 different
children at the "Kids For Kids" event in NYC and found out weeks later
that one of the children died the following day. I received a letter
from the family saying how thankful they were that the last day their
child had was one filled with laughter and smiles and that they had a
photo of their child to remember that day forever.
You work with a number of charities in addition to EGPAF – what
kinds of projects are you working on these days?
I went with The Humane Society to shoot the Protect Sharks Campaign
in Martha’s Vineyard, and I’m going to Iceland this summer to
photograph and film whales. Also, I went to Haiti in the beginning of
May to do a photo documentary with Edeyo, a Haitian charity. Edeyo,
which means, “help them,” funds and educates about 90 children. It
also feeds them every day – most people don’t actually have that,
some go for days without eating. Then I’m going to Africa with EGPAF
to do another documentary either in Tanzania or Zimbabwe, so we’ll
have another exhibition when we return to bring more awareness
about children with AIDS.
You are someone who is everywhere, using your talents every
day to benefit the lives of people who need help. What advice
do you have for individuals who want to use their skills to make a
difference?
Anyone can be a hero – just get out there and do something! There’s
actually a charity called Do Something where children go out into the
community and gain an idea of what they want to do to help – from
bringing food to a homeless shelter, to helping write letters fighting
for amnesty. Also, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is great. Most of the
kids in the program don’t have very big wishes: maybe they want a
playground in their back yard, or a jungle gym or a sandbox – get
some wood, fill it with sand, and there you have it. Really anyone can
get out there and set an example and help their fellow man.
(continued )
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From Greed to Green: The 12-Step Program
By Sarah Backhouse
Greed is a disease. It’s a powerful and destructive addiction that
spectacularly brought down the system of democratic capitalism
as we know it. Just like other addictions, greed lures you in before
spitting you out. The same greed that created the economic climate
which resulted in the top 1% owning 40% of the wealth, ultimately led
to their downfall. Just ask poster child Bernie Madoff. But let’s be
optimistic. Every financial crisis has a silver lining. We can be thankful
that Gordon Gecko’s mantra of “Greed is Good” has finally gone
the way of hair crimpers. And waiting in the wings is the enormous
potential of a restorative, sustainable economy which upholds the
values of natural capitalism. It’s time to embrace it: the survival of
the human race and our planet depends on it.
But what about the greed addicts? Those riddled with unbridled selfinterest and avarice? What should be done with them? Sure, their
utter disdain for the fundamental tenets of business blew through our
entire life savings and investments. And yeah, their irresponsibly cost
us our homes and health insurance. Big deal. In these challenging
times let’s pride ourselves in our capacity for compassion. Let’s seek
to help those afflicted by the disease of greed by encouraging them
to seek treatment.
(continued from p.19)!
About Do Something
About The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Do Something believes you have the power to make a difference.
They aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of doers:
people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to
get it done, and then take action. DoSomething.org provides the tools
and resources for you to convert your ideas and energy into positive
action. Be part of a generation of doers.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and
most effective animal protection organization—backed by 10 million
Americans, or one in every 30. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a
humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also
benefit people. They are America's mainstream force against cruelty,
exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling
the human-animal bond.
To learn more, visit www.dosomething.org.
To learn more, visit www.hsus.org.
About Edeyo
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Edeyo is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to
improving the future of children in Haiti by rebuilding dilapidated
schools, supplying students with learning materials, and providing
them with nutritional support. The Edeyo Team is a group of
dedicated professionals from various backgrounds who all share the
same passion to empower Haitian youth.
Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of
children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wishgranting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing
impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families,
referral sources, donors, sponsors, and entire communities.
To learn more, visit www.edeyo.org.
To learn more, visit www.wish.org.
About The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, one of Alternative’s
charity partners, seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to
eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention
and treatment programs.
So greedsters, consider this a public intervention. Stop lamenting the
demise of Wall Street and the loss of your Lamborghini. Follow the
classic 12-Step Program, tweaked specifically for the needs of G.A.
(Greedster’s Anonymous), and reflect on them as you bicycle to your
new job at Pinkberry.
Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives
had become unmanageable. Seven figure bonuses, homes in the Hamptons,
vacays in St. Bart’s and Aspen, zebras at children’s birthday parties, the Robb
Report, mercury poisoning by sushi. Admit it. It was all a little excessive.
Especially when you could watch what was happening in Darfur and New
Orleans every night on your 100” flat screen television.
Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity. That “Power” lies in new economic system befitting of the
ecological age. A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme
entitled “Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World”
explains how tens of millions of new green jobs can be created as we tackle
climate change. Ask for it at the prison library.
Step 3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of
our Higher Power as we understood it. Replace Gordon Gecko and Mammon
with Paul Hawken and Buddha.
Step 4 – Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Yeah,
your morals. You sold them a long time ago. Buy them back. Oh, crap. You’ve
got no money. Not even any of OUR money. Well, EARN them back then. Use
your tips at Pinkberry to plant trees.
Step 5 - Admitted to those who matter to us and to other human beings the
exact nature of our wrongs. Repeat after me. “I must not short sell. I must not
short sell. I must not short sell.”
Step 6 - Were entirely ready to remove all these defects of character. Not
all of your defects. You can stay impoverished and vilified. We’ll leave you with
those. It’s the least we can do after you raped our kids’ college funds.
Step 7 - Humbly asked to remove our shortcomings. Time to ditch your
insatiable appetite for mega-yachts, private jets and multi-million dollar homes,
which are always, inexplicably, in appalling taste.
Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to
make amends to them all. Let’s see, two million homes foreclosed in 2008 and
counting, thousands of small businesses shut down…just get the phonebook and
begin at the A’s.
Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except
when to do so would injure them or others. How about golden parachutes for
the homeless?
Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong
promptly admitted it. “Clean” coal, naturally (conventional) cotton, and “safe”
offshore drilling? There are no such things, and you know it.
Step 11 - Sought to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Powers,
asking only for knowledge of their will for us and the power to carry that out.
Remember Job? He could be you.
Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we
tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles
in all our affairs. Warn Gordon Gecko wannabes about the dangers of “Greed
is Good” and inform them instead that “Green is Good.”
To learn more, visit www.pedaids.org.
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What inspired you to get started in music?
I’ve always been involved with music in one way or another. My mom is
a drummer, and she bought me a drum set with a guitar and a cheap
little amp when I was a kid. I learned how to play drums, piano, and
guitar at the same time, and it really made it easier to learn everything
else. The language of music started making sense early on.
JOSH KELLEY
AND THE TOUR BUS
RECYCLING CHALLENGE
Josh Kelley lives and breathes music, and when
he’s not recording hit albums like Backwoods, he’s
touring the country and playing before audiences
of thousands. Here Josh dishes on his amazing
life as a musician and how he minimizes his
global footprint everywhere he can, both on the
road and off.
Were there any musicians who influenced you growing up?
It depended on whose car I was in, you know? If I was in my
brother’s car, it was Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Jethro
Tull, Supertramp. If I was with my mom, it was Stevie Wonder, Donny
Hathaway, Van Morrison. And with my sister, it was Madonna.
You can actually hear a number of those influences in Backwoods…
You know the whole reason Backwoods came out was for the fans. I
also wanted to also showcase some new songs in acoustic; some of
those songs that are on the Backwoods are going to be in the next
studio album.
When did you first start becoming more aware of your
environmental impact?
Probably 4 years ago, I think I actually came in a little late. What
really did it was moving to a big city. I started thinking about the
packaging we get with our foods, and the clothes we wear, the things
we buy. Lately we’ve started going with companies that are green,
like Alternative.
How about your daily routines, how have you changed those?
We definitely recycle. To tell you the truth, recycling on a bus is
interesting, because we go through so many bottles of water, which
we’re not buying – they’re ready and waiting when we get here. We
also have these things called capacitors for our electricity – they work
like batteries and get charged up so our equipment is not tugging on
the line of electricity. And we draw all the shades on the bus and hook
it up to shore power, so we’re not actually running on the diesel engine.
[Back at home] we started to do things with a lot of solar power, and
now we actually sell power back to the state.
That’s very inspiring! Is there any one thing that continually
inspires you?
Sitting down in front of a piano, no matter what the situation, is the most
inspiring thing for me, both musically and professionally. Being able to
hug my lady is also very inspiring.
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IDEALBITE.COM
A SASSIER SHADE OF GREEN
Heather Stephenson
& Jen Boulden
Wondering how small changes can make a massive difference? For the answer,
check IdealBite.com, a smart source for incorporating eco-friendliness into even
the most luxurious lifestyle, one little “Bite” at a time. Here we sit down with
Heather Stephenson and Jen Boulden, the two brilliant minds behind the site, to
learn how they got inspired to promote environmentalism and where they’d like
to see our current movement in the not-so-distant future.
How were you first inspired to commit to environmentalism
professionally?
JEN: The turning point was in 2001. I was appalled to learn that my
building’s recycling was being thrown into the trash. I started taking
all our paper home because I had great recycling where I lived in
the Village. One Friday I had these two duffel bags full of paper, and
I was walking down the subway stairs when my high heel caught the
edge of a cement step, and I just went plummeting down. I was laid
up for about two months and got to thinking, “I don’t think I’m really
making a dent by doing this.”
HEATHER: [Around that time], I had started to look into how I could
take the skills I already had and apply them in different ways. How
it manifested was I started a landscape design company in New York
City building rooftop gardens. That led to an entire obsession with
sustainability, or the concept that you can live a beautiful lifestyle
while not impacting the earth negatively.
How did the two of you meet and decide to work together on
IdealBite.com?
HEATHER: We actually met drunk at a bar in New York.
JEN: It was a little bit like, hmm, well, I haven’t met my true love at
a bar, but maybe a business partner is possible. We had so many
things in common and couldn’t believe that we hadn’t met prior: we
had both done the dot-com startup thing, both from families that
had been environmentally conscious, both looking at how we could
redirect our professional energies towards helping the environment.
We love the name you chose! How did you come up with it?
JEN: At this point neither one of us remembers how the name came
to pass, except that it was probably some typical night, drinking
wine and IM-ing and laughing, probably still in our pajamas because
we hadn’t taken the time to get dressed that day. We didn’t want
“green” in the name, because we knew “green” would come to stand
for so many things. We just wanted it to be fun and sassy.
JEN: Our philosophy is, we’re not perfect, no one is, no company
is. We just have to reward the good things and really hope that this
carrot approach works better than the stick approach that was used
for the 80’s and the 90’s.
Speaking of the 80’s and 90’s, how do you think this movement is
different from that one? Are we recycling an idea that’s bound to get
tossed, or do you think this one will result in some actual changes?
JEN: It’s trendy, but on a macro level it’s really being baked into our
fundamental everything, our society, our economy. The reason why is
out of necessity. This is a pivotal time in our history. I hope in 5 years
that “green” is going to be a part of everything.
HEATHER: I liken this movement more to people adopting the
internet. What’s beautiful is that we now have all the tools at our
disposal to live the lifestyle we want to live. NO ONE should have to
give up their car! We have all that technology available to us right
now; we just need to implement it.
At the end of the day, what one thing continually inspires you?
HEATHER: My 2-year-old nephew Quinn inspires me hugely, because
he’s just this perfect little creature. He goes to kid’s yoga, and he calls
me and he goes, “Nama” instead of Namaste. You just look at him
and he’s so sponge-like and you think about all the complete, amazing
untapped potential. It’s explosive. I feel like there’s an obligation to
make the world fantastic for him, and to leave it beautiful for him, and
then to instill in him the things that are going to give him vast potential
so one day he may use it in the service of something fantastic.
JEN: Outside my barn, there’s this picture-perfect view of the Spanish
Peaks behind all this farmland and a big, windy creek. I guess, as
cliché as this sounds, I’m always inspired by how beautiful nature is and
how well it works together. Our ecosystem is so perfectly designed. I
mean, you don’t see a landfill because nature had to grow a field of
flowers. It’s such a gift and we shouldn’t disrespect it anymore.
How is IdealBite.com different from other eco-friendly websites?
HEATHER: At the beginning of 2005, when we started the company,
we came out with a mantra that we would never be preachy. We
have a litmus test that every piece of editorial must go through, which
is, does it keep it real? Are we being authentic?
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IDEALBITE.COM TOP 10
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1.
Switch your credit cards to e-statements. If 10,000 Biters go electronic with just one of their
accounts, over a lifetime we'll save 3,481 trees.
2.
Thaw your food in the fridge. If 10,000 Biters quit using running water to thaw food, in a year we'll
save enough fresh water to fill 1,664,000 bathtubs.
3.
Is your shampoo making you fat? Parabens are chemicals found in many personal care products
that have a structure similar to estrogen and thus interfere with the body’s natural hormones –
potentially leading to weight gain or, more importantly, certain cancers. So check your labels &
protect yourself (& the environment – these get flushed into our waterways, too) by using parabenfree products.
4.
Turn off your dishwasher’s drying cycle. Save 15-50% of energy used by your dishwasher. If 10,000
Biters don't use their dishwasher's drying cycle, in a year, the CO2 averted will have the effect of
planting 3,343 trees.
5.
Go organic—inside AND out! If 10,000 Biters make their next jeans purchase organic, we'll keep the
weight of 8 male walruses in pesticide-treated cotton out of production. If 10,000 Biters make their
next undie purchase an organic one, we'll eliminate the use of 1,250 lbs of synthetic chems.
6.
Download Your Music. Buying music online is cheaper and avoids the waste caused by the
production, packaging, and distribution of CDs. If you absolutely have to have the CD booklet or
limited edition disc, try to buy it used.
7.
Kick the Bottled Water Habit. Americans use 4 million plastic bottles every hour - but only 1 in 4
is recycled. Use home water filters instead, because believe it or not, bottled water isn’t always
cleaner, and the production, shipment, and disposal of plastic water bottles are taking an enormous
toll on the environment. The Bite's team members use non-leaching, lined aluminum SIGG bottles.
8.
Tackle your chores with reusable cloths and natural cleaners. Save cash and lower your ecoimpact by ditching the one-wipe habit. Every year, Americans use enough disposable wipes to fill
9,000 18-wheelers to capacity.
9.
Avoid “phantom load.” That’s the energy your appliances use when they are plugged in but not
turned on – up to 40% of your energy bill. If 10,000 Biters plug our cable boxes into powerstrips that
we turn off when not watching TV, we'll save about $300,000 per year.
10.
Set the Lint Bunnies Free. Cleaning out your dryer's lint screen after each load is an easy way to
save energy and reduce fire hazard. Believe it or not, a dirty lint filter can cause your dryer to use as
much as 30% more energy.
www.alternativeapparel.com
GREG ALTERMAN
Means Business
Alternative Founder and Creative Director Greg Alterman is
known for his lighthearted attitude, but when it comes the effects
of pollutants on human health, we get a glimpse of his serious
side. Speaking frankly about his stance on environmentalism,
Greg discusses how businesses and the government must take this
movement by the horns if we are ever to achieve sustainability on
a global scale.
What are your thoughts on this environmental movement
we’re experiencing?
I think what’s happening, unfortunately, is that certain large
corporations are attaching themselves to the movement without really
meaning it. Take certain oil companies, for example: they’re producing
the worst thing for the environment, and all of a sudden they’re green
companies? It’s a manipulation of marketing to fool consumers. I
have the most respect for companies that make sustainability a part
of everything they do, and even we’re not there yet. I hope to say at
some point we can be, and I think we’re moving in that direction.
How else is Alternative different from some of the companies
you’re talking about?
A year-and-a-half ago we didn’t have one “green” item in our line.
Now 24% of our line is organic or eco-friendly. That’s huge. We’ve
been greening a lot of our business practices as well – we print
our Magalogs on FSC-certified paper, we make sure our boxes and
packaging are recyclable, and at the office we have recycling and
make sure to use recycled paper products.
Personally speaking, what would your ideal green world be like?
I would just love to walk outside in the morning and be able to breathe
air that I knew was clean and to drink water that I knew was clean.
To eat fruits, vegetables, beef, and not have to worry that any of it
could cause cancer, that it could only contribute to good health. We’re
evolving like any other species, but I don’t know how the human body
is going to handle it. Even now diabetes is up. Cancer is up. 8-yearold girls have their periods. That never used to be the case, so why is
that happening? We’re injecting hormones in our beef, our fruits and
vegetables are covered in pesticides, and we’re drinking water that’s
contaminated. All these things are leading to a less healthy world.
Fast-forward 1,000 years, and we are not a healthy species.
How could we get closer to a healthier, more sustainable world?
I’d love to make it law that a certain percentage of a corporation’s
business must be sustainable, maybe 10% to start. Overall, that
would be so much more than what we’re doing now. There’s a lot
we can do as individuals, but I think it takes non-corrupt government
regulation to really make it happen.
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E! News anchor Jason Kennedy spends his days interviewing celebrities. But in
his off hours, he’s active with Generosity: Water, an organization that partners
with charity: water to bring wells to villages in Africa. These wells provide ample
supplies of clean drinking water to hundreds of people at a time, helping to
promote health and prosperity throughout the regions they support.
You’ve interviewed some truly amazing
people in your career. Is there anyone who
sticks out for having taught you something
about the environment that you didn’t
necessarily know?
I saw The 11th Hour with Leonardo DiCaprio. I
interviewed him about what’s going on with
global warming and energy conservation, and
I realized that everybody can help. People
feel like they need to make drastic changes,
but really it starts off with small things, small
measures that would make big differences if
everyone started doing them. So, after talking
to him, seeing the film, I realized I can make a
difference and do something about it.
JASON
KENNEDY
BRINGING GENEROSITY:
WATER INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
PHOTOS BY JORDAN WAGNER
So that was a turning point for you to get
involved with environmentalism?
Exactly. Also, through my church we do
something called Generosity: Water, which
builds wells in Africa for people who don’t
have access to clean drinking water. I never
realized it was such a big issue, but over a
billion people are affected by it. It causes
diseases and death; every 15 seconds
someone dies because of this. Basically
$4,000 builds one well, providing years’ worth
of water for something like 400 people. They’re
also training people in these specific areas
to build their own wells. I saw some footage
of the project in action and it really gave me
some perspective on my life and how blessed
I am, so I wanted to do something to help. I
think it’s the least I can do. Everybody should
get involved in an organization that’s close to
their heart that’ll help someone else out.
With everyone jumping on the green
bandwagon, what advice do you have now
that you’ve gotten involved in Generosity?
I know it sounds kind of cliché, but turn
your lights down, turn them off when you’re
not at home, or collect water when you’re
showering, or just talk to people who are
involved in the cause. And especially with
the way gas prices are now, try to drive
an earth-friendly vehicle. Not only does it
help with your budget but it’s better for the
environment. You win all the way around.
is the best job in the world; it’s what I came
here [to Los Angeles] to do. I just wrapped
up a show on ABC called Dance Machine. We
had a great season with some extraordinary
people dancing.
Did you learn some new moves?
I tried, but it turns out I’m not much of a
dancer. Now we’re done with that show
and onto the next project. E! as we speak is
keeping me really busy.
About Generosity: Water
Have you been able to make the trip to
Africa to see the impact you’re making?
I have not, but that’s definitely something I
want to do. Our board members have gone
over there and shot some video. When I saw
the footage they brought back, it definitely
touched me. I want to go over there – my
schedule’s a little bit crazy right now, but that’s
something I’d love to do someday.
In addition to Leonardo DiCaprio, is there
anyone who’s really inspired you in their
environmental efforts?
Some of my friends – they’re not necessarily
celebrities, but they changed their lifestyle.
When you have close friends and you see the
changes they’ve made, it helps you to follow
their lead and make your own path.
Generosity Water is a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization committed to addressing
issues surrounding the global water crisis. Its
founder, Philip Wagner, was made aware of the
water crisis in Africa and was moved to make
a difference. From Philip’s passion sprung
Generosity: Water, a practical response to the
clean water crisis and HIV/AIDS epidemic.
100% of the profits go to organizations bringing
solutions to the clean water crisis, such as
charity: water and World Vision.
To learn more, visit http://generositywater.com.
What else are you working on right now?
Still at E! News, been there for 3 years hosting
and corresponding. Every day we’re covering
premieres, junkets, interviewing celebrities. It
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What are your thoughts on green living?
We need to return to a moral and ethical lifestyle where we extend
the same respect that we share with our friends and family to the
people across the street, to other cities in this country, to other
countries, and, ultimately, to the earth that sustains all of us.
What do you think people can do to integrate these practices into
their lifestyle?
At this point, it is just not ethical to continue indulgent practices. We
need to make serious shifts in our habits and find new and exciting
ways to enjoy the life we are preserving.
What organizations are most alligned with creating the global
community you envision?
The charities that I work closely with are charity: water and Heifer
International. Both organizations are dedicated to helping our global
neighbors.
About charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe
drinking water to people in developing nations. They give 100% of the
money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water
solutions in areas of greatest need. They also work to raise awareness
of the water crisis through events, fundraising exhibitions and other
public awareness campaigns.
To learn more, visit www.charitywater.org.
About Heifer International
ADRIAN GRENIER
PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY
ONSCREEN AND OFF
For years we’ve seen Entourage star Adrian Grenier everywhere from Charity: Ball to the
Be Eco Chic fashion show. These days he’s also working on a series of his own, Alter
Eco, as well as supporting Hiefer International and charity: water, two organizations
working to provide a sustainable supply of food and water to people who really need it.
With that kind of dedication to charity and environmentalism, we’re convinced Adrian’s
heart is even bigger than his fan base – and rightly so.
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Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the
earth. For more than 60 years, Heifer International has provided
livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve
the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and
income. Every gift of an animal provides direct benefits such as milk,
eggs, wool, fertilizer, as well as indirect benefits that increase family
incomes for better housing, nutrition, health care and school fees for
children. Recipients “pass on the gift” of offspring of their cows, goats
and other livestock to others in an ever-widening circle of hope.
To learn more, visit www.heifer.org.
About Alter Eco
Alter Eco is an eco lifestyle and makeover series on Planet Green
presented by Adrian Grenier and his team of green activists, experts,
and friends.
To learn more, visit http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/alter-eco
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Green has become a very popular term as of late
– but what exactly does it mean?
For me, it is to be aware of yourself, mindful
of how you live on this earth, conscious of how
your actions, thoughts, and beliefs affect the
world and her inhabitants, and then, with this
knowledge and respect, to move into a state of
creating positive action.
Life.
Love.
Truth.
Green?
BY MICHELLE LOMBARDO
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PHOTOS BY ELISABETH CAREN
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When you live with something for so long you tend to take it for
granted. Let us remind each other that we are fortunate to live in a
place filled with natural art, inspiration and immense beauty. This
wondrous place is our mother, our planet Earth. I know we all feel
lost, alone and confused at moments, and during this time especially,
remember you are never alone – you have the Earth. Allow yourself
to be blown away by your home – go outside and just be one
with your surroundings. Breathe, listen, watch, and feel everything
happening around you and inside of you. Be within the silence of your
soul, allow your thoughts to be taken away by the wind and let the
earth ground your essence. Become amazed at the world in which we
live and share that energy with each other.
As I write, I am in the state where I was born, Connecticut. I find
myself sleeping in my bedroom at my parents’ house, the one I have
had since I was 2 years old. Even though I do not live here anymore, it
seems not much has changed since I was a child, but very much has. I
guess that is how life naturally is – you resemble who you once were,
yet you have grown to become someone different. To describe my
setting at the moment, my bed faces the window, which overlooks our
backyard. I sit looking out at the trees that I climbed daily during the
years here when nothing else mattered to me as much as having fun,
playing outside in the woods, and stepping into a world that existed
within my imagination.
Huge green peaceful trees line the streets. Their leaves are starting
to change color now, and the palette of New England is fast
becoming an array of orange, yellow, green, brown, and red. This
time of year the air is fresh, crisp, and clear. I close my eyes, breathe
in, and allow the wind to hit my face. Still it gives me a chill and the
feeling of being totally alive! The animals are popping out to say
hello and as I view them, I realize that I cannot stay away from this
place, it is part of me, no matter what I carve out my path to be
and what happens during my life; this magical serene plot of earth
has been witness to my growth since I first entered this world. She
knows me; she is there for me; listening, watching, and comforting
me. She has seen my tears, my pain, my happiness, my confusion,
my excitement, my peace, and my love. She has accepted all of me.
I cannot hide and I do not want to. I rip down the walls that hold me
back, that keep me in fear and trust to open my heart with truth and
passion in hopes that one day I can always be this way.
This and much more is what our Earth does for us. She takes our
emotional, physical, and spiritual waste and fills our hearts with
everything we see. We are all one. We can do this, we can change
the world! You just have to believe, and it starts with you, with me,
today, right now. Find your truth. The truth will make you free. Let us
lead not with fear, let us see our fears, conquer them and move into a
state of leading with love.
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REID SCOTT
MY BOY ROCKS
(AND RENEWS) OUR WORLD
Reid Scott, star of the hit TBS series My Boys, has many loves – acting, guitar, and Egon
Schiele, to name a few. When it comes to saving the planet, he hearts his eco-friendly
hybrid and supports Rock ‘n Renew, a non-profit that organizes shows, lectures, and
other events that spread the word about sustainability.
So Reid, what are you up to these days?
We recently wrapped our latest season of My
Boys and now I’m moving on to a web series
called The Prick, which I’m writing/directing/
producing. No, it’s not autobiographical.
What would you be doing if you weren’t
an actor?
Rock star astronaut. Definitely.
When you’re home on Earth, do you practice
eco-conscious living?
I like to think of myself as very earth-conscious.
I mean no one is perfect, so it’s all about
doing what you can with what you’ve got.
Like what?
For my part I drive a hybrid, I recycle like
crazy (everything down to envelopes and
paper towels), and I only use energy-efficient
appliances, light bulbs, and power strips. I
also use non-toxic cleaning products and as
little water as possible. You’d be surprised
how easy that all is once you decide to make
a true eco-friendly lifestyle change. It’s fun too.
Is there anyone you admire for their
environmental efforts?
My good friend Jonny Dubowski heads
up an organization called Rock ‘n Renew.
They’ve received tons of support from
amazing musicians and artists like Debbie
Harry, Art Alexakis, Jody Porter, Jesse Malin,
Morningwood, and The Kaiser Chiefs (just
for starters) to help educate students and
communities on environmental issues and
how to live and act in sustainable/eco-friendly
ways – something that’s now more important
than ever.
What about you, are you involved with music
as well?
Growing up I was always fascinated by
music. I never learned to play an instrument
and always felt like “Well, I guess that’s
just something I’ll never do. That’s for other
people that have that gift.” Then about 8
years ago a buddy of mine who was staying
with me in my loft in Brooklyn, spent most of his
days noodling around on his guitar while I was
trying to write. So I said, “Alright man, if you’re
going to play that damn thing all day at least
teach me how so I can play along.” That’s all
it took. I’ve been addicted ever since.
In addition to music, is there anything that
continually inspires you?
I draw my inspiration from so many places.
As an artist, Egon Schiele’s paintings simply
amaze me. Also the George Harrison song
“All Things Must Pass” – it can break your
heart and make you smile every time.
About Rock ‘n Renew
Rock ’n Renew is a non-profit organization
that helps musicians, students, and their
communities live and act in sustainable ways.
Recognizing the connection between the health
of culture and the health of the planet, they
use art and music to generate excitement
about green solutions as they custom-design
eco-blueprints for concert tours, schools,
businesses, and events. Since its inception in
2006, Rock ’n Renew has brought the message
of sustainability to thousands of people through
rock shows, festivals, lectures, and installations.
To learn more, visit
http://rocknrenew.com/BLOG/wordpress.
www.alternativeapparel.com
35
ECOSPIRE
LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON GOING GREEN?
By Davida Heller
ECONATION
The Business of Going Green
By Ben Bloch
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
defines sustainability as “meeting the needs
of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.” It sounds great in theory, but if we’re
constantly inundated with new eco-friendly
advice, products and services, how do we know
where to start? Enter the Sustainable Lifestyle
Consultant to provide guidance and expertise.
As a Sustainable Lifestyle Consultant, I’m
trained in green building practices. I focus on
four environmental aspects: Energy Efficiency,
Resource Conservation, Water Efficiency, and
Indoor Air Quality. Taking action in these areas
promotes sustainability, creates a healthier
living environment, and saves money. Here are
some simple steps you can take to get started:
Save Energy
The key to energy efficiency is decreasing
energy usage while
maintaining comfort. One inexpensive way to
accomplish this is to insulate your gas or electric
water heater, which is continually heating water
to be available for use. This constant loss of
heat can be reduced up to 45% by insulating
your heater with an insulation jacket. Also, try
reducing its temperature a few degrees and
remember to turn it all the way down when you
go on vacation.
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Conserve Resources
Get creative with the products you use to
see what you can recycle and how you can
reduce waste:
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Use Water Wisely
By purchasing energy-efficient appliances like an
Energy Star dishwasher, you can save up to 1,000
gallons of water each year. Faucet aerators
and low-flow showerheads allow more air into
the water flow, utilizing less water for the same
pressure. Install kitchen and bathroom faucet
aerators and low-flow showerheads with water
flows between .5 and 1.5 gallons-per-minute
(GPM) for great water and energy savings. Be
sure to look for the EPA WaterSense label.
Breathe Better Indoors
According to the EPA, we spend 90% of our time
indoors, and indoor air pollution is 2-5 times
worse than it is outside. One way to improve
indoor air quality is to set up a “mud area” at
the main entrances to your home, where you
and guests can easily remove shoes that have
been worn outdoors. Creating this area greatly
improves indoor air quality by reducing outdoor
pollutants, allergens and toxins being tracked
into your home.
There are many ways to integrate sustainability
into everyday life. Some are simple and
inexpensive like the tips mentioned here, and
others are larger investments like solar panels
or low-flow landscape irrigation systems. A
Sustainable Lifestyle Consultant can help you
make educated and powerful choices to adopt
the best options for you. No matter what you
take on, every action that promotes sustainability
produces a positive impact on the planet.
For more information, please visit www.ecospire.com.
Some people think that the environmental movement today is just
a trend that will eventually go out of style a la parachute pants and
Members Only jackets. Though both will probably come back as
hip new recycled clothing brands sometime soon, it’s important to
recognize that “being green” is not just a short term cause for trend
seekers, hippies and liberal politicos. Sure, there will be some who
say they want to go green and have no idea what it means, but
nonetheless, it’s pretty impressive that the often consumption-happy
U.S. is finally getting on the bandwagon and focusing on something
that’s good for the world – and not just ourselves.
No matter your perspective, it’s hard to deny that a world focused
on becoming more sustainable is a good thing. In fact, I think that
we stand to have a much better world in the long run as a result
of this green revolution, no matter how much crap we have to dig
through to find the true resolution to our problems. And we may have
to dig through a lot if it’s true that the “bodily functions” of livestock
cause as much as 18% of the harmful emissions that everyone keeps
talking about. Regardless, as a result of the toil of millions trying to
find the answer, we are coming up with a great deal of options from
infinitely available algae-based biodiesel to hydrogen, solar, wind or
geothermal power. Along with a million other products and solutions,
there are many that will eventually make our world a better and more
efficient place to live. What truly still moves the U.S. is capitalism, but
what feels better when you get up in the morning than supporting your
lifestyle by doing something positive and (hopefully) that you believe
in? Look at Richard Branson as an example: he put up a large prize
for anyone who can help “solve” the energy crisis, and he’s investing
in space travel and living. He’s trying to help fix the problem at hand,
but hey, if it doesn’t save the world, at least he’s still hedging his bets.
Will your “great idea” to sell recycled cotton swabs save the world?
Maybe not, but in the end it all helps so, if you believe in what you’re
doing, then do your research and get a move on. Yes, I’m in the
green business world as well. Along with a couple of associates, I
was in the real estate field like many others and at one point helped
a green building company to raise money so that they could expand
their business. While speaking with some friends in real estate
development and others in the local government, we realized that
the new buildings going up around Los Angeles and the country in
general was only going to make parking and transportation worse…
and in Los Angeles, that’s hard to do.
So we did a lot of research and realized that like the airlines,
ground transportation was outdated and due for an overhaul. We
started EcoNation (www.econation.com), a transportation service
that is initially offering hybrid and alternative fuel based “green”
limousines, taxis and buses all over the country. To make things a
bit more fun, each ride comes with healthy snacks and the ability to
order cars with high speed wireless internet and touch-screen digital
entertainment. The next hurdle includes offering an alternative to
public transportation in LA, which is under development as we speak
(and is much needed if I do say so myself). We’re also helping other
transportation companies to convert vehicles to fuels like compressed
natural gas to “green” their fleet and make a bigger overall impact
from a national standpoint. OK, so we may not be able to stop the
icebergs from melting alone, but it all adds up, and if we can make
transportation in LA suck even a little bit less along the way, than
we’ve got something to be proud of.
So my advice is this: if you’re contemplating a green business,
do your research, make sure that it will really offer a benefit both
environmentally and to the consumers that are supposed to buy it,
and feel good that you’re waking up doing something positive. Hey,
at least if this doesn’t all work, rest well knowing that you can always
stock up on Tang, buy a Virgin Space Condo on the moon from Sir
Branson and still live happily ever after.
www.alternativeapparel.com
37
ALI HILLIS
RESCUE ME!
It’s clear Beverly Hills Chihuahua voice talent Ali Hillis loves
working with animals, but behind-the-scenes she’s even
more passionate about rescuing those four-legged friends
in need of a good home.
Over the past few years, there has been a
lot of emphasis on cleaning our environment.
What are some things you do to do your part?
I am a big believer in “doing your best” in
all you do. I think that if we can all do our
very best to change our everyday usage, our
consumption, and our waste habits, every
single person – even kids – can make a
difference. Every little bottle cap, extra minute
in the shower, extra mile on the road counts! I
have SO been known to dumpster dive for a
plastic bottle cap: it’s just so easy to recycle!
How did you first find out about animal
rescue? Is there a special pet your life as
a result?
Animal rescue found me! I seem to be a
magnet for lost doggies. I fix them up, train
them a bit, and find them a loving new home.
I recently rescued my second boxer from
Boxer Orange County Rescue. Rescues are a
wonderful pet source since they can tell you
so much about your new pet before you bring
them home. My rescue boxer "Cooper" is
everything they told me he would be and more!
In addition to your eco-efforts, you’ve
become known for your work in animal
rescue. What is it about rescue that you love
the most?
It makes the earth a happier place to live in
general! I feel that rescuing animals helps to
put puppy mills out of business, and I can only
imagine the waste that has been created in
that environment. The people who run them
seem less concerned with healthy living and
more concerned about making a buck.
Is there a person or organization you admire
for their commitment to this cause?
Brenda K. and all of the volunteers at Boxer
Orange County Rescue. Animal rescue is a full
time job, and the volunteers are tireless. They
are amazingly driven to help the helpless.
Tell us a little about what you’re working
on right now – any more animal movies in
the works?
With the amazing success of Beverly Hills
Chihuahua, whose story line so encourages pet
rescue, I look forward to doing more films that
promote the responsible and compassionate
idea of adopting a pet who needs a new
home, instead of a pet who has been bred.
There are so many wonderfully playful and
loving pets already out there who just want
to love and be loved, and I just LOVE working
with them! They have a way of making every
environment, even an intense and busied
movie set, just plain more fun.
Lastly, what one thing – like a painting,
word, or phrase – inspires you to do what
you do?
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Eleanor Roosevelt said a lot of cool things.
About Boxer Orange County Animal Rescue, Inc.
Boxer Orange County Animal Rescue, Inc., is
a 501 (c) (3) not for profit rescue. Their focus
is rescuing Boxers and Boxer mixes, finding
loving homes for their loving animals, and
making a difference in the lives of dogs who
are in need.
To learn more, visit www.boxerocrescue.org.
www.alternativeapparel.com
39
AMY SMART
NEW MOON SKIN CARE:
LOUD AND CLEAR FOR HEAL THE BAY
NOURISHMENT FOR BODY AND EARTH
AMY LEAVELL BRANSFORD
Not only has Amy Smart been honored by the HollywoodLos Angeles Beautification team for her work promoting
green living, she’s also on the board for Santa Monicabased Heal the Bay. Heal the Bay started in 1985 in
response to learning that the City of Los Angeles was
dumping raw sewage directly into the ocean. Thanks to
their efforts, children and fish can now swim together safely
throughout the Santa Monica Bay and the waters beyond.
Late nights at smoky bars clouding your skin’s youthful glow? Then
talk to eco-esthetician Amy Leavell Bransford. After spending her
early career days as a music promoter, Amy turned to organic
skin care to cure the epidermic woes that inevitably accompany a
rock n’ roll lifestyle. What she discovered opened her mind to the
expansive world of organic esthetics and inspired her to start her
very own blossoming business, New Moon Skin Care.
What first inspired you to become active in the environmental
movement?
I grew up on a farm outside of Macon, GA. My parents are tree
farmers down there. They’ve won numerous awards throughout their
lives for their environmentalism and being good stewards of the land.
I learned from their example and wanted to pass that on to my own
generation in my own way.
What inspired you to get involved with
a charity?
I wanted to volunteer for an environmental
organization, and so I called the local nonprofit, Heal the Bay. I decided to take their
speakers bureau training and then go out
a few times a month to talk with school kids
about cleaning up the ocean. I figured the
environment affected everyone, and I wanted
to do something where I was hands-on. I did
that right out of high school for about 6 years.
How has Heal the Bay evolved since you’ve
been on board?
Heal the Bay has grown tremendously since
I joined, and they fight harder than anyone
I know at the state level to keep the ocean
clean and bring environmental education as a
mandatory curriculum into the school systems.
Mark Gold, leader of Heal the Bay, is an
amazing scientist and stands up to extremely
tough issues. The time for making a positive
impact through legislation is now, it couldn't be
more crucial.
Has your position changed through
your involvement?
I was asked to be on the board of directors,
so I've been on that for about 7 years. My
environmental lifestyle really started kicking in
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when I was teaching kids to buy eco-friendly
cleaning products (mainly to tell their parents)
because everything that goes down the drain
goes straight to the sewage treatment plant,
and all the harsh chemicals are not able to
be treated so they end up in the ocean. I then
started buying eco-friendly cleaning products. I
was inspired to walk my talk.
With everyone jumping on the green
bandwagon, what has made the most
sense to you in regard to how you live?
Have you changed your lifestyle to be
more eco-conscious?
I truly believe in living eco-consciously as
a daily lifestyle. I think change starts with
inspiration, and it’s a domino effect. You make
a small change and then you keep finding
new ways of being more eco-friendly. I first
started with eco-friendly cleaning products,
and then recycled paper products, like toilet
paper, fax paper, napkins, and paper towels.
Then I began using canvas bags at the market
and started buying organic at all times. Buying
organic is slightly more expensive, but it’s far
more nutritional and healthier for the planet
because it doesn't pollute the water and air
with chemicals and pesticides. Then I leased
a hybrid and put a water filter on my house
to cut way down on using plastic bottles. I
now buy more organic cotton clothing, and
I enjoy every step. It feels right, and I get so
much satisfaction when family and friends start
adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle. We all
have to be examples for each other. I have
many friends who are teaching me all the time.
You’re commitment to cleaning the Santa
Monica Bay is rather inspiring. Is there
something that motivates and inspires you
to dedicate your time and energy towards
this cause?
Gandhi's quote, “You must be the change you
wish to see in the world,” are words to live by.
About Heal the Bay
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental
organization dedicated to making Southern
California coastal waters and watersheds,
including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy
and clean. They use research, education,
community action and advocacy to pursue
their mission.
To learn more, visit www.healthebay.org.
That pursuit eventually led to you starting your own company,
New Moon Skin Care. What is it about organic skincare that’s so
important to you?
Part of it is that it’s organic, but it’s what’s not in the bottle that’s
important: the absence of chemical preservative systems that can
be toxic for humans and for the environment. It also means minimal
packaging, as used by the lines I represent. For me, it’s about finding
companies whose ethos are the same as or similar to mine.
For those of us who don’t know much about skincare products in
general, what are some of the bad things you might find in the
non-organic variety?
Since the 1920’s, paraben has been probably the most common
chemical preservative used in skincare and cosmetics. They’ve
actually found parabens in breast tumors, and the reason is because
they can actually mimic estrogen in the body. That’s a big thing I’ve
tried to educate my clients about: when you turn your bottle of product
around and you see some of the ingredients have more letters than
the alphabet, you should question that, you should wonder what those
things are.
Do you feel or see a difference when you use organic
skincare products?
A lot of times organic skincare products are less irritating and less
drying. My clients are always amazed when they switch and their skin
detoxes from the drug store brand they’ve been using. What I hear
most often from people who thought their skin was very sensitive, is
they’re just amazed to learn their skin isn’t actually sensitive at all –
it’s just the products they’ve been using.
To touch a little more on starting New Moon, how did you come up
with the name?
I love the new moon symbol, the symbol of new beginnings – that’s
what I set out to do, to go on my own and start my own business.
Also, a really important part of the New Moon routine is helping the
dead skin cells slough off, so your organic products can actually get
into the skin. That exfoliation should happen about every 28 days, the
same as the moon cycle. It gives a gentle reminder to my clients to
how often they should come and see me.
In addition to more organic products, what sort of positive changes
would you like to see in the spa and skincare industry?
There’s a big focus on indulgence in the industry. That’s something I got
away from when I went out of my own. It is so much less about people
going to sleep on my table than it is about educating them and really
learning why you’re having a treatment done, whether it’s a facial or a
massage. That’s something I’d like to see more of in the industry.
How about your ideal green world – what would that be like?
My ideal “green” world would not have the word “green” in quotation
marks. It would just be a way you live, so you’re conscious and have
gratitude, you don’t buy things you don’t need, and live as minimally
and safely with the environment as possible. I’m still trying to
incorporate a lot of that into my own life. I think we all have a lot of
work to do, but it can be done.
Nothing gets done without a little inspiration! So for our last
question, what one thing continually inspires you?
I’d have to say my 2 ½ year-old. He has the best perspective on life.
The other day he was pointing to a picture of the statue of liberty
and he says, “What’s that?” and I say “That’s Lady Liberty.” And he
says, “Oh. She’s got ice cream?” I just thought, you know what, yes,
if that’s your idea of freedom, I’ll go with it – as long as it’s made with
organic milk.
To learn more, visit www.newmoonskincare.com
www.alternativeapparel.com
41
RIGHT WHALE
RIGHT NOW
SAVING RIGHT WHALES FROM EXTINCTION
BY ANTHONY RAMOS OF THE WILDLIFE TRUST
Right whales are a unique breed of whale, mostly because of their
thick layer of blubber. This fatty layer, which may comprise as much as
45% of their 60-ton body weight (closer to 25% in other whales), serves
many purposes - it prevents heat loss in the colder ocean water, it is
a food reservoir that sustains them during winter months when they
are engaged in birthing and mating rather than feeding, and it is
structurally important in that it forms a smooth surface that reduces
drag when they swim. Right whales get their name from being the
“right” whale for hunters of years past, as their blubber makes them
relatively slow swimmers, causes them to float when they are dead
(for easy tying to a whaling ship), and produces huge amounts of oil.
Unfortunately, such appeal has caused their population to dwindle,
and now the right whale is on the brink of extinction.
The Wildlife Trust conservation scientists, however, are working hard
to save these amazing mammals. The first step in any strategy to
save an endangered species is to find out how many individuals are
left, where they are, and what behaviors are putting them at risk.
This is difficult information to gather when it comes to whales. Even
though adult right whales can measure over 50 feet in length, they
are hard to find in the vastness of the North Atlantic Ocean because
they number so few. When northern right whales (Eubalaena glacialis)
aggregate during the summer months to filter feed in plankton-rich
waters off the east coast of Canada and New England, we know
where they are, and thus have an idea of their total population size.
When winter approaches, about half of the population heads to
calving and mating areas off the southeastern U.S. coast. The other
half? We don’t know - they may head east. Occasionally individual
whales are sighted off the coast of Europe.
Wildlife Trust teams are based in Charleston, SC, and St. Simons Island,
GA, where they spend each year documenting migrating North Atlantic
right whales. The North Atlantic right whale is estimated to have only
350 - 400 individuals left in the population, as they were heavily hunted
until they gained international protection in 1935. Unfortunately, the
rate of recovery of the species has been very slow following hundreds
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of years of intensive whaling. The population size is believed to have
only marginally increased since the 1930’s. Some of the major factors
affecting their ability to increase in numbers have been mortality
caused by ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear.
Marine Biologist Cynthia Taylor of the Wildlife Trust has tracked
whales for over a decade and is responsible for monitoring right
whales off the waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida each
winter. Every individual whale is a precious investment in the survival
of the species, and she oversees teams of observers who monitor
their whereabouts, behavior, and reproduction between November
and April of each year. This work is accomplished by surveillance
from small aircraft. Cynthia and her team carefully monitor the
northern right whales while they are bearing their 15-foot calves. She
reports the location of the animals to the Navy when they venture
into shipping lanes, so they in turn can notify commercial mariners
to shift position to avoid striking the understandably distracted and
vulnerable animals. During these aerial surveys, right whales are
photographed for identification purposes and are documented yearafter-year to monitor their progress.
We hope the 2008-2009 right whale aerial survey season brings us no
casualties and more calves. If you would like to learn more and show
your support please go to www.wildlifetrust.org and help us save
these beautiful creatures.
About the Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trust, one of Alternative’s charity partners, is an international
organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity.
For more than 35 years, Wildlife Trust has focused its efforts on
conservation. Today, they are known for their innovative research on the
intricate relationships between wildlife, ecosystems and human health.
To learn more, visit www.wildlifetrust.org.
www.alternativeapparel.com
43
How did you get inspired to visit us at Alternative today?
I’ve just been introduced to Alternative; it’s a new company for me.
I’m always open and excited about discovering eco-friendly clothes,
furniture, anything. I did a couple episodes on Adrian Grenier’s show
Alter Eco and got to learn there are actually eco-friendly versions of
everything. Those were our episodes, eco-friendly shopping, ecofriendly spas, eco-friendly nail salons, all that fun stuff.
So it’s safe to say you’re a fan of our current environmental
movement?
I love it, it’s just sad that we didn’t start so much earlier, especially
when I hear about how long certain people have been involved. For
instance, Al Gore has been involved for 19 years, and it’s only recently
we’re starting to hear about it. I want to have kids, and I want them
to grow up in a world that’s environmentally friendly.
What are you doing so future generations actually have shot at
inheriting an eco-friendly world?
I just recently got involved with NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense
Council. I’m just familiarizing myself with what can be done. Obviously
at home there are little things you can do: we changed our light bulbs,
we have a hybrid, we recycle, we walk when we can, and we do a lot
of second-hand shopping so we don’t always buy new stuff.
Since you’ve become involved with the NRDC, how has your
perspective changed? What do you think has been your
biggest learning?
The thing I love about NRDC is they’re actual lawyers who are
defending our environment. And they have a lot of power. It’s not
just raising money to bring awareness, but they take action and bring
people to court, which I think is just the coolest thing ever. Again, I’m
just learning about it, but it’s really cool, really inspiring and exciting.
MALIN AKERMAN
BACK TO BASICS:
DREAMS OF A SIMPLER LIFE
Malin Akerman, supermodel and star of Watchmen
(and The Proposal and Couples Retreat), couldn’t be
more passionate the about saving the environment.
Here she shares with us her love of eco-friendly nail
salons, Al Gore, the Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC), and her dream of one day returning to a
simpler, cleaner way of life.
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What’s been your favorite part about embracing environmentalism?
It’s just one of those things where you feel good, you’re doing the right
thing, you’re spreading a good word, and leading by example is the
best way to do it.
If you had the chance to create your own ideal eco-friendly world,
what would it be like?
I would love to go back in time to when it was horses and buggies.
I think a lot is lost in this modern world where everything is so fastpaced. In my utopian world, it would be back to nature, back to
basics, where people are connecting. We don’t need to rush around
and stress, but we’re taking care of ourselves and taking care of the
earth and enjoying what we have, growing everything organically
and taking time to raise our kids. So more back to the basics, I think,
would be my utopia.
About NRDC
NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group,
combining the grassroots power of 1.2 million members and online
activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350
lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
To learn more, visit www.nrdc.org.
www.alternativeapparel.com
45
SHE’S A NATURAL
THE MAN ON TAP
By Bryan Devendorf of The National
INGRID SEABURN’S
GUIDE TO FRESH, RADIANT SKIN
Traveling musicians of the past didn’t have bottled water. This is
something I have observed from glimpses of bands backstage in
concert videos, like Led Zeppelin in The Song Remains the Same or
New Order looking awesomely dour (and waterless!) before an ‘85
Tokyo show in Pumped Full of Drugs. Man, you’ll say, has had bottled
water since the Middle Ages. But this is on a totally different scale
of consumption.
Experts in the field of skincare now agree that inflammation is what
causes skin to age prematurely. When skin becomes irritated by the
chemicals and parabens found in most over-the-counter products,
inflammation can result, causing the active ingredient to become
less effective. By using products that are natural and organic, the
skin benefits greatly by having nutrients delivered with a minimized
likelihood of any inflammation occurring. The end result is more
beautiful, natural, and radiant skin – created with less harmful effects
on the environment.
Nowadays an average touring musician is confronted with a dilemma:
he knows drinking bottled water is not good for the earth, but that
drinking bottled water is as habitual to the culture of bus and venue
as smoking and tattoos AND that while at home he might try to
drink solely tap water, he’ll still backslide when he sees a six-pack of
Jana with its cute blue handle and its come hither Croatian-pastoral
imagery….or he’ll indulge, after a short run, in a tall sweating bottle of
Fiji from some faraway island in the South Pacific.
I use a variety of products by Cosmedix, a chirally correct (100%
natural) and chemical-free line. Below are some of my favorite
natural products and ingrediants available today.
2. CALENDULA – An anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidant
ingredient that comes from marigold flowers. Wonderful for calming
and moisturizing the skin.
3. BROMELAIN – A natural enzyme derived from pineapple that works
as a great natural exfoliant for sloughing off dead skin.
5. SALYCYLIC ACID – Found naturally in wintergreen leaves, licorice,
and other plants, salicylic acid helps to control oily skin and breakouts
through its antiseptic agents.
He struggles every day with his bottled water habit and tries to be a
better man.
A man who drinks from the tap.
SPEAK OUT
1. GREEN TEA – A highly effective antioxidant that can help the body
fight UV-based aging by helping to repair cell damage.
4. SOY ISOFLAVONES – Soy-based ingredients have antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory properties that also enhance hyaluronic acid
production to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.
To drink it is to be transported. . . Maybe this isn’t a dilemma after all,
but an addiction. What can he do?
Organic Garden of 100% natural skincare products
SCARLETT JOHANSSON
"My family is always looking for ways to make our lives greener, whether it's using biodegradable dish soap or swapping paper towels for cloth rags. This year, we've completed the solar roofing on our home. Watching our meter spin
backwards is an added bonus! It is very exciting to watch more and more homes in the neighborhood install solar
panels. I've participated in the Solar Neighbors program, which was conceived by Ed Norton. Each time a celebrity
or public figure buys a home solar system, BP Solar provides solar technology to a low-income family. I am looking
forward to the fulfillment of President-elect Obama's commitment to making alternative energy available and affordable for everyone. Participating in this project is just one of the ways that I've been able to be proactive in the green
movement.”
1. Eminence: Eight Greens Phyto Mask – This Hungarian organic
product is great for hormonal breakouts and balancing the skin.
2. Jurlique: Calendula Lavender Hydrating Serum – A well-known
Australian organic product, great for calming sensitive skin and
delivering hydration using Calendula, Lavender, and Chamomile.
DONALD FAISON
“For me, to be green is to be aware that the planet that we live on is alive. Just as you respect any other life on the
planet – be it a human, plant, or animal – you need to respect the earth in the same way. People need to be aware
that this planet can die and that we may be the ones who kill it. Spread the word!”
3. Dr. Haushka: Rose Day Cream Light – A beautiful organic cream for
light moisturizing of dehydrated and/or sensitive skin.
4. Pangea Organics: Acai and Goji Berry Mask – Full of green tea,
Acai and Goji berries, this mask is very high in antioxidants and
leaves the skin glowing.
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DAVID ARQUETTE
"In this challenging time, it's up to all of us to do our part to help. The environment, people suffering, and the world at
large need us to come together. Alternative is doing their part by supporting some amazing charities, one of which I
am also a part -- The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. I have also started working with Feeding America,
the nation's largest food distribution organization for hungry Americans. Find a cause that speaks to you and do your
part. It's up to all of us to make this world a better place for future generations."
5. Natural Difference: Pumpkin Enzyme Exfoliant – A wonderful natural
exfoliant using pumpkin enzymes to slough off dead skin cells.
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SUSTAINABLE WAVES:
PARTIES POWERED BY THE SUN
Mark McLarry & Neal Turley
Nothing tops a music festival, right? That’s what we
thought until we sat down with Mark McLarry and Neal
Turley, partners behind solar-powered production company
Sustainable Waves. The festivals they help to produce (think
eco-fest Outside Lands and floating carnival Xingolati) are
more like interactive cross-genre music and performance art
collaborations than your run-of-the-mill rock show. So it may
be true that nothing beats a music festival, but that’s if and
only if it’s produced by Sustainable Waves.
What are your thoughts on the current environmental movement?
MARK: I think it’s great there finally is movement. When Neal
and I first started putting events together, we were building carbon
neutrality into everything. That was in 2001, before words like “carbon
neutrality” were even in anyone’s head. So to see that green is part
of the mainstream and to see some real change, it’s incredible.
NEAL: It’s very exciting to see the momentum created around it, but
I think it’s a little bit frightening as well, like when I get calls from ad
agencies in New York that are pretty ignorant to the entire market
– it’s something they’re trying to sell as opposed to something they
really believe. The worst thing that could happen is that it blows
up into a fad and then goes out of style before change is actually
made. We need to evolve from this place of education to a place of
designing and manufacturing change. Right now you almost need a
filter for what is “green.”
One of your selling points is that you offer 100% pollution-free
concerts. How do you make that happen?
NEAL: Our stages are designed to run the entire concert on solar.
You have solar energy collected from solar panels which are then
stored in batteries. In the event we’ve got wind or weather issues,
we’ve got enough power to do a show for 9 hours. So we have a
base of solar power which we’ve accented with wind power and
also algae sequestration technology, where we use algae to clean
emissions from biodiesel engines [which we use to generate some
additional power, if necessary].
Do you think it’s possible to power everything on solar?
NEAL: It’s not that we use a certain kind of energy, but that we
design for efficiency. Our first sound system was completely custom
built. Every component we chose for efficiency. At the same time,
you’re not giving up any level of quality. That’s where it really begins:
making solar possible by designing for efficiency. That’s where the
world needs to go before you answer that question. The second
step is educating people and getting them beyond awareness of
the environmental impact of energy and its cost. Sometimes I think
the only reason anyone turns off their lights is because it costs them
money at the end of the month.
Whether we like it or not, though, money does make the world
go ‘round. As entrepreneurs in this field, what’s your take on the
influence of alternative energy and green economics on our
current economy?
NEAL: What is the difference between green economics and
economics? There is no difference. There are new green businesses
and investments in green space, but the reality is we have no
valuation system for any of our natural resources. It’s like what we’re
starting to see now with carbon trading, it’s an attempt to place value
on air quality. It’s exciting to see all this totally evolve into a global
economy where every country in the world is responsible for the
emissions they have, the garbage they put in the earth, and what’s in
the water as it flows downstream. It’s not until you start losing all the
resources in the world that these things actually become valuable. You
take a look at the global system and really redefine what economics
is all about. That’s what sustainability is. It’s not just economics, but
how we can sustainably live on this planet.
MARK: If you take the example of a festival or event, it seems they
quarantine one area to the “green” section, and I think we need to
move away from that and to integrate it into every part of the event.
That idea applies to businesses in general. I think triple bottom line
is a great example of how businesses now can gauge their success,
not only on the financial bottom line but also what they’re doing for
society or for bettering the environment.
For one final question, what’s your biggest inspiration in life?
MARK: My 2-year-old son, he’s my biggest inspiration. It’s so
refreshing to wake up to someone who’s always smiling. Also, Neal
and I are in a fortunate place – I get up, I go to work, and I don’t
even know if I can call it work. I just love what I’m doing, and hey, it’s
something good for the planet. It’s a win-win all the way around.
NEAL: For me, it’s cool to watch our little company grow - we have
15 employees now. It’s also amazing to have something that Mark
and I started together and, now, to see how passionate our guys have
become about doing what they’re doing. And then there are people
who see our work and think it’s really cool. It’s so nice to work on
something that people appreciate.
To learn more, visit www.sustainablewaves.com.
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ADAPTATION:
DOODY FREE
THE ETHICS OF
ENVIRONMENTALISM
AND DOG POOP
AN INSPIRED FLORAL EXPERIENCE
Mike LaSage & Liz Gudmundsson
BY CHRIS CONNOLLY
Being an environmentalist—or just socially responsible—takes work,
thought and, not infrequently, money. And while everyone (almost)
publicly acknowledges the need to undertake the extra effort, when
I walk my dog every day (almost) I have to wonder how much of this
acknowledgement is just lip service. In my opinion—one formed on
countless treks around the same 10 or 15 blocks—nowhere in society
is the type of unmonitored, self-motivated commitment required for
environmental responsibility so closely mirrored as in the way people
collect and dispose of their dogs’ poop.
Being confronted with a stinky, occasionally amorphous, hunk or pool
of steaming dog poop in the late evening is one of the prickliest
ethical questions a sizeable percentage of Americans wrestle with
every day. If you live in a quiet area, or when you’re taking a late
walk, there’s virtually no oversight. The only thing compelling you to
clean up that repellent mess is your commitment to civic responsibility
and your belief that when we all Do The Right Thing society functions
better.
Because, frankly, dog walking is a bit of a boring chore, I have done
a good deal of quality cogitating on my responsibility towards the
irresponsibility of people who have preceded me at popular pooping
spots. For a long time, my policy, upon encountering an uncollected
poop close to a poop under my jurisdiction, was to pick up both
poops.
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to collect two poops in a lone bag,
and the Orphaned Poop Collection Project occasionally had, shall we
say, disastrous results. For a while, I abandoned the OPCP entirely,
but recently I had an experience that caused me to reevaluate my
philosophies on the matter. I was, as you’ve probably guessed,
walking my dog. And he, as you’ve probably guessed, pooped. What
was interesting about this particular poop was that it landed right
on top of an orphaned poop! No part of my dog’s poop extended
beyond the edges of the pre-existing poop, and none of it was in
contact with the ground.
It’s said that flowers, like snowflakes, are each entirely unique;
paradoxically, most floral bouquets come off as anything but. Such
was the inspiration behind Adaptation, an Atlanta-based floral
boutique recognized for creating one-of-a-kind arrangements for
weddings, birthdays, fiestas, and everything in between. Here
owners Mike LaSage and Liz Gudmundsson talk about Adaptation
and the (d)evolution of “green” as we know it.
I circled the poop several times to discern whether my portion of
poop presented any danger to foot traffic in excess of that poised by
the original deposit. In the end, I decided if someone, say, a jogger,
was running swiftly by, it might be possible that the “second floor”
my dog had contributed would increase the odds of a “top graze,”
however, shoe contamination by orphaned dog poop mostly occurs
via a downward placement of the foot and as the top poop did not
increase the circumference of the danger zone, I concluded I had zero
liability in this capacity.
So, a very slight increase in danger to joggers, versus the fact that I’d
picked up a couple hundred hunks of poop on behalf of my neighbors
in the past…
My dad’s a jogger. I picked them both up.
But honestly, barring that kind personal connection, I’m not sure I
would have. And looking at the lawns in my neighborhood, and the
state of the world, I increasingly get the haunting sense that a lot of
people don’t even think twice about leaving their fellow man to clean
up their dog poop—or their industrial waste, or their financial garbage.
Environmentalism and social responsibility are Choose Your Own
Adventure books we read on a daily basis. I always considered the
So, standing there in the flickering of the streetlights, here was the
question I had to answer: Was I obligated to pick up this nonterrestrial poop? Or, as it basically occupied ungoverned, borderless
territory, like the tax free zones at airports, had I, via my long karmic
association with the OPCP, finally earned a “Doody Free?”
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goal of those books to keep reading and trying new choices until I’d
weeded out all the mundane endings and death traps and found that
one Ultimate Storyline that led to glory. But honestly, looking at all the
sh*t lying around, I feel like a lot of people are content to succumb to
the rattlesnake bite on page 43.
Tell us a little about Adaptation – how did you get started?
LIZ: I have been in the floral business since I graduated from college
(with a Communications degree, not exactly necessary in floral
design). I sort of fell into it: I had the opportunity to work for some
really great people and ended up gaining an infinite amount of
experience in all facets of the business. When I moved to Atlanta,
I felt that I had found a place I wanted to make my home, where I
could open up the flower shop of my dreams – one where carnations
and baby's breath don't exist. I wanted Adaptation to be a reflection
of Mike and myself and for every design that leaves the store to be
unique and make people feel like they got something they wouldn't
see anywhere else.
How did you come up with the name?
MIKE: Adaptation is the concept behind the whole evolutionary
process as well as our flower arrangements: Liz has a very unique
style and she’s always trying new things. The idea of evolution and
nature went hand in hand with what we were doing.
In addition to Liz’s unique style, how else is Adaptation different
from other florists?
LIZ: I like to cut random plants from our garden and buy things
people don’t normally see – like persimmons on a stem or eggplants –
just to incorporate something different into our arrangements.
MIKE: I think our outlook on business as a whole, which isn’t always
the most profitable thing, also sets us apart – we’re just two friends
who just like having fun. That’s what Adaptation is all about. It started
off with flowers, and then we got into some retail and dealing local
art. We pretty much dumped everything we had into creating an
environment we like hanging out in, one that’s very homelike. Now half
of Inman Park uses the couch upstairs for nap breaks. It’s just a blast.
Aside from being a home to countless plants, how is
Adaptation “green?”
MIKE: You know, I get tired of the word “green” being thrown around.
I feel it’s used very carelessly, as more of a marketing term than about
people being environmentally conscious. We don’t do it because it’s
trendy, and we don’t market ourselves that way. I think it’s better to
just do the best you can.
LIZ: For example, we think it’s great to reuse. With our weddings, we
rent all the vases, and when it’s over we take all the flowers to the
senior center up the street. We also recycle as much of our water as
we can and use it to water the plants. We don't offer our customers
bags unless they request it. I try to order flowers from only a few
wholesalers, which cuts down on shipping and box waste. We just
try to do little things and they all help – there’s so much waste in the
floral industry.
What do you think can be done to minimize that waste?
LIZ: A big part of why it happens is because of over-importing. So
much is bought from South America, Holland, and California, where
almost all cut flowers come from. But there are so many climates
where a lot of it can be grown. We buy from a couple in South
Carolina who decided they wanted to have a flower farm and just did
it. I wish I could get everything I needed from people like that and
buy it on a smaller scale. So much can be grown here – seasonally,
but it can be done.
To learn more, visit www.adaptationfloraldesign.com
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BRIAN WILLS
MAKING WAVES WITH
STRING THEORY AND OCEANA
Stepping back to take in pieces from Brian Will’s String Theory
series, one can almost see the ripples and reflections of the ocean
in his panels upon panels of meticulously layered string. It’s not
surprising, then, that the artist advocates non-profit Oceana, an
organization working to clean our oceans and preserve the many
diverse ecosystems they contain.
Your String Theory series has received critical acclaim across
the country and beyond. What is your inspiration behind this
incredible body of works?
String Theory came from my interest of how science informs art and
thus the way we perceive. Specifically, a basis of string theory is the
"floating strings" that comprise everything – they are ever-changing
and comprehensive. This interests me when thinking about the
surface of a painting or sculpture. Many of these surfaces operate on
an unconscious visual level – I have constructed some things in a way
that dictates the way your visual cortex makes you see.
What's your position on the issue at stake?
The issues at stake are pretty important. Climate change, eliminating
dirty fishing and seafood contamination, saving sea turtles,
and stopping destructive trawling are all at the forefront of the
organization’s mission. These are all issues that affect our lives as
well as the future of our planet.
We think your work is absolutely inspiring, but tell us: what inspires
you?
Bruegel's peasant paintings are pretty great. James Turrell, Robert
Irwin, Judd, and definitely my wife.
About Oceana
Oceana seeks to make our oceans as rich, healthy and abundant as
they were in our grandparents’ youth. They look to a future in which
dolphin sightings are common along any temperate coast; in which
the mighty swordfish, marlin and tuna are abundant once again; in
which whales and sea turtles thrive, cod are plentiful on both sides
of the Atlantic, local fishing cultures evolve rather then decline and in
which fish are a safe, growing and plentiful source of food around the
world.
To learn more, visit www.oceana.org.
Many of your pieces also include unconventional materials like
dental floss, vinyl tape, varnish, and basswood. How do you
choose your materials?
Most of the materials I choose have a functional purpose. The dental
floss is used to create grooves on the surface. The tape is used to
create lines. I chose rayon thread because of its reflective quality.
Is there any one you enjoy working with more than any other?
I don't necessarily like using one material over another, although I am
really interested in trying to use wire to create surfaces.
How are your views on the environment reflected in your art?
The most apparent reflection of the environment and/or its
preservation is the concept of recycling that I use. I save every bit of
detritus. Somehow, I try to bring it back to life in other works.
You’re also active in an environmental charity. What inspired you
to get involved?
I became interested in The American Oceans Campaign (now a
part of Oceana) because of their attention to the preservation of our
oceans and its wildlife. It seemed like a grand project, something
that needed all the help it could get.
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THINK | EARTH
FEATURED CHARITIES
Boxer Rescue Orange County www.boxerocrescue.org
charity: water www.charitywater.org
Do Something www.dosomething.org
Edeyo www.edeyo.org
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation www.pedaids.org
Generosity: Water www.generositywater.com
Gulf Restoration Network www.healthygulf.org
Heal the Bay www.healthebay.org
Heifer International www.heifer.org
Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org
Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org
Oceana www.oceana.org
Rock ‘n Renew rocknrenew.com/BLOG/wordpress
The Make-A-Wish Foundation www.wish.org
Wildlife Trust www.wildlifetrust.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Adaptation
Akasha
Amy Smart
Brian Wills
David Arquette
Econation
Elizabeth Mitchell
Gulf Restoration Network
Ingrid Seaburn
Josh Kelley
Lukas Haas
Michelle Lombardo
New Moon Skin Care
Reid Scott
Sarah Backhouse
Shane West
The National
Erin Skipley
Jarod Jones
Adrian Grenier
Ali Hillis
Benjamin Kutso
Chris Connolly
Donald Faison
Ecospire
Fred Ascher
Idealbite.com
Jason Kennedy
KurenT http://kurentinc.com
Malin Akerman
Michele Monaco
Pinnacle PR
Ryan Rickett
Scarlett Johanson
Sustainable Waves
Wildlife Trust
Mickael O’Neill
Robin Garvick
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Molly Raney
Interviews and Copyediting Beth Schechter
Photography Ashley Haber
Graphic Design Lee Tesche
Ian Darken
Production Coordinator Meagan Judkins
MEDIA CONTACT
For questions and inquiries please contact:
Molly Raney
PR, Media + Events
678.924.5207
molly@alternativeapparel.com
ÝÝÝ
Most talent featured wearing Alternative Earth.
To learn more about these styles, visit:
www.alternativeapparel.com
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