March 11th, 2010 by Editor

“The dress goes on. It feels amazing. Orsola de Castro and her team have excelled themselves. It is exactly what I wanted to end this challenge. Deep, sumptuous blacks, a mix of materials, a subtle drape and old Hollywood detailing. I can’t wait to tell people that it’s made from waste!”

“Everything feels so precious – the dress, the shoes (Roger Vivier) and the bag, which is made from leftover scraps from Bruno Frisoni at Roger Vivier’s office cupboard. It is like a bejeweled cloud!”

– Livia Firth writing on her “Green Carpet Challenge” sitefor Vogue.com. You can see more pictures of herOscar night dress here.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Bruno Frisoni, Castro, Celebrities, challenge, dress, eco, fashion, Hollywood, livia firth, Michael, office cupboard, old hollywood, Orsola, Roger Vivier, sustainability, TEAM

March 10th, 2010 by Editor

Back in 1994, before theSea Shepherdhad their own television show or were as well-known as they are today, the anti-whaling group bought a Norwegian military submarine for $250,000.

Even then, Paul Watson and company were flirting with some high-tech options to fend off whalers.

The sub, built in 1988, was designed to infiltrate harbors and other small bodies of water. It ran on diesel, could dive to 300ft, and stay underwater for three days.According to a news report, Norway sold the vessel was sold to a private company which sold it to a Swedish Salvage company and eventually the Sea Shepherd. Paul Watson personally delivered the 27-foot sub via flatbed truck on a four-day trek from Southern California to Seattle. It was christened the “Mirage”.

The intent was to disguise the sub as a full-grown orca whale in an attempt to scare gray whales away from tribes hunting them in Neah Bay, Washington. San Francisco artist George Sumner was commissioned for the artwork. Captain Watson also considered adding hydrophonic speakers that could blast orca sounds as far as two miles away. Sounds of gray whales being attacked by orcas were also considered.

It was also about this time that the Canadian Navy caught wind of the sub purchase and made it known publicly that “no one at Sea Shepherd knew anything about operating a submarine and it was ridiculous for Sea Shepherd to acquire one.” This led to Paul Watson issuing the famous retort of, “Since World War II, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has boarded more ships, rammed more ships, engaged in more high seas confrontations and sunk more ships than the Canadian Navy. They are hardly in a position to presume to judge what we are competent or capable of doing.”

Oddly, the Sea Shepherd never did use the Mirage. It would journey with them on their flagshipWhales Forevertightly secured in an on-deck cradle, but never saw action. Whether the risk of taking it out was just too great — or the operation too complex, is not known. It did bring some good press for the organization — which as we know they are masters of — but eventually was sold off in 1999.

To see a picture of the Sea Shepherd sub (and Paul Watson’s pretty hair),click here.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Captain Watson, Celebrities, company, eco, fashion, George Sumner, Michael, Neah Bay, neah bay washington, Norway, orca whale, Paul Watson, San Francisco, sea, sea shepherd conservation society, Seattle, Shepherd, Southern California, sub, submarine, sustainability, Washington, watson and company

March 10th, 2010 by Editor

With Earth Hour a little less than two weeks away, organizers have announced that participation for this year’s event will be greater than last year’s stunning turnout.

Already, 92 countries (including all of the G20) are on-board — trumping the 88 in 2009. Countries and regions involved for the first time include the remote island nation of Madagascar, Kosovo, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean amongst others.

“Typically we see a big jump in the number of cities and towns taking part in the last few days before the lights go out, but to see such strong support already is fantastic,” said Andy Ridley, Earth Hour’s Executive Director and Co-Founder.

The Las Vegas Strip, Mount Rushmore, Sea World, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge are just some of the landmarks in the U.S. that will either dim or go dark starting at 8:30pm on the 27th. Click here tolearn more about Earth Hourand how you can participate.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Andy Ridley, Cambodia, Celebrities, Czech Republic, Earth, eco, Ecuador, empire state building, event, Executive Director, fashion, golden gate bridge, hour, island nation, islands in the pacific, Kosovo, Las Vegas, Madagascar, Michael, Mongolia, Mount Rushmore, Nepal, Northern Marina Islands, Pacific Ocean, Paraguay, participation, Saudi Arabia, sustainability, U.S., US, Year

March 9th, 2010 by Editor

It’s been almost a year since we’ve heard anything aboutAdrian Grenier’sgreen shopping app for mobile devices called “EcoHero” and we’re starting to think it’s gone belly up.

TheEntouragestar announced a collaboration with companyBig in Japan— the same people behind the popular mobile hit ShopSavvy —in May of 2009 to develop the app, but has been quiet ever since.According to online docs, a release in August 2009 for the Android platform was planned, followed by one for the iPhone in September. The app’s development was of such interest, that evenForbes picked up the story saying,

The new app, called ecohero, will incorporate ShopSavvy’s barcode-scanning technology to help consumers weigh products’ environmental and health impact. On-screen, the app resembles a “utility belt” that rotates with the swipe of a finger. It will launch this fall with six “micro-applications.” The group plans to add more “tools” to the belt in the future, including “lite” versions of existing eco-friendly mobile apps.

If the app is dead, it’s almost certainly because of a lack of sponsorship — something Grenier and partner Alex Muse were actively seeking. That, and perhaps the sheer amount of data mining for such an app was just too overwhelming and/or unavailable.

Nevertheless, if you’re in the market for a green iPhone app,check out Inhabitat’s great list of useful ones right here. Goodbye, EcoHero!

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Alex Muse, app, belt, Celebrities, eco, EcoHero, fashion, Grenier, health impact, iphone, Japan, Michael, micro applications, mobile apps, scanning technology, ShopSavvy, sustainability

March 9th, 2010 by Editor

To help get viewers interested in the premiere of its new nature series,LIFE, Discovery Channel is taking over the screens of seven of its major networks for two hours on March 21st.

In addition to Discovery Channel, LIFE will debut simultaneously on TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and Discovery Health Channel from 8-10PM ET. After that, with that taste hopefully getting viewers hungry for more, the series will continue with 10 more episodes solo on Discovery Channel.

“PLANET EARTH captivated the world unlike any other natural history series before or since…until now,” said Clark Bunting, president and general manager, Discovery Channel and president, Science Channel. “LIFE embodies Discovery’s 25-year mission to satisfy viewers’ curiosity about the world and its inhabitants. We want to give as many viewers as possible the opportunity to experience LIFE in its premiere telecast; we are confident they will be astounded.”

For more info on the series,hit the official site here.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Celebrities, Clark Bunting, discovery channel, discovery channel planet earth, discovery health channel, eco, fashion, Health Channel, Life, Michael, natural history series, planet, planet science, premiere, Science Channel, series, sustainability, World

March 7th, 2010 by Editor

Hayden Panettierehas joined celebs likeMatt DamonandBob Bakerin condemning SeaWorld.

The actress/activist spoke toThe Dish Ragabout the unfortunate death of a SeaWorld trainer caused by Tilikum, a male Orca who has been in captivity for almost three decades.

“Honestly, it’s horrible what happened,” she says. “Three deaths by the same whale, by an animal that should be not be in captivity in the first place.

“Have you ever seen a parrot pullout it’s feathers? It’s from depression. How do you put an interactive, social animal, one of the smartest
animals in the world… and you’re going to stick them in a tub and make them do tricks? How do you do that? Because they make money? It’s disgusting and Sea World is absolutely wrong. This is a big wake up call. How many more people are going to have to be killed? When are we going to realize that these animals are not supposed to be there?”

The documentaryThe Cove, of which Panettiere appears in, is up for an Oscar tonight.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

animal, captivity, Celebrities, eco, fashion, Hayden Panettierehas, likeMatt, Michael, Oscar, SeaWorld, seaworld trainer, social animal, sustainability, three decades, unfortunate death, World

March 5th, 2010 by Editor

Ben Stillerhas become one of the surprise big fans of the dolphin documentaryThe Cove. The 44-year-old actor has seen the movie three times and evenappeared onLarry King Livelate last year to promote it. All this because he was just “blown away” by the subject matter.

“There are very few movies where you feel like telling people, ‘You have to see this movie,’”he told PopCornBiz.

Stiller also believes that an Oscar win forThe Cove, which is nominated for Best Documentary, would raise the awareness level further. “If the movie wins, it will make a huge difference,” he said. “I’m pulling for it for sure.”

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

awareness level, Ben Stillerhas, best documentary, blown away, Celebrities, Cove, documentaryThe, dolphin, eco, fashion, few movies, Michael, movie, Oscar, surprise, sustainability

March 4th, 2010 by Editor

News is still trickling in from last night’s Global Green Pre-Oscar party, but CEOMatt Petersenlet drop at least one phenomenal tidbit: More than $300,000 was raised.

“When we started this event, the first year we raised $10,000,”he told ABC News.

The event, now in its seventh year, is the premiere green bash for green celebrities looking to raise money for a great organization. While last year’s fundraising was aimed at green initiatives in schools, last night was all about a focus on healthy, green communities. Celebrities that wereexpected to attendincludedOrlando Bloom, Suzy Amis Cameron & James Cameron, Sebastian Copeland, Roland Emmerich, Adrian Grenier, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma HayekandZachary Quinto.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Adrian Grenier, Celebrities, eco, event, fashion, Global, James Cameron, Michael, Neil Patrick Harris, news, night, Oscar, Roland Emmerich, Salma HayekandZachary, Sebastian Copeland, sustainability, Suzy Amis, Year

March 3rd, 2010 by Editor

It’s been a long, rough road forKnut the Polar Bear.

Once the darling of the media industryand symbol of global warming, Knut has fallen fast from his days of hanging out withLeonardo DiCaprioon magazine covers to now, well, just hanging out. His cuddly/cute days behind him, Knut lives out life much like any other bear in captivity by eating and sleeping.

There has been new speculation, however, that Knut is being groomed to mate with fellow roommate Giovanna, on loan from Munich Zoo. The only problem is — and this is where PETA steps in — is that both Knut and Giovanna share a common grandfather. “They are cousins,” said Frank Albrecht, head of the German branch of PETA. “If they were allowed to breed, the offspring would be prone to genetic abnormalities and liable to illness.”

“A long term co-habitation between Giovanna and Knut is only feasible if Knut is castrated,” he added. Ouch.

For their part, the Berlin Zoo plans on sending Giovanna away in the fall and finding a more suitable mate for Knut; preferably one outside the family tree. For Knut’s sake, we hope they’re successful.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Bear, Berlin, berlin zoo, Celebrities, eco, fashion, forKnut, Frank Albrecht, genetic abnormalities, german branch, Giovanna, Knut, mate, Michael, Munich, PETA, road, suitable mate, sustainability, Zoo

March 3rd, 2010 by Editor

RockerDave Navarrohas become the latest musician to strip it all off for PETA to protest fur.

The Jane’s Addiction guitarist says he used to wear fur in some of his costumes but has since gone faux. “[S]everal years ago, I saw video footage of animals being skinned alive and screaming, and it, it honestly is the most horrific, inhumane thing I’ve ever seen,” he said in an interview with the animal rights group.

“[S]ome of the simple things you can do to help save animals is not buy fur, stay away from products that have been animal tested. It’s really very, very simple to just support something or buy something that doesn’t brutalize animals like this.”

Check out an interview with Navarro by jumping here.

Related Reading

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

animal, animal rights group, Celebrities, eco, everal, fashion, fur, interview, Jane, Michael, ome, PETA, RockerDave, something, sustainability, video footage