Oscars Go Green
by Philippe
March 1st, 2007
It was a GREEN night at the Oscars and, in my opinion, a big night for empowering Americans to act!
It started with Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio announcing that, for the first time, the Oscar’s went GREEN.
Then, after An Inconvenient Truth won for best Documentary Feature, Al Gore said, “My fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It’s not a political issue, it’s a moral issue. We have everything we need to get started with the possible exception of the will to act. That’s a renewable resource. Let’s renew it.”
What strikes me about this impressive feat at such a glamorous event is that Hollywood is often leading cultural change. The key is, as Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at NRDC who managed the greening effort eloquently said, “We hope viewers will come away with an understanding that environmental change can be achieved through a series of deliberate, but relatively simple first steps.â€
“By advocating environmental responsibility and encouraging action against global warming and to protect intact forests, from the world’s best known stage, we hope to promote positive changes in the way businesses and individuals think about our Earth, and, especially, how they act,†said Hershkowitz.
Alexandra and I want to challenge each of you to think about your earth echo. Consider the many actions that made this a “green†event, and think about how this might translate into simple first steps in your own life:
- Hybrid vehicle transportation provided for presenters and staff.
- Comprehensive recycling system instituted for event waste.
- Crew meals and craft services included reusable service materials and accessories, post-consumer tissue products, and biodegradable dishware.
- Governors’ Ball menu featured organic and environmentally-friendly food, including seafood, dairy, produce, and even the large chocolate Oscar.
- Left-over Governor’s Ball food donated to Angel Harvest.
- Use of ecologically superior paper for telecast and non-telecast event materials such as nomination ballots, envelopes, press materials, programs, invitations, and certificates.
- Energy audit of Kodak Theatre; efficiency plan and recommendations.
- Renewable energy credits were purchased from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset carbon emissions from pre-show, red-carpet event, Oscar telecast, and Governor’s Ball.
Everything you do makes a difference… What’s your earthecho?
March 1st, 2007 at 11:24 am
When I saw the Oscar last sunday the first thing I thought was: oh my God!!! The world is getting it! We have to protect our planet!
It was amazing!!!
I´m so glad that USA is finally supporting our nature. Step by step, we´ll get there.
Unfortunately here in my country things are a little bit behind. Is really hard to see recycling systems around. A lot of people just waste water like it was the most insignificant thing in the world. They just don´t know what is going on, and that just KILLS me!
I keep saying and trying to make they understand, but some people just don´t get it.
Is hard, but we are working on it!
We all need to show to the others what is reaaally happening, that´s the only way to make them understand. And the green night at Oscars was a great example.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Believe me, I am upset about global warming. I do not want to loose polar bears. I do not want to loose frogs in Central America, and I am upset about facing more violent storms in our future. Our hurricanes just seem to keep coming.God knows I don’t want them getting worse than they already are. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16465430/from/ET/
I do plan to buy a hybrid car, however, I most certainly will NOT buy one “Made in Japan” until that issue of how they treat dolphins and whales is corrected. I hope that Japan will listen to the 1000s and 1000s of people across the world who are against their barbaric treatment of the Cetaceans.
by the way, a year ago I wrote a letter of complaint to Home & Garden T.V. about a show that they aired involving a kitchen that had cabinets made of exotic hardwood imported from Brazil. H&G T.V. showed me a change this year by putting on a new show called “Living with Ed” promoting eco-friendly living. I was pleased! I am tired of all the materialism being promoted. As well, I think that we should all have solar panels and wind mill power in place.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hi Philippe,
I really admire the work that you and your sister do. I live in Houston, TX and would like to be more pro-active in saving our Planet. My neighborhood does not recycle. I have written a letter to our Home Owners Association regarding this. Are there any special groups I could join or upcoming conferences I could attend in the Houston area that you are aware of or would recommend?
March 1st, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I am extremely thankful for this website because it has given me an opportunity to speak out about our environment’s peril. Believe me, I am upset about global warming and do not want to loose polar bears in the Arctic or frogs in Central America. Nor do I want anymore violent storms. There is a new show on Home & Garden T.V. called “Living with Ed”, which promotes environmentally friendly living. I with that we could all have solar panels… and windmills.
March 1st, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I hate to admit I still haven’t seen the documentary from Al Gore, but I am hoping to soon. I really enjoyed the Oscars last Sunday and I thought it was very encouraging that it was doing first steps to making it Green.
I personnaly if I could I would get myself a hybrid car (but money wise, I can’t… I already have to support my family with my baby brother). As for recycling, I try my best.
Oh and Patricia, where are you from ?
March 1st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
I saw a memo on my desk this morning about Defenders of Wildlife teaming with you to save threatened sea otters. It is wonderful to hear this news! I’ll be sure to check the box on my state income taxes so I can support.
March 1st, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Melanie,
I´m from the most rich country when you talk about forests, but the most stuped one when you talk about preservation. I´m from Brazil. It has a beautiful nature, but they´re killing it so easily that makes me wanna cry.
March 1st, 2007 at 7:24 pm
And sorry for my stupid English mistakes…like the most rich instead of the richest.
March 1st, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Don’t worry about the mistakes. It happens to me too. Brazil huh ? How neat *___* (
March 1st, 2007 at 10:51 pm
My message seems to have been erased … Oh well I was saying that one day people will realize how important the environment is, and hopefully it won’t be too late. And I was also saying thank you for your message on my blog. I’m going to the wildlife center tomorrow for my first day of volunteering. I’ll be posting about it on my blog =D yay me =D
March 1st, 2007 at 11:04 pm
How good for you!
Well…I hope you like it.
Just a question: what do you mean by “neat”. I know the meaning of the word, but I don´t know the meaning in the sentence you wrote, at least I´m not sure if I really got it.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Dear Philippe,
Welcome back to the blog! Did you attend the Oscars? When I heard that “Blood Diamonds†and “An Inconvenient Truth†were nominated for Academy Awards I was wondering how Hollywood would handle the situation without looking hypocritical. I think it was a nice gesture to announce that the Oscars had gone “green†for the evening; however, I wonder if the movie industry has any long term plans to make these environmental practices permanent. From what I understand, and “AC360†did a segment on it the other night, Hollywood is guilty of some of the most extensive pollution in their state.
I appreciate the efforts of people like Leonardo DiCarprio who has a pretty decent Eco-Site, as well as a new documentary about the environment coming out this year, but I don’t have much faith in the sincerity of the Hollywood community as a whole.
I agree that Hollywood can be a leader in cultural change, but this can be a danger as well as a blessing because many in that community treat things like the environment as a passing fad. I hope the environmental cause does not suffer this fate. In any case we should not allow the Hollywood community to dictate what is important to the rest of us.
Take care,
Jo Ann
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Good point, Jo Ann! But take a look at this.
The states are broken up into three categories depending on how much power generation contributes to global warming. DC is # 1. California is # 46.
Of course, there are many different types of pollution besides greenhouse gases. Also keeping in mind this data was taken in 2000.
http://www.lowimpactliving.com/pages/your-impacts/electricity1
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Art is a reflection of life. The reason we’re hearing Hollywood discuss environmentalism is because they’re the ones holding the microphone.
My point is, the Oscars were evidence the general public is already on board with anti-pollution and using renewable resources. Individuals aren’t the problem: industry is. Where’s my hydrogen car? How come every paper product sold at the store isn’t made of reclaimed materials?
Please re-focus your energies on pressuring governments and corporations to do the right thing. I get so sick of being told I’M the one who needs to change. People can only act within the box they’re placed in.
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
It was truly admirable of Hollywood to go “Green” Oscar night. More remarkable was seeing Al Gore leading the charge. The man is a hero to environmentalists as far as I’m concerned. I only hope more of us will continue to follow his lead long after Hollywood has moved on to its next cause.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 am
Before the Oscars went Green, a few fellow dancers and I decided we needed to put on a show. We’re planning a dancer’s choreographic workshop in Cambridge to help build awareness of the issue of global warming, and it’s effect on our lives and the world + what we can do to help. I had always had some idea of the growing problems, but until the director of our company showed us “An Inconvenient Truth” during rehearsal time- I had no idea of the speed with which we were killing our planet. I think pairing the arts with the environmental issue is surely going to help. Both areas lack patrons to some extent.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 am
Patricia > In this particular sentence it means cool, nice.
V > You know we have to pressure the government to change, but having Hollywood talking about being green was a good thing.
I believe that the ones who are famous can help us get our message heard. I truly think that Al Gore took a good opportunity to talk about the environment. People who don’t care about politics but do care about films might have heard about this message and create awareness. If only there would be more “famous” people take could help the cause. They probably would have a bigger impact on the fight. (I’m talking rubbish… Did anyone understand what I just wrote lol)
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:33 pm
i think it’s also a matter of people stepping up in their own communities and being leaders. people also want to know that there are other people around them that care. In other words- like a, - you don’t have to be famous and have abundant funds to make a difference-
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Melanie, where can I read you’re blog? I’m always looking for new sources of info.
Also, I think it was great that the Oscars went green, lots of people put a lot of stock in what celebrities do and say and I think it definately makes a difference. The part that struck me the most was that craft services went green. If they can do this for one night, why can’t they do it always? Someone needs to send a petition to SAG (screen actor’s guild) to make this part of the collective bargaining agreement so that craft services on all SAG productions will be required to go green. Sorry, to everyone who has no idea what I’m talking about - I live in Hollywood and I work for a studio.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Jennifer > I own two blogs, one for fun (like tests, adventures of my daily leaving, etc… http://feebleu.livejournal.com), the other one is about my just started adventures as a volunteer in a local wildlife refuge (http://pattesenpeluche.livejourna.com you can find this site also when you click on my name when I leave comments here =D). Feel free to leave comments (under anonymous and sign at the end of your message). Enjoy your day =D
March 28th, 2007 at 7:12 am
well, if everyone’s been paying attention to the weather reports every day practically (literally-> not joking)well, are either higher or lower such radical extremes. thrown off by global warming and i think that’s actually what’s starting to alarm people because it’s coming into mass media for the firs time! So everyone just do what you can when you can, and share with others. Hopefully it will end u second nature, but your starting. Alot of grocery stores have a section now for organic products or non-harmful products. You can start there within your own home and remember check the labels and make sure there’s no bleach in the products your using if you can’t afford organic(check out the prices there reasonable)
April 8th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I really admire the heck out of this man. He’s got it all going for him. He always makes good choices in movies, and I am proud of him for every job he has done. His work for the environment is amazing, he makes me want to be a better person. I respect the fact that he tries to keep his private life out of the public eye. I just really think he’s quite amazing and I hope he knows just how great of a person he is. We need more people like him in the world.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Prescription Drugs - Zyban…
It was a GREEN night at the Oscars and in my opinion a big night for empowering Americans to act!It [...]…