I took one look at the picture for the current issue of Vanity Fair with Al Gore, RFK Jr., Julia Roberts, and George Clooney which hits stands in NYC and LA today, and said, WOW. And this issue is WOW to me too. Finally it seems it is cool to be green. Who would have thunk it?
More below
Photograph by Annie Leibovitz
VANITY FAIR'S FIRST-EVER "GREEN ISSUE"
Vanity Fair presents its first "Green Issue," beginning an "increased commitment to reporting on the threat to our precious environment," says editor Graydon Carter. The May cover features a quartet of eco-power players, capturing Hollywood glamour and activist passion: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Al Gore, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Articles inside address the pressing environmental issues of the day: Mark Hertsgaard reports on the reality of global warming; Michael Shnayerson writes on the Appalachian mountaintop-mining crisis; and a Green Guide offers up 50 simple things you can do in your daily life to help save the planet. The May Green Issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on April 5 and nationally April 11.
Al Gore became the unlikely "It boy" of this year's Sundance Film Festival, thanks to Davis Guggenheim's documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which follows the former vice president on his relentless worldwide quest to expose the grave truth about climate change. But the fight against global warming is nothing new for Gore, who has made the environment a key part of his life for more than 25 years. Gore faced ridicule in the 2000 presidential campaign for pushing the idea of hybrid cars, and forged ahead with the Kyoto Protocol talks even after aides warned it was an unpopular move. Now, the Bush administration's negligence toward our planet is facing one consequence it didn't foresee: the unleashing of Gore's anger, passion, wisdom, and intellect, untethered by advisers. Inside the issue, Gore's essay, "The Moment of Truth," explores the danger of the climate crisis, as well as the unprecedented opportunities it presents.
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Hmm, I like that line about Mr. Gore... "untethered by advisors." I know how good that must finally feel to him. Mr. Gore looks so right in this to me. I still believe this is his destiny... and deservedly so, as he has been one of the most passionate voices regarding this topic for over twenty five years. As a Senator he took a great chance by writing Earth In The Balance when this issue wasn't exactly one that was received seriously, and when people who did bring this up were seen as out of the mainstream. I'm so glad he did.
And remember the day when it was considered "nerdy" to be an environmentalist? When talking about global warming would get you blank stares? I can't recall how many times I have been called a "treehugger" for bugging people about doing all they can to be environmentally aware. Now I can wear that as a badge of honor! It is cool to be green. It is now "in" to talk about global warming, and what you are doing to do make a difference in facing it! And wow, it's way past time for that.
This article for me is going to be well worth reading (I am getting my issue tomorrow,) because it features Robert Kennedy Jr. whom I respect very much in this field, and Julia Roberts, whom I also like very much as an actress who now as a mother sees the urgency of this issue. However, I am really SO thrilled to see George Clooney and Al Gore featured in this article together, and oh, that picture... be still my beating heart. ;-)
And this issue which is all green, also lays out things we all can do to be more responsible regarding this issue. Of course I think the concensus is that government has to lead the way, but that won't happen unless we lead the way.
Therefore, I thought this diary could be a collection of things we may be doing no matter how small to conserve energy, and generally take part in the preservation of our planet. So I'll start:
I never drive above the speed limit, in order to conserve gas. (Looking into a hybrid for the next car.) I will not drive over the speed limit unless it is an emergency. There is nowhere I have to drive otherwise with my hair on fire. And I only drive if it is on the highway. If I am in the city, I walk or take public transportation.
I never use styrofoam anything.
I bag my groceries myself in my own fabric bags.
I do not use aerosols or chemical cleaners of any kind in my home.
I don't smoke.
I only use energy efficient appliances.
I do not flush anything down my toilet besides what it was made to flush down. (Studies have found that many people actually flush their medications and such down the toilet and it winds up in local water supplies.)
I take shorter showers, and if I can get away with it, one every other day to conserve water.
My thermostat never moves above 68.
I respect nature and see the symbiosis between it and us.
Those are just a few of the small things I do.
I am also a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, Water Partners International, The Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, WWF, NRDC, Environmental Defense, and a couple other organizations whose names escape me at the moment. I donate as much as I possibly can when I can to help these organizations regarding holding corporations and government accountable for their crimes against our environment and us.
Oh, and I am going to purchase Al Gore's book, An Inconvenient Truth when it is released this May 16, and go see his movie when it is released on May 26. I also try to talk about this issue to at least four or five people a day in my travels. So far, I'm almost batting a thousand.
So that's what I do in part. It may seem small to some, but it makes a difference to me and I believe to our planet, as what we all do does. Now all we have to do is continue to put pressure on our government to be as conscientious about our future, and we will be on our way. I also hope that coverage like this becomes a trend in our media as well, because it has been criminally remiss regarding this issue.
Ok, your turn.