Do Adrian Grenier, Mark Whalberg, and Ashton Kutcher really qualify as “ordinary” guys? Can Jessica Biel’s and Pete Wentz’s personal trainers get them in shape for a grueling 6km run/walk by April? Does PETA understand that vegetarians are susceptible to the swine flu? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Adrian Grenier Supports the GQ Gentlemen’s Fund Contrary to what you might expect, the Gentlemen’s Fund isn’t designed to send beautiful women to bikini modeling school (it’s GQ not Maxim). The GF is about “ordinary superstars men doing extraordinary things.: Adrian is leading the fund’s ocean conservation efforts.

Jessica Biel and Pete Wentz Run For Clean Water LiveEarth, yes, that Live Earth, is sponsoring The Run For Water, a 6km run/walk (roughly the distance that women and children walk to access water in the developing world) that will be going on in cities across the planet on April 18th. Jessica Biel and Pete Wentz are in.

PETA’s Confused About What Causes Swine Flu A broad consensus of the scientific community has accepted the idea that the H1N1 “swine flu” is spread through microscopic pathogens called viruses. PETA, on the other hand, apparently thinks that it’s spread by eating meat. At least, that’s what their ad suggested.

Are Carbon Offsets Counterproductive? Is the act of buying “offsets” simply an expensive way to feel better about our eco-sins, while not making any real positive impact? In a word: No. Not unless you consider the fact that you’re funding new renewable energy projects and rainforest conservation counter-productive.

Can Cyclists and Drivers Coexist? As journalist Gary Mason studies Copenhagen’s bike-friendly transportation system, he’s discovered the secret: Make life easier for cyclists, even at the expense of drivers. They actually take space away from drivers and give it to cyclists. Could this ever happen in the US?

Green in a Flash:

• Check out this folding bike that can fit in a suitcase.
• Airlines have pledged to cut emissions in half by 2050.
• Next time you stay at a Comfort Inn, you might be sleeping under a solar roof.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why is Matt Damon on parade? Wanna share your green tips with Alicia Silverstone? What if vending machines offered farm-fresh produce instead of Skittles and Hot Fries? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Matt Damon Parades for Clean Water OK, he didn’t actually go on a literal parade, but I’m sure he would if he thought it would bring clean water to Africa. Matt did, however, write this article for “Parade” to raise awareness for clean water efforts. Says Damon, “$25 will give someone clean water for life.”

Wanna Network with Alicia Silverstone? Alicia’s new website will not only offer up her “groovy finds” in the way of fashion, skincare and general greenness — you’ll actually get to share some of your expert advice with Alicia on TheKindLife.com’s social networking “interactive extension.”

Are Superfoods Really All They’re Cooked Up to Be? So you’ve heard about the amazing properties of so-called “superfoods” like açai and goji, but what are the true costs of shipping these miracle foods thousands of miles from remote forests to your kitchen? Check out Treehugger’s assessment.

Farm-Fresh Vending Machines Get ready to take everything you know about vending machines and toss it out the window. A German company has teamed up with farmers to offer locally produced eggs, cheese, butter, sausage, etc. in vending machines. Prices stay low by cutting out the middleman. Awesome.

Warner Bros Studios Go Green If you’ve ever toyed around with the idea of making a movie, you can begin to imagine the mind-numbing logistics that go into even a “low-budget” flick. Warner Bros is enlisting everyone at the studio to attack its footprint, from the producers to the actors.

Green in a Flash:

• TV efficiency standards could save 3.5M tons of CO2.
• Check the top 5 non-desk oriented green jobs.
• Is Sprint’s Reclaim phone really as green as it’s cracked up to be?

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are you hardcore enough to drive the Cupcake Car? Do you know your celebrity vegetarians? Should you do your business traveling on a scooter? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Nice Driving, Cupcake! Usually, when the word “cupcake” is used on a roadway, it’s followed by a rude hand gesture. With the new all-electric Cupcake Car — available in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog for a recession-friendly $25k — the meaning of the word could be forever changed.

Greenpeace Activists Camp Out on Parliament Protesters spent a chilly night in their sleeping bags on the roof of the Palace of Westminster yesterday, pushing for more aggressive climate legislation. If nothing else, they might have convinced politicos to beef up security. The protesters scaled parliament in about 10 minutes.

The Who’s Who of Celebrity Vegetarians Seeing as October is National Vegetarian month, YumSugar has put together this awesome little quiz to help you waste time at work. It’ll also put your knowledge of celebrity eating habits to the test, if you’re into that type of thing.

How to Offset Business Trips? So, your job requires more than a little bit of travel; you can’t change that, and it’s not like jobs are just growing on trees these days. What’s the best way to offset your work-print? Is it better to buy offsets? Or should you spend that money on some green lifestyle upgrades?

Pamela Anderson’s Eco-Clothing Benefits PETA Pam’s new clothing line may have been panned by critics as Borat-inspired, but at least she’s found a way to use the launch to benefit our favorite naked animal rights protesters. Pamela’s hosting pricey charity fashion shows in Miami and Toronto to benefit PETA.

Green in a Flash:

• LG has developed a solar powered e-reader!
• George Soros will invest $1B towards green tech.
• Al Gore says he’s optimistic about the climate bill, others aren’t quite so confident.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Will “No Impact Man” convince Stephen Colbert to change his carbon spewing ways for just one week? Could wearing fur actually help the environment? Is it creepy to recycle the heat from crematoriums? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

No Impact Man Challenges Colbert Could America’s funniest fake conservative talk show host join forces with crazy zero-waste guru Colin Beaven to go “no impact” for one week? In his own words: “No way in hell. In fact, while I’m sitting here, I may just burn a stack of tires.”

Wear Fur, Save the Wetlands? It’s definitely not a PETA slogan. Righteous Fur, founded by Planet Green contributor Cree McCree, is promoting guilt-free fur products made from the pelts of the invasive and damaging nutria (big dirty rodents). The pelts from trapped nutria would otherwise go to waste.

Australia Holds Up Cap’n Watson’s Visa The infamous Sea Shepherd captain and his controversial whale hunter hunting mission are facing unforeseen setbacks, and it’s not even whale season yet. Bowing to the pressure from Japan, Australian officials have reportedly placed a hold on Watson’s work Visa.

Leilani Munter’s Green Eating Advice How does race car driver Leilani Munter compensate for her race car’s emissions? Simple, she’s a vegetarian. Says Leilani: “Cut back on your meat intake. Grazing animals produce methane which is 21 times more heat trapping than CO2.”

Crematorium’s Exhaust Powers A/C Unit A crematorium in Taipei has built an elaborate system to use the heat from its ovens to generate electricity, which then powers the air-conditioning in the waiting room. Apart from the creepiness factor, it’s undeniably green … in a Soylent Green kinda way.

Green in a Flash:

• National park visitors are less likely to donate to conservation NGOs.
• Take a booze cruise on the Hopworksfiets green party bike.
• Showcasing our concern for the pristine environments of other planets/moons, NASA crashed a rocket into the moon in the search for extraterrestrial water.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Will the Obama administration tackle light pollution? Will Yoko be the first one on the waiting list for a Bentley hybrid? Wanna watch Jon Stewart explain the difference between “cap and trade,” “cap’n trade,” and our favorite “crap and trade?” Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

The President Hosts Star Gazing Party Last night, the White House was the scene of an off the hook star party. There were Jello shots everywhere and Journey’s greatest hits playing on the loudspeaker. I’m kidding. There were 20 telescopes and a herd of amateur astronomers. Light pollution, anyone?

Yoko’s Hybrid Dreams Come True Thanks in part (maybe) to Yoko’s request that automakers “make hybrid cars as comfortable as a Bentley,” now they will. Starting as early as 2011, there will be a hybrid on the market that’s not just as comfortable as a Bentley — it will be a Bentley.

Jon Stewart Discusses “Crap and Trade” You’ve no doubt heard about the Kerry-Boxer “cap and trade” legislation that’s stumbling its way through the Senate, but what do you know actually know about it? Well, once you’re done watching Jon Stewart’s take, you probably won’t learn anything … but you will laugh.

Dow Unveils Solar Roofing Shingles In the future, solar shingles will become standard equipment on your house, like central air and heat. At least, that’s what Dow Chemical is hoping. They’ve created new solar shingles that are compatible with conventional asphalt shingle roofs. Awesome!

EcoATM Gives You Cash for Your Gadgets Most gadget geeks have the same guilty pleasure: Jumping from device to device and leaving a glut of perfectly good unused gizmos in their wake. Now, there’s a ATM-ish machine that makes it easy to convert those gadget into cash … or at least recycle them.

Green in a Flash:

• Jets could reduce noise/air pollution by taxiing with one engine off.
• Google Earth offers free tours of the world’s most amazing rainforests.
• Due to the credit crisis, Irish school children are being asked to byo-toilet-paper. Hope someone has instructed them to buy recycled.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why are giant angry chickens massing outside Jay Leno’s studio? Want to keep up with Alicia Silverstone’s “groovy” green finds? Are you a member of the subversive, underground Law Reform Coalition? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

PETA Protesters in Chicken Costumes Target Jay Leno Protesters targeting Jay Leno? The same Jay Leno that instituted the Green Car Challenge? Why? PETA members donned their favorite chicken suits outside of the Leno Show’s studio this week because it supports McDonald’s … or is it the other way around?

Silverstone Expands Her Kind Empire with Website Along with her upcoming book “The Kind Diet,” Alicia announced that she’ll be spreading even more kindness through a new green website TheKindLife.com. Apparently, it’s designed to be a place where Alicia shares her latest fashion and skincare “groovy finds.”

Should I Buy Carbon Offsets? The concept of buying carbon offsets is a hotly debated moral issue for some green activists … not because of what it is, but what it represents. If you think of offsets as a contribution to a green energy project, cool. However, they don’t “erase” your eco sins.

Lawn Reform: Yea or Nay? A group called the Lawn Reform Coalition is trying to change the way America landscapes. Their basic practices include: eliminating broad-spectrum fertilizers and insecticides, growing longer lawns, and generally using less grass/more sustainable plants.

Baltimore Schools Launch Meatless Mondays At the urging of Paul McCartney and a host of others, the Baltimore Public School System will institute Meatless Mondays. As the first school system in the nation to join the movement, administrators are hoping to curb their footprint while promoting healthy eating.

Green in a Flash:

• Loveland ski resort has its earliest opening in 40 years, today.
• Let NASA’s Tom Wagner give you a quick lesson on Arctic sea ice.
• Trying to buy a new Prius in Japan? Good luck, 3rd gen Prius sales are backlogged until May 2010.

Permalink | Email this | Comments