It’s kind of ironic - and by ironic I really mean annoying – when people try to do something good but miss the big picture. Take Paul McCartney for example. The former Beatle is a staunch vegetarian. I’m not sure if staunch is normally used to describe a vegetarian… generally I think of it more in terms of political parties. But that is just how much of a vegetarian the man is.

McCartney is a big supporter of the earth, the environment, and green causes in general. Though he seems to generally be referred to as a vegetarian, he might actually be a vegan, as it’s been noted that he doesn’t wear anything made of animal products. It would just depend on his specifics. So while Paul generally seems pretty good about walking the walk, he missed the big picture when he recently ordered a hybrid car (to be more environmentally friendly) from Lexus, which was then flown to the UK from Japan. Not shipped, flown.

The former Beatle has long been an outspoken advocate of environmental causes and animal rights. He is a vegetarian who won’t even wear leather shoes. But now he’s being criticized for having a hybrid Japanese car flown to him in Britain rather than having it sent by ship. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. The car in question is an $158,000 Lexus LS 600h, a luxury sedan that offers both high performance and a reassuring “green” patina because it uses a hybrid system that relies on an electric motor at low speeds.

Best of all, it was to be a gift from the Lexus car company, which sponsored McCartney’s 2005 tour of the United States. But environmentalists quickly pointed out that the use of a cargo plane to deliver the car to England completely offset any environmental gains resulting from the car’s use. “It’s like driving the car 300 times around the world,” says Gary Rumbold, the director of the British branch of co2balance, which helps businesses and individuals gauge their carbon emissions footprint.

McCartney’s spokesman, Stuart Bell, confirmed that the musician had received the car as a gift and that it had been flown to Britain, but said he could not comment about the decision to use a plane until he had all the details.

[From the Huffington Post]

It’s possible McCartney wasn’t involved in the transportation arrangements of his car, but clearly someone wasn’t thinking the idea through clearly enough. Flying an environmentally friendly car to its final destination completely negates any good the car will ever do. Some sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me we will hear some ridiculous commentary from Heather Mills’ cow-chewing-its-cut mouth in the next few days.

Here’s Paul posing for photographers as he leaves home in the rain, sheltered by a large blue umbrella in London on April 24th. Images thanks to WENN.

Julia Roberts was on Oprah for Earth Day yesterday to help promote her friend’s new book “Gorgeously Green.” Julia and author Sophie Uliano recommended ways you can work to preserve the environment by making small changes at home. They said it’s important to choose organic foods if possible for both your family’s health and the environment. Uliano talked about buying organic baby foods and said that other important foods to buy organic are dairy, meat and surprisingly rice, which can be grown with a lot of pesticides.

If you can’t buy organic produce, you can make your own vegetable spray that gets rid of a lot of the pesticides. The ingredients are a cup of water, a cup of white vinegar, a teaspoon of baking soda, and some grapefruit seed extract. You spray it on the vegetables, leave it for 5-10 minutes and then rinse. They also talked about the importance of not buying water in bottles and bringing your own bag to the grocery store instead of using paper or plastic.

When they got to the personal care products that are good for the environment and your health, Sophie talked about the dangers of aluminum in deodorant. Julia felt the need to share the fact that she doesn’t wear deodorant and explained that “it’s never been my thing.” She did say that “sometimes mid day at work I freshen up,” but didn’t explain exactly what that entailed.

The chemicals that you want to avoid in cosmetics are parabens, fragrances, phalates, and aluminum. The brands to buy are Jason’s organics, Burt’s Bees, Aubry Organics, Method, and Tom’s of Maine.

It was all a little scary to hear how my personal care products and food contain a lot of ingredients that are harmful to the environment and my family’s health, but it’s good to know that there are small changes we all can make. And they don’t entail stinking up a room. It’s not like Julia Roberts smells bad like Matthew McConaughey reportedly does. I guess there are alternatives to wearing deodorant, although I’ll stick with mine for a while.

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are shown below filming Duplicity in NY on 4/14/08, thanks to PRPhotos.

I love a celebrity that practices what he preaches. Leonardo DiCaprio has championed a lot of environmental causes – Vanity Fair even put him on the cover of the magazine for it, along with an in-depth article about his passion for green causes. Leo drives a hybrid car and had solar panels installed on his home in Los Angeles. And to further walk the walk, Leo just purchased an eco-friendly condominium in the Battery Park City area of Manhattan.

Every time he comes home, Leonardo DiCaprio is practicing what he preaches. The environmentally conscious actor has bought an apartment in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building overlooking the Hudson River. The purchase was confirmed on Friday by Christopher Daly, president of Sheldrake Organization, the developer of the Battery Park City complex. Occupancy is slated for this summer.

The 264-unit condominium glass tower overlooks the river and a park, and boasts low emission paints, a 24-hour fresh filtered air system, a water treatment facility and rotating solar panels. DiCaprio seemingly also will have everything at his fingertips. The David Rockwell-designed high-rise features an indoor 50-foot lap pool, media cafe, fitness center, landscaped terrace and dog spa.

[From the Huffington Post]

Riverhouse’s website states that 1 bedrooms start at $835,000; 2 bedrooms from $1,185,000; 3 bedrooms from $1,725,000; and 4 bedrooms from $2,975,000. They also say they’re “High performance Oxygen Green condominium residences.” The building sounds amazing – DiCaprio is certainly not roughing it by any means. The building’s main floors will also have a branch of the New York Public Library and a City Bakery. It sounds just as sophisticated as any other building a celeb would inhabit – and in a way that’s a good thing. DiCaprio is showing people that they don’t need to have a diminished quality of life in order to be good to the earth.

Here are some images from Riverhouse’s website. It looks like a really beautiful, well-thought-out design.

The hottest thing at the moment in Hollywood is to be green. So it is nice to hear of a star who is not only preaching the green, but actively compromising his lifestyle to reduce his carbon footprint.

Woody Harrelson, who apparently is quite the greenie, came to a morning interview 40 minutes late on Friday. He’d wanted to brush his teeth with a special organic toothbrush.

Ten minutes turned into twenty, turned into thirty, turned into 40, and finally he showed up. But no hard feeling because the rumour was that he wanted to brush his teeth… He’s a massive vegan, all natural, environmentalist and he really walks the walk, he didn’t want to use any of the plastic toothbrushes at the facility. So somebody has to go out to the health food store to get one of the all natural toothbrushs.

[Roughly transcribed from video of New Zealand’s TV3 Sunrise Entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen]

I really appreciate that Woody was willing to hold off brushing his teeth, although I’m not entirely sure the person waiting to do the interview was so pleased. Still, it’s better than mega-greenie Leo DiCaprio, who drives a hybrid car, but flies in private planes.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with organic toothbrushes, they’re not made out of wood, but they can be made from recycled materials, or recyclable plastic, or have a replacement head so you don’t waste the whole brush. I had one of these which was okay in dry weather, but with humidity the brush seems get moldy in the join between the handle and the head. Ew.

Woody is passionate about environmental causes, and I’m not sure the lost toothbrush delay wasn’t just a stunt to either delay the interview, or to raise awareness. He has previously been involved in protests and driven a bio-diesel bus for publicity.

Woody just made a great appearance in No Country For Old Men, and will co-star in the Will Ferrel comedy Semi-Pro, which is out on January 29.

Note by Celebitchy: The reporter added on the video available on the TV3 website that there were no hard feelings after Woody came 40 minutes late, and that he did the entire interview while barefoot. At least he brushed his teeth and didn’t just come with bad breath because he didn’t want to waste a plastic stick for that.

Woody Harrelson is shown brandishing a machete that he used to chop up a coconut to make drinks with at a Superbowl party on 2/3/08, thanks to Splash News. He is also shown at the SAG Awards on 1/28/08, thanks to PRPhotos.

Although Angelina and Brad drive a Range Rover and the family routinely flies private jets and helicopters, they seem to be trying to change their emissions-heavy ways, at least superficially. Pitt may have been influenced by his work with Global Green because when German carmaker Audi asked Brad if he wanted a car and driver for the L.A. premiere of Oceans 13 he asked for a hybrid. Audi does not yet make a hybrid, but Pitt’s request is said to have influenced them to create a low-emissions vehicle:

[Brad Pitt] convinced German car company Audi to go green, according to a source! In June, for the LA premiere of… Ocean’s Thirteen, Audi offered Brad a car and driver. He requested a hybrid SUV, but the luxury carmaker didn’t have one. But now, thanks to Brad, they are making amends. The Audi Q7 V6 3.0 TDI, which features an ultralow-emissions diesel engine, will hit car lots in late 2008.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, December 24, 2007]

Maybe Audi was going to make a low-emissions diesel engine anyway, as there’s a definite demand for it, especially in the European market. It sounds convenient to say Brad influenced them to do it, but it could be true. Celebrities have a lot of pull with that sort of thing.

Brad is raising awareness for his “Make it Right” campaign to build eco-friendly homes in New Orleans 9th ward. He is raising money for the homes, which cost approximately $150,000 each to build and will house families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The future locations of the houses are currently marked by bright pink tents to draw attention to the cause.

Pitt jokingly told a Newsweek reporter that he would do a nude calendar to raise money for “Make it Right,” but since he’s nearly ruled out future nude scenes in films, it sounds unlikely:

Are you handy with a hammer, or do you al­ways hit your thumb?
No, I’m all right. I’m pretty good.

Do you wear a tool belt?
[Laughs.] Where are we going with this? Yes, and I do it in the nude.

You could do a calendar.
Yeah, to raise money. If I get desperate that will be next.

And Chippendale’s.
Oh, dear God.

If we go out for lunch, will I have to pay?
Give me a call next year and we’ll see.

[From Newsweek.com]

Pitt is working hard for the cause, so you have to give him credit. He doesn’t have to get nude to bring attention to his charity projects, but of course it wouldn’t hurt. The tool belt could be strategically placed for modesty, and according to some reports it’s not like he would need an exceptionally large hammer. (We’ve all seen it by now, so you know I’m sort-of kidding.)

Paris Hilton just becomes a better and better person. Clearly her jail time really did change her, and her statements that she would contribute more to the world were not just empty promises. Sure she flaked on that humanitarian mission to Africa, and has spent a good deal of her time drunkenly counting the pennies in fountains, but she’s changed, damn it. Case in point: last weekend, Paris saved an Oompa-Loompa’s life. She also gave Britney Spears career advice. And now Paris is publicly bragging about what an incredibly environmentalist she is. And because it’s Paris, you know it’s true, and she’s not just inflating one tiny little thing to make it look like she’s Mother Theresa.

Paris Hilton is making a personal contribution to protecting the environment. “I changed all the light bulbs to energy-safe light bulbs and I’m buying a hybrid car right now,” the 26-year-old celebrity heiress said Wednesday. Hilton said she turns off the lights, doesn’t leave the TV on or the water running when she leaves her house. “Little things that people can do every day to make a huge difference,” she said.

She was in Berlin to take part in an advertising campaign for Rich Prosecco, a sparkling wine sold in cans. Hilton told reporters she’s looking for a boyfriend and knows exactly what qualities Mr. Right should possess. “Right now I’m single but I am looking for a nice boy,” she said. “He should be funny, smart and loyal.”

Hilton said she was planning to visit one of Berlin’s Christmas markets, the city’s famous museums, and had already been partying at the city’s trendy Cookies club.

[From Yahoo News]

Blech. I hate that I can’t actually call her out on her comments, because they’re true. All the little things add up and matter. Somehow putting that under the heading “Paris Hilton helping protect the environment” seems a bit much, but that’s probably Yahoo’s fault. Still, who goes to Berlin to promote sparking wine in a can and then talks about what a great environmentalist they are? Paris Hilton. She’ll say whatever she thinks makes her look good, regardless of the truth behind it. And while I’m glad she has energy efficient lights and turns them off when she’s not in the room, something tells me she actually has an assistant, or maybe her illegal pet kinkajou Baby Luv, follow her around and turn off all her lava lamps. And not leaving the water running when you’re not home is generally a good idea regardless of the environment. It keeps your home from flooding. That’s probably why people have been turning their faucets off long before people paid attention to conservation.

Note by Celebitchy: The BZ, Berlin’s version of The Sun, has a cover story about Paris today in which they call her “Princess Trash.” They say she was 50 minutes late to her press conference and point out that she brought multiple bodyguards with her.

Here’s Paris out in Maxim Night Club last night in Berlin trying to feel up the DJ. Note how the other club-goers don’t even glance at her. Thanks to WENN.

I think it’s really important to have at least one “Why you should hate Heather Mills” story a week. And let’s be honest, the woman provides fodder for at least nine. Sometimes you’re sitting there thinking, “I’d really like to write about so-and-so, but what have they done lately?” And that’s when you end up with stories about how Terri Hatcher once fell of a tractor. And then sometimes you’re sitting there thinking, “I’d really like to write about so-and-so, but they’ve done so many terrible, offensive things lately that I can’t even begin to choose.” And that’s when you end up with stories like this.

Heather Mills - the world’s most self-involved vegan - has taken her animal-rights platform to a new high. Or low, depending on how you feel about Heather Mills… and how you feel about animals. This is a tricky post to write, because I want to insult Heather as much as possible, without insulting animals. But since the two are intrinsically linked (at least in terms of this story), please know that any offending of animals and/or animals rights is merely the accidental, yet inevitable, byproduct of hating on Ms. Mills. Anyhoo, the animal rights group Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (or Viva, as they’re creatively known), has unfortunately decided to align themselves with England’s most hated one-legged woman. While I respect the group, they probably could have chosen a more likable spokes-vegan. Viva is trying to get people to stop eating meat or consuming any animal products by focusing on the negative impact that livestock have on global warming. Yeah apparently each cow equals twelve SUVs or something. It’s not good. You know how the smell of cows makes you wrinkle your nose? It does the same thing to Mother Earth, just on a much larger scale.

“When (Viva!) told me it [the environmental impact of livestock on global warming] was 18 percent, that’s more than all global transport, I was in shock. Airplanes only bring 3 percent, while they are being picked on with taxes,” she said Monday. Mills, 39, asked people to “cut down on one or two meat and dairy and fish dishes a week. We are the only species that drinks another person’s milk, so why aren’t we drinking rat’s milk, or dog’s milk, or cat’s milk, that’s how crazy it is,” she said.

“It’s mad that we are having cow’s milk. Even cows don’t drink it after one year but we continue forever.” Mills has posed for a poster for the Viva! campaign, headlined: “Hey, Meaty, you’re making me so hot!”

[From Yahoo! News]

I totally respect Viva’s message, and if that message had come from anyone other than Heather Mills, I think I’d be able to hear it. But because it came from the woman who instructed Paul McCartney on how to sing, it makes me want to go out and eat a double cheeseburger every day this week, then wash it down with a big glass of milk. Or it could be because I’m on a diet and that sounds like a fabulous thing to do anyway, but adding the potential pissing-off of Heather Mills to the equation and the temptation becomes nearly insurmountable.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Heather Mills is shown stumping for Viva on 11/19/07 in London, thanks to PRPhotos.

The California wildfires have caused massive devastation throughout much of Southern California. The blazes have led to the evacuation of over half a million people, the largest in California’s history. In San Diego County alone, officials estimate the damage will come to at least $1 billion just for the homes. There are currently over 10,000 firefighters on the fire lines, and 585 square miles are currently burning. A lot of celebrity and expensive homes are in danger of burning to the ground – but thousands of regular people’s homes are in danger too, including a lot of people who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to “start from scratch” like some can. So while this affects our dearly beloved celebrity community, it resonates on a far deeper level, as it can do severe damage to people from every economic class.

George Carlin was on “The View” today and talked about his belief that the fires are the result of man-made problems.

Comedian George Carlin and actress Jamie Lee Curtis this week both suggested that the devastating wildfires raging in Southern California should not come as a surprise to a population that ravages the environment. Offering his provocative opinion on “The View” Wednesday morning, Carlin paraphrased an old comedy rant of his, and characterized the fires as cosmic payback from a planet stretched to its breaking point. “People are selfish,” he said. “These people with the fires and the floods and everything, they overbuild and they put nature to the test, and they get what’s coming to them, that’s what I say.”

Joy Behar replied, “That’s a little harsh, George.” But the 70-year-old comic continued: “People think nature is outside of them. They don’t take into [themselves] the idea that nature is a part of them.” Pointing to his chest, he said, “Nature is in here, and if you’re in tune with it, like the Indians – the balance of life, the harmony of nature – if you understand that, you don’t overbuild, you don’t do all this moron stuff.”

[From People]

I have heard a lot of experts saying the land and the air is the driest it has ever been in California. Though people have different view on why this is, most (but not all) chalk it up to global warming brought on by humans. Jamie Lee Curtis voiced an opinion similar to Carlin’s on “Entertainment Tonight.”

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Jamie Lee Curtis gave a similarly grim assessment of the situation, suggesting people are in “ultimate denial” about what they’re doing to the environment. “Global warming, combined with people building houses in places they shouldn’t, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera,” she said. “It just compounds to become, as they call it, a perfect storm experience here. It’s not by accident. This isn’t an act of God. This is an act of man.”

[From People]

I wasn’t much of an active environmentalist until a few years ago. I was one in theory but didn’t put any actions behind my words. I think that a lot of people (myself very much included) are starting to really understand the impact of our actions, and hopefully the tide is turning. Let’s cross our fingers that it’s not too late.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s an image of the California Wildfires from NASA. Header image of George Carlin at the “Jersey Girl” premiere. Image thanks to PR Photos.

Brangelina’s kindness and charity knows no bounds. It’s sickening, really. In that “I wish I was as good as you” way. The pair will host a fancy Hamptons soirée this weekend to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims and benefit Brad’s “Make it Right” project that he’s been working on in New Orleans. The cocktails and dinner will take place at the home of Jane Rosenthal, who Jolie met while working on “The Good Shepherd.” Apparently the pair will be choppered into the event, and won’t even stay for the weekend – one has to wonder how environmentally friendly that is, considering how Brad is all about the green building and the anti-global warming. Bur it’s probably better than taking a private, nearly empty jet.

“Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are showing their humanitarian side yet again. This time the pair are hosting a charity dinner on Saturday night in the Hamptons for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. A source at Usmagazine.com says that the guests who attend are expected to make an extremely large financial commitment to the project.

“The venue for the swanky dinner will be in the home of producer Jane Rosenthal, with whom Jolie worked with on her movie The Good Shepherd. Brangelina are said to be traveling to the party by helicopter, and jetting out via flying means as well. They are not expected to stay for the whole weekend.

“The invitation they sent reads:
‘Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina, residents of the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans are still struggling to rebuild. Brad Pitt started the ‘Make it Right’ project after he visited the devastated area. He hopes to preserve the unique culture and spirit of the Ninth Ward by rebuilding a neighborhood inspired by safe and sustainable “green” homes in one of the hardest hit communities in Louisiana.’

“Brad appeared on the Today show to talk with Ann Curry about his involvement in an environmentally friendly project to rebuild houses in the demolished New Orleans.”

[From Entertainmentwise.com]

Brad Pitt makes me feel so guilty. I don’t rebuild homes or host charity events at swanky mansions. I don’t adopt kids from around the world, nor do I have a chiseled jaw. I’m not all that upset about the last one since I’m a girl, but still. I’ll never compare. Seriously, I think it’s awesome that Brad and Angelina have consistently chosen to use their celebrity to draw attention to important causes. Katrina rebuilding is really important but hasn’t got a lot of press lately –they joke about the average news viewer’s attention span being so short, and it is true – nearly two years later most of New Orleans rebuilding still needs to get started, but we haven’t heard much about it. Hopefully he’ll continue to bring attention to it.

Picture note by JayBird: Here’s Brad taking the kids to school in July, wearing a most Michael Jackson getup. Thanks to WENN for the photo. Header image of Brangelina and family on a boat in Chicago on Sunday. Thanks to Splash Photos.

While the rest of the Brangelina brood must have been back in Chicago with Angelina as she puts the finishing touches on her new film, “Wanted,” Brad Pitt made a visit to the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans on Tuesday to tour what’s being called “an ecologically sustainable single-family home” which is being built by a company called Global Green USA, an environmental group Pitt lent his name and support to sometime ago.

During a news conference, Pitt said a home in the Holy Cross area of the 9th ward was a “small victory,” but took it one step further by saying Katrina was a “man-made” disaster:

“…it’s hard to find an overall victory when you see how slowly everything is still moving. And Katrina was a man-made disaster. This house is a man-made solution.”

I think it’s fantastic that he’s willing to get involved - that’s a lot more than I can say for most celebs who turn a blind eye to their fellow man, especially in times of desperate need. I give him a lot of respect for his efforts and I applaud what he’s done thus far - I don’t believe his work has gone unnoticed.

However, I’m a little confused by his statement. How is Katrina a “man-made” disaster exactly? Is he speaking of global warming? Does he mean the Government is to blame for the poor condition of the levees pre-Katrina?

Pitt said the city’s flood-protection defenses must be restored before displaced residents feel confident enough to rebuild.

“We’ve got to push to get these levees taken care of in the correct fashion,” he told reporters at a news conference in the hurricane-ravaged working class neighborhood.

In the meantime, Global Green says the house in the Holy Cross area will be a prototype for the neighborhood and they hope to create a community of green, eco-friendly structures.

Global Green hopes to use the house, which should be completed this fall, as a prototype for the neighborhood. Built not far from the banks of the Mississippi River and raised by three feet on concrete pilings, it is above sea level.

[Reuters]

The article wasn’t real clear on whether the prototype home will be made available for a family to actually move into right away, or if it will be more like a model home that will serve has a foundation (no pun intended) for future Global Green homes. That said, I’m wondering how long it takes for a home like this to be built and if it takes longer than a regular ol’ house to be built, do people who desperately need homes in the 9th Ward really care whether their home is eco-friendly or not? I know I wouldn’t - I’d just want a place to lay my head and call my own.

With or without solar panels.

Header picture from MediaBistro via Just Jared.