Paris Hilton is doing it, Kim Kardashian is doing it, and Pam Anderson's been doing it for years. I'm not talking about making sex tapes - nope, the blond bimbos of our time are actually doing something worth talking about.
That's right folks, Tinseltown is going green. Whether they're driving hybrid cars like Cameron Diaz, or swimming in Japan to rescue endangered whales like Hayden Panettiere, celebrities are making a difference.
Watching stars be environmentally conscious warms my heart. It's like Lindsay Lohan going to rehab again, only better.
The term "green" gets thrown around a lot, but do we really know what it means? I think to be "green" is to be respectful, aware and concerned for our environment. Climate change, the energy crisis and water purity issues are all areas of concern for the green thinker.
Syracuse University's future is looking pretty green as well. With plans to construct a new green data center on South Campus, the university is doing OK by Mother Nature. You might have noticed flyers in dining centers encouraging SU students to take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing their teeth (That's good and all, but who can honestly take a seven-minute shower?).
These small, simple actions do make a difference. Look at Drew Barrymore. Her latest must-have accessory is an eco-friendly tote that says "Not a Plastic Bag." By wearing this bag around, Barrymore is telling people about the dangers of plastic bags filling up landfills around the world. And the tote is cute to boot!
More and more stars like Barrymore are realizing that they are able to spread important messages through the lenses of paparazzi and the covers of tabloid magazines. It's nice to see stars using their "celebrity podium" for good. Jenny McCarthy and boyfriend Jim Carrey are often seen wearing T-shirts that say things like "There is No Planet B."
The green movement is taking the world by storm. Environmental concerns have always been an issue, but worries have been mounting since the release of Al Gore's 2006 global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
While Gore's documentary may have brought awareness to climate change and carbon dioxide emission problems, it also brought heavy criticism for the ex-vice president and his fellow well-known green thinkers. And the critics bring up a valid point.
If celebrities are going to advocate lower CO2 emissions, how do they justify their flying in private jets or planes?
Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio are the worst offenders of this. When Gore was filming his documentary, he traveled to each location by private jet. There are even some scenes in the film that feature Gore reminiscing while flying privately. Typically, he justifies this by claiming to use renewable energy sources in his home, but it really is no excuse. Is a commercial flight that inconvenient, Mr. Gore?
DiCaprio, a pro-environment champion himself, has been seen boarding private jets numerous times as well. And, like Gore, DiCaprio released a documentary, titled "The 11th Hour," which asks that nation to end its carbon-gobbling ways.
Other celebrities actually live true to their green lifestyles. "Clueless" star Alicia Silverstone owns a home that rivals any other green abode. Recently, Silverstone told InStyle magazine that she used disposed flooring from an old bowling alley to tile her kitchen countertops. She also has solar panels on her rooftop and uses energy-saving appliances.
Silverstone's eco-friendly efforts travel far beyond her home. She is a dedicated vegan and devoted PETA member. Silverstone plans to release a vegan diet book that includes tasty recipes and tips on keeping up with the difficult lifestyle.
I think that the reality is that everyone wants to help make the environment healthy again, but it's a feat that is either too difficult or too inconvenient for people to follow through with.
Not everyone can afford to drive a hybrid car or use solar paneling to power a home. And people aren't expected to do so. Environmental issues are collective action problems.
Everyone needs to contribute a little bit. Those who can contribute more, like celebrities, should. But just doing the little things, like turning off the lights after you leave a room or unplugging your computer when you're not using it, does make a difference.
Stacie Foster is a freshman magazine journalism major and the pop culture columnist. Her columns appear every Monday and Friday. She can be reached at snfoster@syr.edu
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