Put Your Mouth Where Your Money Is

Celebrities have a large and very bully platform from which to speak. These days, if they’re speaking green, people are listening.

I don’t keep up with celebrity gossip. Not interested. And I’m going to tell you up front that while I think quite a few celebrities are pretty to look at and fun to watch, I don’t generally think they have anything profound to say. Especially when it comes to the environment.

But a large percentage of our cultural mindset seems driven by what celebrities say and do, so I was a little curious, I guess.

What are the beautiful people saying and doing to help promote environmental causes these days?

Here’s a list of the celebs who are trying - and making - a real eco-difference. Some of them may surprise you...

Judi Dench has teamed up with the UK’s Woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards to help fund the planting of trees in woodland areas with a holiday card recycling program. The group hopes to plant 12,000 trees in 2010.

Adrian Grenier, star of Entourage and Alter Eco, is well known as a long time greenie. But recently he and his mother renovated a turn-of-the-century Brooklyn house using green technologies, including recycled blue-jean insulation. He’s also been working closely with producers of Entourage to green the show’s production. Wouldn’t it be nice if all Hollywood productions went green?

Cate Blanchett is an accomplished actress, but did you know she has accomplished quite a bit for environmental causes as well? A long time supporter of green organizations like Forest Guardians and the Sydney Theatre Company, she has also recently appeared in ads for Sydney's Earth Hour. Last year, she renovated her home using green technologies, installing solar panels and a system to reuse rainwater.

Penelope Cruz drives a hybrid off-screen, but she has also been the driving force (pun fully intended) behind the push to get rid of the eco-busting limo-line at celebrity events. With the help of Global Green USA, Cruz has helped arrange for a fleet of more than 30 alternative fuel vehicles to shuttle stars to award events.

Willie Nelson. The prolific song writer and country singing legend created the BioWillie bio-diesel company in 2006. Using soybeans and other used vegetable oils, Nelson creates a regular diesel that can be used without any vehicle modifications. It is currently carried in about 22 outlets.

Natalie Portman launched her own line of Vegan footwear for Te Casan, proving once again beauty is more than skin deep.

Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation made headlines in 2009 as the rebuilding of New Orleans' devastated 9th Ward continued. But, according to eccorazzi.com, he and wife Angelina Jolie also purchased Chateau Val Joanis, a winery in France, with the hopes of dedicating it to making the red stuff greener. Cheers!

Alicia Silverstone has created a line of eco-friendly handbags and also released her book, 'The Kind Diet,' in 2009. The book is dedicated to her philosophy about healthy, ethical eating.

Rick Moonen. Even if you're not a Top Chef fan, you’ve probably heard of this rock star foodie. His restaurant, rm Seafood, is all about promoting and using sustainable fish.

Cameron Diaz. This mega-star gets her green on by hosting "Trippin," an eco-themed MTV travel series.

Rachel McAdams. With Sherlock Holmes reaching blockbuster status, Rachel McAdams can say just about anything she wants. And what does she say? She says green is sexy. And she’s proving it with her website GreenIsSexy.org. "Because being informed is sexy. Being responsible is sexy. Being eco-friendly is sexy." Can’t argue with that logic now can you?

Ally Zarin, our favorite Real Kid of NYC and co-star of “Taking Woodstock” is also Co-President of Teens Turning Green, a youth advocacy group which encourages teens to take steps to be greener.

So, it’s great to find out that there are so many celebs who are taking positive action toward eco-change. Can’t wait for next year’s list, can you?

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