Just when you didn’t think you could hear more about how “green” Hollywood is, we’re bringing you the Hollywood Goes Green series. Sure, we sometimes scratch our heads wondering how celebs who live in 20,000-square-foot homes, charter private jets and own 10 vacation compounds call themselves green because they drive a Prius. But as it turns out that being green means more than using less electricity and carpooling. Check out our weekly pick for the top green celebrities in Hollywood. This week, we focus on Brad Pitt.
Living green is about more than using green cleaning products, carpooling or driving a gas-efficient car. While those are incredibly important and steps that we should all try to take, living green takes many different forms for different people, such as supporting environmental organizations or committing to a vegan lifestyle. For this reason, I stopped rolling my eyes at celebrities who claim to be or are referred to as “green.”
Sure, celebrities’ castle-size mansions probably require more energy and water than my entire neighborhood combined, but that star power also gives them the finances and media attention to truly contribute to the green movement.
So, let’s get to it and talk about a green celebrity!
Brad Pitt {swoon}
Brad Pitt. Big, deep sigh. Yes, I chose him as the first green Hollywood star in my Green Celebrities series. What can I say? I’ve had a crush on Brad Pitt since Legends of the Fall debuted in 1994. Being 29 plus two, that means I’ve carried a torch for the man for 17 years. A marriage, a life partner, 25 kids later — he’s been busy — but my love for him remains undying.
Besides saying things that make me swoon, like how much he loves his big family, Brad Pitt also loves the environment. Let’s take a look at Brad Pitt’s contributions to greening up the world and learn why he’s my first green celebrity choice. I mean, besides the obvious.
Animal sanctuary support
Pitt, Angelina Jolie and their kids spent part of the Christmas holiday at the N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary in Namibia. Conservationists Marlice van Vuuren, her husband Dr. Rudy van Vuuren and family friend Chris Heunis opened the sanctuary in 2007. It is committed to “conservation and the protection of the Namibian wildlife, land and people.”
Pitt and Jolie’s children were able to watch the conservationists work with injured and sick animals. After their vacation, Jolie and Pitt donated $2 million to the conservation sanctuary. Their generous donation reflects Pitt’s commitment to the earth and the creatures that roam it.
Make It Right Foundation
Following Hurricane Katrina, countless celebrities donated their time and money to help the people who suffered devastating losses. Brad Pitt took that one step further and committed to building homes for displaced Katrina victims. However, he didn’t just embark on any home building project. Instead, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation and embarked on building 150 green homes.
The U.S. Green Building Council has named the Make It Right foundation community of homes the largest, greenest neighborhood of single-family homes in America. The homes are all LEED platinum-certified for their sustainability and energy-efficiency.
Alternative fuels
Several years ago, Brad Pitt held a press conference in support of California’s Prop 87, a measure that aimed to tax oil production to raise money — approximately $4 billion — to promote more energy-efficient cars and alternative fuels. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe it,” Pitt was quoted as saying in relation to the measure. (It was rejected by voters.)
Brad Pitt is hot and he cares about Mother Earth. While his good looks didn’t earn him a spot in our Hollywood Goes Green hall of fame, his commitment to the environment does.
(Photo credit: Carrie Devorah / WENN.com)
More green celebrities
Salma Hayek
George Clooney
Natalie Portman
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