Our green (so-called) celebrities are, actually, not as green as they claim to be. Since it’s always difficult to tread along the lines you never forget to preach to others, they’re no exceptions. Posing nude for a magazine, filing undeserved comments without ever realizing the worth, traversing overseas to attend environmental conferences, or just owning a hybrid vehicle is what they can do. Here, we’ve listed some of those most unwilling to walk the talk:
Celeb: Paul McCartney
Image: Amazonaws
Green Laurels: Paul, the advocate for environmental causes and animal rights, suggests vegetarianism to be the solution to cruelty and famine. Going vegetarian is a powerful tool to combat global warming and save the planet.
Not so green credentials: Paul invited huge criticism for having a Lexus LS 600h flown to him in Britain. It would have been sensible to ship it rather. The carbon emissions during this flight matched trekking the globe three times at least, says Gary Rumbold, the director of the British branch of co2balance. Perhaps accidentally, Paul missed the other side of environmentalism.
Celeb: Al Gore
Image: TC Inc.
Green Laurels: Al Gore, the Democratic nominee for president in the 2000 presidential election, co-launched Generation Investment Management, spearheaded several ecological projects, and won accolades for his most promising project, “Repower America”.
Not so green credentials: Al Gore couldn’t do anything to save Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. He didn’t even voiced his opinion on the issue and was, in a way, instrumental in the construction of an airport at the former Homestead Air Force Base.
Celeb: Madonna
Image: CDN/Celebden
Green Laurels: She released her song “Hey You” at the Live Earth concert and dedicated it to the eco-lovers. As a report says, she is educating herself and her family and has begun to make changes around her that reflect her awareness and concern for the future of the planet.
Not so green credentials: She was the one who started the bottled-water trend in 1980’s via the Evian ad campaigns. A major shareholder in companies including Alcoa, Ingersoll Rand and BP, she doesn’t endorse any of the hybrid cars even. Instead, she owns a gas-guzzling Mercedes Maybach, Audi A8s and a Mini Cooper S.
Celeb: George Clooney
Image: Cargurus
Green Laurels: George Clooney brought OilChange into being. The campaign targets America’s dependence on foreign oil and suggests alternatives too. He also raised $14 million for Darfur Relief. Clooney proudly owns an electric hybrid car called the Tango.
Not so green credentials: He doesn’t have any control over his travel schedule. Shockingly, he traveled from Tokyo to Los Angeles in a private jet that consumed 7,000 gallons of jet fuel. Therefore, it’s a bit contradictory to the cause he stands for.
Celebs: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
Image: Coldplaying/Virginmedia
Green Laurels: Just recently, Gwyneth donated some baby-themed items for The Clean Water Initiative Fund that works to provide innovative and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene solutions. She also goes on to endorse a green diet. Same goes for Chris Martin. The Coldplay frontman backs fair trade, eco-themed lyrics and is a strict vegetarian; also, labeled as the World’s Sexiest Vegetarian by PETA in 2005. He planted 10,000 mango trees in Southern India.
Not so green credentials: As Times Online reports it, while championing green issues, the couple’s London house in Belize Park is said to be wasting 1,020kWh of heat per year.
Celebs: David Beckham and Victoria Beckham
Image: Regent
Green Laurels (If any): Though the pair doesn’t have much to boast of, Mr. Beckham has still earned a fading repute in participating in a charity match for the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Surprisingly, Victoria is yet to start thinking of going green.
Not so green credentials: Victoria loves cooking mincemeat and even plans to open a non-vegetarian restaurant. One of her private jet trips to Madrid, during the World Cup, equaled the annual carbon emissions of so many. Treading along the same lines, David Beckham’s international trips go on to emit 15,000 kg of CO2 and he owns a gas-guzzling Lamborghini, two Ferraris and a Bentley.
Celeb: Sophie Monk
Green Laurels: Sophie Monk, Australian singer and actress, bared it all for the PETA magazine cover almost two years back. She’s a notable vegetarian and even keeps appearing in ads against cruelty to animals.
I think the message to KFC eaters [is that] you should think about what you’re eating. If you’re eating deformed animals that are being induced by hormones, you know, it can not be good for you.
Not so green credentials: Sophie was photographed with a box of KFC in hand. Now, this is the height of pretense. You advise others to say no to non-veg foodstuff and keep on stuffing yourself with the same. It’s incredible indeed!