Saturday, April 23, 2011
Gaurdian Article "Hypocrisy of champagne environmentalists is deceitful and distracting"
The lifestyles led by Chris Martin, Trudie Styler et al only perpetuate the consumerism that helped cause global warming
Trudie Styler – do as she says, not as she does. Photograph: Mike Theiler/Reuters
There I was, kicking back in my Edun "natural indigo" organic jeans (£163), sipping on an icy cold glass of Fleury vintage organic champagne (£56 a bottle), having taken my new Porsche 918 hybrid supercar (£524,000) for a spin, when I started pondering where my next holiday might be.
Would it be the languid lagoons of Cousine Island in the Seychelles, which boasts its own on-site ecologist? Or perhaps the Hacienda Tres Rios in Mexico with its philosophy of "intelligent and responsible use of our ecosystems and natural resources"?
Organic produce, hybrid cars, eco-tourism resorts, ethical fashion – what could be finer than living such a fantastic, indulgent "champagne environmentalist" existence? But while the explosive growth in "eco-lifestyle" markets may seem good, in reality it is a perpetuation of the consumerist economic model that has largely got us into our current mess.
The green scene is littered with compromised, hypocritical celebrities. Poor Prince Charles preaches and pontificates about harmony and simplicity, then ties himself in masochistic bondage knots of inconsistency by spending £100k on a biofuelled train tour to promote cycling. Famous frequent fliers abound, from Coldplay's Chris Martin – who opined about global warming in song then racked up a personal carbon footprint massively bigger than the average Brit – to Sting's wife, Trudie Styler, who flew her entourage (including hairdresser) by private jet from New York to Washington so she could go to a party. Most brilliantly, John Travolta encourages us all to "do our bit for climate change" while owning five private jets. As with the pejorative "champagne socialists", the message is very much "do as we say, not as we do'.
Like the highly discredited theory of "trickle-down" economics, there is a belief that this "eco-leadership" will somehow percolate into our collective consciousness and create demand for environmental goods and services at all levels of the economy. But this is missing the point.
We fret about the environmental implications of global population growth in the belief that it is the fertility of our fellows in the developing world that is at the root of our resource problems. But this is a buck-passing, mean-spirited attempt at alleviating our own consumptive guilt. As studies have demonstrated, the richest 500 million people on the planet (about 7% of global population, and yes that includes all of us Brits) create 50% of global carbon emissions, while the poorest 50% create just 7%.
So when we ask ourselves the question: "how will we live?", the answer is fairly obvious: more simply and more frugally. Much of the nonsense written about green lifestyles is laughable, as if we can all carry on as we are, as long as we're all buying organic, fair trade and ethical products.
The real answer is that less really is more, and while the champagne environmentalists can lecture on how fantastic their sustainable lifestyle is as they throw another log from daddy's woodland into the stove or go wild foraging on the family estate, that's not going to mean much for the 80% of people who live in cities. Don't get me wrong, I think it's vital that we promote a sense of positive hope, that life can be better for all of us when lived more sustainably. Its just that the "yes, you can have it all" mentality of some environmentalists is not just hypocritical, but potentially deceitful and distracting.
I think the real fizz and excitement in sustainability is to be found where lifestyles and business models are being radically transformed. The Transition Network and the collaborative consumption movement. The high-end eco-products and aspirational lifestyles that alter our footprints by incremental percentage changes lull us into false security about dealing with the problem of climate change.
The environmental lifestyle champagne has definitely gone flat.
• Ed Gillespie is co-founder of Futerra Sustainability Communications
Gillespie, Ed. "Hypocrisy of Champagne Environmentalists Is Deceitful and Distracting | Ed Gillespie | Environment | Guardian.co.uk." Weblog post. Green Living Blog. Gaurdian Newspress, 19 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2011..
There I was, kicking back in my Edun "natural indigo" organic jeans (£163), sipping on an icy cold glass of Fleury vintage organic champagne (£56 a bottle), having taken my new Porsche 918 hybrid supercar (£524,000) for a spin, when I started pondering where my next holiday might be.
Would it be the languid lagoons of Cousine Island in the Seychelles, which boasts its own on-site ecologist? Or perhaps the Hacienda Tres Rios in Mexico with its philosophy of "intelligent and responsible use of our ecosystems and natural resources"?
Organic produce, hybrid cars, eco-tourism resorts, ethical fashion – what could be finer than living such a fantastic, indulgent "champagne environmentalist" existence? But while the explosive growth in "eco-lifestyle" markets may seem good, in reality it is a perpetuation of the consumerist economic model that has largely got us into our current mess.
The green scene is littered with compromised, hypocritical celebrities. Poor Prince Charles preaches and pontificates about harmony and simplicity, then ties himself in masochistic bondage knots of inconsistency by spending £100k on a biofuelled train tour to promote cycling. Famous frequent fliers abound, from Coldplay's Chris Martin – who opined about global warming in song then racked up a personal carbon footprint massively bigger than the average Brit – to Sting's wife, Trudie Styler, who flew her entourage (including hairdresser) by private jet from New York to Washington so she could go to a party. Most brilliantly, John Travolta encourages us all to "do our bit for climate change" while owning five private jets. As with the pejorative "champagne socialists", the message is very much "do as we say, not as we do'.
Like the highly discredited theory of "trickle-down" economics, there is a belief that this "eco-leadership" will somehow percolate into our collective consciousness and create demand for environmental goods and services at all levels of the economy. But this is missing the point.
We fret about the environmental implications of global population growth in the belief that it is the fertility of our fellows in the developing world that is at the root of our resource problems. But this is a buck-passing, mean-spirited attempt at alleviating our own consumptive guilt. As studies have demonstrated, the richest 500 million people on the planet (about 7% of global population, and yes that includes all of us Brits) create 50% of global carbon emissions, while the poorest 50% create just 7%.
So when we ask ourselves the question: "how will we live?", the answer is fairly obvious: more simply and more frugally. Much of the nonsense written about green lifestyles is laughable, as if we can all carry on as we are, as long as we're all buying organic, fair trade and ethical products.
The real answer is that less really is more, and while the champagne environmentalists can lecture on how fantastic their sustainable lifestyle is as they throw another log from daddy's woodland into the stove or go wild foraging on the family estate, that's not going to mean much for the 80% of people who live in cities. Don't get me wrong, I think it's vital that we promote a sense of positive hope, that life can be better for all of us when lived more sustainably. Its just that the "yes, you can have it all" mentality of some environmentalists is not just hypocritical, but potentially deceitful and distracting.
I think the real fizz and excitement in sustainability is to be found where lifestyles and business models are being radically transformed. The Transition Network and the collaborative consumption movement. The high-end eco-products and aspirational lifestyles that alter our footprints by incremental percentage changes lull us into false security about dealing with the problem of climate change.
The environmental lifestyle champagne has definitely gone flat.
• Ed Gillespie is co-founder of Futerra Sustainability Communications
Gillespie, Ed. "Hypocrisy of Champagne Environmentalists Is Deceitful and Distracting | Ed Gillespie | Environment | Guardian.co.uk." Weblog post. Green Living Blog. Gaurdian Newspress, 19 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2011.
New Music! "Undertow" by Warpaint
Yourstru.ly Presents: Warpaint "Undertow" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.
Don't judge me...but yes, I do follow trendy blogs, not the very least of which is JZ's new lifeandtimes.com. I love this band "warpaint" which he features on his site. None too shabby Mr. Carter.
Sourcing Eco textiles
BBMG Presents The Green Room Featuring Summer Rayne Oakes from BBMG on Vimeo.
Eco entrepreneur Summer Rayne Oaks talks about her company, Source4style
Green Glam Go App
GREEN GLAM GO! Get the App! from Green Glam Go on Vimeo.
A new phone application for Nokia phones that sources green fashion for you on the go! This is a great example of technology intersecting with sustainable fashion.
Tech Fashion
Phillips explores how the union of apparel and technology can sense the changes of skin and emotions and show these changes in a tangible way.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The next new pant trend we are all going to hate...
Or does it just need time to grow on us? In Los Angeles and New York I spotted a handful of people rocking the beetlejuice pants. The association with the Tim Burton character has kinda ruined it for me at the moment. Thoughts?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Christopher Raeburn for Victorinox Fall 2011
My job is to keep on the pulse of ethical fashion. Over the years it has been fascinating to see which brands have really bloomed and caught attention. Christopher Raeburn's designs made out of army surplus goods such as parachutes were definitely a standout at the London press day for Estethica (London's fashion show) which I attended in 2010. I stumbled upon this video about Raeburn's collaboration with Victorinox on the blog NOTCOUTURE; it is fantastic to see the brand grow in prominence and produce this wonderful little video. Enjoy.Sunday, February 13, 2011
Los Angeles Hotels
Sheraton Delfina, Santa Monica, CA
This hotel is in a great location for the beaches and shopping of Santa Monica and easy base from which to venture into greater Los Angeles. The staff were lovely, the food was healthy and delicious, and the internet was... $12.95 for 24 hours. The internet thing is a mild annoyance, but this seems to be standard in the Los Angeles hotel business thus far.
Waking up to a sunny, blue ocean horizon and the palm tree infested city was not too shabby. What was a shame was the fact that these rooms have TERRIBLE soundproofing. By way of the vent or the doors that can annex several guest rooms, I suffered through my neighbor's animated phone chatting until 3 in the morning. It sounded like she was in my room. This happened the next night as well, except I was treated to her choice of Rom Com for the evening.
The only other warning I can give is to be aware that the valet here takes forever due to the seemingly constant influx and exodus of guests.
On the up side, comfortable beds, and I am partial to the Swedish blue and white decorating that graces the guest rooms. Don't forget to visit the pool, there is no better place to soak up the sun than southern California, and this seems to be the place for socializing at this hotel.
If you have any thoughts or tips regarding hotels in Los Angeles, please do post a comment!
Los Angeles Bound
I am no music expert. However, I consider myself to be adequately obsessed with new sounds, enough so that I have trekked to Barcelona for the Sonar Music festival, London for Hard Rock Calling, and sussed out Lykke Li shows in London and Los Angeles... I will extend myself to great lengths for my latest musical obsession.
I have both other blogs and friends to thank for some tips, and other discoveries I can say I discovered myself! The playlist below helped get me through the Los Angeles traffic this weekend. Most of these are not especially new, but I am still enamored….check it out for yourself
For Your Convenience...A few tour dates
OH LAND
Feb 24 Scala, London
Mar 7 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA
Mar 8 Webster Hall, New York NY
Mar 22 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
Mar 25 The Music Box, Hollywood CA
Mar 26 Mezzanine, San Francisco CA
Mar 27 4th & B Concert Theater, San Diego, CA
GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS
(Saw them in Santa Barbara, California...they give a mean live performace, grace potter has amazing vocals)
Feb 19 La Zona Rosa, Austin TX
Feb 20 House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
Feb 24 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville ,TN
March 6, Plaza Theater, Orlando, FL
March 9, Irving Plaza, New York, NY
March 25, House of Blues, Boston, MA
I have both other blogs and friends to thank for some tips, and other discoveries I can say I discovered myself! The playlist below helped get me through the Los Angeles traffic this weekend. Most of these are not especially new, but I am still enamored….check it out for yourself
- Loading Playlist...
For Your Convenience...A few tour dates
OH LAND
Feb 24 Scala, London
Mar 7 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA
Mar 8 Webster Hall, New York NY
Mar 22 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
Mar 25 The Music Box, Hollywood CA
Mar 26 Mezzanine, San Francisco CA
Mar 27 4th & B Concert Theater, San Diego, CA
GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS
(Saw them in Santa Barbara, California...they give a mean live performace, grace potter has amazing vocals)
Feb 19 La Zona Rosa, Austin TX
Feb 20 House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
Feb 24 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville ,TN
March 6, Plaza Theater, Orlando, FL
March 9, Irving Plaza, New York, NY
March 25, House of Blues, Boston, MA
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