The Millennial Files

Hollywood’s Walking the Talk

When it comes to politics, Hollywood often gets slammed for speaking out about issues of which they supposedly know nothing. The first punch is these are only actors, and therefore lacking in the brains department. The second slam is, even if they are mildly intelligent, they should not be allowed to take advantage of their high visibility the Common Man does not have access to — although if that’s the case, then people like Michelle Malkin and Melanie Morgan should also give up their blogs and careers in “opinion journalism,” something I consider an oxymoron.

If that doesn’t work, then a sucker punch of “they are hypocrites” — arriving at the Oscars in eco-friendly rides while their Hummers are parked in their driveway — something even the journalist, David Colker could not resist when he wrote a piece on an eco-friendly limosine service for the LA Times. “A spin with Ecolimo allows Hollywood figures to be environmentally correct in public even if that’s not the case in their private lives.” But what about when it IS the case in their private lives?

For example, not only is Edward Norton an Academy Award nominee, he is also the founder of GreenBuilding.com, a non-profit organization that makes green power literally available to low income Los Angelenos, through a partnership with BP’s Solar Neighbors Program. Specifically, when a celebrity purchases a solar home, BP Solar Neighbors provides a solar system for a resident of a low-income neighborhood. Not only do both provide clean energy, it also makes that energy available and affordable to a population that would not otherwise have access to it.

Some Green Building celebrities who have participated in this program are Larry Hagman, Daryl Hannah, Don Cheadle, Robin Williams, Ed Begley, Jr., Alicia Silverstone, Danny deVito, Salma Hayek, Rhea Pearlman and Brad Pitt, proving they are not only willing to walk the talk, but available to make the same resources and opportunites accessible to those less fortunate than themselves.Furthermore, the tradition of environmentally clean, upper class neighborhoods juxtaposed to environmentally toxic ,low income regions is altered.

Can the same be said for right-wing talk-show hosts and bloggers?