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02-26-2007, 09:57 AM
People in the midwest scratching their heads saying "Oh, those Hollywood folks -- they're too full of themselves!" (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/sc_afp/afpentertainmentoscarsfilmenvironment_070226085228)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Al_Gore_An_Inconvenient_Truth.jpgRob Woollard - AFP - Feb. 26, 2007
Al Gore - Oscar winner for “An Inconvenient Truth”.
HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Oscars gold turned green on Sunday as Hollywood pledged allegiance to the anti-global warming crusade waged by environmental globe-trotter Al Gore.
From the environmentally friendly cars dropping off stars on the red carpet to Gore's acceptance speech rallying cry against the perils of climate change, the 79th Academy Awards will be remembered as the green Oscars.
Heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio set the mood for the evening by arriving for the red carpet parade at the Kodak Theatre in a Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid car on the US market which is powered by electricity and gasoline.
DiCaprio, who has a long track record of campaigning for environmental issues, urged the government to address the problem of global warming.
"Cleaner cars, energy efficient homes, and green building help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," DiCaprio said.
"We need our leaders in Washington to listen to the growing chorus of scientists and experts saying that we must put in place binding emission reductions to combat global warming."
Other celebrities to join DiCaprio in favoring green transportation over gas-guzzling stretch limos and sports utility vehicles included Penelope Cruz, Forest Whitaker, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Gwyneth Paltrow.
But the rock-star treatment was reserved for Gore, who has undergone a mammoth public relations makeover since his defeat to President George W. Bush in the disputed 2000 election.
Many analysts believe he could yet enter the 2008 race for the White House although Gore has repeatedly said he is unlikely to run for office.
Instead he used used his acceptance speech for best documentary "Inconvenient Truth" to once again call for action to tackle global warming.
"My fellow Americans ... people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis," Gore said. "It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue.
"We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource," Gore said to loud cheers.
The love-in also saw song-writer Melissa Etheridge heap praise on Gore as she collected her Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth's" best original song "I Need to Wake Up."
"I have to thank Al Gore for inspiring us, inspiring me, showing that caring about the Earth is not Republican or Democrat," Etheridge said.
"It's not red or blue, we are all green. This is our job. Now we can become the greatest generation, the generation that changed, the generation that woke up and did something and changed. I love you all."
But Hollywood-watchers were sceptical about the 'green Oscars' saying that most stars would likely to revert to gasoline-thirsty vehicles once out of the Oscars spotlight.
"There's a lot of posturing going on," said Lew Harris, the editorial director of Movies.com. "Leonardo DiCaprio is very serious about the environment, but the idea of a green Oscars is kind of silly.
"They had green limos and stuff like that, it was a nice gesture, but it was one of the gestures that has the people in the midwest scratching their heads and saying 'Oh, those Hollywood folks -- they're too full of themselves!"
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Al_Gore_An_Inconvenient_Truth.jpgRob Woollard - AFP - Feb. 26, 2007
Al Gore - Oscar winner for “An Inconvenient Truth”.
HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Oscars gold turned green on Sunday as Hollywood pledged allegiance to the anti-global warming crusade waged by environmental globe-trotter Al Gore.
From the environmentally friendly cars dropping off stars on the red carpet to Gore's acceptance speech rallying cry against the perils of climate change, the 79th Academy Awards will be remembered as the green Oscars.
Heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio set the mood for the evening by arriving for the red carpet parade at the Kodak Theatre in a Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid car on the US market which is powered by electricity and gasoline.
DiCaprio, who has a long track record of campaigning for environmental issues, urged the government to address the problem of global warming.
"Cleaner cars, energy efficient homes, and green building help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," DiCaprio said.
"We need our leaders in Washington to listen to the growing chorus of scientists and experts saying that we must put in place binding emission reductions to combat global warming."
Other celebrities to join DiCaprio in favoring green transportation over gas-guzzling stretch limos and sports utility vehicles included Penelope Cruz, Forest Whitaker, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Gwyneth Paltrow.
But the rock-star treatment was reserved for Gore, who has undergone a mammoth public relations makeover since his defeat to President George W. Bush in the disputed 2000 election.
Many analysts believe he could yet enter the 2008 race for the White House although Gore has repeatedly said he is unlikely to run for office.
Instead he used used his acceptance speech for best documentary "Inconvenient Truth" to once again call for action to tackle global warming.
"My fellow Americans ... people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis," Gore said. "It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue.
"We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource," Gore said to loud cheers.
The love-in also saw song-writer Melissa Etheridge heap praise on Gore as she collected her Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth's" best original song "I Need to Wake Up."
"I have to thank Al Gore for inspiring us, inspiring me, showing that caring about the Earth is not Republican or Democrat," Etheridge said.
"It's not red or blue, we are all green. This is our job. Now we can become the greatest generation, the generation that changed, the generation that woke up and did something and changed. I love you all."
But Hollywood-watchers were sceptical about the 'green Oscars' saying that most stars would likely to revert to gasoline-thirsty vehicles once out of the Oscars spotlight.
"There's a lot of posturing going on," said Lew Harris, the editorial director of Movies.com. "Leonardo DiCaprio is very serious about the environment, but the idea of a green Oscars is kind of silly.
"They had green limos and stuff like that, it was a nice gesture, but it was one of the gestures that has the people in the midwest scratching their heads and saying 'Oh, those Hollywood folks -- they're too full of themselves!"