Category Archives: Pop Culture

10 Movies with Environmental Themes

  By Donna DeForbes | July 21, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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10 Environmental Themed Movies for the Family | Eco-Mothering.com

It’s summer. The kids are home, the weather is hot, and, in some cases, the brain is on vacation. Relaxing in a cool, darkened room with a good visual story can sometimes be the best way to unwind or enjoy a connecting family evening. If your inner natural parent feels guilty about letting the kids watch a movie, consider choosing one with environmental content. The first five films in this post are great for little kids. The next five are more for adults or teens. All of them involve a great story that goes beyond a preachy eco message. Enjoy! Family-Friendly Movies: FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992) – This animated movie (with humor from Robin Williams) has rainforest inhabitants trying to save their home from loggers and a dark force named Nexxus. One of the loggers is shrunk to fairy size where he views things from a different point of … Continue reading →

Generation Gap (In Defense of Gen Xers)

  By Donna DeForbes | May 12, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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In Defense of Gen Xers | Eco-Mothering.com

Like it or not, my daughter is growing up a part of Generation Z being defined as the most entrepreneurial, collaborative, and socially conscious group of people yet. It seems like a good thing. Studies say Gen Z are more educated, make healthier choices and are cautious in their spending—the results, perhaps, of growing up in a world defined by digital media, global connection and depleting resources. I can’t help but feel a little bit jealous and, even defensive, of my own Generation X (roughly, those born between 1965 and 1980). The Baby Boomers labeled us as such due to the challenge of identifying the “X” factor that represented us. They called us cynical, anxious, unfocused slackers. Really, we are the children of the 70’s and 80’s, a group sandwiched between two larger and flashier generations. We got lost in the shuffle. We started out in safe, idyllic childhoods but … Continue reading →

Top 5 Eco Tips for Hosting an Oscar Party

  By Donna DeForbes | February 21, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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oscar-party-tips

The Academy Awards are coming up, and I’ve been a fan of the show since childhood. Even if I haven’t seen any of the nominated movies (as is the case this year), it’s fun to ogle the stars, laugh at Ellen’s jokes and discuss fashion with my daughter. Last year I even wrote about the eco gowns on the red carpet. (I’m hoping for more of those this year.) With Oscar season comes Oscar parties, so here are a few ways you can green yours. Cast Your Vote Electronically It may seem like a small thing, but why print out ballots when some sites offer easy online voting? Both Oscar.go.com and Entertainment Tonight offer options where you can make your picks via Facebook and even compare with friends. An added benefit? The computer does all the tallying so you don’t have to worry about your math skills after downing a few … Continue reading →

Top 5 Greenest U.S. Presidents

  By Donna DeForbes | February 14, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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Greenest U.S. Presidents | Eco-Mothering.com

A 2012 survey of environmental heavyweights (including organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists) led to a list of the greenest presidents our country has seen so far. You can read my post at Earth911 about 4 eco lessons we can learn from them. Here are the top 5 with a few reasons why they earned the nod. (It’s interesting to note that two were Republican!) Theodore Roosevelt (R) Famous for his conservation efforts, Teddy—our 26th president—persistently lobbied Congress for wilderness protection and revolutionized the U.S. Forest Service. Under his authority, five national parks were created as well as 51 wildlife refuges, 18 national monuments, and 150 new national forests (protecting 172 million acres of land). Richard Nixon (R) Love him or hate him, you have to give Nixon credit for supporting landmark environmental legislation. Nixon helped establish the Environmental Protection Agency … Continue reading →

Downton Abbey: The Crunchy Green Version

  By Donna DeForbes | January 14, 2014 - 5:00 am |
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The Greening of Downton Abbey | Eco-Mothering.com|

I’m a Downton Abbey fan in the throes of Season 5. But from my position entrenched in the green movement, I sometimes find it hard to wrap my head around their aristocratic and often excessive lifestyle. Which got me to thinking: What would it look like if Downton Abbey became crunchy? In an effort to reduce their footprint, the family would reside in just a few rooms (changing the name to Downton Cottage). They’d convert the rest of the abbey to greenhouse space for growing vegetables to feed the town. Lady Mary and Lady Edith would wear only ethically manufactured dresses in organic fabrics. Their accessories would come from secondhand shops or upcycled household items. Lord Grantham would stubbornly refuse to replace his daily newspaper with the tree-friendly e-version. Mrs. Patmore and Daisy would each have a unique role in the kitchen duties. One would cook for the vegan members … Continue reading →

Top 3 Eco-Friendly Fashions at the Oscars

  By Donna DeForbes | March 1, 2013 - 7:00 am |
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Eco Fashion | Eco-Mothering.com

I grew up watching the pre-Oscar Red Carpet interviews, and now my daughter watches it with me. Even at six, she has strong opinions on which dresses she likes. I originally wrote about eco-friendly Oscar fashion in 2010 when I discovered Livia Firth’s company, Eco Age, and the Green Carpet Challenge. Last year, Oscar-winner Meryl Streep’s gold Lanvin gown was highlighted for its eco- consciousness, so I was a bit disappointed to see so few sustainable designs this season. I couldn’t even get enough to make a Top 5 list! However, here are the top 3. NAOMIE HARRIS Actress in Skyfall and Pirates of the Carribbean Harris wore the winning sustainable design from the 4th Annual Red Carpet Green Dress Challenge. Created by Vivienne Westwood and Michael Badger, Harris’ stunning mustard-colored gown was made from GOTS certified organic silk Crepe De Chine with natural plant dyes, recycled zippers and—wait for it—recycled candy … Continue reading →

Top 5 Oscar-Nominated Green Celebrities

  By Donna DeForbes | February 22, 2013 - 6:00 am | ,
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Colin Firth

Even though posh Hollywood is hardly the standard of going green, I am a sucker for watching the Academy Awards every year. Out of curiosity, I have done some research on which celebrities have a green streak in them. So in honor of the upcoming Oscars, I made my Top 5 list of Oscar-nominated eco-friendly celebrities. Leonardo DiCaprio (three Oscar nominations, most recently in 2013 for Leading Actor in The Wolf of Wall Street) Founder of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which works to secure a sustainable future, DiCaprio has fostered environmental awareness throughout his life including support for universal clean water and reducing greenhouse gases. His documentary, The 11th Hour, offers solutions to global warming. The hybrid car-driving actor (who often flies commercial rather than via private jet) has been an active supporter of World Wildlife Fund, National Resources Defense Council and Global Green USA. Natalie Portman (two Oscar nominations … Continue reading →

Top 5 Ways Super Bowl XLVII is Going Green

  By Donna DeForbes | February 1, 2013 - 7:00 am | ,
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I’ve watched the Super Bowl—for the game and the commercials—every year as long as I can remember. I am a sports fan, and Super Bowl Sunday is a great reason to cozy up with friends, 3-bean chili and a hot toddy. (Thanks for the recipe, Vanessa!) The event is not usually something you think of as being eco-friendly. However, this year’s Super Bowl is being touted as the “greenest Super Bowl ever.” So green they even set up a New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee Environmental Program. Here are the top 5 ways organizations are pitching in to make the big game sustainable. Planting a record number of trees. In the months leading up to the Super Bowl, the NFL and New Orleans Super Bowl Environmental Committee partnered with Hike for KaTREEna to plant 7,000 trees in and around New Orleans (over 100,000 were lost during Hurricane Katrina). This breaks the previous record by a Super … Continue reading →