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September 07 And finally...As I’ve been going on about every week for the entirety of this blog, it is vitally important that the effects of climate change are harnessed sooner rather than later. There just isn’t the time to wait. We are already witnessing the catastrophic consequences that climate change causes.
And what I’ve loved about the Live Earth experience, it doesn’t matter on what scale we act, every little counts. Either on a worldwide scale such as we saw on the day of the concerts, where seven countries took part and millions more tuned in; to governments, organisations, charities or even individuals making a difference in their own homes.
Just think of all that we’d miss out on if the world continued to deteriorate. This is such a beautiful planet and we have been presented with such a wonderful gift. It’s our job to keep it special and intact for future generations. I think for all the animals of the world as well, many of which are being threatened due to climate change. This is our responsibility. If we were powerful/stupid enough to create such a mess, then we are certainly responsible for fixing it.
People often comment that we live in a selfish world and in many ways we do, but Climate change is an issue that really does affect all us. From wherever you are in the world, religion, prosperity, race, whatever, this is a matter which unites us all in a common cause. Everyone needs to their bit. This is our world, our home, and it’s the only one we’ve got! It’s down to all of us to do something, so start doing yours.
I’m feeling quite empowered after writing all of that. You go, girl! So enough of the lecture now…
I’ve got an environment programme for channel 4 coming up later in the year for which I did an interview with Al Gore; please keep an eye out for that.
So… was Live Earth worth it? And what have we learnt? Well, my answer to that is a lot I hope! I know I certainly have.
Stay green and thanks for reading. Love June xxx
September 06 Aide memoireWriting this blog has given me the opportunity to look more in depth at certain issues such as the stunning Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana, whose fragile ecology is threatened by global warming, and the people working tirelessly to try to save it. And the Environment Trust in Richmond, working to improve their environment for the benefit of the local community. I investigated home composting, which is becoming very fashionable now I hear – great news, considering it is such an effective way of recycling (if only I had a proper garden!). And also living off grid, without electricity – sounds very virtuous, but I’m not sure I’m entirely ready for that way of life yet. After all, how could I possibly blog without a computer?!
While I’ve been writing this blog, the UK (a country known for its rain, but definitely not its extreme weather) faced horrific floods, which cost lives as well as millions of pounds of damage. Families were forced out of their homes for weeks and even I felt the consequences when my roof was endlessly dripping. This was such a stark contrast to last year, when we faced awful droughts and everywhere dried up. Elsewhere around the globe, there was the horrendous Hurricane Dean which rampaged its way through the Caribbean.
These are the true and all too vivid effects of global warming and I don’t know about you, but I find it scary – really scary! Is this really the state of the world to come? For so long people denied and chose to ignore the threat of climate change. But it’s happening – and it’s happening fast.
Along the way, I’ve tried to share as many tips and tricks as possible. Here are my top 10 ways to go green:
1. Use a hybrid car 2. Put on a sweater instead of turning up the radiator 3. Use internet banking to save paper 4. Compost your kitchen waste 5. Take a shower instead of a bath 6. Buy local produce and save on air miles 7. Turn appliances off instead of leaving them on standby – and unplug those unused mobile phone chargers! 8. Buy energy saving light bulbs: they can be cheaper and last much longer 9. Don’t use your car for short journeys, walk or cycle instead 10. Recycle, recycle, recycle! Recycle as much as you can: paper, metal, glass, cardboard, plastic milk bottles, cans, the list goes on… GreenpeaceI recently met the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Dr Gerd Leipold, and asked him to put together a few words and send us a message. This is what he day to say:
“As Executive Director of Greenpeace International, people often ask me what they can do to stop climate change. And often I am tempted to say, ‘Storm the coal plant construction sites! Shut them down! Blockade the bulldozers! Blockade coal shipments! Now is the time for an energy revolution!’
“We need more people taking peaceful, direct action to save our planet. But I know very well that not everybody can be an activist. And I know that climate change will not be prevented by activists alone.
“Actually, home activism and consumer activism by millions of people may be even more important. A small change in your own life is the starting point. Switch your energy guzzling incandescent lightbulbs to energy-saving CFLs. Don’t even wait for the old bulbs to burn out. Change them today. This will help cut down on the need for polluting coal and nuclear power plants, while saving you money: a good investment all round.
“And while I'm preaching to you, you may want to know what I have also made these changes in my own life. Well, of course changing lightbulbs. Also, TV, broadband modem and stereo are no longer on standby – I turn them off religiously after each use. And guess what? It has now just become a routine, I don't think about it anymore – which is good and bad. Good, because there is so little effort involved that I often can't remember my bad old habits. Bad, because my conscience still asks me: what are you doing to stop climate change?” Find out more at www.greenpeace.org/international September 05 ...gone. But not forgotten!I started my Live Earth journey with a voyage across the waters to the eternally sunny Los Angeles. I was there for the Live Earth festival, to see the films that had been made about climate change in association with Live Earth and to listen to a number of seminars on the dangers of climate change. I learnt something there, too, and that was the importance of offsetting. I used a carbon calculator to work out what my journey to and from LA had cost the environment and immediately started to explore ways of offsetting my carbon footprint.
I have been lucky enough to meet and speak to a huge array of celebrities and personalities, throughout this time, about their understanding of climate change, including Prince Charles, who set an example by successfully making his Highgrove home carbon neutral. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, was engaging young people in a debate about climate change; comedian Ricky Gervais is saving energy by not flushing the toilet (it’s amazing how many male celebs felt that washing was no longer a priority – including Russell Brand, who is foregoing clothes entirely) and Dermot O’Leary has set up his own worm farm.
How could I possibly talk about my Live Earth blog without a proper mention to the whirlwind day of concerts that took place all around the world? Wow! It was a long, long day but amazing… it was truly amazing! The London Live Earth had a stellar line-up of musicians and stars (make sure you take a look at all the pics from the day) and – not that I’m biased, or anything – it was definitely the best of the gigs. I met loads of people there, all committed to stopping global warming in its tracks. And who said trying to save the world was just for hippies? Clearly they didn’t see The Red Hot Chilli Peppers rocking away, or The Pussycat Dolls shaking their stuff...
Live Earth defied so many boundaries: music, ages, language... you name it! Of course there were the cynics, but then there always are. Some of the musicians, such as the Black Eyed Peas, were quite frank with me, admitting they have six hummers between them, but I was pleased to hear they will be swapping them for energy-saving hybrids. But good on the Brit singers and bands: they really were serious about their commitment to the environment. I remember David Gray telling me how he was planning to do a series of online concerts for his fans instead of racking up his carbon footprint from touring. The guys from Kasabian get around on public transport whenever possible, while Simon Le Bon and Corrine Bailey Rae have been getting green-fingered by growing their own veg. So in the land of celeb, green is definitely the new black!
A quick mention to lots of other fabulous people doing their bit along the way: Geri Halliwell, Beverly Knight, Nancy Dell’Olio, Will Young, Paolo Nutini, Jonathan Ross, Chris Rock, Sir Alex Ferguson, Akon, Jamie Bell and Kelly Osbourne.
It was a really wonderful day! I just hope the message of Live Earth lasts for many years to come. Surely such a memorable day with such a poignant and serious message will remain just that – memorable. September 03 Going, going...I had a very busy day on Friday, filming at T4. First off, the cast of cult TV show Heroes, which has recently moved to the BBC, popped along. The beautiful young Hayden Panettiere, who plays Claire the self-healing cheerleader, and Jack Coleman, who plays her shady father in the show, came along to the studio for an interview. I haven’t seen a whole lot of this show, but what I have seen I’ve really enjoyed. Hayden was great: she’s only 17 but has done so much already, a really sweet down-to-earth girl.
Also along for an interview was the delightfully eccentric Will.I.Am from the fantastic Black Eyed Peas. He was there to promote his new album, Songs About Girls, and his new single from that album. The Black Eyed Peas had to be one of my highlights from the Live Earth concert. I was luckily enough to go on stage in front of the masses and introduce their performance to a very excited audience. Their energy on that stage was amazing! Having thousands of people sing along to your songs must be such a buzz. Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong career – performing to such huge crowds must be so much fun. Actually, on second thoughts, you have to be able to sing to be in a band. I guess that’s me out, then!
On Thursday evening the gorgeous Sienna Miller was hosting a fabulous party that I went along to for a while. I’d also like to drop in a mention to Abigail, my assistant, who is going off to uni in about a month and this is her last day of work. Good luck to her! I took her out for dinner on Friday to The Ivy along with some friends.
For those of you who don’t know, this is my last week of blogging (Boo!) for MSN Live Earth. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and appreciate all of those who have been tuning in and reading my rambles for the last 12 weeks. This week I will be summing up my highs and lows of the Live Earth experience, from 7/7/07 that was the amazing concert to the appalling weather we have been having this summer. Keep reading! August 29 A tribute to Nelson MandelaLast night I went to a fantastic event that was held in tribute to the truly amazing and inspirational leader, Nelson Mandela. It was The Black Leader’s Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London which was honouring him, partly in anticipation of the unveiling of his statue today. I’ve been lucky enough to meet the man himself when working on the Make Poverty History campaign, and what a man! I was absolutely intimidated – he has such a huge reputation, but all my nerves were cast aside when I actually met him, he was so warm and genuine. Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, hosted the night, but unfortunately Mandela was unable to attend himself. He was too tired after travelling and wanted to work on his speech for the unveiling today. He’s now 89, I understand, so I guess we can’t expect him to party like the rest of us anymore. But saying that, I bet most of the time his social diary is far busier than mine! But he left a message to everyone at the event reminding them of their responsibility as role models to the young. Loads of fab people from the world of showbiz, business, politics and sport were there last night, all wanting to recognise the achievements of such a great man. Supermodel Naomi Campbell was there, along with singer Mica Paris, beautiful British writer-director Amma Asante, newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald, Jermaine Defoe and his girlfriend, Charlotte (who was on the show Wags Boutique which I presented earlier this year) and last, but by no means least, the lovely Baroness Amos. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the unveiling this morning as I had another appointment. I know the statue of Mandela has caused a lot of controversy because it is being erected in Westminster Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament, where only statues of dead leaders have been placed before. Some believe this tradition should be strictly upheld, but I think for such an inspirational man (who is so old anyway) and has influenced so many lives, why not make an exception? After all, he is an exceptional man. August 28 Sing Star ExtravaganzaLast Thursday I went to The Café de Paris in London with my friend Gerry where the fabulous Sing Star Extravanganza ball was taking place. A slightly bizarre, but nonetheless very enjoyable, night. The Sing Star Extravaganza is an event for charity created by PlayStation for Body & Soul, an organisation which supports families in the UK affected by HIV.
It’s described as the ball to end all balls and I was there as a judge, along with the lovely Kelly Osbourne (see pic), fab designer Giles Deacon and drag queen extraordinaire Jodie Harsh amongst others. The event was inspired by the ‘80s New York clubbing scene of vogueing and glitter. When I saw the dress code of Disco Diva, I knew I was in for a fun (if not interesting) night! There were a number of Sing Star battles, followed by a runway walk-off all in aid of finding the ultimate Diva. Yes, if you haven’t guessed by now, this was a night for drag queens. The prize-winning categories included Pop Princess, Ghetto Superstar and Rock Chick. The night was hosted by my co-presenter on T4, Miquita Oliver, and there was music by Siobhan Donaghy (ex-Sugarbabe) and DJ Sean Rowley. I know that I had a fantastic time, but I can also honestly say that good fun was had by all! The Café de Paris is a beautiful venue that was totally suited to the glamour of the evening with its fabulous golden ballroom. It was a wonderful night of glitz, glamour and plenty of sparkle. Just what every girl needs now and again. I hope everyone had a lovely bank holiday weekend. It’s always nice to get that extra day of rest. I keep getting myself in a muddle though, thinking that it’s Monday. Oh well, I guess it’s only a good thing come Friday when the weekend seems one day early. And hurray: ee finally saw some sunshine – about time, really!! Tomorrow I’m off to Manchester and then, in the evening, I’m watching a musical at the Opera House that my friend produced, Never Forget, featuring Take That songs. Can’t wait! August 24 Top of the (compost) heapA couple of weeks ago, I noticed in the Sunday Times Style Magazine that home composting was going up in the world. “Everyone’s doing it,” it said. As a dedicated follower of green, I thought I’d better investigate what all this was about. I recycle all the waste I can through my council collection, but, since I l don’t have a garden, I have never considered home composting as an option. If I’m honest, I’d always thought of home composting as something that grandfathers did, but it seems that home composting has had an image change – and anyone who’s anyone is getting involved. The list of celebrity composters includes Dame Helen Mirren, Chris Evans and the usual suspects such as TV gardener Charlie Dimmock. After a quick visit to www.recyclenow.com/compost, I discovered that over 1.5 million compost bins have been sold in the last few years. This government-funded scheme offers people compost bins for as little as £8, which seems like a real bargain. I’ve definitely been missing out. So, how do you get started? Well, apparently all you need is a compost bin and a small outdoor space. Around one third of the contents of an average household bin is biodegradable and can be composted. The most weird and wonderful things can be put into the bin to break down to form a rich and free fertiliser for your plants and vegetables, which is then ready to use on the garden after about nine months. Garden prunings, leaves and grass cuttings can all go in, along with food such as vegetable peelings and apple cores. I also read about some really unusual items. I would never have expected that you could compost eggshells, shredded paper and cardboard or the contents of your vacuum cleaner. Even tea bags and coffee grounds can go in. A friend of mine keeps a little caddy bin on her kitchen worktop to store up bits and pieces before putting them into her compost bin. If this waste was sent to landfill, it would break down without oxygen, which produces methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. However, when you add the same waste to your compost bin, it breaks down with oxygen and no methane is produced – great news for the environment! So for now, until I get a garden, I won’t be able to indulge in this great way of recycling. However, I hope that my little information gathering mission has been of use to you. And I’ve also been reading about wormeries, which apparently do the same thing and can be kept on a balcony or small patio area, so maybe I’ll look into getting one of those. I know my friend Dermot O’Leary has one, but that sounds like an investigation for another day! August 22 There he blowsOh dear, Hurricane Dean is on a real rampage around the Caribbean. It thundered its way through Jamaica and has now hit Mexico and Belize with its full force. Hurricanes are so catastrophic: 12 people have died so far as a result of Dean. Who knows how many more? Hurricanes effect everyone: the locals, tourists, businesses and I hear even the native Mayan people are being battered. In such a poor country as Mexico they really can’t afford for their infrastructure to be hit, such as their offshore oil platforms which were under siege earlier today. I don’t think I could ever forget what happened in New Orleans. It truly was shocking that in a developed country such as America, an environmental catastrophe could still cause so much damage. Mother Nature strikes again, it seems. Eighty per cent of the city was flooded under 15 feet of water, and 90% of residents had to evacuate. That’s huge! Almost 1,500 people lost their lives in New Orleans alone as a result of that single hurricane. Although I haven’t visited New Orleans, I hear that the city has still not yet recovered two years on But this is the future for all of us if something isn’t done to combat climate change soon. Something like six new hurricanes occurs each year as a direct result of rising sea temperatures. What’s making the sea temperature rise? Global warming – it’s just staggering. Hurricanes are an authentic reminder of what happens if we don’t look after our planet: death and destruction. It might sound unrealistically dramatic, like something out of a disaster film, but it’s the sad reality that we are facing. But this isn’t a film, it’s real life and living people have to put up with the consequences. And what’s so sad is that it’s often the poorest communities that suffer the worst effects of such a disaster, often caused by the unnecessary consumption of the rich. To be honest, I find it really, really scary. To think that this may one day become the norm doesn’t even bear thinking about. August 21 Kicking back with KanyeSo I’ve just got back from Ibiza, where I spent a lovely few days staying with my friends at their villa. Was loads of fun, I got to go to several parties and it was so nice to finally see some sun!!! I had a very busy day yesterday spent taking Kanye West around London for a Channel 4 show with Vodafone TBA. Past shows have included Razorlight, Amy Winehouse and Kasabian, but I’ve always thought that Kanye West has always been a bit special. Kanye is well known for not promoting violence in his lyrics, which is something so many hip hop artists are guilty of. Instead he talks about hopes and dreams and how to get what you want from life. He’s been in the UK busy promoting his new album, Graduation, and has also got a new single out called Stronger. Last week he did a great job hosting Channel 4’s Friday Night Project with Alan Carr, with hilarious outcomes. For a man so usually surrounded by such a mysterious persona, it was great to get to know a bit more about him. I also really admire that as a musician he appeals to such a diverse audience, breaking down so many stereotypes of his genre. For the show, I was showing him London. The secret concert was being held in Westminster so we had a look round there, at Westminster bridge and around the embankment. From there we went vintage sunglasses shopping – Kanye is well known for his love of glasses. This was followed by a good ol’ pampering session at the traditional barber shop, Trumpers, in Jermyn Street. I love a good old fashioned dandy. So, after showing Kanye around the sights of London (swapping the customary rapper’s fave of Hummers and limos for a black cab, you’ll be pleased to know!), we headed back for the concert. Vodafone customers, on the day, get a text saying where they have to go for the concert. So it really is top secret! All of a sudden, fans descended in their swarms on The Central Methodist Hall in the heart of Westminster, replacing the usual humming of tourists. Hearing such a modern, innovative artist in such an old and beautiful venue was certainly unique. Needless to say everyone was excited and the atmosphere was electric! And what a gig! He put on a stomping show, enjoyed by all. I had a really great (if not longggg) day. August 16 Your planet needs YOU!I’m having such a great time meeting people who are so passionate about our environment. The message from Live Earth went out to every part of the globe that we need to fight the damage climate change is doing to our planet. It’s been fantastic to see how the many gigs around the world really raised awareness of the need for action. Everyone’s been talking about them. It’s really important that we keep the momentum up and make sure we get real change. It’s a battle the world has to win.
But protecting our environment isn’t just about mega events like this. It’s also about doing something positive in your neighbourhood. Every day thousands of people are getting involved in projects that are making a real difference – like the volunteers at the Environment Trust in Richmond upon Thames, a charity formed by local people who are doing some fantastic work in their area. They’re a great bunch (see my picture of Yvonna, Rob, Angela and Sara by the river) who do amazing things such as saving and restoring beautiful historic buildings and planting hedges by busy roads to make them safer and more attractive. What a wonderful idea! It’s great to see how a practical activity like this can really make a difference to the local environment while brightening up the area for everyone.
And their successes are not just on dry land. They do an incredible job of caring for the river as it flows through their area. They’re always out and about on their bit of the Thames having fun by making it a cleaner and better place. Many years ago, it was home to a huge variety of plants and animals. Riverbanks were packed with life, but as time moved on erosion took place, destroying valuable sites for wildlife. Well, because of the efforts of volunteers from Environment Trust, riverbanks are being brought back to life and the local environment is getting better and better. It just goes to show that by spending a bit of spare time doing some practical things how you can make a massive contribution to protecting the local environment.
They’re really keen to keep up the good work and always welcome new people who’d like to get involved. They’ve got some great ideas for the future, especially for activities with the river. Have a look at their website www.environmenttrust.co.uk and see if it inspires you to get involved in your local area.
Sometimes it seems that environmental problems are so big. Where do you start if you want to make a difference? Well, this is a great reminder of how we can all do something practical and local. And, no matter what the size of the challenge, we can all play our part in protecting the environment. August 15 Architects of changeLast night, I played tennis with Dr Raj Persuad, the TV doctor, and his lovely wife Fran. And Oh My Gosh I was truly awful!! Trust me: after last night’s performance, I am certainly not harbouring any dreams about winning Wimbledon. I wonder if Dr Raj could read anything physiologically into my dreadful performance... I hope not!
I’m on a bit of an exercise kick at the moment. I’m determined to get fit. I have been going cycling a few times lately, which is always good fun and is such a great way to get healthy because it doesn’t even feel like too much effort. I’ve been cycling through St James’ Park and Hyde Park, which are looking so beautiful at the moment. Shame about the horrible weather, though! I suppose at least the trees and plants are benefiting from all the rain we have been having and the pelicans in St James’ Park seemed to enjoy splashing around.
Tonight, I’m going for dinner with my friend David Adjaye, who is one of the UK’s leading architects. I first met David a few years ago while at a dinner with former Prime Minister Tony Blair. We are going to the Boxwood café, Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at The Berkeley. Really looking forward to it! Sounds glamorous, but I do have virtuous intentions as well. Over dinner I am going to quiz him about eco-friendly and sustainable buildings. What with so many people and businesses now wanting to live a greener lifestyle, architects are having to adjust the buildings we live and work in to accomodate the change. Not so sure I could personally live off the grid, but I do want to live a greener lifestyle. Hopefully David can give me lots of advice tonight as eco-friendly living is something he really is passionate about.
I’m off on holiday tomorrow to Ibiza for a few days, staying at a friend’s villa. Should be good fun! Let’s hope I don’t undo all my good work trying to get fit, but... laying around by a pool doing nothing for a few days? On second thoughts… sounds great, I can’t wait! August 14 Jamie Bell: from Billy Elliot to Hallam FoeLast week I interviewed the lovely actor Jamie Bell, star of the film Billy Elliot. He has a new film coming out, called Hallam Foe, which looks great. The interview was for my regular presenting job on Channel 4’s T4. I absolutely loved the film Billy Elliot, which was incidentally on TV the other night, such a great film! It’s one of those happy films which always cheers you up, whatever mood you are in, and makes you feel good about the world. I also hear that the musical is fab, although I haven’t had a chance to go and see it myself yet.
Jamie is a really sweet guy, totally adorable – take a look at the pic! He’s still so young, but has done so much and is completely grounded – a rare thing when it comes to Hollywood’s youth. The film also stars the very beautiful Sophia Myles, another great young British actor who made her name playing Isolde in Tristan & Isolde.
Jamie was telling me how he is now living in New York, where he is never recognised – which is refreshing. Still, living in the States gives him the opportunity to dip his toe in, as it were, to the land of Hollywood every once and a while. He is really enjoying being back at home at the moment, though.
So anyway, the film: Hallam Foe, played by Jamie Bell, becomes obsessed with finding out more about his mother’s alleged suicide. Did it have something to do with his new stepmother? His obsession turns into a fascination with spying on people’s lives to try to find out more. After running away from home, he strikes up a bizarre relationship with the character Kate, played by Sophia Myles who reminds him of his dead mother. Sounds very interesting…
The film has already won awards and the reviews are fantastic. I suggest you check it out for yourself – it’s due in UK cinemas at the end of August. August 10 Fashion Rocks and the art of living off-gridFashion Rocks
I had a meeting with Channel 4 yesterday and they asked me to work on this year’s Fashion Rocks. It will be a T4 Special and is a great highlight of the year for me – especially as it is in aid of the Prince’s Trust, one of my three chosen charities.
Fashion Rocks is being hosted by Samuel L Jackson and is taking place at the Albert Hall on the 18th October. If you haven’t yet seen this extravaganza, it brings together great design and music on one stage. The world’s greatest current designers have already signed up to take part. Check out www.princes-trust.org.uk/fashionrocks/ for more details.
Living off the Grid
I’ve had a great reaction to the practical environmental info in my blog. We all understand we need to do our bit, but I’m now being asked how you can do more than regular recycling. So, if you are planning to live a more eco-lifestyle and need to do so inexpensively, check out a great new book called How to Live Off-Grid.
It's about living in places that have no mains water or power or sewage or phone, and still enjoying a 21st century life. That means the book has sections on solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, water storage and generally surviving outside the mainstream system.
But the main part of the book is about author Nick Rosen's journey around the UK, meeting people who live off-grid from Cornwall to north-west Scotland. He travelled in a vegetable oil-fuelled camper van and visited every kind of off-gridder, from groups of people living in the woods, to millionaire mansions, to ordinary families living in remote houses, or caravans on farms, or yurts in fields. He found that as soon as you don’t have a switch you can just flip on every time you need power, your consumption goes right down.
And the same is true for water. When you don’t have unlimited water, you learn how little you really need. As long as you keep a beady eye on your consumption then you can have all the things we expect to find in any house – including a fridge and washing machine (low energy models that use less power, of course).
Nick reckons there are at least 75,000 people living off-grid in the UK all year round, and that number triples in the summer as people get on the road in camper vans or move out of rented accommodation and join communities all over the UK. Most live in the countryside, but there are many in cities and on the edge of cities. Even in London there are thousands of people living on canal boats, stationed in temporary moorings without mains power connections. Most of them work, doing anything from carpentry to management consultancy, but they wanted to free themselves from massive mortgages and are happy with the small sacrifices they make in exchange.
Nick is no Ray Mears, but he got by just fine in his camper van, stopping off on beaches and behind hedgerows. He also managed to write half his book in the van, using a laptop computer powered by a solar panel on the roof. And he still had email thanks to a Vodafone gadget that plugs into the computer.
The key lesson he learnt was that you can live a green life without going back to the Stone Age, by using to the latest technology and reducing your consumption to the minimum. I’m not yet ready to take such a step, but well done to all those prepared to give it a go. I’m sure over time their experience will lead to it being cheaper and easier for more of us to get our energy from a wider variety of natural sources.
Nick's web site is www.off-grid.net, and you can read extracts there, and buy the book. It is definitely one to make you think.
A quintessential English gentI just interviewed Rupert Everett for T4. He’s a quintessential English gentleman with a dirty sense of humour!
Rupert has just published his autobiography, Red Carpets and Banana Skins. It dishes the dirt on Hollywood. Rupert said the book had quite an impact and he’s had some threatening phone calls, but wouldn’t name names!
Rupert explains how difficult it was to “come out” in Hollywood. He said he’d been lucky. He had good friends and was offered some great parts. But others are not so lucky. He works with many actors who feel their careers would be finished if they said they were gay. This kind of thing pulls you up. I think those working in the media and creative industries often assume they are more liberal than they really are.
Rupert also talked about his new film, Stardust, written by Jane Goldman. It has the most amazing cast: Michelle Pfeiffer (fresh from Hairspray), Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller and Ricky Gervais. It is a great Harry Potter-style romp for all ages.
Rupert himself plays a ghost. Most of all, I was impressed with his commitment to the environment: Rupert always cycles everywhere in London. He says with his pedal power he’s carbon neutral.
I’ve spent most of the last week filming a new green show for C4, so I haven’t been out much. But I did manage to go to dinner with my friends Caprice, Lisa I’Anson and Amma Asante at the E&O in Notting Hill. It’s a restaurant I’d recommend, but we did get told off for making so much noise. We were celebrating Amma having funding for her latest film project with Quentin Tarantino. She tells me it’s a period piece – very different to Quentin’s normal work.
I also went to Kylie’s party last Friday to celebrate her 20th anniversary in the business. She looked radiant in a Roberto Cavalli dress. All her family had come over from Australia and lots of her Aussie friends, like the incredibly smart and funny Kathy Lette. It was just a beautiful event. Kylie was very excited about her recent Dr Who shoot. It took three and a half weeks and consisted of 14 hour days. Lucky girl also got to kiss David Tennant (I don’t know if I should have said that). Kylie’s currently in the studios so I’m looking forward to her new album. She deserves every success, she is the nicest and most gracious A-lister there is!
As I write this, I am waiting for the builders. My ceiling is down and I can’t use my bedroom. I am just one of the many people clearing up from the awful weather. I feel terrible for those around Britain who have been completed flooded. I can’t begin to understand how difficult it must be for those families with children and particularly elderly people. I am fit and able, so how must it be for those who are not?
Remind me again, who said that global warming doesn’t exist?!
August 06 Not sure what to do with your life?I recently did some filming for a programme called Law of The Playground. It was talking about your weird and wonderful experiences at school. And what fun times they were! It was strange to be back at my old school after so many years, and to meet some of my old teachers.
People often ask me how I got started in my job. I’m very lucky to have such a great job that I love doing, and I’m very aware of that. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to university or not. I’d always got good grades but I just wasn’t sure if it was for me.
To make up my mind I decided to get some work experience and was very fortunate to be offered a place at Kiss FM, a very popular London radio station. The work was unpaid, of course, but I really enjoyed it, so didn’t mind. I worked hard and eventually it paid off: they offered me a paid job!
The rest, as they say, is history. From there, I got into music, which helped me to get a job presenting at MTV. I did that for a while, then got my job at T4 – where I have always enjoyed myself and have had the opportunity to meet and work alongside so many amazing people.
I would really recommend that, if you are not sure what you want to do, volunteer for a while! Yes, it might be unpaid and you always get stuck with the boring jobs, but you never know where it might take you. Just look at me! My advice to young people is to get as much experience on your CV as possible. Working at a shop might get you some money for a while, but if you wanted to get into TV, for example, it might ultimately be more rewarding volunteering at a TV channel or production company. Send in a CV and see how it goes. You’ve got nothing to lose! August 03 Iwokrama rainforestWhen people talk about climate change – and they do that a lot these day – the subject of rainforests always seems to come up. Losing the world’s forests will have a significant effect on our climate. Deforestation has more impact on global warming than the whole of aviation.
Rainforests absorb carbon dioxide, plus they’re home to endangered species and much more. Ninety per cent of the world’s poor depend on forests for their wellbeing. We cannot do without rainforest either: just look at the wood we use in our homes. Yet we continue to destroy forests, despite the fact they play a critical role in the future of our planet.
But there’s some good news: one rainforest that isn’t being destroyed – far from it! It’s alive and well and making a valuable contribution to our understanding of climate change. It is 4,000 miles from here, in South America. Its name is Iwokrama, which means, in the language of the local Makushi tribe, “a place of refuge”. The Iwokrama rainforest, comprising a million acres, sits right at the heart of Guyana. Iwokrama is an extraordinary place: over 200 lakes, rivers flowing over volcanic dykes, 1,000 metre mountains, lowland tropical rain forests, palm forests and savannah. It is part of one of the last four remaining intact rainforests in the world and home to the Amerindian Makushi people, as well as to some of the world’s most endangered species, including the jaguar; the giant harpy eagle; the giant anteater; the giant river otter; the anaconda; the black caiman and the giant river turtle. But Iwokrama is much more than just a beautiful, vibrant place. It’s a living classroom, where the world can learn about rainforest management, climate change, eco-tourism and more. The Iwokrama International Centre, founded in 1996 to manage the forest, is home to a unique experiment: to test whether conservation, environmental balance and sustainable economic activity can be compatible. The Prince of Wales is patron of the centre and I’m involved in the making of a short film about Iwokrama. For this experiment, the forest has been divided into two main areas: the part which is cultivated and harvested in a sustainable way and a huge wilderness preserve. Scientists are comparing how they are reacting to being left alone and how they are reacting to human activity. Today it operates a strictly controlled, sustainable and community friendly experiment harvesting 20,000 cubic metres of timber per year. This experiment is even more special because the local Amerindian communities are shareholders in the harvesting operation. Naturally the income goes straight back into promoting conservation, bringing ecological, economic and social benefits to this remarkable place. This is ground-breaking work! Iwokrama has already developed a small but successful tourism operation, welcoming around 1,000 visitors a year. Where else in the world could you experience this? What a place to visit! A truly unique eco-tourism destination, offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the dazzling diversity and splendour of life in the rainforest, to learn more about the threat of climate change and how it will be possible to conserve rainforests. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate how to use resources in a highly sustainable way for the sake of the people who depend on the forests – the local communities and even you and I. Why not visit the Iwokrama website on www.Iwokrama.org and see for yourself. August 01 Use your voice!Last week I went to my friend Siobhain’s party for being an elected representative for 25 years. She was a councillor for 15 years, and now an MP for 10 years. She said the best thing she ever did was to be come a councillor and it changed her life forever.
I would strongly advise people to get involved in politics at some level or another. Everyone has an opinion on something and can get involved, whether it is joining a political party, becoming a member of a trade union, or taking part in cause campaigns.
But if party politics is not necessarily your thing, why not join an organisation that supports a cause, such as Amnesty International? Or support an NGO campaigning for the environment, such as Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace? Or help to tackle poverty by donating to a charity like Oxfam? Even attending a concert like Live Earth helps get a political message across.
But it doesn’t have to be on such a great scale, you could still do great things in your own local community. Schools are always desperate for governors: if you are not happy about the results your local school is getting, you can do something about it by joining the governing board. You can get involved at any age! You can even become a local councillor for your community at 18 now. Something as simple as writing a letter to your council to encourage it to improve its recycling policy, or even setting up a local action group to clean up the streets, can have an impact.
If you are not happy with something on any scale – internationally or on your own doorstep – you have the power to do something about it! There’s nothing more rewarding than achieving something you have worked for. Don’t ever feel that your voice doesn’t count, but sometimes it’s that little bit louder if there are others working alongside you. Nothing is too big or too small and every difference counts.
July 30 Lookin' goodSo over the weekend I did a make-over photo shoot with a few friends, which was great fun: everyone needs a bit of pampering now and again! With the help of a stylist and a ‘glam squad,’ we transformed them into ultra-glamorous people. These types of things that you see in the magazines can all be a bit superficial, but I do hope that it brought them a relaxing day and helped to bring out their confidence.
I did a programme a while back about the fashion industry called Slave to Fashion. It’s amazing what a bit of retouching can do! If you look in the mirror and think “Why don’t I look like a supermodel?”, chances are it’s because supermodels don’t usually look like supermodels, either. We’ve all seen the pictures of them without make up in the gossip magazines – not such a pretty sight!
I’m very privileged that, because of my career, I have a lot of help to make me look good – well, decent at least! I get sent lots of clothes and am very reliant on my fabulous hair and make-up stylists, but it helps me to feel more confident. And feeling confident about the way you look is a very important thing. It doesn’t take a lot for it to be damaged: going to work with a bad hair day, wearing too short a skirt to the wrong event, not knowing how to dress for your body shape. Do you remember that feeling when you were at school and you were the only person who didn’t have the latest pair of trainers? Not nice.
All women are beautiful: that is a fact. And I just wish more women appreciated how beautiful they really are. I think men also have confidence problems with the way they look. It’s just as important to them, so we women need to indulge their ego every now and again, too.
I’ve just been filming for the BBC comedy series Little Miss Jocelyn, taking part in a hilariously funny but very silly sketch. It was such a laugh to film. I don’t know how they managed to film anything, what with us laughing the whole time. Sometimes you have to cast your inhibitions aside and just have fun!
Love June xxx July 27 The Global Warming Survival HandbookI just wanted to say congratulations to my friend David De Rothschild and to Live Earth for the great success they are having with their recently released book, The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential Skills to Stop Climate Change or Live Through It. It’s doing fabulously well, has got great reviews and even made the New York Times Best sellers List. Well done to you!
The book contains some really simple suggestions on how you can make a green difference in your everyday life, such as banking online to save on all the paperwork involved. How about an even simpler one? If you’re cold, don’t turn up the thermostat, put on a sweater! The book is really informative, but so easy to read. It’s funny and helpful. Take a sneak peek at some of the pages here: http://origin.liveearth.uk.msn.com/green/galleries/if_all_else_fails.aspx. As the book says: green is definitely the new black!! Love June xxx |
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