Wednesday, 19 Apr 2006
New York, N.Y.
Why was last night different from all other nights on which people have gathered to party for an environmental crusade? Because it was the launch party for the first green issue of Vanity Fair -- a glossy, celebrity-drenched cry to mainstream America that global warming is "a threat graver than terrorism." About 450 people -- from friends of the magazine to a cross-section of New York City's green activists -- packed the swanky second floor of event co-sponsor ABC Home, a retailer of domestic luxe. They schmoozed, strategized, and even got a rousing bit of environmental gospel from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The sum of the evening's message? Denial of denial is the new environmentalism. It's OK to live well, as long as you live smart.
The guest of honor.
The badge of entry was a tiny pink peace-sign button, distributed to attendees as they were checked off the guest list. Co-hosts Paulette Cole, CEO and creative director of ABC Home, and Graydon Carter, editor in chief of Vanity Fair, circulated with smiles and handshakes. Guests in satin dresses and sharp suits snacked on raw-food treats and washed them down with organic cocktails. They kissed cheeks and traded business cards amid a pricey assortment of sustainable-sourced wood-top tables and organic-upholstered couches. "It's the green people meet the beautiful people," quipped Andrew Shapiro, founder and CEO of Green Order, the sustainable business consultancy that helped strategize GE's Ecomagination initiative. Despite this arch observation, Shapiro was enjoying the union, seeing it as a "directionally correct" manifestation of environmental concern beyond a narrow niche and into America at large.
Brian Howard, managing editor of E Magazine, agreed -- if from a slightly different angle. "E got a ton of negative feedback when it ran a cover featuring the Simpsons in the late 1990s," he said. "People said, 'These issues are serious. You can't run a cartoon on the front of the magazine!'" Taking a sip of his cu-tini -- a concoction of fresh cucumber juice, mint, agave nectar, grapefruit juice, and vodka, with a jaunty cucumber slice as garnish -- Howard wondered if the visibility of environmental issues on the Vanity Fair cover might help eco-activists lighten up a little. "Perhaps we're in the post-greenwashing stage," he said, "and now it's OK to be hip."
Olga Sasplugas and Graham Hill of Treehugger, Remy Chevalier of ICInyc.
Photos: Emily Gertz.
But at least one advocate was eyeing these hip doings with a bit of good-natured reserve. Wendy Brawer, founder and director of the Green Map System, was clearly enjoying herself (and her cu-tini), chatting with friends and colleagues like Remy Chevalier of ICInyc, Graham Hill of Treehugger, and Starre Vartan, founder and editor of the green blog Eco-Chick. As she surveyed the furniture selection, she wondered if there wasn't an inherent contradiction in the mix of materialism and environmentalism. "I hope when people walk into ABC, they'll also realize that things they already own just need a little twist to be made new again," she said.
Introducing speaker Kennedy, Cole referred to her inventory as "products that serve the planet, and allow consumers to vote with their dollars." Randy Hayes agrees that economics is an inescapable part of the picture. The Rainforest Action Network founder now directs the International Forum on Globalization, a think tank developing ideas and strategies for what he calls "ecologizing" capitalism. "An event like this has utility" for moving environmentalism beyond its niche status, he said. And so does far-reaching journalism like Vanity Fair's: "We need the hard-hitting stories that reach outside the choir."
Asked what he thinks has led to the rush of global-warming reporting in the glossies, Hayes had a one-word answer: "Katrina." The storm was "an eco-spasm that hit people in the solar plexus," he said. "Katrina's real name is climate disruption -- which will likely turn into climate chaos." Hayes feels Katrina has "triggered people to address the critical issue of our time: saving the life-support system of the earth."
The place to be scene.
So after all these years of environmentalists and scientists sounding the alarm and the press largely ignoring it, why is now the moment when Vanity Fair readers are ready for an issue about climate meltdown -- albeit one graced with an image of Julia Roberts as an eco-sprite? "At Vanity Fair, we cover all aspects of the national conversation -- and this is the subject not only of the moment, but of the decade and the century," said Carter after the event. "It should be on the cover of every magazine right now."
While researching his 2004 book What We've Lost, an indictment of the Bush administration, Carter got up to speed on the administration's crimes against the environment, especially its "gross negligence" on global warming. "That really got me going," he said, "and caused me to expand the magazine's coverage of the environment and to devote an entire issue to it."
Is this the flavor of the month? Will the memory of the cu-tini fade with the next glossy cover? Vanity Fair did earn jeers in some circles for backing away from printing the issue on recycled paper. But Carter says the magazine will continue to bolster its environmental journalism, and may put out a green issue every year.
For his part, Hayes sees the surge in green coverage as just one sign that despite the dire times, there's reason for hope. "We used to talk about the mainstream press -- now we talk about the media," he said. "This is mass media turning back into the free press."
Emily Gertz reports on environmental issues from her home base in Brooklyn, N.Y. She has written for Grist, BushGreenwatch, The Bear Deluxe, and other independent publications. She contributes to Worldchanging.com, and recently launched OneAtlantic.net.
Emily Gertz.
N.Y. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand answers Grist’s questions on the Kerry-Boxer bill
Comments
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gillo Posted 8:32 am
20 Apr 2006
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Emily Gertz Posted 9:31 am
20 Apr 2006
Here are the deets from caterer Pure Food and Wine in all their obsessive natural foodie glory:
Vanity Fair Menu:
A fresh seasonal menu of plant-based organic foods free of dairy, soy, and processed sugars all prepared under 118 degrees to retain the essential nutrients, enzymes and vitamins.
-Marinated Shiitake and Avocado Sushi Rolls (with a rice made of jicima and pine nuts) with
pink pickled ginger, sesame, and dulse (sea vegetable)
-Baby Fennel and Red Shiso Tarts with Almond Crust and a Black Truffle Cream
-Spicy Thai Lettuce Wraps with Mango, Savoy Cabbage and Tamarind Chili Sauce
-Creamy Cauliflower Samosas with Banana Tamarind Sauce, Mango Chutney, Garam Masala, Mint
-Watermelon Radish Summer Rolls with Sesame Dipping Sauce
-Dark Chocolate Layer Cakes with a "Milk Chocolate" Mousse and Chocolate Sauce
Cocktail Menu:
-Cu-tini: fresh cucumber juice mixed with mint, agave nectar, and vodka topped off with fresh grapefruit juice and a cucumber garnish.
-Acai Tini: Acai Berry (brazillian berry with notes of blueberry, pomegranate and chocolate) juice, agave nectar, lemon juice and vodka
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bookerly Posted 9:42 am
20 Apr 2006
The menu is lovely, and just goes to show that the rich truly are different!!! Sigh, it made me hungry and I am trying to diet...
It also made me wonder what they were serving in nearby soup kitchens that night...
(Wanting to keep the contradictions in mind!) (smile)
patrick
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David Roberts Posted 9:42 am
20 Apr 2006
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Emily Gertz Posted 1:48 am
21 Apr 2006
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Tom Philpott Posted 2:58 am
21 Apr 2006
I have to point out that, though, that from my experience, NY raw food organic fanatics can be nearly as clueless as McDonald's eaters about where there food comes from. If all of those veggies were of the quality I imagine they were, they likely grew in rich beds of well-composted animal manure. That's all. Wish i had been there.
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bookerly Posted 12:23 pm
21 Apr 2006
You are absolutely correct! I have many friends in NYC, and actually love the city. It is a great place, and I don't really begrudge people the right to indulge from time to time....
But I always want to remember the contradictions!
(And I have them too in my life.) (smile)
Umm, next time, you can send a doggie bag to Beijing, I wouldn't mind.
BTW, there are some fantastic vegetarian restaurants here, and the number of them is increasing, and they are growing in popularity. Many of them try to use as much organic produce as they can (which makes them a bit pricier).
patrick
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amazingdrx Posted 10:54 pm
21 Apr 2006
The king of plastic trash bag recycling at one chinese mega city landfill said he was living and working in the trash (against the wishes of the austrailian company that manages it) in order to put his children through school. A communist nation without public education, go figure?
He made 7 times as much as he could with a regular factory job there. From plastic bags!
Keep up the glamour Grist staff. That may be the only way to make the eco-fight popular. we don't hate you because you are beautiful, wealthy, successful, and popular. Honest, hehehey.
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amazingdrx Posted 10:58 pm
21 Apr 2006
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bookerly Posted 3:34 pm
24 Apr 2006
China is a developing country. That means roughly that it has less money than developed countries. Which means that free cradle to grave anything is not not affordable. There is a certain amount of free education available, but many Chinese families sacrifice (this may not be a word Americans understand) in order to give their children educational extras. And there are places where what should be free isn't.
BTW, the idea of land fill salvage gangs should appeal to us. we might think of them as "recyclers". We could hange the negative word "gang" (meanlingless here) to team and think about it. We might also look at people pushing shopping carts full of bottles on American streets for any of who think getting our hands dirty is a bad idea.
I travel frequently past a local dump/go through it area, and watch people "rescue" items that can be re-used. It's not a bad thing.
China has opened most of it's markets up, and is working on the rest (while trying to create 10 million jobs a year and deal with income discrepancies). That is what allows people recycling to make money (they are small business people, entreprenuers).
Umm, I personally don't have enough money to pay New York Times Select anything, much less 50 bucks. So, I can't comment on the accuracy of the report. The CSM has some of the dumbest reporting on China (the articles I have seen) and the WPost usually suggests the whole place will fall apart any minute (without quite saying so!).
Last night I gave a lecture on American culture at an ultramodern beautiful new campus on the outskirts of Beijing. The students were bright, and knew a lot more about America than most Americans know about China (they watch Donald Trump's show on TV at night (I had to tell them I have never seen it)).
patrick
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