  On May 12th, the Environmental Media Association launched an exciting new program to support and encourage organic gardens in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Nicole Richie, Amy Smart, Anna Getty and sponsor Yes to Inc. joined in at Helen Bernstein High School for the inaugural groundbreaking.In this time of school budget crisis, we can't forget the impact that organic gardens can have on a school and student body. Students who are able to leave the confines of a classroom for an outdoor, environmental experience learn more and test higher than other students. They also make healthier food choices in their own lives and have greater self-confidence and leadership skills. Focusing on urban and lower socio-economic areas, EMA hopes to have an impact on 25 schools in the Los Angeles area by fall 2009 The launch event showcased the LAUSD program and featured students from the high school planting with the celebrities. Most importantly, the event generated significant national media attention for school gardens to the tune of almost 70 million impressions. EMA President Debbie Levin hosted the event and was joined by speakers, LAUSD gardens guru Mud Baron, Anna Getty, Amy Smart, and Yes to Inc. co-founder and CEO Ido Leffler. One of the emotional highlights of the morning was a speech by a Bernstein High School student about the importance of this garden to him and his fellow students.
When school returns in the fall, EMA Young Hollywood Board members will adopt schools around the county to mentor and raise money for the cause. Additional Young Hollywood Board members include Rosario Dawson, Maroon 5, Emily VanCamp, Olivia Wilde, Lance Bass and many others. Moving forward, EMA hopes to take this program national with additional fundraising and celebrity support. And as a final note, we have to say thank you to our inaugural sponsor, personal care brand, Yes to Inc. Without them, the launch and fall program wouldn't be possible. |
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 EMA established the EMA Green Seal in 2004 as an Award that recognized and praised film and television productions incorporating green initiatives into production practices. As environmental awareness has become more mainstream, EMA has seized the opportunity to create a more robust EMA Green Seal program through a partnership with the Washington, DC based non-profit organization, Green Seal. The Green Seal Organization is a recognized leader in the field of best sustainability practices for many industries. Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Their industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life. Through our program, EMA and Green Seal will provide comprehensive information regarding reduction of waste, increased energy efficiency, promotion of sustainable consumption, as well as other steps in the greening process. The environmental benefits of such practices and relevant sourcing information will also be provided to make the process as straightforward as possible. Our newest EMA Green Seal program will allow EMA and Green Seal to simultaneously promote sustainable production methods and highlight those in the industry who make strides in incorporating these practices into both film and television production. The first EMA Green Seal Awards using these new criteria will be handed out in 2010, and we look forward to a long and lasting partnership with the Green Seal organization. For more information on our criteria and resources, please go to http://www.ema-online.org/green_seal.php |
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 EMA partnered with the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) in order to incorporate sustainability into the production of the annual SAG Awards. Held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in January, EMA and the SAG producers focused on waste stream reductions to come as close as possible to a zero-waste event. The goal was to immediately address and reduce the environmental impact of the event and to create a framework to build on for future SAG Awards. When presented with the opportunity, the producers of the SAG Awards immediately seized upon the chance to "green" their event and have made long term commitments towards sustainability - beginning with this year's show. The 2009 SAG Awards featured many environmental initiatives including comprehensive recycling and composting, local and organic foods, recycling and reuse of all staging and red carpets, and the purchase of materials made with recycled goods - actions earning them an EMA Green Seal Award. Coordinating the environmental initiatives for an event as large as the SAG Awards at first appeared daunting, but once primary and secondary goals were set, all that remained was determining how best to proceed. By establishing the initial best practices, the first year was a success and EMA and SAG have formed a partnership, which will broaden its scope each successive year. We congratulate SAG on the great strides they made this year and for their great commitment to environmental awareness. In upcoming years watch to see what SAG and EMA can do together. New initiatives will be adopted each year as we work to reduce the footprint of this event towards the ultimate goal of a zero-waste event. We look forward to this ongoing partnership. |
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  Personal care brand Yes To Inc. has joined the Environmental Media Association as a sponsor and corporate board member. This unique brand brings organic products to the masses with distribution around the country in places like Vons, Walgreens and Target. Co-founder and CEO Ido Leffler started Yes To Inc. with the idea that organic products like their amazing skin care or their Yes to Tomatoes body wash shouldn't break the bank. Paraben-free and certified USDA organic, consumers can feel good about going organic with a lip balm that you can even eat! In addition to great products, Yes To is committed to making a difference in the world with their Yes to Carrots Seed Fund, a non-profit organization created to help underprivileged communities develop self-sustaining, organic food sources. Funded by a portion of their sales, we can all feel good about going organic. Through that fund, Yes To Inc. has come on board as the inaugural sponsor of EMA's organic gardens program with the Los Angeles Unified School District. This is a long-term project to spotlight the need for organic gardens in every school in the country, and Yes To will be working with EMA every step of the way. "I couldn't be more thrilled to start this new partnership with Yes To Inc.," said Debbie Levin, President of EMA. "They have come on as a very committed partner with our organic gardens program, and we look forward to watching it grow together."
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  EMA and Leeza Gibbons invited celebrities to join in at TreePeople's Headquarters in Coldwater Canyon Park in Beverly Hills to plant trees and show Hollywood's commitment to greening the planet. On a beautiful April morning celebrities gathered together to support this worthy cause. Jim Hardie, TreePeople's Director of Park Operations, welcomed and thanked everyone for their help and concern about the environment as celebrities gathered their planting tools and trees in preparation.Leeza Gibbons and Olivia Newton-John, both deeply committed to caring for the planet, inspired the tree planting. On Oscar Night, they hosted a special event titled A Night to Make a Difference, where Leeza and Olivia committed to dedicating 100 trees  through TreePeople's Gift of Life Tree Dedications program. These trees were planted in the park woodlands and mountains surrounding Los Angeles, but our celebrity tree planters including Rachelle Carson, Sarah Clarke, Olesya Rulin, Debby Ryan, Taylor Spreitler, Jennifer Stone, Justin Martin, Yara Shahidi, KayCee Stroh, and Alani ‘La La' Vazquez, lovingly planted the first five trees. At A Night to Make A Difference, each celebrity from film, TV, sports and fashion had a particular message or mission that was featured on a live web broadcast. These stars were their "ambassadors of change" and while each one had a passion for a specific charity or cause, they all consider themselves stakeholders in the environment. In the end, Leeza streamed her live show to 71 countries, and a million and a half viewers saw the celebrities’ messages on Oscar Night. All of them were invested in the environment. Their hope is that the Night to Make a Difference party helped to underscore the importance of greening the planet and the role Hollywood and celebrities continue to play as agents of change. |
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 Featured at Susan Feniger's new restaurant Street, this wonderful salad highlights garden fresh beets, while steering clear of the standard "beet/goat cheese thing". Paired with peppery watercress, parsley, sweet apples and currants, walnuts, and a distinctive juniper berry-infused vinaigrette, it's a modern take on traditional ingredients of Scandinavia. "It's stuff I love to eat together and it's not weighted down by cheese or other heavy ingredients that often get paired with beets," says Street Co-Chef Kajsa Alger. Serves 4 2 large golden beets, roasted and cut into small wedges 1 large red beet, roasted and cut into small wedges 2 bunches watercress, trimmed 1/2 bunch parsley leaves 2 apples, thinly sliced 1 cup walnut pieces, toasted 1 cup dried currants 1/2 cup Juniper Vinaigrette (see recipe below), to taste 1/2 cup high quality granola Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Toss all ingredients together in a large salad bowl, except for the granola. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper and additional Juniper Vinaigrette if necessary. Divide salad between 4 chilled plates, crumble granola over top, and serve immediately. Juniper Vinaigrette Makes 2 cups 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice1 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 4 teaspoons freshly ground juniper berries Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until emulsified. Copyright © 2009, Susan Feniger and Kajsa Alger Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are Chef/Owners of Border Grill Santa Monica, Border Grill Las Vegas, and Ciudad restaurants. Susan is also Chef/Owner of Street, along with Kajsa Alger. For more info, go to www.marysueandsusan.com and www.eatatstreet.com. |
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Copyright © 2009 Environmental Media Association
On a picture perfect day in Los Angeles at the beautiful home of Jane Long Gering, 50 busy working Mom's were guests of EMA and InStyle Magazine to learn about the importance of having a green and sustainable home.
