Talking to a Famous Personhttp://www.good.is/GOOD sits down with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between to discuss how they are using their voices and resources to make a difference.Sat, 26 May 2012 20:53:01 -0700CakePHPhourly1en-us <![CDATA[Talking to a Famous Person: Roy Choi]]> http://www.good.is/post/talking-to-a-famous-person-roy-choi/ http://www.good.is/post/talking-to-a-famous-person-roy-choi/

Once a rebellious scholar, Roy Choi is now known as the father of Los Angeles's taco truck revolution—though the Tupac-quoting, sometimes foul-mouthed Choi is still pretty rebellious. After dropping out of law school and going through a bit of a dark period, Choi decided to take up the culinary arts after being inspired by Emeril Lagasse's Essence of Emeril  cooking show . He went to culinary school and worked at a few restaurants before developing his signature Korean tacos and buying a fleet of trucks to reach the hungry people of Los Angeles. The rest, as they say, is history. Read on to learn more about the man behind Kogi trucks and how he feels about the food truck revolution.

GOOD: What's your favorite recipe to make at home?

ROY CHOI: I don't cook by recipes at home. I cook out of love and mood. There is a lot of flea market type digging through cupboards and refrigerators to create new dishes. Sometimes I buy a really great quality piece of something, then work from there.

G: An article in The Wall Street Journal described you as a "Tupac Shakur-quoting chef." Give us a taste. What's your favorite Tupac lyric?

RC: Tupac Shakur, my man. Not so much a lyric but a phrase he used, "let's get rich people to live like poor people and poor people to live like rich people and switch it up each day then we can see what's up" [or] "Peace? fuck peace! Not until you clean up the garbage that you put on us, not until we get a piece....fuck peace, are we headed for doom or peace? There can never be peace until we get a piece."  Something like that.

G: As the food truck craze continues to grow and there are more trucks on the road, do you feel a sense of community developing among the other owners?

RC: I don't know about community amongst food truck owners. LA is my community. This is not a fraternity rush for me, I'm just trying to feed people and bring a little joy or anxiety to their day.

G: What has the response been to your newest restaurant, Chego!? What was the inspiration behind starting it?

RC: Chego has started off busy and created a lot of mixed emotions, but I like mixed emotions. We cook a certain way here at Kogi/Chego and if it confuses you, upsets you, enlightens you, then isn't that more fun than just satisfying you?

Chego came about 'cause we saved some money and had a spark creatively, found a cheap space, had a great idea, the team was spiritually ready for the challenge, and we wanted to create a place that was a shout out to our immigrant parents and how they created their own mark on America for us. It is a poem to the first generation from their children but in our language. That's whassup!

G: You and your business partner Mark Manguera are often credited with starting the food truck revolution. What about trucks make your Korean tacos taste better? How did you and Manguera come up with the idea?

RC: I don't talk about how the idea of our truck came about anymore. You can look that up anywhere online. We are different now and you can just think like we spawned from the shadows of LA and now we are here, it doesn't matter anymore why or how. But the truck is an oiled baseball mit, it holds so much spirit and history, just the existence of its existence makes the food taste better.

G: In the beginning, Kogi parked outside of nightclubs to attract customers and some trucks still show up near clubs. What is the best or worst part about catering to inebriated club-goers? Any fun stories to share?
    
RC: Our food is everyday food. It is food to fill your soul. We are not trying to make a statement with the food. When you are drunk or stoned you get hungry. You have limited choices (diners, fast food, dirty dogs, korean joints) we just wanted to add another flavor to your night. The first night to see people's faces was funny, drunk, horny, sweaty, hungry, full of energy creeping up on the truck and yelling to their friends "Yo, there are mutha fuckin' Asians in this truck cooking tacos?"
"You want one?"
"Yeah, sure, fuck it." 
Then silence, and, "Can I get another?"

G: You've said that you decided to take up a career as a chef watching Essence of Emeril. What is it about Emeril that made you excited about working in the kitchen? What chefs currently inspire you?
    
RC: Emeril back in the mid-nineties was the man. He had his show that was very personal, low budget, and put some great food on the screen. I have never met him but that dude saved a hopeless twenty-something [and made] a connection. I hope I can do the same for some upside down youngsters out there. I have been very fortunate to meet a lot of the new breed of chefs out here in America, Dave Chang, Jeremy Fox, James Syhabout, Nate Appleman, David Meyers, Vinny and Jon from Animal, Daniel Holzman, Akira Back, Bill Kim, Neal Fraser, Octavio Becerra, Michael Voltaggio, Ilan Hall, Mary Sue Millikin and Susan Fenniger, Nancy Silverton, Michelle Bernstein, Norman Van Aken, Daniel Boulud, Rick Bayless, Mourad Lahlou, and more.  They have all been cool as fuck to me and I truly appreciate that, because they didn't have to be. But, I am inspired by my team, they are young, fearless, and honest.

G: Initially, you used Twitter and Facebook to get the word out about the venture. How big a role does social media still play in Kogi?

RC: Social media is not my realm. I type with one finger and do not know how to cut, copy, or paste. Alice Shin is the Hall to my Oates the Garfunkel to my Simon the White to my Stripes. It is her infectious writing, our renegade nature, and the fact that we can broadcast that out to hundreds of thousands of people which defines the role of social media in my book.

G: Do you plan on introducing trucks in any other cities outside of Los Angeles?

RC: LA is my home. I don't know if we are ready for time shares or vacation homes yet. But I would love to get our food to other cities or countries. Just don't know how to do it without losing our soul, haven't figured that shit out yet. But stay tuned.

G: How do you approach developing a new creation? What's the first step?
    
RC: New creations have no first step. They are like melodies, they just happen and I try to catch them like butterflies.
 

]]>

Once a rebellious scholar, Roy Choi is now known as the father of Los Angeles's taco truck revolution—though the Tupac-quoting, sometimes foul-mouthed Choi is still pretty rebellious. After dropping out of law school and going through a bit of a dark period, Choi decided to take up the culinary arts after being inspired by Emeril Lagasse's Essence of Emeril  cooking show . He went to culinary school and worked at a few restaurants before developing his signature Korean tacos and buying a fleet of trucks to reach the hungry people of Los Angeles. The rest, as they say, is history. Read on to learn more about the man behind Kogi trucks and how he feels about the food truck revolution.

GOOD: What's your favorite recipe to make at home?

ROY CHOI: I don't cook by recipes at home. I cook out of love and mood. There is a lot of flea market type digging through cupboards and refrigerators to create new dishes. Sometimes I buy a really great quality piece of something, then work from there.

G: An article in The Wall Street Journal described you as a "Tupac Shakur-quoting chef." Give us a taste. What's your favorite Tupac lyric?

RC: Tupac Shakur, my man. Not so much a lyric but a phrase he used, "let's get rich people to live like poor people and poor people to live like rich people and switch it up each day then we can see what's up" [or] "Peace? fuck peace! Not until you clean up the garbage that you put on us, not until we get a piece....fuck peace, are we headed for doom or peace? There can never be peace until we get a piece."  Something like that.

G: As the food truck craze continues to grow and there are more trucks on the road, do you feel a sense of community developing among the other owners?

RC: I don't know about community amongst food truck owners. LA is my community. This is not a fraternity rush for me, I'm just trying to feed people and bring a little joy or anxiety to their day.

G: What has the response been to your newest restaurant, Chego!? What was the inspiration behind starting it?

RC: Chego has started off busy and created a lot of mixed emotions, but I like mixed emotions. We cook a certain way here at Kogi/Chego and if it confuses you, upsets you, enlightens you, then isn't that more fun than just satisfying you?

Chego came about 'cause we saved some money and had a spark creatively, found a cheap space, had a great idea, the team was spiritually ready for the challenge, and we wanted to create a place that was a shout out to our immigrant parents and how they created their own mark on America for us. It is a poem to the first generation from their children but in our language. That's whassup!

G: You and your business partner Mark Manguera are often credited with starting the food truck revolution. What about trucks make your Korean tacos taste better? How did you and Manguera come up with the idea?

RC: I don't talk about how the idea of our truck came about anymore. You can look that up anywhere online. We are different now and you can just think like we spawned from the shadows of LA and now we are here, it doesn't matter anymore why or how. But the truck is an oiled baseball mit, it holds so much spirit and history, just the existence of its existence makes the food taste better.

G: In the beginning, Kogi parked outside of nightclubs to attract customers and some trucks still show up near clubs. What is the best or worst part about catering to inebriated club-goers? Any fun stories to share?
    
RC: Our food is everyday food. It is food to fill your soul. We are not trying to make a statement with the food. When you are drunk or stoned you get hungry. You have limited choices (diners, fast food, dirty dogs, korean joints) we just wanted to add another flavor to your night. The first night to see people's faces was funny, drunk, horny, sweaty, hungry, full of energy creeping up on the truck and yelling to their friends "Yo, there are mutha fuckin' Asians in this truck cooking tacos?"
"You want one?"
"Yeah, sure, fuck it." 
Then silence, and, "Can I get another?"

G: You've said that you decided to take up a career as a chef watching Essence of Emeril. What is it about Emeril that made you excited about working in the kitchen? What chefs currently inspire you?
    
RC: Emeril back in the mid-nineties was the man. He had his show that was very personal, low budget, and put some great food on the screen. I have never met him but that dude saved a hopeless twenty-something [and made] a connection. I hope I can do the same for some upside down youngsters out there. I have been very fortunate to meet a lot of the new breed of chefs out here in America, Dave Chang, Jeremy Fox, James Syhabout, Nate Appleman, David Meyers, Vinny and Jon from Animal, Daniel Holzman, Akira Back, Bill Kim, Neal Fraser, Octavio Becerra, Michael Voltaggio, Ilan Hall, Mary Sue Millikin and Susan Fenniger, Nancy Silverton, Michelle Bernstein, Norman Van Aken, Daniel Boulud, Rick Bayless, Mourad Lahlou, and more.  They have all been cool as fuck to me and I truly appreciate that, because they didn't have to be. But, I am inspired by my team, they are young, fearless, and honest.

G: Initially, you used Twitter and Facebook to get the word out about the venture. How big a role does social media still play in Kogi?

RC: Social media is not my realm. I type with one finger and do not know how to cut, copy, or paste. Alice Shin is the Hall to my Oates the Garfunkel to my Simon the White to my Stripes. It is her infectious writing, our renegade nature, and the fact that we can broadcast that out to hundreds of thousands of people which defines the role of social media in my book.

G: Do you plan on introducing trucks in any other cities outside of Los Angeles?

RC: LA is my home. I don't know if we are ready for time shares or vacation homes yet. But I would love to get our food to other cities or countries. Just don't know how to do it without losing our soul, haven't figured that shit out yet. But stay tuned.

G: How do you approach developing a new creation? What's the first step?
    
RC: New creations have no first step. They are like melodies, they just happen and I try to catch them like butterflies.
 

]]> Hillary Newman Fri, 4 Jun 2010 14:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Talking to a Famous Person: Adam Gardner]]> http://www.good.is/post/talking-to-a-famous-person-adam-gardner/ http://www.good.is/post/talking-to-a-famous-person-adam-gardner/ As the lead singer and guitarist for Guster, Adam Gardner witnessed firsthand the damaging effects of a concert tour. Stick around after the final encore and there's a littered venue and a parade of dirty tour buses. To help reduce the waste touring bands create, Gardner and wife Lauren Sullivan created Reverb. The project works with artists to reduce their carbon footprint while on tour and aims to educate fans about local and national environmental nonprofits.

GOOD: What was the first song you learned to play on guitar?

Adam Gardner: Wow, I’m stretching my memory back to when I was 12 years old. I think it was either “Refugee” by Tom Petty or “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. I was listening to a lot of classic rock back then.

G: You testified to Congress about sustainable biofuels in 2007. What did you hope to achieve? Have you seen any positive changes since then?
      
AG: My goal was to reinforce the fact that biofuels were indeed a feasible and viable solution to fossil fuels and that not all biofuels are created equally. There are sustainable ways for biofuels to be produced and there are not such sustainable ways. I emphasized the need for legislation on biofuels based on environmental performance and the need for a shift in thinking to a community-based system. It’s been proven that in a community-based system (where the biofuels are sourced, produced, and sold locally) that 90 cents on the dollar stays in the local economy.

G: Your wife, Lauren Sullivan, is an environmentalist as well and the co-founder of the nonprofit group Reverb. Is the Gardner household sustainable?

AG: It was really my wife’s environmentalism that rubbed off on me! Once we started living together, suddenly I was eating vegetarian, composting, walking everywhere, running the laundry machine in off-peak hours. It was the dichotomy between how I was living at home and what life on the road was like with my band (gas–guzzling tour bus, trash all over the place at the end of a show, awful fast food, etc.) that sparked the idea for Reverb in the first place.

G: What was the first tour Reverb worked on greening? How has your approach changed from the first tour to now?

AG: Our first tour that we greened was a co-headlining tour with Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies the summer of 2004. Lauren and I chased the tour in Guster’s old van—I’ve never been more sleep deprived!  We’d set up an Eco-Village (the tents and banners were lent to us from Bonnie Raitt, who did something similar on her 2002 Green Highway Tour) interact with fans all day, pack up the Eco-Village, drive to the next city after the show that night, and start over the next day.

That first tour was mostly focused on connecting fans to local nonprofit groups in the Eco-Village and getting the awareness out. It was literally just Lauren and I for that tour and whatever friends around the country we could get to help us. We had volunteer fans bringing home bags of recyclables from backstage because the venues didn’t recycle.

Since then we’ve gone on to green over 85 major tours including Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, and many others. Now we have much more comprehensive greening programs backstage: fueling tour busses with biodiesel, sourcing local farmers for catering, reusable water bottles and water stations, biodegradable catering products, environmental requirements for venues, rechargeable batteries onstage, etc. We also have expanded fan communication beyond the concerts through the bands’ social media and by creating official band-specific greening websites with info and fan calls-to-action.

G: Very cool. What is the most environmentally damaging effect of tours today that Reverb focuses on?  

AG: Fans’ travel to and from the shows is the largest piece of the environmental impact of a concert event—over 75 percent of the carbon footprint. To combat this, we set up an online rideshare service with partners like PickUpPal and Zimride for fans to carpool to shows. We work with venues to create priority parking for cars with four or more people in them so they can get in and out of the show faster. This along with other incentives like being entered to win ticket upgrades and meet and greets with the band helps get fans excited and motivated to carpool and take public transportation. It’s definitely making a difference—Phish fans eliminated 728,000 miles of driving by carpooling on Phish’s summer tour alone!

We also activate a fan carbon offset program for fans to neutralize the carbon emissions from traveling to the show. Even if they took the train to a show, there is still a carbon footprint. On Dave Matthews Band’s last summer tour, fans reduced over 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide between carpooling and carbon offsets.

G:The Green Music Group, a Reverb project aimed at greening the music community, recently launched with a number of founding artists, venues, and labels. What are you doing to get more of the music community to participate?

AG: The Green Music Group is a coalition of musicians, music industry leaders, and music fans coming together to bring about widespread environmental change within the music community and around the globe. The majority of GMG’s founding members are artists partly because the music community revolves around musicians, and partly because many musicians have been leading the charge environmentally. It was equally important to include venues, labels and most of all, music fans!

Founding members, such as Maroon 5, The Roots, Warner Music Group, and Comcast Center, along with Reverb will be setting environmental benchmarks and criterion for joining GMG. Once these are published, we will invite all those interested to committing to these benchmarks (or have already been meeting the criterion) to join us and spread the word! We will expand to other sectors of the music community as well: radio stations, festivals, tour bus companies, etc.

To attract fans to get involved, we recently launched the Green Music Group Challenge—a series of calls-to-action from founding artists directly to fans. So one week it’s a video message from Sheryl Crow asking you to write an email to your senator to support environmental legislation, the next week it’s Dave Matthews Band asking you to participate in a community service project. All of this is incentivized by sweet prizes for each challenge as well as the grand prize: a Honda Insight Hybrid. Anyone can take part, so please join us!

G: According to the GMG website, the group will be offering "Green Grants." What will people have to do to earn one of these grants? What kinds of projects would you hope to fund?

AG: At first, this will be geared toward up-and-coming bands that want to go green but need help and resources. Reverb will be giving their time to “teach a man to fish” so that these bands can continue more earth-friendly tours for the rest of their careers.

G:How are you planning on reaching out to other musical groups? Is there one artist in particular that you'd love to work with?

AG: The good news is there’s already been a number of artists reaching out to us that want to take part. Once we set the environmental benchmarks for joining we will open up membership to those who commit to these criterion.  

We in particular are interested in diversifying the genres and audiences of artists that get involved. We’re excited to see hip hop artists starting to take this on and country would be great to get involved next!

G:What can attendees of Campus Consciousness Tours expect?

AG: The 5th Annual Campus Consciousness Tour has been going great!  Ben Harper and Relentless 7 just finished their portion of the tour and the Drake leg has been sold out and nuts! In addition to the concerts, we co-host daytime activities on campus with the student environmental groups including community service projects, eco-screen printing (on T-shirts made from recycled threads and plastic bottles), and town hall forum discussions.  

At the shows we have our interactive Eco-Village set up with student groups, games, an eco-pledge photo booth, like-minded brands (Silk Soymilk, Brita’s Filter For Good, and Anvil’s eco-friendly T-shirt line), and nonprofit partners (this year it is HeadCount, Hip Hop Caucus, Sierra Club, and Green For All). The focus of the nonprofit partners this year is lifting urban youth out of poverty through green jobs and the green economy. Students can win meet and greets with Drake and Ben Harper, autographed guitars and all sorts of cool stuff for getting involved.  

G:What has the fan response been? Do you know of any fans who took your message and applied it to their communities?

AG: The fan response has been very encouraging—in fact, it’s what keeps us going. It seems like almost every time a fan has an opportunity to take action, they take it. It’s all about setting it up so it’s easy for people to understand why it’s important to do something and then make it easy for folks to do what you’re asking them to do. There are so many stories I can tell about fans suddenly engaging and taking real measurable action, but here are a couple examples:

Over 1,700 Phish fans volunteered to clean up parking lots, diverting over 130,00 lbs. of recyclables from going into landfill.

For the Green Music Group Challenge, a father of two elementary school-aged children took the whole family out for a day of cleaning up trash along the streets in their neighborhood. He said it was the first time they’ve ever done anything like that and it won’t be their last.

It’s results like these that inspire me to continue our work at Reverb. It is working!

G: What environmental changes have you seen in the music industry?

AG: In general, there’s obviously been a huge change in the public’s awareness of environmental issues. I give a lot of credit on this front to the movie An Inconvenient Truth. Within music, we’re seeing a lot more bands, festivals, and venues making real efforts to tread more lightly on the planet. I think the conversation has moved from “if” the music industry will be going green to “how” and “when” it will be truly green.

When Reverb first started in 2004, there were very few examples of artists actually greening their own footprints (Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson). It was more about the traditional way celebrities support causes—through donations and being a mouthpiece for an organization or campaign. This is still very important, but now artists and the rest of the music world are starting to realize that the music industry as a whole does direct harm to the environment and that there is much to be done right in our own backyards.  

I’m proud to say that Reverb has played a big role in bringing about that change in mindset and have helped a variety of bands, venues, labels, and radio stations make real changes that will continue to spread throughout the music world.
 

]]> As the lead singer and guitarist for Guster, Adam Gardner witnessed firsthand the damaging effects of a concert tour. Stick around after the final encore and there's a littered venue and a parade of dirty tour buses. To help reduce the waste touring bands create, Gardner and wife Lauren Sullivan created Reverb. The project works with artists to reduce their carbon footprint while on tour and aims to educate fans about local and national environmental nonprofits.

GOOD: What was the first song you learned to play on guitar?

Adam Gardner: Wow, I’m stretching my memory back to when I was 12 years old. I think it was either “Refugee” by Tom Petty or “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. I was listening to a lot of classic rock back then.

G: You testified to Congress about sustainable biofuels in 2007. What did you hope to achieve? Have you seen any positive changes since then?
      
AG: My goal was to reinforce the fact that biofuels were indeed a feasible and viable solution to fossil fuels and that not all biofuels are created equally. There are sustainable ways for biofuels to be produced and there are not such sustainable ways. I emphasized the need for legislation on biofuels based on environmental performance and the need for a shift in thinking to a community-based system. It’s been proven that in a community-based system (where the biofuels are sourced, produced, and sold locally) that 90 cents on the dollar stays in the local economy.

G: Your wife, Lauren Sullivan, is an environmentalist as well and the co-founder of the nonprofit group Reverb. Is the Gardner household sustainable?

AG: It was really my wife’s environmentalism that rubbed off on me! Once we started living together, suddenly I was eating vegetarian, composting, walking everywhere, running the laundry machine in off-peak hours. It was the dichotomy between how I was living at home and what life on the road was like with my band (gas–guzzling tour bus, trash all over the place at the end of a show, awful fast food, etc.) that sparked the idea for Reverb in the first place.

G: What was the first tour Reverb worked on greening? How has your approach changed from the first tour to now?

AG: Our first tour that we greened was a co-headlining tour with Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies the summer of 2004. Lauren and I chased the tour in Guster’s old van—I’ve never been more sleep deprived!  We’d set up an Eco-Village (the tents and banners were lent to us from Bonnie Raitt, who did something similar on her 2002 Green Highway Tour) interact with fans all day, pack up the Eco-Village, drive to the next city after the show that night, and start over the next day.

That first tour was mostly focused on connecting fans to local nonprofit groups in the Eco-Village and getting the awareness out. It was literally just Lauren and I for that tour and whatever friends around the country we could get to help us. We had volunteer fans bringing home bags of recyclables from backstage because the venues didn’t recycle.

Since then we’ve gone on to green over 85 major tours including Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, and many others. Now we have much more comprehensive greening programs backstage: fueling tour busses with biodiesel, sourcing local farmers for catering, reusable water bottles and water stations, biodegradable catering products, environmental requirements for venues, rechargeable batteries onstage, etc. We also have expanded fan communication beyond the concerts through the bands’ social media and by creating official band-specific greening websites with info and fan calls-to-action.

G: Very cool. What is the most environmentally damaging effect of tours today that Reverb focuses on?  

AG: Fans’ travel to and from the shows is the largest piece of the environmental impact of a concert event—over 75 percent of the carbon footprint. To combat this, we set up an online rideshare service with partners like PickUpPal and Zimride for fans to carpool to shows. We work with venues to create priority parking for cars with four or more people in them so they can get in and out of the show faster. This along with other incentives like being entered to win ticket upgrades and meet and greets with the band helps get fans excited and motivated to carpool and take public transportation. It’s definitely making a difference—Phish fans eliminated 728,000 miles of driving by carpooling on Phish’s summer tour alone!

We also activate a fan carbon offset program for fans to neutralize the carbon emissions from traveling to the show. Even if they took the train to a show, there is still a carbon footprint. On Dave Matthews Band’s last summer tour, fans reduced over 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide between carpooling and carbon offsets.

G:The Green Music Group, a Reverb project aimed at greening the music community, recently launched with a number of founding artists, venues, and labels. What are you doing to get more of the music community to participate?

AG: The Green Music Group is a coalition of musicians, music industry leaders, and music fans coming together to bring about widespread environmental change within the music community and around the globe. The majority of GMG’s founding members are artists partly because the music community revolves around musicians, and partly because many musicians have been leading the charge environmentally. It was equally important to include venues, labels and most of all, music fans!

Founding members, such as Maroon 5, The Roots, Warner Music Group, and Comcast Center, along with Reverb will be setting environmental benchmarks and criterion for joining GMG. Once these are published, we will invite all those interested to committing to these benchmarks (or have already been meeting the criterion) to join us and spread the word! We will expand to other sectors of the music community as well: radio stations, festivals, tour bus companies, etc.

To attract fans to get involved, we recently launched the Green Music Group Challenge—a series of calls-to-action from founding artists directly to fans. So one week it’s a video message from Sheryl Crow asking you to write an email to your senator to support environmental legislation, the next week it’s Dave Matthews Band asking you to participate in a community service project. All of this is incentivized by sweet prizes for each challenge as well as the grand prize: a Honda Insight Hybrid. Anyone can take part, so please join us!

G: According to the GMG website, the group will be offering "Green Grants." What will people have to do to earn one of these grants? What kinds of projects would you hope to fund?

AG: At first, this will be geared toward up-and-coming bands that want to go green but need help and resources. Reverb will be giving their time to “teach a man to fish” so that these bands can continue more earth-friendly tours for the rest of their careers.

G:How are you planning on reaching out to other musical groups? Is there one artist in particular that you'd love to work with?

AG: The good news is there’s already been a number of artists reaching out to us that want to take part. Once we set the environmental benchmarks for joining we will open up membership to those who commit to these criterion.  

We in particular are interested in diversifying the genres and audiences of artists that get involved. We’re excited to see hip hop artists starting to take this on and country would be great to get involved next!

G:What can attendees of Campus Consciousness Tours expect?

AG: The 5th Annual Campus Consciousness Tour has been going great!  Ben Harper and Relentless 7 just finished their portion of the tour and the Drake leg has been sold out and nuts! In addition to the concerts, we co-host daytime activities on campus with the student environmental groups including community service projects, eco-screen printing (on T-shirts made from recycled threads and plastic bottles), and town hall forum discussions.  

At the shows we have our interactive Eco-Village set up with student groups, games, an eco-pledge photo booth, like-minded brands (Silk Soymilk, Brita’s Filter For Good, and Anvil’s eco-friendly T-shirt line), and nonprofit partners (this year it is HeadCount, Hip Hop Caucus, Sierra Club, and Green For All). The focus of the nonprofit partners this year is lifting urban youth out of poverty through green jobs and the green economy. Students can win meet and greets with Drake and Ben Harper, autographed guitars and all sorts of cool stuff for getting involved.  

G:What has the fan response been? Do you know of any fans who took your message and applied it to their communities?

AG: The fan response has been very encouraging—in fact, it’s what keeps us going. It seems like almost every time a fan has an opportunity to take action, they take it. It’s all about setting it up so it’s easy for people to understand why it’s important to do something and then make it easy for folks to do what you’re asking them to do. There are so many stories I can tell about fans suddenly engaging and taking real measurable action, but here are a couple examples:

Over 1,700 Phish fans volunteered to clean up parking lots, diverting over 130,00 lbs. of recyclables from going into landfill.

For the Green Music Group Challenge, a father of two elementary school-aged children took the whole family out for a day of cleaning up trash along the streets in their neighborhood. He said it was the first time they’ve ever done anything like that and it won’t be their last.

It’s results like these that inspire me to continue our work at Reverb. It is working!

G: What environmental changes have you seen in the music industry?

AG: In general, there’s obviously been a huge change in the public’s awareness of environmental issues. I give a lot of credit on this front to the movie An Inconvenient Truth. Within music, we’re seeing a lot more bands, festivals, and venues making real efforts to tread more lightly on the planet. I think the conversation has moved from “if” the music industry will be going green to “how” and “when” it will be truly green.

When Reverb first started in 2004, there were very few examples of artists actually greening their own footprints (Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson). It was more about the traditional way celebrities support causes—through donations and being a mouthpiece for an organization or campaign. This is still very important, but now artists and the rest of the music world are starting to realize that the music industry as a whole does direct harm to the environment and that there is much to be done right in our own backyards.  

I’m proud to say that Reverb has played a big role in bringing about that change in mindset and have helped a variety of bands, venues, labels, and radio stations make real changes that will continue to spread throughout the music world.
 

]]> Hillary Newman Tue, 18 May 2010 11:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Talking with Emily Deschanel]]> http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-emily-deschanel/ http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-emily-deschanel/ Best known for her role as the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan on the hit TV show Bones, actress Emily Deschanel's focus is slightly different in the real world. A vegan since her teen years, Deschanel is an outspoken advocate for a number of animal rights causes including working towards ending factory farming and speaking out about the Great Ape Protection Act.

Read on to learn more about activists that inspire Deschanel, an earth shaking slumber party, and her favorite vegan treat.

GOOD: You've expressed that veganism can help protect the environment. Can you elaborate on this?

EMILY DESCHANEL: There was a study by the UN that shocked even me, a vegan for 17 years. It said the factory farm business was worse for the environment than all of transportation in the world combined—buses, trains, planes, cars, all of them. That is huge! Everyone is concerned about driving hybrid vehicles, but not many people realize that the food they eat every day is much worse for Mother Earth. Right now most of the grains grown in our country are fed to farm animals. It takes a lot more grain to feed an animal over it’s lifetime before it is killed for food, than it does to feed that grain directly to humans. Not to mention the runoff from the factories which pollute water sources, like rivers.

Also, farm animals produce 130 times more waste than humans. These are just a few reasons why being a vegan/vegetarian helps the environment, and why I encourage people to at least eat less meat. It can also help your health to become vegan. If people want more information on becoming vegetarian/vegan or eating less meat in a healthy way, check out goveg.com

G: How did you get involved with The Great Ape Protection Act?

ED: I got involved after talking to people at Physicains Committee for Responsible Medicine, an organization I greatly admire. The act would end the use of chimpanzees in invasive research in the US. Right now there are about 1,000 chimps forced to live in labs where they are separated as babies from their mothers, kept in captivity, inflicted with physical harm, and isolated from other animals or humans. It is no way to live. Most of the apes who have been in these kinds of facilities show signs of physical and emotional trauma. These are such fantastic animals and we can’t let them live in pain like this. There are many alternatives to these cruel practices that don’t involve harming animals. People can support the Great Ape Act on the PCRM website by telling your representative to support the legislation, here.

G: Who are some activists that inspire you?  

ED: I want to mention my friend Lisa Shannon who started Run for Congo Women and just wrote a book about her experience called A Thousand Sisters. It shows us all how we can make a difference in the world, even when it seems so overwhelming, and so far away. She started a 30-mile run to raise money for women in the Congo. Lisa is fearless, she visits war torn Congo regularly.

There are so many! One of my heroes was the late Gretchen Wyler, who was actress on Broadway for many years and then turned her sights on animal rights. She started the Genesis Awards among other things, which celebrates the media for shedding light on animal issues. I also admire Zainab Salbi, the founder of Women for Women International. She came from a volatile background (her father was Saddam Hussain’s pilot), and she’s dedicated her life to helping and empowering women in war-torn countries throughout the world.

G: You’re pretty actively involved with PETA. How do you handle people who view members of PETA as extremists?

ED: I understand why people think that. Sometimes PETA makes statements that seem pretty extreme, but it’s important to realize that many victories for the animals were aided by PETA. They are very savvy about using the media to get attention for issues that people may not otherwise be aware of. Even I don’t always agree with what PETA or other organizations do or say, but I understand their importance in the movement. If you don’t agree with any particular organization, you don’t have to work with them. Don’t let it stop you getting involved; you can support a less controversial organization like the Humane Society.

G: What advice do you have for our readers who want to start or maintain a sustainable lifestyle?

ED: Start with baby steps and build from there. If you fall off the wagon, get right back on without reprimanding yourself. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Once you master one habit, add another one. Maybe start with recycling, then begin a compost bin, change your light bulbs to compact flourents, start reusing bags, change your diet one item at a time. Be kind but persistent with yourself. Maybe no one will notice if you don’t reuse your canvas bag at the grocery store, but it will make a difference to the earth if you keep forgetting.

G: You starred in a great "Funny or Die" video with a group of Hollywood starlets that depicted a slumber party interrupted by paparazzi. Do you have any funny slumber party stories from growing up?

ED: The one that sticks in my mind the most was actually my sister’s birthday slumber party. The 1994 Los Angeles earthquake happened that night, and there were about 10 13-year-old girls there. One of the girls cried out my name for help. I was upstairs in my bedroom. It was pretty terrifying. Luckily, nobody was hurt, and I think only one glass broke. I guess that’s not really funny.
 
G: We read that you don't necessarily like taking medication. What is your favorite, most effective natural home remedy?

ED: If I needed meds, I would take them, but I do believe some pills are over-prescribed. Also, so many over-the-counter drugs have unpleasant side affects that may not show up for  a long time. If I get a headache the first thing I do is drink some water or coconut water. Hydration is a common cause for headaches. Then I check to see if I have been clenching my jaw. I look for the cause instead of covering the symptoms up with medication. Modern medicine has saved many people’s lives, but I do believe in doing research and looking for alternatives before taking something.

G: How did you first learn about veganism and what compelled you to take it up?

ED:  I saw a documentary called Diet For a New America based on the book of the same title by John Robbins. I became a vegetarian immediately, and then became a vegan two years later. It sheds light on factory farms and their negative impact on all of us. 

G: What is your favorite vegan dessert recipe?

ED: I am obsessed with the peanut butter cups from Alica Silverstone’s new book called The Kind Diet. So tasty! I use raw almond butter.
 
G: In an interview with Women’s Health you said, and I quote, “I think I can convince anyone to become a vegetarian.” What would you say to hard rock guitarist Ted Nugent, who is known for his conservative political views and his vocal pro-hunting and Second Amendment activism?

ED: I don’t know why I said that! I don’t proselytise, but if someone asks I am happy to discuss being vegan, because I so believe in it. Sometimes I wish I was bolder. I think I would start with the health angle with someone like that, because they obviously don’t seem to believe animals have feelings (which they do, if anyone is questioning it). There is a book called The China Study which discusses the largest nutritional study in history. They set out  to determine that animal protein was healthy, but the results were the opposite. Sometimes people need to be grabbed by the health angle. I like to let facts speak for themselves.

G: If you could say one thing to President Obama, what would it be?

ED: That’s too hard a question to answer late at night. There are too many things!



 

]]> Best known for her role as the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan on the hit TV show Bones, actress Emily Deschanel's focus is slightly different in the real world. A vegan since her teen years, Deschanel is an outspoken advocate for a number of animal rights causes including working towards ending factory farming and speaking out about the Great Ape Protection Act.

Read on to learn more about activists that inspire Deschanel, an earth shaking slumber party, and her favorite vegan treat.

GOOD: You've expressed that veganism can help protect the environment. Can you elaborate on this?

EMILY DESCHANEL: There was a study by the UN that shocked even me, a vegan for 17 years. It said the factory farm business was worse for the environment than all of transportation in the world combined—buses, trains, planes, cars, all of them. That is huge! Everyone is concerned about driving hybrid vehicles, but not many people realize that the food they eat every day is much worse for Mother Earth. Right now most of the grains grown in our country are fed to farm animals. It takes a lot more grain to feed an animal over it’s lifetime before it is killed for food, than it does to feed that grain directly to humans. Not to mention the runoff from the factories which pollute water sources, like rivers.

Also, farm animals produce 130 times more waste than humans. These are just a few reasons why being a vegan/vegetarian helps the environment, and why I encourage people to at least eat less meat. It can also help your health to become vegan. If people want more information on becoming vegetarian/vegan or eating less meat in a healthy way, check out goveg.com

G: How did you get involved with The Great Ape Protection Act?

ED: I got involved after talking to people at Physicains Committee for Responsible Medicine, an organization I greatly admire. The act would end the use of chimpanzees in invasive research in the US. Right now there are about 1,000 chimps forced to live in labs where they are separated as babies from their mothers, kept in captivity, inflicted with physical harm, and isolated from other animals or humans. It is no way to live. Most of the apes who have been in these kinds of facilities show signs of physical and emotional trauma. These are such fantastic animals and we can’t let them live in pain like this. There are many alternatives to these cruel practices that don’t involve harming animals. People can support the Great Ape Act on the PCRM website by telling your representative to support the legislation, here.

G: Who are some activists that inspire you?  

ED: I want to mention my friend Lisa Shannon who started Run for Congo Women and just wrote a book about her experience called A Thousand Sisters. It shows us all how we can make a difference in the world, even when it seems so overwhelming, and so far away. She started a 30-mile run to raise money for women in the Congo. Lisa is fearless, she visits war torn Congo regularly.

There are so many! One of my heroes was the late Gretchen Wyler, who was actress on Broadway for many years and then turned her sights on animal rights. She started the Genesis Awards among other things, which celebrates the media for shedding light on animal issues. I also admire Zainab Salbi, the founder of Women for Women International. She came from a volatile background (her father was Saddam Hussain’s pilot), and she’s dedicated her life to helping and empowering women in war-torn countries throughout the world.

G: You’re pretty actively involved with PETA. How do you handle people who view members of PETA as extremists?

ED: I understand why people think that. Sometimes PETA makes statements that seem pretty extreme, but it’s important to realize that many victories for the animals were aided by PETA. They are very savvy about using the media to get attention for issues that people may not otherwise be aware of. Even I don’t always agree with what PETA or other organizations do or say, but I understand their importance in the movement. If you don’t agree with any particular organization, you don’t have to work with them. Don’t let it stop you getting involved; you can support a less controversial organization like the Humane Society.

G: What advice do you have for our readers who want to start or maintain a sustainable lifestyle?

ED: Start with baby steps and build from there. If you fall off the wagon, get right back on without reprimanding yourself. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Once you master one habit, add another one. Maybe start with recycling, then begin a compost bin, change your light bulbs to compact flourents, start reusing bags, change your diet one item at a time. Be kind but persistent with yourself. Maybe no one will notice if you don’t reuse your canvas bag at the grocery store, but it will make a difference to the earth if you keep forgetting.

G: You starred in a great "Funny or Die" video with a group of Hollywood starlets that depicted a slumber party interrupted by paparazzi. Do you have any funny slumber party stories from growing up?

ED: The one that sticks in my mind the most was actually my sister’s birthday slumber party. The 1994 Los Angeles earthquake happened that night, and there were about 10 13-year-old girls there. One of the girls cried out my name for help. I was upstairs in my bedroom. It was pretty terrifying. Luckily, nobody was hurt, and I think only one glass broke. I guess that’s not really funny.
 
G: We read that you don't necessarily like taking medication. What is your favorite, most effective natural home remedy?

ED: If I needed meds, I would take them, but I do believe some pills are over-prescribed. Also, so many over-the-counter drugs have unpleasant side affects that may not show up for  a long time. If I get a headache the first thing I do is drink some water or coconut water. Hydration is a common cause for headaches. Then I check to see if I have been clenching my jaw. I look for the cause instead of covering the symptoms up with medication. Modern medicine has saved many people’s lives, but I do believe in doing research and looking for alternatives before taking something.

G: How did you first learn about veganism and what compelled you to take it up?

ED:  I saw a documentary called Diet For a New America based on the book of the same title by John Robbins. I became a vegetarian immediately, and then became a vegan two years later. It sheds light on factory farms and their negative impact on all of us. 

G: What is your favorite vegan dessert recipe?

ED: I am obsessed with the peanut butter cups from Alica Silverstone’s new book called The Kind Diet. So tasty! I use raw almond butter.
 
G: In an interview with Women’s Health you said, and I quote, “I think I can convince anyone to become a vegetarian.” What would you say to hard rock guitarist Ted Nugent, who is known for his conservative political views and his vocal pro-hunting and Second Amendment activism?

ED: I don’t know why I said that! I don’t proselytise, but if someone asks I am happy to discuss being vegan, because I so believe in it. Sometimes I wish I was bolder. I think I would start with the health angle with someone like that, because they obviously don’t seem to believe animals have feelings (which they do, if anyone is questioning it). There is a book called The China Study which discusses the largest nutritional study in history. They set out  to determine that animal protein was healthy, but the results were the opposite. Sometimes people need to be grabbed by the health angle. I like to let facts speak for themselves.

G: If you could say one thing to President Obama, what would it be?

ED: That’s too hard a question to answer late at night. There are too many things!



 

]]> Hillary Newman Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Talking with Chris Crocker]]> http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-chris-crocker/ http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-chris-crocker/ 55727936-73ee3e6e3698a684b82610c3208bb97b.4b79e1a1-full



Welcome to our series Talking to a Famous Person. In this series we publish our conversations with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between.



Like any young person, Chris Crocker is soul searching. Unlike most, however, Chris navigates with a digital camera and posts his findings online-and that's made him a YouTube star. Growing up transgendered in the South, Chris found friends and acceptance online. With videos that garner millions of views each, Chris has a lot of fans, and a lot of haters. We spoke one-on-one with the "flat-chested, big-brained she/he superhero."



Good: In middle school you started an e-zine encouraging kids to come out of the closet. Do you think a magazine with a similar message on a more national scale is needed? Would you ever be interested in starting one?



Chris Crocker: Maybe not a magazine, per se, since print is near extinction, but a website would be nice. Gay youth already have so much access to information; however, I do feel they need a stomping ground that deals specifically with closet case syndrome and the steps to coming out.



G: What is the one most important piece of advice you would give to young kids struggling with their gender identity and sexuality?



CC: There is no real secret to embracing yourself. It's as simple as the cliché goes: Listen to your heart. Not the small minds around you.



G: In your opinion, what is the best lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights organization?



CC: GLAAD, of course. They have managed to get mainstream support, and still stay true to their purpose.



G: Your YouTube channel includes a wide range of videos, from parody shows with Earl Annie Edna to very intimate talks like "The Boy or Girl Question." In the future do you see yourself pursuing a career in acting, gay rights activism, or something else?



CC: I don't see anything in my future, really. I see a big black hole, in all seriousness. A big black hole with lots of potential, that I'm going to have a hell of a time decorating. No, but really, I would like to venture into mainstream acting.



G: Watching your videos, it's clear that you're very confident in the person that you are and with your sexuality. Is that confidence something that you acquired as a defense mechanism for bullies or is it the result of making these videos and having them be viewed on a national level?



CC: Confidence is a question of life or death. In fact, there is no question. If you want to survive in any kind of lifestyle or profession–even if you're a cashier at McDonalds–you must maintain a sense of self, or you will crumble. People can smell weakness, and I can smell really snotty noses. So I know no matter how hard I'm being judged, those bitches have boogers, too!



G: In a stunning article in Seattle's The Stranger, you shared a story of being chased in a mall by a group of angry boys. Looking to the future, what do you think is the single-most important thing to do to end violence against LGBT people?



CC: The most important thing is teaching youth tolerance. And not just tolerance, but correcting their misteachings. I really try to do my part in videos, though some would say I'm only reinforcing stereotypes. My message is to say, "It's my right to be an obnoxious LGBT figure, it is not your right to inflict violence upon me."



My work aside, I do believe schools need more gay-straight alliances. Sadly, they are unheard of in my hometown and my school recommended that I get therapy for even suggesting a gay-straight alliance in middle school.



G: You're obviously best known for the "Leave Britney Alone!" video, which has been viewed more than 29 million times and is seen as something of a joke to most people. Do you think the popularity of the video was necessary to get the word out about LGBT issues?



CC: I didn't do the video for notoriety, nor did I do it to affect change in the LGBT community. All of my previous videos were acting. That was my first video blog, as well as my first video pertaining to pop culture. Before that, I dealt with day-to-day issues. However, I am glad if that video leads anyone to my videos pertaining to gay life.



G: Do you think people see you as a voice for the gay community?





CC: I think they do, but that's not to say they like it. A lot of gays and straights tell me I am the reason gay people get killed or beat up. But as I said before, they're not realizing that my message is to say, "You can be as outrageous and obnoxious as you want. That is your right. It is not anyone's right to want to inflict pain upon you for your openness." I really feel that most gays would prefer some muscular bro-dude to be the voice of the community. I feel that it is the feminine gays that really endure the flak, so I really want to show a strong sense of femininity with a punch.



G: You have used your videos to make people aware of your own sexuality and your views on LGBT issues. What advice would you give to other young gay kids who need an outlet and an opportunity to make their voice heard?



CC: If it weren't for videos, I would probably be suicidal. I know the importance of having an outlet, especially at a young age. Do what I did: Grab a camera. Not a gun!


]]> 55727936-73ee3e6e3698a684b82610c3208bb97b.4b79e1a1-full



Welcome to our series Talking to a Famous Person. In this series we publish our conversations with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between.



Like any young person, Chris Crocker is soul searching. Unlike most, however, Chris navigates with a digital camera and posts his findings online-and that's made him a YouTube star. Growing up transgendered in the South, Chris found friends and acceptance online. With videos that garner millions of views each, Chris has a lot of fans, and a lot of haters. We spoke one-on-one with the "flat-chested, big-brained she/he superhero."



Good: In middle school you started an e-zine encouraging kids to come out of the closet. Do you think a magazine with a similar message on a more national scale is needed? Would you ever be interested in starting one?



Chris Crocker: Maybe not a magazine, per se, since print is near extinction, but a website would be nice. Gay youth already have so much access to information; however, I do feel they need a stomping ground that deals specifically with closet case syndrome and the steps to coming out.



G: What is the one most important piece of advice you would give to young kids struggling with their gender identity and sexuality?



CC: There is no real secret to embracing yourself. It's as simple as the cliché goes: Listen to your heart. Not the small minds around you.



G: In your opinion, what is the best lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights organization?



CC: GLAAD, of course. They have managed to get mainstream support, and still stay true to their purpose.



G: Your YouTube channel includes a wide range of videos, from parody shows with Earl Annie Edna to very intimate talks like "The Boy or Girl Question." In the future do you see yourself pursuing a career in acting, gay rights activism, or something else?



CC: I don't see anything in my future, really. I see a big black hole, in all seriousness. A big black hole with lots of potential, that I'm going to have a hell of a time decorating. No, but really, I would like to venture into mainstream acting.



G: Watching your videos, it's clear that you're very confident in the person that you are and with your sexuality. Is that confidence something that you acquired as a defense mechanism for bullies or is it the result of making these videos and having them be viewed on a national level?



CC: Confidence is a question of life or death. In fact, there is no question. If you want to survive in any kind of lifestyle or profession–even if you're a cashier at McDonalds–you must maintain a sense of self, or you will crumble. People can smell weakness, and I can smell really snotty noses. So I know no matter how hard I'm being judged, those bitches have boogers, too!



G: In a stunning article in Seattle's The Stranger, you shared a story of being chased in a mall by a group of angry boys. Looking to the future, what do you think is the single-most important thing to do to end violence against LGBT people?



CC: The most important thing is teaching youth tolerance. And not just tolerance, but correcting their misteachings. I really try to do my part in videos, though some would say I'm only reinforcing stereotypes. My message is to say, "It's my right to be an obnoxious LGBT figure, it is not your right to inflict violence upon me."



My work aside, I do believe schools need more gay-straight alliances. Sadly, they are unheard of in my hometown and my school recommended that I get therapy for even suggesting a gay-straight alliance in middle school.



G: You're obviously best known for the "Leave Britney Alone!" video, which has been viewed more than 29 million times and is seen as something of a joke to most people. Do you think the popularity of the video was necessary to get the word out about LGBT issues?



CC: I didn't do the video for notoriety, nor did I do it to affect change in the LGBT community. All of my previous videos were acting. That was my first video blog, as well as my first video pertaining to pop culture. Before that, I dealt with day-to-day issues. However, I am glad if that video leads anyone to my videos pertaining to gay life.



G: Do you think people see you as a voice for the gay community?





CC: I think they do, but that's not to say they like it. A lot of gays and straights tell me I am the reason gay people get killed or beat up. But as I said before, they're not realizing that my message is to say, "You can be as outrageous and obnoxious as you want. That is your right. It is not anyone's right to want to inflict pain upon you for your openness." I really feel that most gays would prefer some muscular bro-dude to be the voice of the community. I feel that it is the feminine gays that really endure the flak, so I really want to show a strong sense of femininity with a punch.



G: You have used your videos to make people aware of your own sexuality and your views on LGBT issues. What advice would you give to other young gay kids who need an outlet and an opportunity to make their voice heard?



CC: If it weren't for videos, I would probably be suicidal. I know the importance of having an outlet, especially at a young age. Do what I did: Grab a camera. Not a gun!


]]> Hillary Newman Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:30:15 PDT <![CDATA[Talking with Lucy Lawless]]> http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-lucy-lawless/ http://www.good.is/post/talking-with-lucy-lawless/



Welcome to our series Talking to a Famous Person. In this series we publish our conversations with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between.



Known internationally for her role as Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless has had a diverse career onstage, behind the camera, and working with organizations to help children in need around the world. Lawless was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine in 1997, the same year she first appeared on Broadway in the remake of Grease. Her long career spans music, television, film, and the stage. In addition to working on blockbuster films like Bedtime Stories and Eurotrip, she has also appeared as a guest star in episodes of The Simpsons, The X-Files, Just Shoot Me!, Veronica Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Burn Notice, Less Than Perfect, Flight of the Conchords, and Battlestar Galactica. This year you can catch Lawless on Spartacus.



Beyond the studio sets, Lawless is involved in a number of different charities, many in her home country of New Zealand. Read on to learn more about Lawless' charity work, her views on climate change skeptics, and the strangest Xena fan request yet (hint: it involves an axe).



GOOD: You are perhaps most involved in the Starship National Children's Hospital in New Zealand, having recently jumped from a building to raise money and awareness for the new Puawaitahi center for investigating alleged child abuse. How did you get involved with the Board and what is your involvement like on a day-to-day basis?



Lucy Lawless: After reports of a particularly vicious child abuse case, I and a few other highly visible New Zealanders got involved to say "No more." Sadly, the reality is that child abuse is never going to be expunged totally but they are finding that getting trained assessors from the police, social workers, and doctors under one roof dramatically improves communication and efficiency in catching kids before they fall through the cracks. Letting battered and sexually abused kids "fall through the cracks" is in itself an obscenity. Anyway, the idea of multi-agency centers is so sensible, you'd think they would be the model in every town in the world.



As as actress there is no role for me in a multi-agency center. Families there require dignity and privacy and what celebrities do is help create noise and attention. However I do sit on the board of the fundraising arm of the Starship Hospital which means showing up to the board meetings once a month. Really, I just do what I'm told. They are an amazing organization.



G: You've been involved with a variety of different charities, all over New Zealand and the world, how do you find out about different causes? Do organizations approach you or do you prefer doing independent research and seeking them out?



LL: People seek me out. They want me to do everything from rep autism to lobby the government about free left-hand turns. I try not to jump on every bandwagon. There's a lot of need out there but I believe it's important to be more effective in fewer areas. So I stick to the few things I desperately care about.



G: What is one under-the-radar charity or nonprofit that you're involved with that you think everyone should know about?



LL: They are not under-the-radar but I think NGOs like World Vision are fantastic. They have learned through much trial and error the psychology of not just being helpful but of being helped. They know that if you don't give a community ownership of a project, so that their own sweat is in the building of that road/well/school, there will be no pride nor ownership after the fact. They also cooperate very well in the case of natural disasters to divvy up the work so that doubling-up precious resources is avoided. Don't believe that propaganda about them selling several photos of the same child. I won't say it is impossible that such a mix-up has occurred, but on my trip to Bangladesh I saw there is no end of children in poverty!



G: After Climategate and other reports questioning climate change science, many people worldwide are still skeptical about global warming. What would you say to disbelievers to get them to change their minds?





LL: I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths. They don't want you to get off the grid in any sense because then you'd be autonomous and they couldn't make you buy their poison.



G: Since your Xena days you've done concert tours and you have also been involved in Broadway productions. If you could play a part in any Broadway production which would it be and why?



LL: Annie in Annie Get Out Your Gun. Dumb-ass story but great, great songs.



G: A lot of your charity work is focused on helping young children. What is one story that exemplifies why you continue to stay so involved? When working with sick or underprivileged children, what is the one thing you hope to leave them with?



LL: I noticed that many of the street kids I met in Bangladesh were abandoned at the age of four where (and I am only guessing here), a child individuates from the parents, who themselves were born into material and emotional poverty. Often the mother would put her four-year old on the roof of a train with no food or money and send the kid off to god-knows where. If they don't fall off, they may end up at the end of the line at Dhaka Train Depot, living under concrete benches, beaten by the police with a length of hose and being preyed upon by sexual predators. I saw an eight-year old girl shot up with heroin.



What can I hope to leave with them? All I can do is support programs in their area. World Vision was amazing. I believe it was started as a Christian organization but the people working there were Hindu and Muslim and Christian all mixed in together. They are fighting poverty and ignorance. I visited one convent where nuns are teaching women's health and baby care-not converting the natives. They live in danger all the time because banditry is rife but they love their people and will not abandon them.



G: Xena, the Warrior Princess, has attained a cult status. What has been the weirdest request from a Xena fan? Be honest, do people ask to fight with you?



LL: No one asks me to fight. I am being honest. What else is there to be?



A guy in a wet raincoat asked me to sign his axe once. I was a bit creeped out by that.



G: What is one thing everyone can do that would have a huge impact on our environment?



LL: Plant something! Anywhere you can, plant something! I am digging up my tennis court and putting in native trees to encourage the native birds to come in. We have bees which I highly recommend. Makes the garden go off.



I know we don't all have tennis courts to dig up, but we can all plant a window box or a tree. Just consider the kind of light and drainage and the mature size of the tree. Make sure you can live with it in the long term.



Photo by Sign On


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Welcome to our series Talking to a Famous Person. In this series we publish our conversations with high-profile nonprofit founders, actors, and everyone in between.



Known internationally for her role as Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless has had a diverse career onstage, behind the camera, and working with organizations to help children in need around the world. Lawless was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine in 1997, the same year she first appeared on Broadway in the remake of Grease. Her long career spans music, television, film, and the stage. In addition to working on blockbuster films like Bedtime Stories and Eurotrip, she has also appeared as a guest star in episodes of The Simpsons, The X-Files, Just Shoot Me!, Veronica Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Burn Notice, Less Than Perfect, Flight of the Conchords, and Battlestar Galactica. This year you can catch Lawless on Spartacus.



Beyond the studio sets, Lawless is involved in a number of different charities, many in her home country of New Zealand. Read on to learn more about Lawless' charity work, her views on climate change skeptics, and the strangest Xena fan request yet (hint: it involves an axe).



GOOD: You are perhaps most involved in the Starship National Children's Hospital in New Zealand, having recently jumped from a building to raise money and awareness for the new Puawaitahi center for investigating alleged child abuse. How did you get involved with the Board and what is your involvement like on a day-to-day basis?



Lucy Lawless: After reports of a particularly vicious child abuse case, I and a few other highly visible New Zealanders got involved to say "No more." Sadly, the reality is that child abuse is never going to be expunged totally but they are finding that getting trained assessors from the police, social workers, and doctors under one roof dramatically improves communication and efficiency in catching kids before they fall through the cracks. Letting battered and sexually abused kids "fall through the cracks" is in itself an obscenity. Anyway, the idea of multi-agency centers is so sensible, you'd think they would be the model in every town in the world.



As as actress there is no role for me in a multi-agency center. Families there require dignity and privacy and what celebrities do is help create noise and attention. However I do sit on the board of the fundraising arm of the Starship Hospital which means showing up to the board meetings once a month. Really, I just do what I'm told. They are an amazing organization.



G: You've been involved with a variety of different charities, all over New Zealand and the world, how do you find out about different causes? Do organizations approach you or do you prefer doing independent research and seeking them out?



LL: People seek me out. They want me to do everything from rep autism to lobby the government about free left-hand turns. I try not to jump on every bandwagon. There's a lot of need out there but I believe it's important to be more effective in fewer areas. So I stick to the few things I desperately care about.



G: What is one under-the-radar charity or nonprofit that you're involved with that you think everyone should know about?



LL: They are not under-the-radar but I think NGOs like World Vision are fantastic. They have learned through much trial and error the psychology of not just being helpful but of being helped. They know that if you don't give a community ownership of a project, so that their own sweat is in the building of that road/well/school, there will be no pride nor ownership after the fact. They also cooperate very well in the case of natural disasters to divvy up the work so that doubling-up precious resources is avoided. Don't believe that propaganda about them selling several photos of the same child. I won't say it is impossible that such a mix-up has occurred, but on my trip to Bangladesh I saw there is no end of children in poverty!



G: After Climategate and other reports questioning climate change science, many people worldwide are still skeptical about global warming. What would you say to disbelievers to get them to change their minds?





LL: I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths. They don't want you to get off the grid in any sense because then you'd be autonomous and they couldn't make you buy their poison.



G: Since your Xena days you've done concert tours and you have also been involved in Broadway productions. If you could play a part in any Broadway production which would it be and why?



LL: Annie in Annie Get Out Your Gun. Dumb-ass story but great, great songs.



G: A lot of your charity work is focused on helping young children. What is one story that exemplifies why you continue to stay so involved? When working with sick or underprivileged children, what is the one thing you hope to leave them with?



LL: I noticed that many of the street kids I met in Bangladesh were abandoned at the age of four where (and I am only guessing here), a child individuates from the parents, who themselves were born into material and emotional poverty. Often the mother would put her four-year old on the roof of a train with no food or money and send the kid off to god-knows where. If they don't fall off, they may end up at the end of the line at Dhaka Train Depot, living under concrete benches, beaten by the police with a length of hose and being preyed upon by sexual predators. I saw an eight-year old girl shot up with heroin.



What can I hope to leave with them? All I can do is support programs in their area. World Vision was amazing. I believe it was started as a Christian organization but the people working there were Hindu and Muslim and Christian all mixed in together. They are fighting poverty and ignorance. I visited one convent where nuns are teaching women's health and baby care-not converting the natives. They live in danger all the time because banditry is rife but they love their people and will not abandon them.



G: Xena, the Warrior Princess, has attained a cult status. What has been the weirdest request from a Xena fan? Be honest, do people ask to fight with you?



LL: No one asks me to fight. I am being honest. What else is there to be?



A guy in a wet raincoat asked me to sign his axe once. I was a bit creeped out by that.



G: What is one thing everyone can do that would have a huge impact on our environment?



LL: Plant something! Anywhere you can, plant something! I am digging up my tennis court and putting in native trees to encourage the native birds to come in. We have bees which I highly recommend. Makes the garden go off.



I know we don't all have tennis courts to dig up, but we can all plant a window box or a tree. Just consider the kind of light and drainage and the mature size of the tree. Make sure you can live with it in the long term.



Photo by Sign On


]]> Hillary Newman Wed, 3 Mar 2010 06:00:08 PST