What work do you do? I produce films and other media about the environment. In the film world, I am executive producer of Sea Studios Foundation and a senior series producer for National Geographic Television and Film. In the foundation world, I am the executive director and cofounder of Sea Studios Foundation, and last but not least, I am president of Sea Studios, Inc. How does it relate to the environment? Actor Ed Norton, host of Strange Days on Planet Earth. Photo: WGBH. Sea Studios Foundation produces media and other initiatives with the express purpose of getting people to be …

All signs on Capitol Hill point to a royally depressing Earth Day 2005 (that would be next Friday): inertia on global warming, revival of the industry-friendly energy bill, a widely reviled plan to address mercury pollution, the looming prospect of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And though it's the 35th anniversary of the first Earth Day, D.C.-based environmental groups don't seem to have plans for splashy protests or pep rallies to mark the occasion. Matt Damon. Photo: PBS. Could it be that an infusion of star power from Hollywood is the best hope for pumping new life into …

Survey reveals truth to tree-hugging Californian stereotype It is often said that Californians are unfairly stereotyped as bleeding-heart tree huggers. Turns out it's not true. The "unfairly" part, that is. A new survey reveals that more than 60 percent of Californians really have hugged trees, some 24 percent have surfed, and 21 percent think mud baths are totally rad. A questionnaire compiled by marketing professor Dennis Tootelian of Cal State, Sacramento, asked 500 folks from five California cities -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, and San Diego -- about their true nature. Kevin Starr, author and former state historian, …

You could probably guess that Prius drivers tend to be Democrats and Hummer drivers tend to be Republicans. But that's just the tip of the iceberg on car-and-driver political connections, writes John Tierney in The New York Times, summarizing new market research that I find both fascinating and hilarious.   Jaguars, Land Rovers, and Jeep Grand Cherokees are very "Republican" vehicles. Volvos are the most "Democratic" cars, followed by Subarus and Hyundais. (Funny comment from Slate columnist Mickey Kaus: "Subaru is the new Volvo --that is, it is what Volvos used to be: trusty, rugged, inexpensive, unpretentious, performs well, maybe …

Dear Umbra, Twenty years ago, I lived off the grid and learned how to conserve water. That lesson stayed with me, and it's agonizing for me to witness the cavalier, wasteful treatment of precious freshwater. My elderly mother moved in with me two years ago, and all is lovely and fine, except that she wastes more water with basic household activities than any single individual I've ever seen. Do you have any suggestions on household water conservation? While many water-saving methods are obvious to me, they have escaped my mother's attention, despite my not-so-subtle hints and suggestions. Thanks for any …

Cameron, Arnold lead brigade of celeb eco-spokesfolk What formative experiences led to movie star and galactic hottie Cameron Diaz's commitment to the environment? "Nothing, dude. Life! Life!" We couldn't have said it better. Or hotter. Diaz will be bringing her commitment to a new MTV series called Trippin', debuting tonight, in which she travels around the world to ecological hotspots, toting an entourage of fish-out-of-water celebrities. On upcoming episodes, rapper DMX will go camping in Yellowstone and Diaz boy toy Justin Timberlake will demonstrate his beat-boxing skills to Masai tribe members in Kenya. My god, our brains might explode with …

Robyn Griggs Lawrence. What's your job title? Editor in chief, Natural Home & Garden magazine. How does it relate to the environment? Working under the tagline "Living Green, Living Well," our magazine's mission is to show mainstream America that living lightly doesn't mean giving up a thing -- that they don't have to go live out in the hills in a yurt or a home built out of mud -- and that in fact there's a lot to gain by creating an environmentally friendly home. We want everyone to see the benefits -- what's in it for them -- of …

Biofuel catching on in the home-heating arena Using biofuel -- a mix of vegetable oil and diesel -- to power vehicles is already popular in certain highly vocal circles, but using biofuel to heat homes is just starting to catch on. A recent surge has taken place largely in the U.S. Northeast, where there remains a large concentration of houses that use heating oil. Proponents tout the fact that biofuel produces far less soot and thus requires less furnace cleaning, which we're told is a nasty business. They are also motivated by a desire to support energy independence and the …

New study finds toxic chemicals in household dust Samples of household dust from 70 residences in seven U.S. states were found to contain a toxic cocktail of industrial chemicals -- all of which have been shown to harm animals, all of which are legal and commonly used. The study, conducted by consumer-advocate group Clean Production Action, tested the dust for 44 chemicals and found 35 of them. The most common, and most controversial, are phthalates: plasticizers used to soften the vinyl in carpet, furniture fabric, shower curtains, and plenty else. Phthalates mess with the reproductive systems of animals, but have …

Quick: what do sea turtles, black bears, and Philippine fruit bats have in common? Rise up on behalf of the turtles. At first glance, not much. They don't look alike, and they have very different ranges and habitats. In fact, one would be hard-pressed even to find them on any of the same guest lists. But these creatures share one very important trait. Along with seahorses, rhinoceroses, and macaques, they are all hunted, sold, and consumed for use in potions and dishes with alleged "aphrodisiacal properties." For men. And I think we know what that means. In a more perfect …