Oscar Goes Green

In addition to honoring "An Inconvenient Truth" as best documentary and Melissa Etheridge's original song for the film "I Need to Wake Up," the 2007 Academy Awards integrated eco-friendly practices into its production this year.
As reported in The New York Times,

Mr. Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio, a nominee for best actor (“Blood Diamond”), announced in the middle of the telecast that the program had offset its carbon emissions by buying energy credits. “This show has officially gone green,” Mr. DiCaprio said.
The Oscars adopted other conservation measures this year, such as using recycled paper for the Oscar ballots. “We have a long way to go, but all of us, in our lives, can do something to make a difference,” Mr. Gore said.
But Mr. Gore did not throw his hat in the ring, as the producers of his film, among others in Hollywood, had hoped he might. Asked if he had a major announcement to make, Mr. Gore said: “With a billion people watching, it’s as good a time as any. So my fellow Americans, I’m going to take this opportunity, here and now, to formally announce” — and the Oscars orchestra, right on cue, drowned him out as if he had droned on a second too long.

Later, when the Academy Award for "An Inconvenient Truth" was announced, Al Gore joined the director and producers onstage.

“I made this movie for my children,” said the director, Davis Guggenheim[as he accepted the award], his arm on Mr. Gore’s shoulder. “We were moved to act by this man.”
Mr. Gore took his moment in the worldwide spotlight to underline the film’s message. “My fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis,” he said, adding that the “will to act” was a renewable resource. “Let’s renew it,” he said.

Learn more about the greening of the Oscars at www.oscar.com.
View a CNN video of Al Gore speaking at a press conference after the ceremony.

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