TWO SIDES OF THE COIN

Eva Wiseman from the Observer knows the celebrity is a brand with an in-house PR consultant, sales directors and accountants who will tell you whether the red dress you wore on the red carpet will make your stocks plummet or have you buying a new car. 

Here with all her cynical humour, she devours the eco-celebrity:

“The difference between your basic Y2K celebrity and the new improved eco-celeb is that the new one has her privates papped getting out of a Prius. Make a note. If you’re just starting out on the road to eco-stardom, the first step is to go to The Ivy and loudly order tap water. Don’t look up to check for the gentle buzz of BlackBerries whizzing your new status to international gossip bloggers. Keep your head buried in a plate of fair-trade kale. Don’t worry, it’s started. Next up, a cause. While the big guns, DiCaprio and Depp, can afford to align themselves with the A-list needies, like ‘Africa’ and the ‘Ozone layer’, you’ll start by becoming the face of the lido at the bottom of your road. ‘New earth-killing leisure centre in Barnet?’ says the banner you’ll hold on the front page of your local paper, ‘Not in my name!’ To cement your standing, it’s important to get arrested - chain yourself to a tree, throw paint at a Tesco sign, that sort of thing. And crucially, in your mugshot, wear pleather.”

On the other side of the fence, is Billboard magazine who back in their March 2008 issue, went page to page on Green issues in the industry, saying, “The Top 10 green musician activists from the past year were chosen by overall positive impact on the environment; the extent to which the artist integrates a green approach into all aspects of his/her career; perceived sacrifice of choices; and trailblazing nature/originality of ideas.”

Here are their Top 10 Green artists starting from the bottom to the top:

10. The Roots
9. Missy Higgins
8. Radiohead
7. Serj Tankian
6. Pearl Jam
5. K.T Tunstall
4. Dave Matthews Band
3. Mana
2. Willie Nelson
1. Jack Johnson

Artists were nominated on their holistic approach to living a Green existence, down to how they eat local or oganic food, whether they use bio-diesel fuel in their and their contributions to raising funds for eco-causes. 

Guess its up to you who/what you want to believe.