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Taken from Fresh Greens (U.S. News) (Jan 22, 2009)
Michael Franti and Family Go Green by Playing Uno
by Maura
Judkis
Michael Franti, who opened Al Gore's Green Ball this past Monday, has been known for his activism as long as his music. An advocate for peace in the Middle East as well as green causes, Franti, who is a vegan, spoke with me about how he and his band Spearhead are green.
"Our band has gone over a greening process over the past 5 or 6 years," said Franti. "We converted our bus to a biodiesel bus, we don't have any plastic bottles in our dressing room or onstage, and we require that the venues we play have recycling and composting. We put on a big festival in San Francisco every year called the Power to the Peaceful festival. We green it more each year."
Franti walked down the green carpet with his wife, Tara Franti-Rye, and his son, Ade. I asked him how he was green in his personal life. "I drive a hybrid. It's a Ford Escape. That's my only car," he said. He added that he and his family walked to the event from their hotel tonight.
As for other ways he is green: "On a family level, one thing that's really simple that we did, that anyone can do, is not use plastic bags," said Franti. "Watch how fast that cabinet under your sink that has all the plastic bags disappears."
Another reporter asked, "What else do you do [to be green] in your house?" That's when Franti's young son, Ade, chimed in. "We play Uno," he said. Uno? "That's what my son says," laughed Franti. "We play it instead of watching tv."
Franti and Spearhead performed "Obama Song," proving the New York Times' assertion today that the name "Barack Obama" is the most singable presidential name ever. Watch his music video below.
About the Fresh Greens Blog
Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. You can send her your green tips at mjudkis@usnews.com.
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