愛德華‧諾頓─太陽能擁護者 | 環境資訊中心
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愛德華‧諾頓─太陽能擁護者

2005年06月29日
作者 阿曼達‧葛里康(Grist Magazine專欄作家);翻譯:郭啟彬;審校:李欣哲

提到愛德華‧諾頓,就會聯想到他演出過的新納粹分子光頭佬、精力充沛的神父、浪漫主義者、賴瑞佛林特的辯護律師(1997情色風暴)、以及尼爾森洛克菲勒(揮灑烈愛)。但是他還有一個很少公開而且每天扮演的角色──站在再生能源運動最前線、徹底的環保人士!

在2003年,諾頓與石油業巨擘兼首要太陽能板製造商BP公司合作發展「太陽能村計畫」,目標是為洛杉磯的低收入家庭裝設太陽光電板。諾頓也為此展現了巨星的能耐,號召影劇圈好友布萊德‧彼特、莎瑪‧海耶克(Salma Hayek)以及丹尼‧狄維托(Danny DeVito)等人支持這項計畫。在計畫的第一個年度就成功募得資源,為市區低收入住宅區裝設了大量的太陽能設備。

諾頓現在正開始他的第一個生態主題媒體計畫──擔任國家地理雜誌紀錄片「全球異象」(Strange Days on Planet Earth)的解說員。「全球異象」分為四集播出,紀錄全球性的駭人環境現象,最後一集在4月27日晚間於公共電視頻道(PBS)播出。諾頓與Grist相約在他布拉格的飯店中,談論他令人印象深刻的環保血統、對於布希政府的憤慨、他景仰的人以及自己的缺點。那時諾頓正為新片「幻影者」(The Illusionist)拍外景。

問:在「全球異象」當中接觸環境議題的方式有哪些是您覺得有趣的呢?

答:我對於全球的生物生態是真正一體的議題感到印象非常深刻。有一句老話說:「蝴蝶在中國揮舞翅膀,可以讓非洲產生颶風。」影片以N象限來探索這個概念,展現出科學越來越能精確得證明我們是如何的緊密牽連著。自我們第一次從太空中拍攝到地球的影像已過了35年,我非常驚訝大多數人仍然對於地球圈是一體相連的概念一無所知。

問:請告訴我們關於您與BP企業的太陽能計畫,與取得太陽能板安裝在洛杉磯低收入家庭的過程。

答:我兄弟跟我當時正在尋找太陽能發電器材,想要安裝在我洛杉磯的家中,我們非常驚訝的發現,州及市政府提供的補助很高,在財務上相當合理,並能在長期為你省錢。我祖父在1970年代後期創辦了「企業基金會」(Enterprise Foundation),是國內最大的非營利平價住宅開發者,我和他們一起工作過,同時也因此瞭解到,最無法負擔太陽能發電設備支出的家庭,卻能從這項科技得到最大幫助。

問:所以你說服BP捐贈太陽能設備給平價住宅發展計畫?

答:我為自己設定了一個目標,希望能得到足夠數量的太陽能板給洛杉磯密集住宅區的低收入家庭安裝。然後我到BP公司提案:如果我們可以發動名流仕紳、公眾人物購買BP太陽能發電系統安裝在他們家中,每購買一套希望他們公司能同步捐贈一套系統給低收入家庭。他們真的接受了這個提案,開啟名為「太陽能村」的計畫。我們期望能得到一個整理過的資料庫,可以追蹤各安裝用戶的經濟及環境的受惠程度。

在過去,市府為了滿足低收入社區的尖峰用電需求而加蓋發電廠,我們想要證明,如果可以降低對電網電力的需求,那我們就可以減少尖峰用電電廠的運作,它們的噪音跟空氣污染都非常嚴重。

問:這個計畫的時程規劃如何?又有哪些人已經加入您的計畫?

答:在2004 年11月我們慶祝計畫滿週年了。我同行友人中已參與計畫的有丹尼‧狄維托、瑞爾.皮爾曼(Rhea Pearlman)、布萊德.彼特、莎瑪‧海耶克、黛瑞‧漢娜(Daryl Hannah)以及艾莉西亞‧席薇史東(Alicia Silverstone),他們來參加活動並與已經安裝系統的家庭一起聚會。第一年我們就有約25套系統安裝在各家庭中,並且使我們約擁有50萬美金的經費可以給四、五十戶人家安裝此系統。現在有越來越多的人加入。布魯斯.威利打電話來說他要安裝在加勒比海的家中,賴利‧金(Larry King)也同意加入此計畫。我們也想吸引好萊塢以外的人,例如廣電人士、政治人物、運動明星以及音樂家等,我希望能引起雪球效應。

問:據我所知,您父親在中國擔任自然保育協會(Nature Conservancy)一項專案計畫的執行長,您的兩位兄弟姊妹也投入環境工作。

答:我父親在中國執行自然保育協會的「雲南河川保育計畫」已經五年了。在成長過程中,他是一個超級戶外愛好者;而1980年代期間,美國荒野協會(Wilderness Society)與當時的內政部長詹姆斯‧瓦特(James Watt)對抗時,他也是該會公共政策的領導人,他讓我跟我的兄妹們在很小的時候就參與環境政策。我的姊妹得到蒙特利學院國際環境政策研究學士學位,我的兄弟則是專業的導遊,並且帶過大峽谷以及其他地方的泛舟行程非常非常多次,他現正參與愛達荷河流聯合會(Idaho Rivers United),並且非常努力的投入愛達荷的鮭魚復育議題。我們都正在參與不同面向的環境工作當中。

問:您對於布希政府的看法如何?

答:布希政府是有史以來最無異於罪犯的政府,尤其是在能源以及環境政策上。他們的政策意味著背叛全國民眾的權益只為了滿足企業的利益,他們脫離這個國家以及世界的脈絡,政府應該感到羞恥。至今沒有政府官員提到節能及替代能源應如同開發阿拉斯加北坡地區那樣地嚴肅及積極。

我非常困惑,為何他們持續不斷提出擴大赤字的政策──我這麼說是因為共和黨的國家安全分析師已有進步,他們以認為節約能源必須包括在國家安全計畫內;另外,同為共和黨員的阿諾史瓦辛格,也提出了美國史上最積極的太陽能源展及獎勵政策。美國已經逐漸被日本及德國迎頭趕上,快要失去潔淨能源產業的領導地位了。甚至,他們還花數十億美元發動戰爭,犧牲數千人的性命已爭奪中東油權。這真是國家的悲哀!

問:根據我之前讀到的一些專訪,您似乎對於環境運動的發展還滿樂觀的。儘管環境運動面臨許多政治上的障礙,您依然覺得樂觀嗎?

答:我想環保團體正面臨一場保衛戰以避免無可挽回的傷害發生。有些戰鬥已經失敗,但是我認為在大家想像不到的地方卻開始成功了。當然我們不能忽略那些費盡心力但依舊挫敗的結果,但是我們也不能低估日益精進的科技所蘊含的樂觀,科技是我們強而有力的盟友。

雖然在我國現在是非常嚴酷的時刻,但是我深信對於這些環保議題的急迫重要性的認知,正急速的在全球各角落擴散開來。就像傳教一般,它擁有許多年輕的信徒。

問:請問您會對於環保運動僅以白人中產階級公民為主要號召對象感到不妥嗎?

答:是的,但是假設內城或貧窮社區居民不願意或沒有能力參與環保議題,將是個天大的錯誤。我看到很多例子,洛杉磯市中心南區和我們一起工作的朋友,對於這個計畫所擁有的環保利益感非常興奮,更勝於電價的節省。

問:好萊塢能夠在推動這項運動上扮演什麼樣的角色呢?

答:這類名流文化有一些固有的行事風格,美國民眾已經非常習慣,並且感到厭煩;但是這也許是一個機會,能夠改頭換面成為大眾堅實的領袖。當環保團體正忙於抵擋每天來自立法層面的攻防戰爭時,將這些議題擴大到更加公開的層面,以贏得更多人的認同顯得非常重要。

問:你將和卡麥蓉狄亞在她的生態系列MTV節目「Trippin'」中出遊探險嗎?

答:(大笑)我還沒有接到她的邀請,但是那應該會很有趣吧。誰會不想跟卡麥蓉狄亞一起旅遊探險呢?

問:「Trippin'」節目中將各種各樣不像是環保人士的人串聯在一起,像是嘻哈藝人、拉丁演員、溜冰的小孩以及鄉村搖滾歌手,似乎能夠打破大家對環保人士白人面孔、怪異行為的固有印象,並且讓環保意識能散播到各類人群中。

答:是阿,我也曾經找過像魔術強生這類的人士一起參與我們的太陽能計畫,因為他是洛杉磯低收入社區更新的精神領袖。魔術強生在這些社區號召所產生的影響力,我們可能需要花數年才能達的到。我們需要一些在他們社區有實質影響力的人士。

問:你曾經拍攝過一些與政治相關的電影--情色風暴1997、美國X檔案等,請問您有計畫或是有興趣拍一部與生態環境有關的電影嗎?

答:有一本引起各方討論的書,是愛德華艾比寫的的《猴子歪幫》,內容是有關一些人計畫想炸毀格林峽谷水壩以解放科羅拉多河的故事。但是我認為很難單從一個面向或單一主題來建構一個好的故事,你需要與一個歷史的大事件相關連才行。以《永不妥協》這部電影為例,它就是很標準的「大衛與葛利亞」的企業訴訟故事,並且是個環保故事。

這樣說吧,我們公司為環球電影公司拍攝電影,我們注意到一本書--《治療傷心的水牛》,這本書內容紀錄一個南達科他州乳牛牧場的主人,努力將他的大草原曠野牧場轉移成為美國水牛放牧場,用以復育美國水牛,這個故事就非常有生態環保意識。

問:請問您有使用哪些方法來減少個人的環境足跡嗎?

答:除了太陽能利用之外,我想到的是美國生活不可或缺的車輛。我住在紐約市,所以我並沒有買車,但是當我要旅行或在洛杉磯時,我會租用油電兩用車。我正在改建擴大我紐約的家,我盡量尋找使用回收及再利用的材料。我的兄弟正逼迫我試著在洛杉磯家中的花園裡降低用水量。我們竟然為了一個不是非常重要的理由而將科羅拉多河水,抽取出來噴灑在我們洛杉磯家中的草坪上,這對我來說是非常荒謬的,所以我的下一步就是試著在花園裡種植原生物種或耐旱的植物。對我來說,持續資助像是自然保育協會(Nature Conservancy)、大峽谷信託基金(Grand Canyon Trust)、地球正義(Earthjustice)、荒野協會(Wilderness Society)以及美國自然歷史博物館(American Museum of Natural History)等團體也是非常重要的。

問:你有沒有什麼惡習呢?

答:嗯,我常坐飛機,而且我知道坐一趟飛機從紐約到倫敦所造成的污染,相當於將五部休旅車拼命開一年的污染程度,所以我很難自處於這樣的狀況。但是我還想不到什麼方法可以解決這個問題。

問:請問您心目中有哪些環保英雄?

答:就是一些大家不太認識的,但是每天都重複做著令人難以置信的偉大工作,來對抗貪婪、保護大地。美國自然資源保護協會(NRDC)、全球綠網(Globe Green)、大峽谷信託基金會(Grand Canyon Trust)以及一些地區性的相關社團都充滿著這類英雄。我大學時的一個好友在地球正義(Earthjustice)擔任律師,因此我瞭解這樣終身從事奉獻工作的辛苦。這些人都正英勇的奮戰著,而不是像我這樣的人在為世界扛起重擔。

Higher Ed: An interview with actor and solar advocate Edward Norton
BY AMANDA GRISCOM LITTLE

The world has known Edward Norton as a neo-Nazi skinhead, a lusty priest, a warbling romantic, Larry Flynt's attorney, and Nelson Rockefeller. There is also a far less publicized role that Norton plays every day: a dyed-in-the-wool eco-devotee on the front lines of the renewable-energy movement.

In 2003, Norton teamed up with oil giant and leading solar-panel producer BP to develop the Solar Neighbors Program, which aims to get photovoltaic (PV) panels onto low-income homes in Los Angeles. Norton has brought star power to the cause with support from show-biz buddies including Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, and Danny DeVito, and within the first year of the program succeeded in getting resources for dozens of solar installations for inner-city families.

Norton is now starring in his first eco-themed media project as narrator of Strange Days on Planet Earth, a four-part National Geographic documentary series chronicling scary environmental phenomena occurring on a global scale, the final episode of which airs tonight on PBS. Norton spoke with Grist from his hotel in Prague, where he is on location shooting The Illusionist, to discuss his impressive environmental pedigree, his indignation over Bush administration policies, his heroes, and his vices.

Q: What was interesting to you about the way Strange Days on Planet Earth approaches environmental issues?

A: I was impressed with the theme that the globe is a truly integrated biological and ecological system. There's that old adage that when a butterfly beats its wings in China, it can cause a hurricane in Africa. The film explores that concept to the nth degree, showing how science is demonstrating more and more specifically just how intimately connected to each other we are. It amazes me that we got our first images of the earth from space just over 35 years ago, and still for the most part don't have a sense of the planet as a unified whole.

Q: Tell us about the solar project you put together with BP to help get PV installations on low-income homes in Los Angeles.

A: My brother and I were looking into solar applications for my house in Los Angeles and were stunned to find that the subsidies available through the state and the city were substantial enough that it made good financial sense and was a way of saving money over time. I work with Enterprise Foundation, the largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the country, which my grandfather founded in the late '70s, and realized that the people who could benefit from this technology the most are the people who can afford it the least.

Q: So you convinced BP to donate solar to affordable housing developments?

A: I set a goal of trying to get a substantial number of solar panels onto low-income families' homes in a concentrated area of L.A. Then I went to BP and proposed that if we could round up celebrities and public figures to buy BP solar systems for their homes, the company would then donate a matching system for each purchase to a low-income family. They were really responsive to the idea, and we created a program called Solar Neighbors. What we're hoping to do is have a condensed data pool to trace economic and environmental benefits for the families.

Historically the city has built power plants to satisfy peak demand in low-income neighborhoods. We're trying to show that if you can lower demand on the grid, you reduce the likelihood of these peaker plants turning on, which are incredibly noisy and polluting.

Q: What is the timetable for the project, and whom have you gotten on board?

A: We had our first-year celebration back in November. My colleagues and friends who had participated in the program -- Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Brad P itt, Salma Hayek, Daryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone -- came down and met with the families that have gotten systems. We got about 25 systems on families' homes in the first year, which allowed us to qualify for a $500,000 grant that will supply 40 or 50 new installations. And more people are getting involved. Bruce Willis called and wants to put an installation on his house in the Caribbean. Larry King agreed to do it. We're trying to go beyond Hollywood to bring in broadcasters, politicians, sports figures, and musicians. I'm hoping for a snowball effect.

Q: I understand that your dad is director of a Nature Conservancy project in China, and both of your siblings are involved in environmental work.

A: My father has been in China for five years directing the Nature Conservancy's Yunnan Great Rivers conservation project. Growing up, he was a big outdoor enthusiast, and head of public policy for The Wilderness Society in the '80s fighting all of those battles against James Watt. He engaged me and my siblings in environmental policy from a very early age. My sister got her graduate degree at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in environmental policy. My brother is a professional guide and has run whitewater trips through the Grand Canyon and elsewhere many, many times. He's on the board of Idaho Rivers United and working very hard on the salmon-recovery issue up in Idaho. So we're all involved in different aspects of these issues.

Q: What are your thoughts about the Bush administration?

A: This administration comes as close to criminal as any in history on issues of energy and the environment. Their agenda adds up to complete sellout of American public interest to corporate profit. It is to the shame of this administration that amidst all that's going on in the country and in the world right now, no one is saying that conservation and alternative energy need to be as seriously and aggressively explored as drilling in the North Slope of Alaska.

It confounds me to see them put forth completely bankrupt policies, even as Republican national-security analysts are stepping forward and saying energy conservation has got to be a part of our national security plan. Even as a fellow Republican, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is proposing the most aggressive solar development and incentive program in the history of the United States. Even as the United States is getting its ass kicked by the Japanese and the Germans, who are beginning to dominate clean-technology industries. Even as billions of dollars and many thousands of lives are being spent to fight oil regimes in the Middle East. It's truly a national tragedy.

Q: Based on interviews I've read, you seem to be generally upbeat about the progress of the environmental movement. Are you optimistic even in the face of the political barriers the movement is facing?

A: I think the environmental community is fighting a rearguard action to try to prevent irrevocable damage from occurring. Some fights are being lost, but I think more than people realize are being won. We can't overlook the fact that some of the worst efforts are being thwarted. And we can't underestimate the optimism inherent in the technological solutions on the rise -- technology is becoming a powerful ally.

Even though it's a very grim time in this country, I do think the consciousness on the pressing importance of these issues is rapidly expanding to all corners of the globe. Like any missionary movement, it's one that has a lot of young adherents.

Q: Does it concern you that the environmental movement appeals primarily to a narrow, white bourgeois constituency?

A: Yes, but it's a terrible mistake to assume that people in inner-city or poor communities don't or can't engage in these issues. I've seen so many examples of the people we work with in South Central L.A. who have gotten more excited about the environmental benefits of the program than the utility-bill savings.

Q: What role can Hollywood play in advancing the cause?

A: There are ways that the culture of celebrity gets used in America that are really unappealing, but it can also be an opportunity for substantive public leadership. While the environmental organizations are fending off assault on the day-to-day legislative level, it's an important time for us to engage in the more public battle to win hearts and minds on this issue.

Q: Are you going to go for an adventure with Cameron Diaz on her eco-themed MTV show Trippin'?

A: (Laughter.) I haven't been invited, but it sounds fun. Who wouldn't want to go on an adventure with Cameron Diaz?

Q: Trippin' brings together all manner of unlikely environmentalists -- hip-hop artists, Latino actors, skate kids, country rockers -- and seems to be a good example of an effort to reshape the white, geeky enviro identity and help get the green message to a more diverse audience.

A: Yes, I've been really trying to get people like Magic Johnson involved in our solar program because he's been such a force in the revitalization of L.A. low-income communities. Someone like Magic can do more to raise the profile of an effort like we're doing in those communities than I could after years of effort. You need people with real credibility in their own communities.

Q: You've done politically themed movies -- The People vs. Larry Flynt, American History X. Do you have any ideas for, or interest in, doing eco-themed feature films?

A: Well, there's the famous Edward Abbey book The Monkey Wrench Gang that I know has been kicked around, about some guys who make a plan to blow up the Glen Canyon Dam and release the Colorado River. But I don't think you can construct a good story from just an angle or an issue; you need it to touch on classic themes as well. Erin Brockovich, for instance, was as much a David-and-Goliath corporate-litigation story as it was an environmental story.

That said, my company produces movies for Universal and we picked up a book called Buffalo for the Broken Heart, which is a chronicle of a South Dakota cow rancher's efforts to transform his Great Plains ranch into a buffalo ranch and bring it back to life, which has a very strong environmental component.

Q: What steps have you taken personally to lessen your environmental footprint?

A: In addition to solar, I think the car we drive is the most fundamental choice in American life. I live in New York, so I don't actually own a car, but when I'm traveling or in L.A. I use car agencies that rent hybrids. I'm renovating a little extension on my home in New York and have been exploring what's available in terms of recycled and reused materials. My brother is hounding me to try to make my garden around my house in L.A. less water-intensive. It's completely absurd that we have the Colorado River getting pumped into our lawns in Los Angeles for no good reason really, so my next step is to try a more native-species or dry-climate garden. It's also important to me to financially support organizations like The Nature Conservancy, the Grand Canyon Trust, Earthjustice, The Wilderness Society, the American Museum of Natural History.

Q: What are your vices?

A: Well, I fly a lot, and I wouldn't be surprised if one trip on a jet plane from New York to London is the pollution equivalent of driving five SUVs hard for a year, so that doesn't put me in very good standing. But I haven't figured out how to tackle that one yet.

Q: Who are your environmental heroes?

The people who don't usually get acknowledged, but are doing incredible work day-to-day to hold the ground against forces of greed. NRDC [Natural Resources Defense Council], Global Green, Grand Canyon Trust, regional groups like that. One of my best friends from college is a lawyer for Earthjustice, so I'm aware of the kind of dedication it takes to make that your life's work. All those people are fighting very heroic battles. It's not people like me who are doing the heavy lifting.