The Eco-Celeb Couple of the Week is a new weekly guest blog from Eco News Network, focusing on green celebrity couples and their sustainable goodness.
Environmentalism and activism is no joke for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Yes, they may be two of the top actors in the movie industry, but what really stands out for this couple is how they give back to nature and people.
Brad and Angelina first hooked up on the set of their 2005 movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and have been inseparable since. Even though the two aren't married, they have six children, three adopted: Maddox, Pax and Zahara, and three biological: Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne.
They aren't the typical couple who bask in the glory of the spotlight, especially when it comes to fame. Usually when the names "Angelina and Brad" are uttered it's because of their charitable work.
Known for her famous roles in "Changeling" and "Girl, Interrupted," which won her an Academy Award for best supporting actress, Angelina is recognized for her work in Cambodia.
While shooting the movie, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" in Cambodia, the land and the people spoke to Angelina. She found a new love. To help the southeast Asian nation, which struggles with land conservation and poverty issues, the 36-year-old actress started a $1.5 million project in 2003. Angelina first set out to protect 150,000 acres of endangered forest from the illegal activities of logging, mining and wildlife poaching.
This is just one of the many projects the actress has launched in Cambodia. Another is, the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, in honor of her son who was adopted from the country. The organization focuses on conservation of Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains and the Samlaut National Park.
Oh no, this isn't even the beginning of "The Tourist" actress lending a helping hand. She is constantly in the news for her humanitarian work, and it's well deserved, but enough about Angelina, let's focus on her handsome partner, Mr. Brad Pitt.
Notorious for his work in "Fight Club," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and his most recent hit "Moneyball," Brad is popular for his work in New Orleans.
After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Pitt visited and decided something needed done and he was going to lend a hand in rebuilding neighborhoods. The actor held a competition, where individuals and architects could submit designs. The catch? They had to be ecological with energy-efficient materials and appliances.
The 49-year-old actor partnered with Global Green USA, to work on the project. Even though the designs did not reflect the historic architecture in The Big Easy, the actor explained the importance of the future and improving the quality of life, especially in low-income areas.
Obviously, he wasn't doing enough, so Brad launched the Make It Right Foundation in 2007, which is dedicated to rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. So far, his foundation has completed a remarkable 75 eco-friendly homes as of May 2011.
According to U.S. Green Building Council, the Ninth Wards is "the largest community of LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] Platinum homes in the world." Way to go Brad!
The happy couple has certainly contributed to Mother Earth separately, but they have also given back as one. Together they established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and through the organization they donated $8 million, in 2006, to a variety of foundations. Global Green USA, a national environmental group was one of many to benefit.
Brangelina also supported fellow celeb Wyclef Jean and his charity, the Clean Streets Project. The initiative helped clean garbage off the streets in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, all while hiring 600 workers per day.
Does the "work" ever end for these two? Balancing a relationship, family and their activism must be a very busy schedule! As one of the most powerful couples in Hollywood, Brad and Angelina's list of goodness goes on for miles. It seems like they're setting a good example for their children.
-Allyson Koerner
Allyson Koerner is the assistant managing editor and contributing writer at Eco News Network, a sustainable news site providing news, trends and commentary on a variety of green topics such as home and design, pets, businesses and pop culture.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Georges Biard
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