Countdown to Earth Hour

Hello Dolls!

I know you read the last post and you are kind of convinced, but now you are wondering what on earth (haha - get it?) you are going to do in the dark for an hour. Well, I have the answers yet again. Here is Diva Zero's Top Ten Countdown of What to Do in the Dark:

10. Take a nap. One of my favorite pastimes, light or dark.

9. Pray. I know for most of you this will take about 30 seconds. How about you spend the rest of the time repenting? That should take up the next 59 1/2 minutes and then some, you sinners...

8. Use a flashlight or candle and make shadow puppets on the wall. Extra points for the dirty ones!

7. Write your 25 Random Facts for your Facebook profile. I don't usually endorse Facebook, but I'm willing to overlook how much it sucks just this once. What the hell - it's for the Earth!

6. Walk around your neighborhood and pass judgment on people who still have their lights on. I know you think you can take everyone but don't do this one alone - safety first! And if you're going around saying "I can take 'em", you probably can't.

5. Play with your........................................digital camera. Take funky pictures in the dark with the flash on. Who knows - you could be a talented photographer on par with Jamila Sams or Warren Grant! Nah, you're not that good. (Don't believe me? Check out http://akomaphoto.com/ and http://www.warrengrantphotography.com/. Fabulous.)

4. Write a heartfelt message to me about how my commitment to the environment has inspired you and changed your life. I know how important I have become to you, but it would be nice to hear it from you for a change.

3. Write a nasty message to me about how bored you are for an hour in the dark. Not recommended.


2. Prepare your rebuttal for when I tell you what a boring person you are that you couldn't entertain yourself for an hour in the dark. I'm telling you - number 3 is not recommended. If you choose to do it, you will get your feelings hurt.

1. Have sex. It's not rocket science, people!!! (By the way, no need to thank me or tell me about this one.)


So what are you doing for Earth Hour? I wouldn't ask if I didn't really want to know...

Holla back,
Diva Zero
Catch my chic.

Earth Hour 2010

Hello Dolls!

Earth Hour is coming up on Saturday, March 27, 8:30pm-9:30pm, local time. Haven't heard of it? Shame on you. But never fear, Diva Zero is here to break it down.

What - This is an initiative started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and it is a global call to action to impact climate change. I know - what does wildlife have to do with climate change? Well, geniuses, climate change affects us and we are animals, right? (Some more than others, but that is an entirely different blog.) And just imagine all those polar bears struggling to stay on ever-shrinking islands of ice. Awww!

It doesn't matter where you come down on the issue of animal rights. Whether you love 'em, hate 'em or just love their meat, fur or skin, we all agree that we need animals around. WWF has taken the lead on this important issue that ultimately benefits you and other wild things.

How - Turn all your lights and other electrically-powered anythings off for one hour. When Earth Hour started three years ago in Sydney, Australia, turning the lights off in one city for one hour had the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road! Now, nearly one billion people from 4,100 cities in 87 countries on all seven continents participated last year and, with your help, Earth Hour 2010 can be even bigger. And you've always wanted to be important.

Where - During past Earth Hours, landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower and Great Pyramids have gone dark alongside the city skylines of San Francisco, New York, Paris, and Cairo. To see it for yourself, check out this video: http://www.myearthhour.org/earth-hour-video. (Go ahead - it will take less than 3 minutes of your life and you know you ain't doing anything anyway!)

When - Saturday, March 27, 8:30pm-9:30pm, local time. I said that already - come on people, pay attention!

Why - Because I said so. If you need more of a reason than that, go to http://www.myearthhour.org/ to find out what a big difference you can make. But seriously, I thought we were past that by now - my word should be good enough.

Who - You, bitches!

So go ahead and turn those lights off. Because honestly - wouldn't it be nice if, just for once, your lights went out by choice and not because your triflin' ass didn't pay the bill?

I'll see you in the dark,
Diva Zero
Catch my chic.

What Every Diva Must Do

Hello Dolls!
Diva Zero promised to be there for you and here I am. Black is the New Green starts - as all great styles do - with a set of high quality basics. For many of my girls, going green is like jumping into a hot bath. And nobody likes a burnt...toe. So, let's just ease into it, shall we?

Ten Things Every Diva Must Do For the Environment

1. Use reusable bags for shopping.

There are so many cute styles out there - how can you resist? Every color, every shape - you can express yourself in every way. One of the cutest I've seen said "I'm on an eco-trip". Simply fab.

2. Drive a fuel-efficient car.

Let's face it - not everyone can afford a hybrid, but there are plenty of other options out there. I am partial to the Toyota Yaris, but you should follow your own style. Find your chic. Every major automobile manufacturer has a fuel-efficient model and they are getting cuter and less expensive every year so there is no reason you shouldn't be riding this wave. Besides, pumping gas is unladylike - you should do it as little as possible.

3. Walk more.

I know. This sounds counterintuitive. But girl, you know you don't belong to a gym! And if you do, you don't go and if you go, you don't work out - you just go to show off your newest sexy workout gear. So stop frontin', park your fuel-efficient ride once in awhile and walk! It's good for the environment, it's the most exercise you're going to get all day and you've got to keep that booty in shape!

4. Use a coffee mug.

I've been known to transport mimosas in mine, but let's keep that between us. A reusable, transportable coffee mug is just one more opportunity for you to express yourself. And what self-respecting diva turns that down?

5. Use a water filter.

Is an explanation even necessary? Plastic is like pleather - your skin shouldn't be touching either of them.

6. Use CFL light bulbs.

Hello!?! We look fantastic in soft light!

7. Wash your laundry in cold water and hang it to dry.

Not only does this save energy, it saves you money by not having to heat water to wash or having to heat air to dry. You should be wearing delicates anyway.

8. Observe Earth Day every day.

You know how you celebrate your birthday for the entire month and then try to stretch it out even more? Its kind of like that.

9. Recycle.

Just do it. It's not always cute, but it is a fundamental principle. Divas are nothing without principles.

10. Tell everyone you know to do the first 9 things.

You are a trendsetter after all, right?

Kisses,

Diva Zero

Catch my chic.

Diva Knows Best

Ok - it's 2010 and I still have friends who are more interested in recycling men than recycling their weekly cache of empty wine bottles. And believe me, with the men these bitches date, the bottles have a better shot at a bright future. But it's not just the girls - some of my guys and my gays are acting just as ignorant! And it's ridiculous because environmental awareness is pervasive - everyone knows about going green, being green and living green. So why in this day and age do I still have to talk some sense into these people? Because I'm a trendsetter, obviously. But that's the easy answer and I am a proponent of living a deeper truth. If you are brave enough, cool enough and smart enough, then settle in while I tell you all about it.

The truth is, awareness isn't the issue, caring is. And caring is always hard - you have to act on it and shit. Yes, my darlings, there's always a catch. It is hard, but I am here to say get over it!!! If you aren't doing your part to help the Earth by now, you are either ridiculously sheltered (in which case you probably think the Devil is talking to you through the computer screen and you've got bigger problems than global warming) or you are incredibly stupid. What else do you call someone who, in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, refuses to put any effort into taking care of where they live? (Did you say George Bush? Jinx!!! You owe me a Coke!)

Who am I to say any of this? Maybe nobody. But I did say it. Therefore, I am somebody. And isn't that how all movements start? I am somebody! (Shout out to Jesse Jackson! Just to clarify, I mean vintage, Rainbow Coalition Jesse, not the more recent, way bitter, Obama-bashing Jesse.) The good news is you can be somebody too. It doesn't take much. Truth be told, I am fairly lazy and non-committal. I go to work every day and do a damn good job, but outside of that, television, a good drink, good sex and a good nap are a few of my favorite things. I didn't start caring about the environment until about three years ago. After nearly three decades of fabulous living, my email (paperless!) announcement of my newfound eco-consciousness was met with disdain and disbelief from family and friends. The exact responses ranged from "Oh, now I've heard it all!" to "This can't be real" to "WTF?"

And who can blame them? When you think 'environmentalist', you think of hippies, activists and maybe Al Gore. Certainly not the cute Black chick who doesn't like nature. Yes, I say that. Often. But what I mean is I don't like to be in nature. You will never catch me camping or riding a bike to work, but just because I don't want to roll around on the Earth doesn't mean I don't want the Earth to be there and be healthy! I love nature. As long I'm looking at it from inside of my energy-efficient house. And I know you feel me. Black people don't like water (don't be messin' with our hair) and we don't like the sun (it's hot - and aren't we dark enough already?). Nevertheless, that does not excuse us from playing a prominent role in the fight to save the Earth.

The fact is, if I can care, anyone can care. I was fashionably late to the party, but so what? I'm here now and that's all that matters. I can care about the Earth and my impact on it as much as I care about celebrity gossip and what's in this season - Black is the new green. Now I just need everyone to get in style. Are we seriously going to leave this all up to Al? I love the guy, but please - the Black community is supposed to take the lead on what's hot - why should this issue be any different? We are the people who got (some) white people to start calling themselves "wiggas". Now that's power. Let's use it for good and not evil ('cause wigga was not cute).

Environmental issues affect our community in every way: financially, medically, politically - the list goes on. Do you wonder if you can even afford to live in an environmentally responsible way? Have you ever stopped to consider why asthma is so rampant in the Black community? Did you know that the first choice for toxic waste dumpsites in the United States has historically been in predominantly Black areas?

I don't know everything but I know enough to start asking the questions. And while I am finding the answers I can still take postiive action. No one can do everything, but we can all do the best we can. And don't get it twisted - it's going to take all of us. I don't care if you are a career girl, 'round the way girl, baby mama or BAP. You can be a college man, a corner man, a family man or an into-men man - we need you all. Black really is the new green and like every movement we lead, supporters of every color are more than welcome too. All you've got to do is start where you are and start now. It won't always be easy, but I'll be here the whole time to help guide you through.

Black is the New Green. It's an epidemic. If you are reading this, you are already infected. You may start to feel the symptoms right away or you may have some time before you start feeling the effects. Either way, trust me - it's in your system. All epidemics start with one person - the carrier. Well dolls, allow me to introduce myself: I am Diva Zero. And you are going to catch my chic.