Snog
We haven’t always been fans of ITV’s Downton Abbey, but then we found out how much they love recycling and we changed our minds. Many of the stunning dresses worn in the period drama are actually pre-loved, and have been worn before by some of the biggest names in show business. Dresses worn in other shows and movies by Catherine Zeta Jones, Emma Thompson and Uma Thurman have been recycled and given the Downton treatment to save some pennies. Now that’s some thrifty thinking!

Marry
After his split from Demi Moore, we knew Ashton Kutcher wouldn’t be back on the market long before someone else tried to snap him up. So we’re putting our two cents in and taking first shotgun. The Two And A Half Men star was spotted driving around California, having ditched the hobo look and found a razor. More importantly, he was also driving a new eco-friendly sports car – the Californian Fisker Karma. After such a public affair, let’s hope making the green choices will bring him some good Karma too.

Avoid
We were pleased to hear Beyonce and Jay-Z gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and we even managed to let it slide that they gave it the somewhat ridiculous name of Blue Ivy. But we just can’t get our heads around the insane amount of money that has already been spent on this tot. The couple have already repotedly spent over $1million on kitting out the three nurseries in all their properties. The shopping list includes a solid gold rocking horse, a $20,00 crib and a diamante-encrusted high chair. It all seems slightly excessive for someone who’s probably doing little else than dribbling and crying right now.

Here comes the science bit…
Global Cool wants you to lead a green and happy life. This article can help you to be green by:

1. Wearing vintage and pre-loved clothes instead of always buying something new.
2. (If you really have to drive) making sure you pick an eco-friendly Hybrid.
3. Being sensible with spending - overconsumption is a major no-no.

 Pics: PA Images

By Emily Rycroft

Our fave independent woman is going to have a baby and we couldn’t be happier for her. Beyonce and husband Jay-Z announced that they are expecting their first  child at the MTV VMA Awards this week. We’re hoping she’ll take some parenting tips from these fantastic ladies and make other mums green with envy…

Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson is no stranger to being green, with her own

Miranda Kerr
We know being perfect is an unrealistic goal, but Miranda Kerr comes pretty close. She’s already worked super hard for her planet during Earth Hour and there seems to be nothing this eco-warrior cannot do. The gorgeous model and her equally handsome hubby Orlando Bloom renovated their entire home into an eco-friendly haven in preparation for their baby.

Alicia Silverstone

Pics: PA Images

We’re always on the look out for the good, the bad and the ugly in celebsville. But unlike most of the celebrity rags, we’re more concerned with who’s using their canvas bag at the supermarket than who’s been spending a little bit too much quality time with the botox needle. And what better way to put them to rights than by playing our favourite TV show, Snog Marry Avoid…

Snog
Kate Hudson launched a line of  environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free hair products, with proceeds are  going to benefit WildAid back in 2008. She also worked alongside Tobey Maguire and Gwyneth Paltrow, sharing her eco-friendly advice in the book Healthy Child Healthy World. She loves being an eco-mum, often sneaking organic vergetables into her son Ryder’s food, and her hubby Matt Bellamy is already a Global Cool fave.

Marry
Salma Hayek is not only a beautiful and hard-working actress, but she’s also hard at work fighting for our planet. She is a member of the board of Global Green USA, helping change the damage we are doing to Mother Nature. The From Dusk Till Dawn star also has her Los Angeles home completely kitted out with solar panels and she drives a hybrid. You go girl!

Avoid
It looks like Kanye West’s larger than life ego has got him in trouble again! In his new video with Jay-Z he dismantles a brand new luxury limousine and turns it into a hardcore Landaulet. Now we’re all for recycling but usually the item has been used before. It’s not been his week either after he took a spectacular tumble on stage (we bet Taylor Swift can’t quite suppress the giggles). Although we do approve of his work with Mr Hudson…

Do you think Jenny Frost does a better job? We want to know on Twitter @global_coolor in the comments box…

Pics: PA Images

This week we’ve been rummaging deep in to the recesses of our prize drawer and found these five CDs signed by Mr Hudson…

Space Oddity by David Bowie
The Blue Print 3 by Jay-Z
The Very Best Of The Ink Spots by The Ink Spots
So Far So Gone by Drake
Blue by Joni Mitchell

They were specially picked by the man we like to call “the artist formerly known as Master Hudson” when he came on Traincation with us to Munich last year. They’re the records he would most like to listen to while on a long train journey – and they could be yours if you enter this comp.

This competition has now closed. Thanks to all who entered and congratulations to Samantha Cockroft, whose name was drawn at random as the winner.

By clicking submit you agree to our Terms & Conditions

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

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11. Mark Ronson
This Grammy award winning musician and DJ has a whole host of talents up his sleeve and it turns out that one of them is riding a bike. As well as releasing The Bike Song, Ronson also helped to promote cycling around London.

12. Tim Minchin
Music and comedy are not always the easiest of bedfellows, not unless you like Victoria Wood anyway. Aussie songsmith Minchin, however, has somehow managed to create comedy out of a song about the importance of helping the environment by not using plastic bags at the supermarket. Hats off!

13. Questlove
As if making music with the likes of Christina Aguilera and Jay-Z isn’t enough, Questlove and The Roots added to their uber cool credentials by playing a gig at Earth Day earlier this year.

14. Guy Ritchie
OK, so his films are so naff that even Madonna doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore, but at least everyone’s least favourite mockney has been getting on his bike, quite literally, this year.

15. James Cameron
No-one has done more for blue people, except maybe The Smurfs, and the Titanic director made up for his previous attempts to undermine green travel (sinking a massive ship) by putting sustainable living at the heart of Avatar’s, ahem, plot. And if you thought the film was shit then don’t despair – he also planted a load of trees too.

16. Lance Armstrong
Here’s a man who travelled around France seven times using just his own leg power – now it doesn’t get much greener than that! The Tour de France legend is also a massive supporter of electric cars.

17. Liz Hurley
Liz might have been higher in this list but for recent reports of romance with Australia’s leading pie advertiser Shane Warne. Nevertheless, Hugh Grant’s ex has still got us in a spin (I thank you) with her support for organic farming. Groovy, baby!

18. Billy Zane
Another former proponent of sinking ships, we’ve also decided to forgive Billy for his role in Titanic (and for managing to get a piece of Kelly Brook!) due to his cycling exploits (N.B. Celebs – in case you hadn’t already noticed, if you hop on a bike some time in 2011 you’ve got a pretty good chance of making this list next year).

19. Edith Bowman
You’ll never guess what Radio 1′ Edith’s been up to… that’s right, cycling. Basically, the lesson here is that if you didn’t take up cycling in 2010 then you’re a massive loser. End of.

20. Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Of course, if cycling isn’t your thing, there’s always the Tube. Football hating footballer Benoit Assou-Ekotto loves to get about on it when he’s not watching his manager Harry Redknapp dispatch tactical instructions in a series of carefully choreographed coded twitches.

Come back tomorrow to find out who made the top 10 of our Cool List 2010

Who’s your hero of 2010? Tell us in the comments below…

By Lauren Moore

This week’s top of the class are American rockers Linkin Park…

So who are they?
US nu metal/rap group who’ve sold zillions of record, won almost as many awards and worked with Jay-Z, amongst others.

Impressive. What else do I need to know?
Linkin Park launched Music for Relief , a site where fans can download music from a variety of artists including Alanis Morissette, Jack Johnson and of course Linkin Park, with the proceeds going to help victims of anything from the tsunami in South Asia, to Haiti. So far, Music for Relief has raised over $3million since it was started in 2005 and has been supported by everybody from Stevie Wonder to Justin Timberlake.

So they’re cool guys, but why are they Global Cool guys?
You may think that after making a diamond debut album, selling 50 million albums worldwide, and winning two Grammy Awards, you’d never have to do any physical labour again. But this is exactly what Linkin Park have used their stardom for; to get sponsorship to build and renovate homes throughout Southern California.

It’s all part of a campaign they launched called Habitat for Humanity, which aims to provide aid to victims of natural disasters. They build homes for needy families through ‘Green Building’; using methods, products and processes that lessen the detrimental impacts on the environment. The band chose to build energy efficient homes to educate artists and fans about how they can be more green.

You can watch the band get diggy with it below…

As part of our Do It In Public campaign, Global Cool brings you our guide to the best summer festivals, including how to get there and back without having to dig your car out of a field that looks like northern France circa 1918. Continuing today with the T In The Park…

Who
Where to start?! Massive acts like Muse and Eminem will be there, and third headliner Kasabian will be playing arguably their biggest gig to date. There are dozens of acts that are guaranteed to make the crowd go mental – The Prodigy, Faithless, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Dizzee Rascal – but T’s also awash with hip alternative acts like Hot Chip, The Black Keys and The Big Pink.

What
Far and away Scotland’s biggest and best music festival, the atmosphere at T is always electric, and the lineup gives any festival a run for its money. Well worth the train trip from anywhere in the UK.

When
9-11 July, 2010

Where
Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland

Why
Last year Global Cool spoke to The Temper Trap, above, just before they had a UK top 10 hit with Sweet Disposition…

How
Citylink coaches are the fastest and greenest way to get onsite, picking up from 32 places in Scotland and dropping people off right at the site entrance. You can also plan your journey using this public transport journey planner…

As part of our upcoming Do It In Public campaign, Global Cool brings you our guide to the best summer festivals, including how to get there and back without having to dig your car out of a field that looks like northern France circa 1918. Today it’s the Isle of Wight…

Who
New festival favourite Jay Z, party starter Pink and forever young Mr Hudson will be entertaining the crowds over the weekend before the legend that is Paul McCartney headlines on Sunday night. Other acts include Vampire Weekend, Blondie, Biffy Clyro, Doves, Friendly Fires and The Courteeners.

What
For four days the usually quiet Isle of Wight erupts into a party zone. And what makes this festival even better is that it has won a Greener Festival Award for its work in making the Isle of Wight Festival more eco-friendly.

Where
Seaclose Park, Newport

When
11-13 June

Why
Check out one of the stars of this summer’s Isle of Wight Festival, Mr Hudson, talking exclusively to Global Cool last summer…

How
Southern Vectis will be running shuttles to connect people with ferries once the festival is over. Click here for more travel info or plan your journey using this planner…

So who is he?
Even if you don’t know the name Questlove, you’ve probably heard his music. He’s a drummer, producer, journalist and DJ and first made his name as the drummer of The Roots, the Grammy winning rap group from Philadelphia who are known for playing their own instruments.

Impressive. What else do I need to know?
He’s worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera and Joss Stone and is writing with Duffy for her next album.  And in something you wouldn’t expect a rap group to do, The Roots are currently the house band for American chat show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, a bit like a much cooler (and musically talented) version of Jonathan Ross’s Four Poofs And A Piano. Oh, and Questlove’s got an awesomely big Afro and tweets a lot.

So he’s a cool guy, but why’s he a Global Cool guy?
The Roots were at the centre of an impressive bill for a recent concert in Washington DC in support of US organisation Earth Day.  Their Climate Rally featured The Roots (with Questlove on the drumstool, natch) playing with everyone’s favourite policeman, Sting, as well as with soul star John Legend. Also performing were hip New York band Passion Pit and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

Here are just a couple of highlights…

The Roots covering Sweet Child O’ Mine

The Roots & Sting doing Message In A Bottle

Show me more…
You can join Questlove’s 1.3 million Twitter followers at @questlove and check out more about The Roots at www.okayplayer.com.

Ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland has grounded all UK flights today. So it’s a good job Mr Hudson took a Traincation to Munich with Global Cool (watch the video below) to show you just how easy it is to get around Europe without a volcano ruining your holiday.

And Mr Hudson isn’t the only one. We’ve also done Traincation travel diaries with Scott Mills, George Lamb and Rick Edwards… all of whom are now laughing in the face of the Icelandic volcano.

You can find out more about Traincations (and feel all smug about your volcano defiance powers) here.