billboard names top 10 green musicians

billboard magazine released it's green issue (you can download a pdf here) and in it named the top ten green musician activists from the past year. the criteria for their choices were overall impact on the environment; integration of green choices into lives & careers; "perceived sacrifice of choices"; and originality of ideas. i've included a line or two from each of the band's individual write-ups, but you can read the full explanations in the pdf above.

10. the roots
at a concert last year the roots gave away autographed compost bins to promote the practice, and they've also helped peta promote vegetarianism. (meat eating contributes about one quarter of an individual's total carbon consumption.)
the roots - baby

9. missy higgins
on her current tour (including a gig in berkeley on 15 may) higgins will travel by biodiesel bus and offset her emissions with wind power credits
missy higgins - where i stood

8. radiohead
radiohead has made much ado about, among other things, using only venues accessible by public transit on their current blockbuster tour - which, as you may know, includes a stop in golden gate park as part of the outside lands festival. (win tickets.)
radiohead - exit music (live)

7. serj tankian
tankian, formerly of system of a down, has created a website to connect his fans to environmental organizations and has hired reverb to help minimize his tour's footprint.
serj tankian - empty walls (acoustic)

6. pearl jam
pj has backed various offshoots of the environmental movement for a while now - the surfrider foundation in particular - and along with donating around $120k in the last couple years will work to make their studio/warehouse in seattle and current and future tours more green.
pearl jam - ocean (unplugged)

5. kt tunstall
kt created a 100 per cent post-consumer waste recycled and chlorine-free booklet for her CD drastic fantastic and has followed it up with a carbon-neutral uk tour.
kt tunstall - black horse and the cherry tree

4. dave matthews band
on its current tour dmb will not only offset its own emissions with renewable energy credits, but also those of its audiences.
dave matthews band - stay (live)

3. mana
mana founded the selva negra foundation in its native mexico to champion environmental causes like reforestation and has lobbied for environmental ethics curriculum in mexican schools.
mana - como te deseo

2. willie nelson
willie nelson has his own brand of biodiesel fuel. which is kind of awesome. plus he only smokes weed from responsibly managed usda certified organic outdoor colonies.
willie nelson - slow dancing

1. jack johnson
i've mentioned some of jack's green touring habits before. add to that his l.a. recording studio soundproofed by used denim and powered by solar panels and you have an idea of why he comes in at number one.
jack johnson w/ g. love - rainbow