CONSPICUOUS CARBON

For once its kind of neat that the rags are ragging on a celebrity...

How Liz put her (carbon) foot in it; How week-long nuptials were a big, fat, not-so green wedding, exclusive survey shows
Geoffrey Lean and Rachel Beebe, March 11, 2007 (UK Independent)

- Liz Hurley's long-haul wedding has produced a carbon footprint so large that it would take the average British couple more than 10 years to contribute as much to heating up the planet as she and Arun Nayar have done in little over a week. It would take a typical Indian couple a massive 123 years…around 200,000kg of carbon…[Oxford-based footprinting consultancy] Best Foot Forward, reckons…environmentalists condemned their "conspicuous carbon consumption"…
- …a fistfight broke out between journalists and security guards as the couple arrived at Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur, northern India, for their final wedding feast. The couple's two-night stopover in Mumbai earlier in the week hit problems…
- The marathon marriage began a week before, with a small civil ceremony in the 15th-century Sudeley Castle…the couple repeated their vows in front of 250 guests in a blessing at St Mary's Church in the castle grounds. After two days of "quiet" celebrations in the Cotswolds, the couple flew last Monday, with 24 guests, in a chartered Learjet to Mumbai…they and 250 guests flew in seven chartered jets to Jodhpur, northern India…Today, the newlyweds fly to the Maldives for their honeymoon.

- Best Foot Forward says the biggest polluter is the Learjet, which will emit more than 70,000kg on its 12,000-mile round-trip. Accommodation in India adds18,605kg, and food and drink 18,000kg…
- The total of 207,849kg assumes the couple take the Learjet to the Maldives, while their guests return to Britain by scheduled flights. If the couple just fly first class, the total drops to 173,578kg…
- Fitting the dress…Versace in Milan…215kg CO2
- Getting to Gloucestershire…Sir Elton arrived in his personal helicopter…30,038kg
- The English ceremony…a castle…heat, light, food and drink…5,196kg
- Getting to India…bridal party…by Learjet. The rest…by airline…66,461kg
- The Indian festivities…Flowers and chefs were flown in….17,143kg
- The honeymoon…Learjet to the Maldives: 70,113kg…Total: 207,849kg CO2