There are several indications in the movie “Twilight,” of environmental consciousness on the parts of Stephanie Meyer and Catherine Hadwicke.

Although Bella says the forest gives her the creeps in the book, in the film “Twilight,” the forest is pictured as lush and beautiful, and it has nearly a magical quality. It acts as hunting grounds for vampires and a playground for Bella and Edward.

Also, in “Twilight” the movie, Bella, Edward and their classmates go on a special fieldtrip for Biology class. I believe they go to some kind of greenhouse, where they learn about composting and reusing natural resources. The environmental consciousness is most obvious when the Biology teacher actually says, “Green is good,” in order to coax the students onto the school bus.

Another feature of “Twilight” the movie that points to environmental consciousness on the parts of the author and the director is the fact that vampires and werewolves are natural predators to one another. Although blood-sucking immortals don’t seem like the most natural phenomenon, the balance that is created by their canine counterparts is indicative of a much larger natural balance (and adds a great plot-point to the movie as well).

The back story behind the Quileute legends also adds an element to environmental balance and harmony between humans and animals. When thinking about all of these elements combined, “Twilight” seems like an incredibly environmental movie!

Native Americans are outraged at Summit Entertainment’s plans to cast many non-Native American actors into Quileute roles in the upcoming “New Moon.”

Several Native Americans voiced their chagrin on www.bluecorncomics.com. One woman commented on the plant to cast Vanessa Hudgens as Leah: “Surely, in all of America, there has to be at least one qualified Native American actress!” Another person said that if Stephanie Meyer is at all involved in the casting, that she must be a “conscious rather than unconscious racist.

What do you think? Must a Native American character be played by a Native American actor?