Brad Pitt , who has been involved with the Global Green USA project, sat down with NBC's Ann Curry to talk about his passion for the environment and his adopted hometown, New Orleans . US weekly gives some excerpts.

On why he got involved with Global Green USA:
“Little steps like this-- I'm proud of it because it helps create a dialogue. It brings more knowledge and puts in-- puts these ideas into practice. There's a lot of people doing it, and we're happy to be a part of it.�

On making the New Orleans re-build eco-friendly:
“The first thing that gets sacrificed in affordable housing is lights, ventilation. You see here we got great light. There's windows everywhere. There is this great breeze coming in...And I think, for the family that's going to be here, especially being a father, that it's got to feel good to know that he's giving his family a better way of life. That he's able to contribute that way. Not only that, this house does not poison the environment.�

On the conversation that cemented his opinion that New Orleans should be rebuilt:
"I know a lot of the people here. I care very much for the area. I met a 60 year old man who...said [to me], 'I did everything right. I got a job. I bought a home. I raised my kids in that home. They did the same. Now...we're all split apart and we've been wiped out...What do I do?' And he's right...that's unacceptable. So any debate on 'should we rebuild, should we not' -- I'll take you on."

On the lessons of Katrina:
“It's a justice issue. What we saw [with] Katrina is that there is a portion of our society that's being overlooked. And so, in the aftermath, we're not going to be able to bring back the friends and family that are lost. We're not going to be able to bring back their heirlooms and their photographs. But maybe, this is a question we presented, maybe we can provide a better way of life. Maybe we can find some good out of this. And that has to deal with justice and fairness.�

On eventually eliminating America's energy bills:
"The idea that we pay utility bills is absolutely unnecessary...There's the sun. It's right there to be harnessed. You feel the breeze that's been created here. And we got water right out there. Any one of these can be harnessed...It's simple. It's smart. It's the way we have to be thinking. There's a lot of problems in the world right now because of our dependency on oil.�