Chasing Clean Air

Lester Brown's Plan B is a Fabulous Environmental PBS Film

Last night I happened upon the amazing, highly recommended PBS 90-minute film, which is based on the environmentalist and globally-respected thinker, Lester Brown's Plan B book series:

Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization

The biggest take-away of the film, which beautifully illustrates global problems and solutions through Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rome, Istanbul, Ankara, and Washington, DC, is this:

There is an urgent need now for government to create a massive response to our energy and climate change problems.

Harness the wind, the sun, and geothermal. On massive scales.

President Roosevelt's response to WW11 was given as an example of how this could happen. Roosevelt went to auto makers and told them that instead of building cars they'd build tanks. And within a very short period of time, the US was ready for war on a massive scale.

Japan

I wanted to express my condolences and sympathy for Japan's people during their earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear tragedy.

I have great respect for Japan, its people, customs, and products.

I am personally indebted to Japan for bringing me pleasure combined with reliability through my Nikon camera and awesome lenses, my 13 year old Lexus that never breaks down and provides a safe and comfortable ride, my 5-year old Sony flat screen TV that never breaks and provides excellent pictures.

My love for sushi and seaweed salad at local Japanese restaurants, wherever I travel, visiting Japanese gardens, and now I'm learning how civilized a culture can be based on how they treat one another during a disaster.

Japan's 8.9 Earthquake Causes Nuke Plant Radiation 1000x Above Normal: What Californians and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Can Learn

Are California's two active nuclear power plants safe should a major earthquake occur?

According to news reports, in the aftermath of Japan's 8.9 earthquake, people are being evacuated near the Japanese Fukushima Prefecture Nuclear Power Plant due to radiation levels a 1000x more than normal.

The emergency cooling system of this 40 year old plant has not been functioning properly.

Authorities fear a meltdown.

Since I started this piece, there was an explosion of exterior walls containing nuclear reactor, and with more aftershocks bombarding the infrastructure...

Are California's two active nuclear power plants safe should a major earthquake occur? California is on the same Pacific Ring of Fire as Japan, where the world's biggest earthquakes and volcanic action take place.

In 2008, the active Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near San Luis Obispo was found to be located within 1/2 mile of a newly discovered earthquake faultline dubbed the Shoreline Fault.

Prior to new fault discovery, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant was said to be able to withstand a 7.5 earthquake.

Japan's mega-8.9 earthquake, which I read occurred 80 miles offshore, should be a wake-up call to the Nuclear Regulatory Industry and Americans, who, if they don't know already, should be aware that seismologists have been predicting the big one in California. We don't know where or when. But it's coming.

(I was in Los Angeles for the 6.7 Northridge earthquake. I can't imagine a worse earthquake. The ground shook violently. The sound was loud. Glass shattered. Walls cracked. TVs and computers fell. I thought that was the big one. Not. I can't imagine what the 8.9 Japan mega-quake felt like.)

The active Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant on California's central coast is in an upscale Avila Beach community, (which I happen to really like) with many environmentally-aware and educated folks.

I'm sure they'll pay special attention to whether renewing and funding the Diablo nuclear power plant's license in order to continue operation is wise.

This decision potentially affects everyone.

Winds blow. Waters flow.

Stockholm's Congestion Tax: When it Comes To Cleaning the Air, Sweden & Denmark Rock!

 

California  needs money. We need less traffic. And cleaner air. Put a camera on the Sunset Bridge (whichever side remains up) to implement pay to "play" for folks driving in and out of the Westside. This would encourage car-pooling and public transportation just like it did in Sweden with Stockholm's Congestion Tax. Do the same for folks entering downtown. The Los Angeles Congestion Tax. What do you think?

The majority of people in Sweden and Denmark seem to care more about protecting the environment than Americans if you consider how they vote and where they put their money.

Denmark gets 1/5 of its electricity from wind power, and its nearby island Samso gets 100%, which means, clean air and bad hair days.

Plus Denmark partnered with BetterPlace to implement electric cars and charging stations.

Sweden succeeds in combating what happens to be my #1 frustration in Los Angeles (contributing to our nations worst air pollution) big, black, and ugly traffic.

Denmark and Sweden's civic leaders and transportation departments rock. Our Department of Transportation writes reports, and okays projects like the demolition of Sunset Bridge and the widening of 405 freeway because here in Los Angeles we encourage the flow of cars.

Clean Air San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is the most gentle of refined California places with rolling green hills and unpretentious people. 

I passed San Luis Obispo--SLO --countless times enroute to San Francisco, my hometown, never realizing this vibrant small city was the place to pause and explore a diverse landscape with much to offer the adventurous spirit.

Now before I dive into my clean air review--San Luis Obispo is pronounced Luis not Louie. Okay, here we go!

Basking under California's sun, San Luis Obispo (also SLO for way of life) is surrounded by wineries, bike paths, and the Seven-Sister volcanic peaks, which offer unparalleled hiking opportunities and the "rock" of nearby Morro Bay.

 I especially loved kayaking near that rock on calm, beautiful waters.

San Luis Obispo Wineries Blaze Trail to Clean Air

Cowboys armed with pistols and blind courage founded the wild west with the unconscious teacher, Trial and Error.

Today's San Luis Obispo (SLO) pioneers are consciously using common sense, education and solar panels. Located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, SLO offers more than great tasting wine and rolling hills typical of the region.

The new San Luis Obispo pioneers are conscious trailblazers committed to clean energy, sustainability, preserving nature and good ol' fashioned values like kindness. 

Traits worth emulating.

Prioritizing sustainable business practices in the Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys on the pristine central coast, I met Jim Efird of Tolosa Winery and Mike Sinor of Sinor-LaVallee Wine Company.