Chasing Clean Air

Public Lands Day

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 26th, is Public Lands Day. Go enjoy a state or federal park and protect one too, if the time comes. I LOVE many public parks: Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in California, Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks in Alaska, and Olympic National Park in the evergreen state of Washington. To name a few. Since 1906, American Presidents have designated national monuments under the Antiquities Act so that future generations can experience our nation’s wildlife, rivers, historic sites and open spaces. Almost half of America’s national parks were originally protected by the Antiquities Act, including the Grand Canyon. In addition, these protected monuments provide economic growth, giving a competitive advantage to rural communities. So hurray to those who save and protect public lands. Let's get out and breathe fresh air! I hope. I took photo while touring Denali National Park, Alaska 2014. To read about that fabulous trip click here. Oh, and before I leave you, check out the Puffins I saw on my Kenai Fjords boat tour. Incredible day. Incredible joy. Incredible beauty! To LIKE my new Facebook page click here.

Unbranded: Four Men and Sixteen Wild Mustangs on a 3000-Mile Journey

There are different kinds of crazy. Great crazy that serves up determination, vision, and hope to accomplish a dream in the wildly gorgeous American West, and stupid crazy like the dapper man I observed driving his Bentley while smoking a bong I presumed to be marijuana. I was headed to the screening of the new documentary Unbranded in Beverly Hills. Unbranded tells the story of four recent college grads, who decide to ride wild horses - mustangs - from Mexico to Canada on public lands. At times, they rode through treacherous conditions. In between observing gorgeous landscapes - that got more dramatic and beautiful as they headed north - we learn Mustangs populate public lands in the American West, especially in Nevada. They were a gift of the Spanish Missionaries, who brought them over from Spain five hundred years ago. The movie explores the controversy of their regulation, ranchers who compete for natural resources and what it takes to adopt a mustang. The spirit of adventure is well represented by the four young, strong and fearless cowboys: Ben Masters, Jonny Fitzsimons, Thomas Glover and Ben Thamer. Environmental and animal welfare were addressed with meaningful interviews interspersed through film. And a man named Val Geissler embodied the heart of the film. Val, an experienced horse-rider with a love for adventure, spoke touchingly of losing his four year old son, who he felt would have grown up to be just like the four young adventurers. Val lovingly called each of the young men "son" when he'd see them at different meeting spots on the journey. Val offered advice while bringing whatever was needed. Val personally wrote and sang a song called "Border to Border", which was worth the film in itself... So touching the sentiment, and his heart sings against sweeping visuals: angles of landscapes few of us have seen. Kudos to the cameramen! See this film if you love the American West like I do and appreciate folks who come up with a courageous idea and get it done. I recommend this movie opening in Los Angeles on September 25, 2015 at select Laemmle theaters. Check listings. Also opening nationwide and video on demand. Photo credit: Ben Masters and Cory Richards

Repurpose Compostables for your Picnic

Wherever you go, you must eat and drink so... Repurpose makes durable, single-serve tableware for people on the go, who are interested in sustainable plates, cups and cutlery. Made out of quick growing sustainable corn, sugar and bamboo, making the tableware 100% compostable in an industrial composter in 90 days (this part I don't quite understand), these easy to use and throw away plates, forks and knives claim to be free from BPA, chlorine and petroleum. They supposedly can withstand heat up to 200 degrees, and given how hot it is in Southern California, who knows? These days you can fry eggs on the street. Anyway, I thought I'd check out these innovators for my next picnic. If interested, find Repurpose Compostables online.