Clean Air Awards

Clean air is essential to our survival. That is why I am thrilled to be co-chairing the 19th Annual California Clean Air Awards this year on April 17, 2009 - the top award for air quality and climate protection in California. The awards are hosted by Breathe California, now in its 100th year fighting for lung health and clean air.

19th Annual
Clean Air Awards
2009 Focus:  Global Warming

WHEN:
Friday, April 17, 2009
11:30 am Awards Luncheon

WHERE:
Westin St. Francis
Alexandra's Room on 32nd Floor, San Francisco

CO-CHAIRS:
Nadine Weil, founder of Heart of Green, VP of ecofabulous
Rod Diridon, Mineta Transportation, father of Silicon Valley's modern transit system

HONORARY HOSTS:
Mayor Gavin Newsom, Senator Mark Leno, Steve Westly,
PG&E's Nancy McFadden, Assemblymember Jared Huffman, Carl Guardino, the Rev. Canon Sally Bingham

FEATURING:

• 19th Annual CA Clean Air Awards presented to 6 winners
• Keynote Speech by Congresswoman Jackie Speier
• Reception and Organic Luncheon
• Remarks by PG&E Green Czar Nancy McFadden
• Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 
• Jack Broadbent, CEO, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• Roberta Gonzales, CBS 5 News Weather Anchor
• VIPs from the business, government, and nonprofit communities

RSVP:
http://www.cleanairawards.org
(650) 994-5868

ABOUT BREATHE CALIFORNIA:
Since 1908 for over 100 years, Breathe California has advocated for clean air, fought against lung disease, and worked to advance public environmental health. Helping to stop global warming is a major priority for Breathe California because warmer temperatures caused by greenhouse gases lead to higher rates of asthma, respiratory illness, and lung disease. Breathe California currently runs education and advocacy programs in the areas of Clean Air Public Policy, Asthma Education & Management, Cigarette Smoking Cessation, Global Warming, and Improved Air Quality. 
www.cleanairawards.org

I won the Clean Air Award for Public Awareness in 2007 for Heart of Green. When giving my speech, I joked that I when I first received word, I thought I had won for calling in the most number of vehicles to 1-800-EXHAUST. This used to be my favorite pastime, and I still like to keep my hand in by chasing down cars with dirty tailpiples and reporting their license plates to www.800exhaust.org. 

To me this points to a very serious question:  how can others have the right to pollute the collective air?  I love to walk places instead of driving, but as a walker, I am frequently subjected to puffs of exhaust smoke and cigarette smoke and find myself holding my breath. In talking with others, I have found that I am not alone in this predicament. We all need clean air to survive and breathing in clean air, rather than dirty air, makes the day so much more enjoyable and healthier for all.

Update:

Congratulations to the 2009 winners of the Clean Air Awards:

• Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Carl Guardino for the Bay Area Climate Change Collaborative
• The Better World Group & The Diesel Rule Coalition
• San Jose State University and Genentech for their alternative transportation programs
• Shaklee for its carbon neutrality and A Million Trees-A Million Dreams program
• Cool The Earth and Carleen & Jeff Cullen for their in-school climate education programs
• Dr. Anthony Iton, Alameda County Public Health
• City of Berkeley for the Berkeley FIRST solar financing program
• Milpitas Unifed School District for installing 3.4 megawatts of solar power on 14 sites

See the impressive list of all past winners here, and as Congresswoman Jackie Speier says, "Don't forget to breathe!"