Heart of Green

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!"

Clean Air Awards are coming

Do you know someone who has made the air we breathe in the Bay Area cleaner and better for all?  Don’t wait, nominate them for a Clean Air Award by the deadline of March 14, 2008.

Hosted by the 100-year-old Breathe California organization, the Clean Air Awards honor businesses, organizations, and individuals who are committed to improving air quality and reducing global warming. Breathe California is the oldest voluntary health organization in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bookmark the date April 18, 2008 for the Clean Air Awards Ceremony 2008 in The Carnelian Room in San Francisco with a spectacular view and a special keynote address by Mary Nichols, the new chairman of the influential California Air Resources Board (CARB).  www.cleanairawards.org

As a Clean Air Award winner in Public Awareness for Heart of Green, I will be participating again year. I look forward to Mary Nichol’s remarks on how the state of California is addressing global warming. I encourage Heart of Green readers to submit nominations and look forward to seeing you at the luncheon above the clouds.

And remember, if you are sitting in traffic and you are bored, you can always spice things up by reporting cars with dirty exhaust to the 1-800-EXHAUST line or online at www.800exhaust.org. It is less dangerous than texting; just don’t let the offending car see you memorizing their license plate.

Breath of Life Walk

Breathing clean air and walking are two keys to a long healthy life. Here is an opportunity to combine them both and have fun outdoors: the Breath of Life Walk on Saturday October 6 in Golden Gate Park.

5th Annual Breath of Life Walk

 

WHEN:
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Check-in opens at 8:30 am
The walk begins at 10:00 am

WHERE:
Golden Gate Park, West of Rose Garden
San Francisco
See Map of the Walk

This lively and highly worthwhile outdoor event is Breathe California's 5th annual fundraising 5k walk (3.3 miles). All ages are welcome to participate.  Breakfast will be served from 8:30 am to Noon at the start/finish and light refreshments will be available at the rest stops until 11:30 am. Look out for some musical stars at the first rest stop.

REGISTER:
You can create your own team, join an existing team, or walk as an individual. Anyone who raises $100 receives a prize, plus there are fabulous awards for top teams. Registration is complimentary:
650-994-5868
http://www.breathoflifewalk.org

Breathe California:
Since 1908, Breathe California and its predecessors have worked to reduce the impact of lung disease through prevention, education, advocacy and services.
http://www.ggbreathe.org

Walk with us and breathe clean air while you walk for clean air. Join us in raising money for lung health in the Bay Area. See you at the park!

EVENT SF: Clean Air Awards

Breathe California presents:
2007 Clean Air Awards

Recognizing Contributions To Reducing Global Warming and Improving Air Quality

WHEN:
Thursday, May 31, 2007
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

WHERE:
The Carnelian Room
555 California Street, 52nd Floor
San Francisco, CA

FEATURING:

• 2007 Clean Air Awards Show
• News Anchor Roberta Gonzales
• Keynote by Jack Broadbent, Executive Director of Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• Delicious Luncheon in the Carnelian Room with environmental leaders

TICKETS:
$1,000 - $5,000 Table Host Levels
$150 Individual Ticket
$75 Nonprofit Ticket
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Breathe California

2007 Winners:
Here is the full list of Clean Air Award Winners

• Leadership:  Stan Williams, Santa Clara Valley Water District
• Public Awareness:  Nadine Weil, Heart of Green
• Transportation:  Tom Dowling, Electric Auto Association
• Greenhouse Gases:  Sally Tomlinson, Sustainable Silicon Valley
• Research:  Dr. Stephen Schneider, Stanford University
• Technology:  Roger Hooson, SFO Airport
• Green Buildings: Matt Gonsalves, CONCO
• Public Health:  Sibella Kraus, Sustainable Agriculture, UC Berkeley

Click here to see some event pictures, in the sky on the 52nd Floor

ABOUT BREATHE CALIFORNIA:
Since 1908, the influential Breathe California has helped people lead healthier lives and communities become safer places to live by fighting asthma and global warming. Through direct service, advocacy and research, they affect individual, institutional and community change for better breathing and better living.  www.ggbreathe.org

We can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Breathe California is on the clean air case in the golden state.

I See Smoke!

Bored sitting in traffic? See a dirty car that is belching exhaust into the air? Fear not, the antidote to both is here: 1-800-EXHAUST (1-800-394-2878)

It’s the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Smoking Vehicle Complaint Line and it rocks.  You call the number and answer 3 quick questions anonymously about the offensive vehicle:

• CA License Plate #
• Date & Time
• Street & City

Warning: You might have to perform a few fancy driving maneuvers to get the license plate number.

Smoking vehicles contribute 20% - 30% of the soot and toxic particles in the air that cause asthma and other health problems. You can report a dirty car seen in any of these San Francisco Bay Area counties:  Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.

You can also fill out this Online Form, but that seems harder to do while driving.

Program the number into your cell. Blue sky is just a phone call away. You’ll be helping to clean up the air, and I guarantee you will never be bored in traffic again.