Day 24 of 31 - Wear your Seatbelt!
Many of us are traveling today. Make a pact and CLICK IT!
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Day 12 of 31 - Carpool to Work
For those commuting to work, consider sharing the ride with friends or
colleagues. Organizing a car pool takes just a moment, but goes the distance in lowering your carbon footprint.
colleagues. Organizing a car pool takes just a moment, but goes the distance in lowering your carbon footprint.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Day 8 of 31 - Traveling Green
The holidays are certainly a time for travel and vacation! It only takes a minute… to help the environment by using these energy saving tips on your next trip.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Alicia's Eyes on Vacation
Whew. Its been a long time since I've written anything. Confession time, I was on vacation and it was awesome!
For the past 25 years, my family has been going to Long Boat Key, Florida. It's such a beautiful place with white sand beaches, great restaurants and shopping and wonderful people. This year we got to go for two weeks, and it was a huge treat.
The hotel where we stay is called the Long Boat Key Club and they have always been interested in sustainability and the environment. However, this time, I noticed that they received Florida's official "Green Lodging" certification which means they are recognized as one of the premier environmentally conscientious lodging facilities in the state. They are also the first resort and club in the Sarasota area to be awarded the "Green Business Partner" certification by Sarasota County. And their 291- slip, deep-water marina, is recognized by the State of Florida as a "Clean Marina", based on their commitment to implementing and maintaining environmentally friendly business practices. What a great place for the What You Can Do creator and producer to spend two weeks vacation. Not only is the place beautiful and peaceful, but you don't have to feel badly about negatively impacting the environment. Over the next few blogs, I want to talk about the trip - about wildlife, the night sky, food and going green. Stay tuned for more.
And if you're going on a vacation this summer consider an ecofriendly one!
Alicia
Monday, December 13, 2010
The What You Can Do Kids - Commute to School
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green in 1 Minute? Listen to the What You Can Do Kids!
Starring -The What You Can Do Kids
Written by - Jessica Arinella & Julie Tortorici
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Ilana Levine, Diana Marsh, Jack Halaby, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring -The What You Can Do Kids
Written by - Jessica Arinella & Julie Tortorici
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Ilana Levine, Diana Marsh, Jack Halaby, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Car Wash
Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in 1 Minute?
Starring - Matt Nared
Written by - Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information provided by: The EPA
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Matt Nared
Written by - Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information provided by: The EPA
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Green School Commuting
Think there's nothing you can do to help your child Go Green in 1 Minute when they go back to school?
Starring - Stephen Jadge
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Stephen Jadge
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Our Beaches Then and Now - Diary of an American Shopper day 295
Our Beaches Then and Now - Diary of an American Shopper Day 295
As many of you know, I grew up in Massachusetts. I still consider myself a New Englander through and through. There is an unwritten rule for those of us who grew up in the tiny six. No, not our cynicism! We summer at the beach - either the Cape, New Hampshire or Maine. Not to neglect the Connecticut shore, but it doesn't have the same weight as the other three. Moving on....
When Jess and I were wee youngin’s, my parents packed our towheads in the back of the car - put Stevie Wonder on the tape deck, and off we went. Now, I'm bound to make people upset with this, BUT us yankees (not the team, gross! GO SOX) are very particular about what constitutes the Cape. Technically, Cape Cod is the eastern most part of Massachusetts – you know the part that looks like a body builder flexing. However, like anyone with a homebound sense of pride, there is an attitude of my Cape is better than your Cape. We break the Cape into who's on it, and who pretends. For most of us, the Cape doesn't start until the middle - sorry Woods Hole. That being said, my family summered in Wellfleet, which is two or three towns from the tip (depending on if you categorize North Truro as it's own town). Needless to say, when we were growing up - we vacationed on the CAPE. No question about it, Jess and I made the National Seashore our home.
Wellfleet is a great town because not only does it have the ocean, but it also has lakes made from old tide pools - great for kids. If my neurotic mother was feeling particularly anxious, she didn't have to worry about us getting whisked out in the undertow or eaten by a shark (Jaws was based on a fictional Martha's Vineyard after all), we could practice our swimming on the peaceful waters outside our cabin. We could sun ourselves on the dock and swim back to shore. Wellfleet had it all.
Jess and I's favorite activity was going to Marconi beach - or as we called it Macaroni. (Side note, I didn't realize it wasn't named after pasta until a few years ago. Oh what a child's memory will create. You should hear how I remember our first house - it rivals Hogwarts).
One thing that we always loved about Marconi was the dunes. They're so high and so soft. They're fun to play in. It was so easy to imagine giant castle walls springing up to protect us. Perfect for the budding thespian in Jess and filmmaker in me. We found horseshoe crabs, quahog shells and the occasional starfish.
The National Seashore was our playground and we were spoiled. It shaped our love of the ocean and our ideas of summer activities. We would collect shells, make sand castles, body surf, and bury each other in the sand. Our picnics would inevitably include sand in our watermelon, but we didn't care - it made it crunchy. After a long day, we would dump sand out of our shoes, and go to Serena’s for dinner followed by PJ's for a fudge nutter bar. Life was good.
Around my tenth summer, my parents decided that the Cape was getting too crowded, so we started going to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. It had a whole other slew of activities - golf carts, skeeball, make your own sundaes, and alpine slides, but Jess and I missed our wonderland. After a few years of begging and pleading, we took a weekend trip to the Big Linguine. But it wasn't at all like we remembered.
There were beer cans left from a late night party, and the whole beach had turned into a giant ash ray. It was so depressing. The pristine place that we revered was tainted and it was hard to imagine that it could ever be the same. Why would people be so selfish? For a long time, I didn't go back. I found it too upsetting. It was as if someone were stamping all over our childhood.
A couple of years ago, I felt the Atlantic pulling me out, so I decided to take Atticus (my pooch) to the Cape for a week. Inevitably, we stayed in Wellfleet. (I'm nostalgic what can I say). This time, the beach was restored to its former glory.
Was it because I was visiting in September, or was a massive beach clean up underway? I hope it was the latter. I would love to share the Cape with my kids and show them what I grew up with - a magical playground instead of a giant trashcan.
I have visited many times since them - and I am happy to report that Marconi, Nauset and Coast Gaurd are all beautiful and clean.
To ensure that fact, I'll leave the beach cleaner than how I found it. What about you?
I mark day 295 a hopeful improvement.
As many of you know, I grew up in Massachusetts. I still consider myself a New Englander through and through. There is an unwritten rule for those of us who grew up in the tiny six. No, not our cynicism! We summer at the beach - either the Cape, New Hampshire or Maine. Not to neglect the Connecticut shore, but it doesn't have the same weight as the other three. Moving on....
When Jess and I were wee youngin’s, my parents packed our towheads in the back of the car - put Stevie Wonder on the tape deck, and off we went. Now, I'm bound to make people upset with this, BUT us yankees (not the team, gross! GO SOX) are very particular about what constitutes the Cape. Technically, Cape Cod is the eastern most part of Massachusetts – you know the part that looks like a body builder flexing. However, like anyone with a homebound sense of pride, there is an attitude of my Cape is better than your Cape. We break the Cape into who's on it, and who pretends. For most of us, the Cape doesn't start until the middle - sorry Woods Hole. That being said, my family summered in Wellfleet, which is two or three towns from the tip (depending on if you categorize North Truro as it's own town). Needless to say, when we were growing up - we vacationed on the CAPE. No question about it, Jess and I made the National Seashore our home. 
Wellfleet is a great town because not only does it have the ocean, but it also has lakes made from old tide pools - great for kids. If my neurotic mother was feeling particularly anxious, she didn't have to worry about us getting whisked out in the undertow or eaten by a shark (Jaws was based on a fictional Martha's Vineyard after all), we could practice our swimming on the peaceful waters outside our cabin. We could sun ourselves on the dock and swim back to shore. Wellfleet had it all. 
Jess and I's favorite activity was going to Marconi beach - or as we called it Macaroni. (Side note, I didn't realize it wasn't named after pasta until a few years ago. Oh what a child's memory will create. You should hear how I remember our first house - it rivals Hogwarts). One thing that we always loved about Marconi was the dunes. They're so high and so soft. They're fun to play in. It was so easy to imagine giant castle walls springing up to protect us. Perfect for the budding thespian in Jess and filmmaker in me. We found horseshoe crabs, quahog shells and the occasional starfish.
The National Seashore was our playground and we were spoiled. It shaped our love of the ocean and our ideas of summer activities. We would collect shells, make sand castles, body surf, and bury each other in the sand. Our picnics would inevitably include sand in our watermelon, but we didn't care - it made it crunchy. After a long day, we would dump sand out of our shoes, and go to Serena’s for dinner followed by PJ's for a fudge nutter bar. Life was good. Around my tenth summer, my parents decided that the Cape was getting too crowded, so we started going to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. It had a whole other slew of activities - golf carts, skeeball, make your own sundaes, and alpine slides, but Jess and I missed our wonderland. After a few years of begging and pleading, we took a weekend trip to the Big Linguine. But it wasn't at all like we remembered.
There were beer cans left from a late night party, and the whole beach had turned into a giant ash ray. It was so depressing. The pristine place that we revered was tainted and it was hard to imagine that it could ever be the same. Why would people be so selfish? For a long time, I didn't go back. I found it too upsetting. It was as if someone were stamping all over our childhood.
A couple of years ago, I felt the Atlantic pulling me out, so I decided to take Atticus (my pooch) to the Cape for a week. Inevitably, we stayed in Wellfleet. (I'm nostalgic what can I say). This time, the beach was restored to its former glory.
Was it because I was visiting in September, or was a massive beach clean up underway? I hope it was the latter. I would love to share the Cape with my kids and show them what I grew up with - a magical playground instead of a giant trashcan.
I have visited many times since them - and I am happy to report that Marconi, Nauset and Coast Gaurd are all beautiful and clean.To ensure that fact, I'll leave the beach cleaner than how I found it. What about you?
I mark day 295 a hopeful improvement.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Diary of an American Shopper Day 259
Diary of an American Shopper Day 259
So where did I leave off? Oh right - talking about my love of the open road. I guess the big question is how has my driving been impacted by my knowledge of climate change and global warming? To tell you the truth, it's changed pretty drastically. One of my favorite actives is joy riding. Driving just to feel the breeze through my opened window. Driving just to see if it's raining on the other end of town. Driving to watch the sunset over the ocean. Basically - driving just to kill time.
Don't get mad - I don't do that anymore. And that's a bummer. Not only is it fun to drive, fun to watch the scenery and fun to listen to the radio in the car, but I do my best thinking on the open road. Some people do it in the shower, some people do it at the gym. I do it behind the wheel. It's true; you can ask Jess or Julie. So that's been a change. I have to think constructively on my couch. And yet, when I do get to drive - thoughts explode into my brain. I feel like Da Vinci and I wonder why I don't drive more often - and then I think of global warming and I remember.
But I wonder - could my car's impact or rather lack of impact really make a difference? And the answer is probably not. It's true - I'm making a sacrifice to save a small amount of emissions. So why? Why not indulge myself if I enjoy it so much, if I become more productive because of it? Who cares? What's stopping me? Well, guilt.
I am committed to this movement because I know that if a whole lot of us opt for public transportation, or stop joy riding as a way to pass time, our collective lack of emissions can make a difference. But we have to do it together- not alone. I guess that what it comes down to - we're all connected and my choices affect your choices, or rather your children's choices. If I could help to make a difference about these major issues in life - global warming being one - would I do it? And yes I would. I will give up one of my favorite things to help.
I mark day 259 a sobering admission of acceptance.
So where did I leave off? Oh right - talking about my love of the open road. I guess the big question is how has my driving been impacted by my knowledge of climate change and global warming? To tell you the truth, it's changed pretty drastically. One of my favorite actives is joy riding. Driving just to feel the breeze through my opened window. Driving just to see if it's raining on the other end of town. Driving to watch the sunset over the ocean. Basically - driving just to kill time.
Don't get mad - I don't do that anymore. And that's a bummer. Not only is it fun to drive, fun to watch the scenery and fun to listen to the radio in the car, but I do my best thinking on the open road. Some people do it in the shower, some people do it at the gym. I do it behind the wheel. It's true; you can ask Jess or Julie. So that's been a change. I have to think constructively on my couch. And yet, when I do get to drive - thoughts explode into my brain. I feel like Da Vinci and I wonder why I don't drive more often - and then I think of global warming and I remember.
But I wonder - could my car's impact or rather lack of impact really make a difference? And the answer is probably not. It's true - I'm making a sacrifice to save a small amount of emissions. So why? Why not indulge myself if I enjoy it so much, if I become more productive because of it? Who cares? What's stopping me? Well, guilt.
I am committed to this movement because I know that if a whole lot of us opt for public transportation, or stop joy riding as a way to pass time, our collective lack of emissions can make a difference. But we have to do it together- not alone. I guess that what it comes down to - we're all connected and my choices affect your choices, or rather your children's choices. If I could help to make a difference about these major issues in life - global warming being one - would I do it? And yes I would. I will give up one of my favorite things to help.
I mark day 259 a sobering admission of acceptance.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Drive Well
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on the Road in 1 Minute?
Starring - Rosie Moss
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Rosie Moss
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Road Trip
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on the Road in 1 Minute?
Starring - Melissa Jernigan & Greg Gallagher
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Melissa Jernigan & Greg Gallagher
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Fill Up Your Car
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on the Road in 1 Minute?
Starring - Alicia Arinella & Jim Paugh
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Alicia Arinella & Jim Paugh
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A WYCD Shout-Out from Traveling Greener
Just wanted to say thanks to http://www.travelinggreener.com/ for reposting our video about going on a fair trade focused vacation! We'd like to thank them for spreading the word about our videos and the WYCD one-minute mission!
Care for Your Car
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on the Road in 1 Minute?
Starring - Julie Tortorici
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Julie Tortorici
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Monday, July 12, 2010
Climate Change on the Road
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on the Road in 1 Minute?
Starring - Eric Walton
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Consulting Producer: Mary Micari
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov and The Carbon Fund, www.carbonfund.org
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Ivan Chan and everyone at the Carbon Fund, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Eric Walton
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Consulting Producer: Mary Micari
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Statistical Information Provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov and The Carbon Fund, www.carbonfund.org
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Ivan Chan and everyone at the Carbon Fund, and Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Diary of an American Shopper day 253 or an introduction to Go Green on the Road
Diary of an American Shopper - Day 253
Okay, major confession time - I love my car. I love being behind the wheel and looking at the open road. There's nothing more iconic and American than our relationship to our car. It's James Dean, it's Steve McQueen it's NASCAR. Getting your license at 16 means being granted your freedom. Getting your first set of keys means getting your independence. Choosing your first car means expressing yourself. We're all intimately tied to our cars.
My family grew up going to Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee for our family vacations. We stayed at Jonathan's Landing on the lake, and one of the coolest features they had was that everyone drove golf carts around the property rather than driving cars. Well, my dad - being the coolest dad ever - let me drive this golf cart when I was a wee youngin'. I had to be supervised, so it meant me dragging my dad out constantly when he'd rather read, exercise or do a puzzle, BUT he obliged and I got to drive. I remember we had to charge the cart every few days by plugging it into the outlet in the garage - if only filling my car up now was so easy.
Cut to the summer of my freshman year of college. I remember my dad going into my car to check something and coming into the kitchen where I was sitting and obviously watching the Food Network. He said, "Alicia, where have you been driving?" and I replied, "Why?" He sat down and looked at me, and I knew I was in some kind of trouble. He then proceeded to tell me that I put 11,000 miles on the car that summer. WHAT?! I still don't know how I did that. I drove in and out of Boston a lot. But it was still a shock. Maybe I wound up driving further for that gallon of milk that my mom requested than I actually did - did I go all the way to Pittsfield or Rockport? I do have to say on one jaunt I looked up and read the "Welcome to Vermont" sign, so who knows. The numbers don't lie.
A number of years later I was working on a film in Nebraska and my favorite memory there also involved a car. Not my car, but a car all the same. One of the production assistants on the shoot, was 16 and very new behind the wheel. He was driving to set which happened to be in a corn field and cut the wheel too hard so he disappeared behind the giant stalks of green. Then a few miles down the road, he zoomed out ahead and maintained his path as if nothing happened. He came into the production office complaining that his breaks weren't working and asked me if I could help him track down a mechanic. The problem, corn stalks were wrapped around the wheels. That'll stop you every time.
I have driven many miles just to see the ocean, or to visit a good friend and now later in life to get to a shoot in far away states, and it saddens me to learn how this precious gift of freedom is partially responsible for the destruction of our most precious gift - this earth that we live on. I have tried to do my part. I use public transportation as much as possible, I try to car pool as much as I can, and I bought a more fuel efficient car - I now average 32.5 miles per gallon on the highway. So that's pretty good. But I can't break my connection to this completely revered of objects. After working on this weeks videos, I have learned more tips to implement to help limit my environmental impact.
How about you?
I mark day 253 an honest reflection of concern.
Okay, major confession time - I love my car. I love being behind the wheel and looking at the open road. There's nothing more iconic and American than our relationship to our car. It's James Dean, it's Steve McQueen it's NASCAR. Getting your license at 16 means being granted your freedom. Getting your first set of keys means getting your independence. Choosing your first car means expressing yourself. We're all intimately tied to our cars.
My family grew up going to Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee for our family vacations. We stayed at Jonathan's Landing on the lake, and one of the coolest features they had was that everyone drove golf carts around the property rather than driving cars. Well, my dad - being the coolest dad ever - let me drive this golf cart when I was a wee youngin'. I had to be supervised, so it meant me dragging my dad out constantly when he'd rather read, exercise or do a puzzle, BUT he obliged and I got to drive. I remember we had to charge the cart every few days by plugging it into the outlet in the garage - if only filling my car up now was so easy.
Cut to the summer of my freshman year of college. I remember my dad going into my car to check something and coming into the kitchen where I was sitting and obviously watching the Food Network. He said, "Alicia, where have you been driving?" and I replied, "Why?" He sat down and looked at me, and I knew I was in some kind of trouble. He then proceeded to tell me that I put 11,000 miles on the car that summer. WHAT?! I still don't know how I did that. I drove in and out of Boston a lot. But it was still a shock. Maybe I wound up driving further for that gallon of milk that my mom requested than I actually did - did I go all the way to Pittsfield or Rockport? I do have to say on one jaunt I looked up and read the "Welcome to Vermont" sign, so who knows. The numbers don't lie.
A number of years later I was working on a film in Nebraska and my favorite memory there also involved a car. Not my car, but a car all the same. One of the production assistants on the shoot, was 16 and very new behind the wheel. He was driving to set which happened to be in a corn field and cut the wheel too hard so he disappeared behind the giant stalks of green. Then a few miles down the road, he zoomed out ahead and maintained his path as if nothing happened. He came into the production office complaining that his breaks weren't working and asked me if I could help him track down a mechanic. The problem, corn stalks were wrapped around the wheels. That'll stop you every time.
I have driven many miles just to see the ocean, or to visit a good friend and now later in life to get to a shoot in far away states, and it saddens me to learn how this precious gift of freedom is partially responsible for the destruction of our most precious gift - this earth that we live on. I have tried to do my part. I use public transportation as much as possible, I try to car pool as much as I can, and I bought a more fuel efficient car - I now average 32.5 miles per gallon on the highway. So that's pretty good. But I can't break my connection to this completely revered of objects. After working on this weeks videos, I have learned more tips to implement to help limit my environmental impact.
How about you?
I mark day 253 an honest reflection of concern.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Conserve at Your Hotel
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green on Your Summer Vacation in 1 Minute?
Starring - Alicia Arinella
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Starring - Alicia Arinella
Written by - Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella
For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
Go Green Vacation
Traditionally, vacation is a time to walk away from your life for a little while – to either experience something new, experience something you love or attempt to experience nothing at all. For me, a few months ago, I went on a vacation to experience something I loved – I visited my sister in California.
While stepping away from my own everyday life, I stepped into an area that seemed hyper-aware of environmentalism. I was staying in the Bay area and it felt like everywhere I went there were recycling bins, I was being asked to bring my own tote bag or there was an ad for locally grown food. Even my sister was hyper-vigilante about how much water she used – all you need to do is check out her blog everylastdrip.blogspot.com to read about her latest water-saving project.
I found the constant eco-reminders to be far from annoying and instead, made not doing them seem ridiculous. I wonder if maybe that’s the answer – inundate communities with easy eco-options and let it all become second nature.
Eco-wise, this particular step away from life felt like a step toward something.
While stepping away from my own everyday life, I stepped into an area that seemed hyper-aware of environmentalism. I was staying in the Bay area and it felt like everywhere I went there were recycling bins, I was being asked to bring my own tote bag or there was an ad for locally grown food. Even my sister was hyper-vigilante about how much water she used – all you need to do is check out her blog everylastdrip.blogspot.com to read about her latest water-saving project.
I found the constant eco-reminders to be far from annoying and instead, made not doing them seem ridiculous. I wonder if maybe that’s the answer – inundate communities with easy eco-options and let it all become second nature.
Eco-wise, this particular step away from life felt like a step toward something.
What You Can Do presents: Responsible Camping
Action Link: EPA
Starring: Jack Halaby
Written by: Jessica Arinella and Julie Tortorici
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission and Fisher House
Statistical information provided by: EPA
Special Thanks:
Dennis Arinella
Thursday, July 1, 2010
What You Can Do presents: Travel Responsibly
Action Link: Ecotourism - Eco-Destinations
Starring: Maria Christina Perry
Written by: Jessica Arinella and Julie Tortorici
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Group
Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission
Statistical Information provided by: The International Ecotourism Society - http://www.ecotourism.org
Special Thanks:
Ferdinand Weps and everyone at the International Ecotourism Society
Dennis Arinella
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