I have been captured, kidnapped and held to ransom. By silence. I realised this when I woke up at 10.30am in the morning in the king size bed. Check out was in 30 minutes .There was no way I had time to have complimentary breakfast by the pool and check out. The decision was made. I had no choice. I would have to stay another night.
I vaguely recall something like this happening yesterday too at the Emerald Iguana Inn in Ojai California. I arrived promptly, at 2.30pm. A shuttle bus was due to pick me up at 4pm to take me to the sprawling residence of award winning eco architect Marc Whitman and his wife Julia.
I am not quite sure whether it was the gentle rustling of hummingbirds in the trees, the lush sound of fresh bubbling water, the gecko darting in front of my toes, the smell of tropical plants, or the promise of a decent bath in my amply beautifully furnished and specklessly clean luxurious two bedroom cottage…but either way..the hour disappeared and I was not ready to leave for a shuttle to any property. I fear Sherry Sonte - Pena the manager of the Emerald Iguana Inn is right ” the only thing missing here are the fireflies and pixies”. The hard working fairies had clearly captured me eons ago.
The Emerald Iguana Inn and its partner the Blue Iguana Inn are a hop skip and a jump from Los Angeles. One and a half hours. The Emerald Iguana Inn the kind of enclave that sneaks up on you without your realizing it. It thrusts you into never-never land- that deep relaxative state of well being where truly, nothing else is important.
However, the rest of California and the world is important and it is for this reason I am here.Architect Marc Whitman and his wife Julia have invited me to the hills of Ojai to their
beautiful and Gaudi inspired residence to bring attention to the replacement of carbon producing “dirty” fossil fuels with clean renewable “green” energy. This is a critical step in living in harmony with nature.
SAYING ‘NO TO PROPOSITION 23’ helps keep the original 2006 California Legislation that required consumers and industries to begin reducing their carbon emission active - AB32. This proposition has also promoted the economic feasibility and practicality of emerging technologies.
Right now out of state oil companies are throwing millions of dollars to try and overturn this important proposition. The oil companies are stating their Proposition 23 will create new jobs which, apparently according to architect Marc Whitman, in his speech last night, is untrue.
In fact AB32 legislation apparently ensures and creates more jobs by furthering building and sustainable development in green building and emerging technologies. One only has to look around at how many employers the Whitmans sustain to see this as living proof.
A study sponsored by the UC Berkeley law school's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, concludes that the Proposition 23 initiative would disrupt climate change efforts in California, eliminate green jobs, chill energy investments by regulatory uncertainty and create unfair differences in the treatment of various business sectors. In short Proposition 23 would in fact damage the states economy and eliminate jobs.
It is clear, that Californias global reputation and tourist branding as the state of great beaches,nature hikes and clean,free, environmental spacial living is also clearly in jeopardy if this legislation is overturned.
Marc Whitman recently received the “Best of Ojai 2010” award that celebrates his architecture firm’s innovative and inspiring eco-friendly design.I have witnessed first hand that Marc has his priorities and intentions in the right place. Marc and Julia stand by their words in action.
A tour of their house, that has been lovingly built from a small old hunting lodge through the years reflect their deep sense of the natural surroundings and lving in one with nature. Inspired by the Spanish architect Anotno Gaudi who became famous for his unique and highly individualist designs the sprawling house wraps around the stream ,and grounds with gentle curves.Curved walls inspire peace and harmony.
Marc continues his tour of the house. As he shows nooks and crannies that inspire warmth and creativity he said that Prop 23 is rooted in arguments that fly in the face of logic and common sense. The New York Times recently reported $7.9 million out of $8.2 million raised for the Prop. 23 campaign is from fossil fuel interests, almost all of them from outside of California. Marc wrote in his article for Fox and Hound, that Proposition 23 entirely avoids addressing the fact that California clean energy laws encourage investment in more energy efficient buildings, which creates jobs in the construction sector" . AB32 provides the necessary incentives for increased renewable energy, which leads to additional jobs to develop solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. Marc finished his tour and said that clean tech job creation in the state outpaces the statewide average by a factor of 10, according to the Employment Development Department's 2010 report.’ This is virtually opposite of the skewed facts that the oil companies are presenting for their Prop 23 initiative.
Prop 23 is opposed by a broad and diverse coalition. It includes both Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer, as well as Gov. Schwarzenegger. So does the San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, nearly all of the state's major newspapers and univerisites.
It is clear that Calianfornias reputation and way of living as a relatively natural environment is at stake if Proposition 23 came into play. Mark and I return to the gathering for the fundraiser outside. As the tall trees spread their wise branches on the 300 acre property and the botanical gardens above beckoned it was hard to imagine that the introduction of one proposition could shroud California's entire way of spacial living,breathing and sense of peace.
Los Angeles, the city that fought so hard for years to keep its car emissions down to success,would once again be shrouded in pollutants,but this time, it would stretch further than the eye can see...to the very special places that Californians come in droves to on the weekends outside of each the major city hubs of California.
I notice sponser Dr Adolfo Murillo toting his award winning Californian organic tequila-Alquimia Tequila to the willing crowd.'Organic certification" may no longer fairly apply to Californian produce if this Proposition passes. Vote 'NO TO PROP 23"
by Anna Wilding
Anna Wilding is an award winning director, writer producer,freelance writer. Her recent film Buddha Wild launched on DVD nationwide on 25th October and played in cinemas in the USA
"wild- to be on be with nature"
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