Apache Indians, Air Quality and the Poo Poo Choo Choo Project: Southern Tier Episode 2

http://www.vimeo.com/7024658

The Cross-Country Bicycle Ride that's collecting different environmental perspective along the Southern Tier of the United States finds itself leaving Tempe, AZ heading for New Mexico.

First stop is at the San Carlos Apache tribe reservation, home of the 10th largest Indian reservation in the United States. There is something about a Native American perspective that will be crucial to a documentary series collecting environmental perspective. Meet the Tribal Chairman on the Apache Rez and hear what he thinks and where we are headed environmentally.

After 1 month on the road the bike ride that left from Newport Beach arrives at the New Mexico State Border. Jeff and Mike meet up with an old friend for a day of riding. Luckily their friend Zain is a Doctor of Pain Management and he came prepared to heal the aching bodies that are pulling 75 pounds of weight on a trailer attached to a bicycle across the country.

After crossing an 8000 foot peak in freezing conditions the bicyclists meet up with two people who show them 2 different approaches to building an environmentally friendly home.

Nestled in the hills of the Gila National Forrest is the Black Range Lodge a cozy bed and breakfast where aside from the beautiful setting guests come hear to learn about building a house out of Straw Bales. Catherine Wanek, the owner of the Black Range Lodge shows us how people can build with straw bales and tells us why this approach could be so beneficial to people, communities and the planet.

http://www.vimeo.com/7026947

Episode 2-2 wraps up the straw bale segment and heads to Las Cruces NM to learn about building with another environmentally friendly material, Adobe. Just like a straw bale Adobe's homes are super insulators. Pat Taylor who restores historical Adobe buildings, teaches us some simple approaches to making adobe.

Jeff and Mike cross the border into the massive state of Texas. The bike riders take a deep breath and take an in depth look at Air Quality. That should be easy to do in El Paso, TX because 2008 marked the first year that they hit the air quality goals set by the EPA. El Paso and it's border city Juarez have worked together to clean up the air quality. How did they do it? You'll meet Jesus Reynoso and Bob Currey to learn about Air Quality and Health, major contributors to bad air pollution, and what you can do to clean up the air that we are all helping to pollute.

Episode 2 closes with a segment about the Poo Poo Choo Choo rolling into Sierra Blanca, TX. That's Right! In the 1990's the Clinton Administration banned dumping toxic waste in the Ocean. The unintended consequences of this good action was that the toxic waste had to go somewhere. As a result this meant that states could now transport toxic waste domestically.

Nearly 2100 miles away from Sierra Blanca, TX a train carrying toxic poop left on a journey to deliver its load into the backyards of the residents of Sierra Blanca. Hear from 2 local people that tell us how things were for them back in the 90's when Poo Poo Choo Choo dumped 250 tons on them per day.

Project: Southern Tier 2-2 from Jeff Hyland on Vimeo.

http://www.vimeo.com/7024658

http://www.vimeo.com/7026947