1. Was 2008 a good year for you?
2008 was a wonderful year!  Most significant was my Fit-City Competition win and invitation to Sydney, Australia to participate in the Oxford Health Alliance Summit.  I left the summit feeling inspired and with a better understanding of public health issues.  It was most rewarding to meet so many motivated people.

Also, recently I have moved back to my native Southern California from Northern California.   While I miss Northern California very much, this is an opportunity to reflect on the differences in the environment and culture.

 
2. What are you trying to achieve in 2009?
I want to raise awareness of the car-free lifestyle.  I have been willingly car-free for one year in California and it has been a liberating, life-changing experience.   From my own cultural change, I think that it is most important to frame the car-free lifestyle in a positive and peaceful way.  With many people currently trying the car-free lifestyle, we can collectively demonstrate that the lifestyle results in a high quality of life.  I developed the CarFreeLifestyle website for people to post their creative car-free stories and art.  My hope is that this will inspire others to try the rewarding, healthy, and community-enhancing lifestyle.

3. What is your New Years resolution?
I want to study the Japanese language and visit relatives in Fukuoka. At the same time, I would like to study Japan’s transportation system and sustainability initiatives.

4. What do you think is the most important social political or economic issue facing the world at present [eg climate change, conflict in middle east, poverty etc]?
Globalization and the proliferation of the car-culture.  Perhaps the car-culture intertwines many social, economic, and environmental problems.  The automobile’s brief 100 year existence has massively altered the landscape and changed how humans view the world. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly evident that the car-culture and automobile dependency has lead to many negative impacts on individuals, society, and the environment.  Impacts include: congested streets, sprawl, air and noise pollution, sedentary lifestyle, decay in community fabric, and over-consumption leading to resource depletion.  Many people, however, are realizing this now and they are changing their attitude and behavior.  I’m optimistic that we will rediscover the land by foot, bicycle and rail.