Topic: Local Life

The annual Aspen Ideas Festival presented by The Aspen Institute has witnessed another successful year. With the lofty goals of improving the well being of humanity around the world and striving to create leaders who have values, the Aspen Ideas Festival invites some of the greatest minds the world has to offer including political luminaries like former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of Defense Colin Powell and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Take a look back with Plum at the esteemed guests, prominent speakers, and big ideas that made up the 2008 Aspen Ideas Festival.

Before the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Denver, Aug. 25, Republican presidential candidate John McCain paid yet another visit to Aspen.

While McCain has come to Aspen before to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this trip he sat down with Walter Isaacson at The Aspen Institute to discuss the seriousness of the crisis in Russia, climate change, the strength of the dollar, and solutions to the energy crisis. Find out what the Arizona senator had to say about these pressing issues and more.

Kim Peterson, global warming manager for the City of Aspen, talked with Dennis Scholl about the Democratic National Convention's partnership with Aspen in an effort to go green. Some ways that the convention center is reducing its carbon footprint is by offering Canary Tags, which people can purchase to offset the carbon that was used during their fly or drive to Denver.

Find out more about the Canary Tag and the many strides that the City of Aspen is making towards renewable energy by checking out this interview and more.

Senator Gail Schwartz paid Plum a visit during American Renewable Energy Day (AREDAY) and talked about the government’s involvement with global warming.

Senator Schwartz also talked about creating a new energy economy in Colorado with governor Bill Ritter, wind power, and expanding green jobs. But that isn’t everything that Colorado is doing for sustainability, we also have western Colorado’s largest solar array.

Watch another interview with Gail Schwartz

Brook Le Van of Sustainable Settings stopped by the morning show on AREDAY to talk to Dennis Scholl about sustainable living, eating locally, and taking small steps to making a big difference.

Le Van goes in depth about how eating locally can make huge strides to reduce our carbon footprint, and keep us happy and healthy. Do your part by checking out the locally grown organic food at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Aspen on the corner of Hunter and Hopkins every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.