Friday, May 11, 2012

Why do I care about the natural world?



By Robert Hudson Westover

My love of the great outdoors was instilled in me many years ago when my parents loaded up the car and took us kids on an epic camping trip to a pine covered area of Northern California near the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

It was here, surrounded by the splendor of the natural world, in a secluded campsite near a stream that we sat around a campfire and Dad explained to us how lucky we were to have this great outdoors wilderness—owned by all Americas--that we can come to whenever we want.

I never forgot that trip.

Later in life I was further inspired by the tireless environmental conservation work of HRH Prince Charles and tangibly through my honorary Godmother, Olga C. Morgan and her work with Green Peace.  So at an early age I began working on environmental issues. However, this was on a voluntary basis and included things like urban and wilderness area trash clean ups and informally educating inner city kids on the importance of green areas.

I didn’t start making my living in conservation until 2005 when I landed a job with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and now the U.S. Forest Service.

Since then I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to some of the most brilliant minds in environmental conservation including several winners of the IPCC Noble Peace Prize for climate change science.

Now I blog and tweet regularly on environmental issues. Below are some of my blogs (and articles) on climate change and sustainability dating back to 2006:
  
  
  




















With New Interagency Agreement US Forest Service Works on the Loss of Whitebark Pine in Yellowstone Region

Friday, March 23, 2012

Noble world in shock after Lord Westover “punked” by comedy competition

From FNN -- News Flash -- News Flash
Gentlemen clench fists and ladies clutch pearls across Noble Diaspora
Fainting couches and dueling gloves fly out the doors of retailers

The Vast Estate (obviously), March 23, 2012 – In what can only be called the most shocking event since the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, His Grace, Lord Westover, was informed by a producer [so called] of the Funniest Feds competition that he will be put on “a waiting list” in case one of the selected contestants drops out. Read more at: http://fullnoblenews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The DNC's FreeDem.com man!


At the 2000 Democratic Convention in 2000

After my failed run for Congress in 2000 I was hired as the Democratic National Committee's national spokesperson for their free ISP (it was a big deal in those days!). My goal was to get a million CDs distributed before the Presidential election in 2000. I succeeded and had a great time doing it! For more info go to: http://www.ilusa.com/News/081200dems_online4n.htm

Making Gay History!


I was the first openly Gay man to seek a national office in the state of Virginia's history. Had a lot of terrible battles but in the end was highly respected on a national level for my effort. I then got to work for the Democratic National Committee during the Gore 2000 campaign as their spokesperson for FreeDem.com.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

We Are Not Amused!

The Vast Estate (obviously) March 12, 2012 – Royal watchers were shocked (and absolutely horrified) by the news that His Grace, Lord Westover, attended and actually auditioned for a spot in an obscure comedy contest called “Funniest Feds” To read more go to:http://fullnoblenews.blogspot.com/

His Lordship in comedic attitude 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

My Green Hawaii

The first stories of Hawaii were told to me by my grandmother who visited there in the 1950s. She wasn't the first family member to be there, that distinction was held by my great grandmother. It seemed only natural that my family would visit the most remote archipelago on earth since Hawaii's closest continental landmass was the west coast of the United States -- a region of the country my ancestors pioneered in the mid to late Nineteenth Century. And since the 1930s, we have lived, visited and loved these beautiful islands.

Classic postcard set sent to my grandmother in the late 1930s by my grandfather

My life-partner, Tom, and I will be going to Hawaii on our tenth trip there together (not including the year we lived there in 2003). We'll be staying at the Hilton Hawaii Village resort on the island of Oahu. Since I work in environmental public affairs, I will be taking particular interest in the sustainability programs this and other Waikiki resorts have to offer. You can keep up with what I'm discovering about "Green Hawaii" on my twitter at #mrclimatechange and my follow up postings on this blog. Until then, Aloha!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

World War II Veteran Talks About Heroes

My Grandfather speaks about his service as a Marine in WWII and the Korean War.


WEB EXTRA: World War II Veteran Talks About Heroes: George Westover talks about heroes.

My Grandfather and I also appeared on the History Channel's The Story of Veteran's Day (2004) as well as being interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on Flag Day.







Patrick K. O' Donnell's recent best selling book "Give Me Tomorrow" is based on George Company, my Grandfather's unit, that fought so fiercely in the Korean War. For more info on the book go to:  http://givemetomorrowbook.com/description.html

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

FNN: Their Graces announce first ever Noble Act of the Year! Award

Noble Act of the Year! Award to be Announced Dec. 31, 2011 (so there's still time to Be Noble!) Click on the link below to read all about it!
Full Noble News: Their Graces announce first ever Noble Act of the ...: The recognition will include an Ignoble Act of the Year! Award as well By The Earl of Fulton Thomas, Earl of Fulton A Vast Estate, (ob...

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Full Noble News: FNN NEWS FLASH...............A PROCLAMATION..........

Full Noble News: FNN NEWS FLASH...............A PROCLAMATION..........: First Noble Acts Day Noble Acts to be Officially Recognized on a Daily Basis Their Graces, obviously A Vast Estate (obviously), Today,...
Their Graces, obviously