Tell us a bit about  yourself and ‘The Clean Approach’ documentary

This documentary embraces the principles and ideas that characterise my life: the great passion for the outdoors, my philosophical background, my will to take action for the environment and, of course, the love for writing and documentaries.

I’m a snowboarder who loves to look at things from different perspectives and a dude who is trying to contribute to the fight in defence of natural spaces through reflection and action.

What made you want to create this documentary in the first place?

The will was to create a connection between the outdoor community and the environmental activism one. From my experience, in fact, I noticed that too often these worlds struggle to dialogue (at least here in Italy) but at the same time they have many common principles and purposes.

“I’m… a dude who is trying to contribute to the fight in defence of natural spaces through reflection and action”

Therefore the aim is to demonstrate how the outdoor community can play a fundamental role in the fight in defence of natural spaces.

The Clean Approach is described as “A documentary on the discovery of the deep relationship between man and nature through sustainable outdoor practices” – in your opinion, what is this relationship like?

Here comes a strong philosophical premise that refers to the principles of Deep Ecology and to the thought of Arne Naess [the Norwegian philosopher], its founder.

Indeed, the Deep Ecology proposes a radical change of perspective regarding the position of human beings within the natural system, returning to a biocentric vision of the world.

This means rethinking ourselves as part of nature together with the rest of the living system, and no longer as beings above it (as we are used to according to an anthropocentric point of view).

What is the role of sustainable outdoor practice in all this? I am deeply convinced these can really put us in a position to perceive ourselves as part of the natural environment in which we practice them. And, another fundamental thing, to give birth to a sense of empathy and belonging to these places.

Do you think people who spend more time outdoors have a better understanding of how their actions can directly affect the well-being of nature hence what impacts their actions can have on climate change? Why?

Unfortunately, this is not so immediate. In fact, it is also possible to practice outdoor with an anthropocentric and ‘conquering’ perspective. Many models of sports and territorial development are a striking example of this.

“We will have a powerful tool to raise awareness of a biocentric vision of the world”

But if we manage to create an outdoor culture that puts real connection with natural environments first, then we will have a powerful tool to raise awareness of a biocentric vision of the world and consequently of how our actions interact with the rest of the natural system.

This is not just about climate change, which is just one of the many effects of our behaviour, it’s about the relationship we have with the rest of the living system.

I know I’m talking about a huge change of perspective, but I think it’s also a huge source of inspiration and satisfaction. At least that’s how it is for me.

How do you think your own and other outdoor enthusiast’s experiences could be translated into creating more general awareness on what the impacts of our actions can have on the ecosystem?

The increase in popularity of the outdoor practices put us in front of a situation with different implications. More people in nature can often mean a bigger impact on the environment.

But if we will be able to spread sustainable outdoor culture, we will consequently have more and more people involved in ‘feeling part’ of the natural environment and therefore willing to defend it.

I believe that empathy combined with enthusiasm are the key to being able to act on two levels: becoming aware and taking action.

“We are therefore trying to create a real critical mass that rises from the bottom”

The theoretical/philosophical system expressed in The Clean Approach has taken shape in the The Clean Outdoor Manifesto project – if you want to sign it, you should.

A collective composed of more than 1000 signers who, sharing a biocentric vision of the outdoors, have decided to take action to defend those environments in which they finally feel at home.

Through the Manifesto, and through individual actions, we are therefore trying to create a real critical mass that rises from the bottom and that can make a difference in the important challenge we are facing: that of finally recognising that ‘being outdoor’ is the only real chance we have.

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