Day 77 - Nov. 19

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

estimated pounds of trash collected today - 2.2

estimated pounds of trash collected to date -
I am tired of finding these glow sticks. I've said before that I assume they may be used in night fishing practices. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment below this post and let me know. Thank you!
Ahhh styrofoam. It is banned in Santa Monica, yet here it is on the beach at Ocean Park with bird beak bites and scrapes. Not good. Go to Sustainable Santa Monica if you see a restaurant using styrofoam containers. You can report them to be investigated. Sound harsh? Not really, what's harsh is the negative impacts to the marine environment caused by styrofoam. Sometimes, it looks like someone sprinkled styrofoam bits all along the tide line which I find really hard to cleanup and very depressing.
MPA's - Some of you know that in Southern California we have been trying for over a year to adopt a Map to develop Marine Protected Areas. Well, there is one final push that you can become involved with if you want to see the science guidelines not be eroded any further from the frankenstein version that the Blue Ribbon Task Force has put forth.

Here is the final map.

Here is what you can do. Read below from an email that Heal the Bay sent out:

THE FINAL FISH AND GAME COMMISSION MEETING
Radisson Hotel - LAX
ABC Ballroom
6225 W. Century Blvd
Los Angeles, California
Public Comment Time: TBD

One final time, we need a huge presence of MPA supporters wearing BLUE shirts at this final hearing. Simply being in the room showing support, even if you don't speak, makes it easier for the Commission, politically, to make decisions in favor of conservation.

Please RSVP to me at (cstevenson@healthebay.org) if you would like to be kept in the loop about attending this hearing. Heal the Bay will be organizing transportation again, so please let me know if you are interested in riding a bus from Heal the Bay again.

Also, please send in one final letter of support for strong protection along the coast, especially in Los Angeles:

1. Write a brief email to the Fish and Game Commission at fgc@fgc.ca.gov using your own or some of the suggested points attached to this email. Put “MLPA” in the subject line of the email.
   
   **-OR-
   
2. Take 30 seconds and sign an electronic form letter which will be send to the Fish and Game Commission for you:http://healthebay.org/actionalerts/2009_08_15_MPAs/sendletter_finalhearing.asp
   

And as always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions -- we're almost there!

______________________________________

Charlotte Stevenson | Staff Scientist
Heal the Bay | 1444 9th Street | Santa Monica CA 90401
Tel: 310 451 1500 | Fax: 310 496 1902 |

cstevenson@healthebay.org

This sounds strange, but would you collect straws that you use, or find and send them to me?

Anna Cummins from Algalita and Bring Your Own, along with her husband Dr. Markus Erikson are collecting them. Email me if you want to participate at thedailyocean@yahoo.com and if you are local, we can arrange for me to pick them up from you.

Yesterday they told me that they need, well....millions!! I think they are building a boat out of them, or some other think-big-crazy-scheme that will work! These two are part of the team that built the Junk Raft and sailed it to the North Pacific Trash Gyre. If you haven't heard about this incredible feat - click here.
That's a plastic bag. Yesterday I got an email about the Monteray Bay Aquarium's exhibit on plastic and the harmful effects it has on the marine environment. Looks like a great idea!

Also...Heather, the Executive Editor for this great site called Earth Promise, featured The Daily Ocean on their blog. They have created a site that lets people pledge to help the environment in some measurable, action based, manageable way that works with their lives. Check it out! And here is a link to the wonderful post Heather did on TDO, thanks so much Heather!!!

That is the color the sand was reflecting when I went out to collect yesterday around 4 p.m.. It was interesting to be out there a little earlier than usual, although I still like twilight. Who can argue with a Pacific Sunset?

Looking for something to do tonight:

ZenBunni and the Plastic Pollution Coalition

Invite you to an Evening of Art, Jewelry, Curiosities and Raw Chocolates

at Zen&Bunni's eco-friendly shop in Santa Monica.

This event is to increase the awareness of plastic pollution on our precious Mother Nature.

25% of all sales made that evening will go to the plastic pollution coalition.

The Plastic Pollution Coalition, a nonprofit organization, is a

coalition of individuals and institutions involved in the study and

remediation of plastic pollution worldwide.

http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org

Friday November 20th

5-9pm

ZenBunni

Curiosities&Chocolate

2307 Main St.

Santa Monica Ca 90405

Tel 310 452 9605

zenbunni.com

Day 76 - Nov. 15

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected from beach for 20 min.

estimated pounds of trash collected today - .6 (WOO-HOO and on a Sunday too!!!)

estimated pounds of trash collected to date - 341.03

I am going to the hearing at Santa Monica Public Library today from 1 - 5:30 on Marine Debris, a.k.a. The Plastic Pollution Crisis! It is being held by two state assembly members to discuss solutions that the state of California can implement and explore the breadth of the problem.

Guess what!?!! IT IS A HUGE F*&^*%G PROBLEM! You don't need a meeting to know that. Ahhh, obviously I have no opinions on this issue.

The Plastic Pollution Coalition will be there.

So will Team Marine, who has a new blog and an updated website!
Bottle top, bottle top, oh blasted bottle tops, da dum dum dum. OK sorry for the lame rewrite of an oldy but goodie. Did you know that these can not be recycled? YUP! So strange to me...We have to RETHINK how we package and consume goods.
And lastly -- President Obama has decided that he will only attend the Climate Conference in Copenhagen on Dec. 15th if his, (and I am paraphrasing), presence will help make a tipping point to get to a real result.....a.k.a. political jargin?

I don't want to see President Obama in anything but the best of light, but he is under a lot of pressure...so the students of Team Marine are conducting a letter drive to ask him to attend no matter what! His presence will create a more concrete result and the USA needs to show the world that they will be involved in the process of facing the climate crisis! So what can you do?

A sample letter: takes under 60 seconds to write, more effective than email? you decide.

Dear President Obama -

Please attend the Climate Conference in Copenhagen Denmark on Dec. 15th. I think it is crucial that the United States be represented there, and that they show the world we have a renewed commitment to solve the climate crisis. Please go!

thank you --

sign your name

city you live in

and mail it to:

You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Please include your e-mail address

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

or if you want to include your letter with our batch, we are trying for 1,000 letters and perhaps have at least two schools that may try to match us. that would be 3,000 letters to the president.

Hello Mr. Community Organizer, do we have your attention? I would hope so.

email your letter to: thedailyocean@yahoo.com and I will print it and include it with ours.

just because the sand closest to the water at low tide looked like a painting....

Mark Rothko or Nature?

Day 75 - Nov. 13

Kirsten, who came to the Blogger Beach Cleanup, sent me this in an email today. I wanted to pass on the information. It looks like fun!

"We are having a sustainable green celebration on Dec. 2nd - flyer above. We are raising money for GRID Alternatives - a group I'm involved with - which install solar panels into low income housing. I'm creating all the raw desserts for the event!"

I will also post information about her Dec. 3rd Raw Dessert Class at her house

with friend and Master Chef, Matt Samuelson. More info. to follow soon!

Check out Kirsten's websites kirstengum.com & experienceraw.com
life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

estimated pounds of trash collected today - 1

estimated pounds of trash collected to date - 340.13
Recently I met with two of the founders of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Dianna Cohen and Lisa Boyle. I am a big fan of what they have started, and will hopefully collaborate with them in the near future.

We were talking about the problem of replacing certain items in our daily lives with responsible, non-plastic alternatives. Toothbrushes came up as a particularly plastic problem. Well, look no further than your local Trader Joe's. I know that T.J. is overflowing with products wrapped in lots of plastic, but they do have a rather cool toothbrush that I have been using for awhile.

It is called PRESERVE toothbrush, powered by yogurt cups. Used to be a yogurt container and now a tooth brush. Not only that but, if you go to their website, you can download a FREE MAILER to send them your used Preserve Toothbrush and they will recycle it. They will also recycle BRITTA filters!

Now if Carrier Pigeons could be employed to deliver our products to them, then we'd really be on to an environmentally friendly choice for our teeth.

Yes, another condom. ugh.

Okay, I mentioned the Plastic Pollution Coalition above who has one of the scientists that has done the most research on the North Pacific Trash Gyre, Charles Moore, in their organization. Charles Moore found the Trash Gyre accidently while returning on his boat from Hawaii more than 5 years ago now. My Dad alerted me to an article in this weeks New York Times about the Trash Gyre. Read it here.

Another email that arrived in my inbox today was about:

Event Date: Contact: Bob Fredenburg

November 17, 2009 (916) 319-3621

Joint Committee Hearing on Marine Debris: Its Impacts

and Strategies for Its Reduction

(SACRAMENTO)— The Assembly Committees on Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials and on Natural Resources are conducting a joint informational hearing on Marine Debris, Its Impacts, and Strategies for Its Reduction. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 17, at the Santa Monica Public Library.

“The state must do a better job of protecting beaches and coastal waters,” said Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), the chair of the Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee. “The joint oversight hearing by two key Legislative committees will review the progress state and local agencies have made in addressing a growing epidemic of plastic trash along the coast of California.”

"Trash that washes into out waterways and bays poses a real and pressing threat to marine life. California must act to maintain our leadership role in protecting the coast and ocean," said Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), chair of the Natural Resources Committee.

This hearing will examine the following questions:

· What is the status of marine debris in California's ocean waters and along the coast, and what are the hazards it poses?

· What is the State's responsibility for managing, reducing and preventing marine debris and how much progress has been made to do so?

· What are the actions and responsibilities of local governments and non-governmental organizations to protect California's ocean and coast from impacts from marine debris?

WHO: Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro

Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner

Assembly Committee on Natural Resource

WHAT: Joint Assembly Committee Hearing on Reducing Marine Debris

WHERE: The Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard,

Santa Monica, CA 90401

WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 1 – 5 p.m

Day 74 - Nov. 10

life guard tower 26, Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

estimated number of pounds collected today - 3

estimated number of pounds collected to date - 339.13
I recently met a fellow blogger named Beth Terry from the Bay Area. She has a blog that I may have mentioned in a previous post called Fake Plastic Fish. It chronicles her decision to cut down as much uneccesary plastic out of her life as possible. And she tells it honestly which is great. The point is not to be perfect, but to be aware of a problem as big as Plastic Pollution and work towards remedies in your life.

Okay, you can see I am a fan of what she is doing. I mention Fake Plastic Fish again because she was kind enough to include me in a post called Three Trashy Women, and like she says "Um... trashy in a good way." Take a look if you're curious, and/or haven't seen her blog yet.
The one pictured above is the second glow stick I found on the beach this evening. I found two of them. Odd? Maybe they are used in night fishing? I always associate them with Halloween. Anyway, not what you want to leek at the beach, or anywhere probably.
Sorry for the blurry picture of what could be a diaper, or a maxi pad. But which ever one it is. I found it, and I was not happy.

I also found:

- a used condom

- a whole change of clothes abandoned, pantyhose, jeans, blouse and sweater. It made me wonder, then I laughed, and then I thought that it really wasn't so funny for several reasons that you can think of too I'm sure.

- a used maxi pad

- two used band-aids

- lots of cigarette butts

- assorted plastic straws, plastic wrappers, candy wrappers....

But lets end this post on a high note. Surfrider and it's coalition of other ocean minded organizations won a huge victory last week. Septic Tanks were banned in Malibu which means that the famous Surfrider Beach will hopefully no longer receive F ratings when the water is tested. Read more here. Great job and congratulations!!

Team Marine at Santa Monica High School

This flu season has really kicked my butt. I've been sick again for a few days and unable to get out for a beach cleanup. I will try to go tonight if I feel better. But never mind all of that, here is a post that will make your Monday.

click here for article in the NY Post

This is Megan Kilroy who was nominated by her Marine Biology Teacher Ben Kay at Santa Monica High School. She is part of Team Marine, a group of environmental activist students that Ben coaches. This year I have the privilege of getting involved.

Megan won the Teen Halo Award given by Nickelodeon and she is going to be on their awards show Dec. 11. She'll receive her award by Hayden Panittiere, also pictured above.

Watch a trailer for the Teen Nick Halo Awards that features Megan here.

And this video will hopefully be shown at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. Made by Lynne Cherry and starring Team Marine. It is just a few minutes long, and speaks volumes about these students, their depth of knowledge, and our need to act now to help our ocean.

Day 73 - Nov. 3

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

estimated pounds of trash collected today - 2.14

estimated pounds of trash collected to date - 336.13
There is an important hearing happening downtown in Los Angeles tomorrow.

The LA's Regional Water Quality Control Board has stepped in to solve the serious health problem of contaminated water at Surfrider Beach in Malibu.

Come to the hearing at:

Metropolitan Water District

700 North Alameda St.

Downtown LA

9 AM - 12 noon

Surfrider, Santa Monica Bay Keeper, Malibu Surfing Assoc., and Heal The Bay will be there to request that septic systems be phased-out on the Civic Center Area.

email: info@smbaykeeper.org for more of the scoop on this issue.

Surfrider has been fighting for clean water at Surfrider Beach in Malibu for 15 years. Tomorrow, if we show up and stand together to be counted as support, we may just get a victory.

Please come and give your support. Thank you!

Can't be there in person? Go to: surfriderwlam.org/cleanthebu and sign the petition. We will hopefully take 1,000's of signatures with us to show!

Save money and heal the earth by extending the life of everything you already own.

Whether it’s using hairspray to remove ink stains, vodka to clean your eyeglasses, or coffee grounds to fertilize your garden, AltUse taps into the planet's collective wisdom so you can keep more in your wallet and send less to landfill!

Search for an AltUse, post your own, vote for your favorites, and share with your friends.

AltUse contacted me about The Daily Ocean and has featured me today as their

Featured AltUse Partner: http://spotlight.altuse.com/2009/11/daily-ocean.html

It is a very inspiring idea to find concrete and useful ways to REUSE our products that keeps more trash out of landfills and keeps money in your pocket. Nice work Ben, and thanks for featuring The Daily Ocean.

Everyone -- please take a second and go look at their website

Most "Marine Debris" is PLASTIC, about 90%, says some of the members of Team Marine, the High School Environmental Group that I work with.

So why not change the vernacular to Plastic Pollution?

Debris - sounds like something that just fell into the ocean, maybe occurred naturally and merely needs to be cleaned up.

Pollution - is a problem, is man-made, and toxic with bad side effects.

Which seems like a more acurate description?

Marine Debris or PLASTIC POLLUTION?

Yeah, me too, PLASTIC POLLUTION.

So go to the Plastic Pollution Coalition Website and see how you can help!

Learn about their "Straws Are For Suckers" campaign. Brilliant.

Lunch anyone?

Nov. 2, 2009

My friend Ben Kay, Marine Bio Teacher at Santa Monica High School and coach for Team Marine, sent me this in an email yesterday.

Pretty right on. Yuck!

Haven't collected in a few days. Going out tomorrow night around sunset.

Day 72 - Oct. 30

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

estimated pounds collected today - 1.4

estimated pounds collected to date - 333.5
The Plastic Pollution Coalition - Is just that, a coalition of individuals, organizations, scientists, and other like-minded people that are coming together to find solutions to the devastating amount of Plastic Pollution that is poisoning our world. Here, in their own words, is their mission statement:

Mission

The Plastic Pollution Coalition, a nonprofit organization, is a coalition of individuals and institutions involved in the study and remediation of plastic pollution worldwide. The Plastic Pollution Coalition promotes strategic planning, coherent communication, and synergistic action to reduce the negative impacts of plastics on the environment, wildlife, marine life, and human health.

I met someone after the Blogger Beach Cleanup who is a part of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Beth Terry, who has an amazing blog called Fake Plastic Fish, chronicling her choice to live her live with as little necessary plastic as possible.

She is an accountant, as well as a passionate and knowledgeable advocate for living as plastic free. On her site is a charted spreadsheet of her plastic consumption over the last two years.

Please visit her site and click on the graph at the top to see her progress charted in a very concrete and meticulous way. I don't know where she gets the time and energy! She is a wealth of knowledge, and I am so glad to have met her.
I find mostly trash made from plastic on the beach. I would guess that it is well over 80% of what I am picking up.

Do I think that my beach cleanup efforts are going to make a dent in the plastic pollution problem facing our world, and evidently, our oceans?

No.

Beach cleanups are good for raising awareness in a tangible way by collecting concrete evidence that illustrates the enormous problem.

What I have been wanting to do is find other people who are as disturbed, as in need of community to tackle this gigantic problem, as angry, but as passionate about finding and realistically implementing solutions big and small. The Plastic Pollution Coalition is just that, and I am really excited to help out.

Tackling plastic pollution will require change across all sectors of life: individuals; businesses; governments; and global solutions. Will you join us and visit the Plastic Pollution Coalition and take their S.U.P.E.R. Hero pledge?

Single

Use

Plastic

Emergency

Response
The beach is a place that has always, and continues to inspire me. I get the chance to see beautiful examples of what is under the surface of our "blue heart" as Sylvia Earle calls the ocean.

In California, our Kelp Forests are a state treasure. I'd much rather photograph kelp, than plastic bags that wash up. Today, I got to end my cleanup by doing just that.
This Wed. in Los Angeles is the Environmental Youth Conference at the LA Convention center. The keynote speaker is the woman behind Green Ambassadors, Jordan. She started the Environmental Charter School in Lawndale California where my friend and fellow Surfrider member Lindsey Jurca teaches.

At least two members of Team Marine will be speaking that day too.

I have mentioned them in earlier posts, but I'll say it again here.

They are a group of 14 11th, and 12th grade environmental activists that work tirelessly on issues like climate change, plastic pollution in the ocean, and ocean water quality testing. They've do more, and know more than me by a long shot. Visit their website to get an idea of what they have accomplished and what they are up to this year.