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