Day 204 - March 7, 2011

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes

2 pounds

764.5 pounds total

COMMUNITY COUNT DAY 115 - JENN & DENISE

life guard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 minutes twice! Once by themselves while they waited for me, and once with me!

2.5 pounds, 2 pounds = 4.5 pounds

707.5 pounds total 

THE DAILY OCEAN COMBINED TOTAL - 1,472 POUNDS OF TRASH OFF THE BEACH

I'm writing this post from Chile. That's how busy I was getting out of town over the last 12 days. It is hard to believe that I haven't written a post in in that time either. I'm not 100% certain, but I think that this is the longest I've gone since March '09 when I started The Daily Ocean. 

The city of Valdivia where we are staying is surrounded on three sides by river Calle Calle. There are a lot of people who smoke and put their butts out on the ground near the water. But I have to say that overall, they take very good care of the waterfront, at least the portion that we have seen. 

I want to say thanks to Jenn and Denise for coming out with me. I had a great photo of Jenn holding up a plastic bag, but it wouldn't stay rotated properly and I didn't want you to crane your necks.

Jenn and Denise said that they would come out to the beach at tower 26 for a few 20 minute cleanups while we are away. I love that. 

Instead of "Where's Waldo?" it's "Where's the straw?"

There have been a couple of straws to throw away along the river in the last day since we've been here. I stepped over a candy wrapper after lunch so I bent down to pick it up. It was cemented to the sidewalk with chewed gum. I tugged and it wouldn't come off. Garen said that the people behind us looked perplexed at what I was doing. I don't blame them. 

I need to learn how to say no plastic bag please in Spanish. We took our Empenadas to go from lunch and they came wrapped in styrofoam and plastic. UGH. We reused the containers at the farmers market by the river for fresh blackberries and cheese, but still.....

More sunsets and more birds I know, I know......but come on, this is a great view!

Rachel Savage, an eighth grade student from Crossroads School in Santa Monica filmed me last Oct. for 10/10/10 or 350.org INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE ACTION DAY

The video is up on YouTube. She did a great job! I think she's onto something here. Her instincts for editing and story composition are well above her years. Awesome job Rachel! I'm honored you chose The Daily Ocean as a subject. THANK YOU!

Have you heard that there is a website called BAG THE BAN? That's right -- not BAN THE BAG.

They use the same ridiculous arguments that we have heard again and again...

HilixPoly says if Oregon bans plastic bags that it will:

1. HURT THE ENVIRONMENT

- CRAP! THEY DIDN'T SPECIFY WHY, BUT I IMAGINE IT IS THE SAME TIRED ARGUMENT THAT OFFERING PAPER BAGS WILL INCREASE GLOBAL WARMING. 

IT IS NOT PAPER OR PLASTIC. IT IS NEITHER AND GO REUSABLE. 

This is a point totally lost on them and not even worth putting in bold, but a girl can try.

2. TOXIC LEAD AND HARMFUL BACTERIA - CONSUMERS BEWARE!

- MORE CRAP! THE BACTERIA STUDY WAS FUNDED BY THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND IS A COMPLETE FARSE. I CAN SITE MY SOURCE IF YOU CONTACT ME AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW

- LEAD - IN ONLY A COUPLE OF TYPES OF BAGS AND IT WAS THE LETTERING SO DON'T EAT YOUR REUSABLE BAG! THEY WERE PRODUCED BY DISNEY AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR BETTER - BUY ONE THAT YOU KNOW IS GOOD LIKE PROJECT GREEN BAG OR CHICO BAG. 

3. TAX BURDEN

- TOTAL CRAP! WASHINGTON D.C. BUT A SMALL FEE OF 5 - 10 CENTS ON PLASTIC BAGS LAST YEAR AND THEIR USEAGE WENT DOWN NEARLY 90% IN NO TIME. HOW LONG DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL BE BUYING PAPER BAGS IF THEY ARE CHARGED? THE COST OF PLASTIC BAGS IS EMBEDDED IN YOUR GROCERY BILL ANYWAY. PLASTIC IS NOT FREE EITHER.

that was a rant...and one to the choir. apologies, just couldn't resist

We are five hours ahead of Santa Monica. When the sun is setting on this beach tonight, I will most likely be in bed at our hostel which is operated by two sweet Chilean women who speak very little English, and take great care of the place. Buenos noches!