tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187117322024-03-14T01:27:41.724-07:00BRING YOUR OWNThoughts on dealing with our disposable dilemma.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-48542907742140143782008-12-09T15:35:00.001-08:002008-12-09T15:35:17.916-08:00Turtle with a girdle<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/C-1lF-sRc3M' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/C-1lF-sRc3M'/></object></p><p>Meet Mae West, poster child turtle of the conservation world. Got caught in a plastic ring as a baby turtle, here she is years later....a living example of how durable plastics are. </p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-91253314989087803512008-11-26T17:51:00.000-08:002008-11-26T18:04:27.340-08:00Plastic SushiExactly a year ago, I wrote an article for the Santa Monica Mirror about keeping <a href="http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=6695">plastic out of our sushi</a>. <br /><br />Little did I know then that we would document three new fish species this year that are ingesting plastic. This summer, <a href="http://junkraft.com">sailing across the Pacific JUNK</a>, Marcus caught a rainbow runner with 17 plastic fragments in its belly. Plastic is slowly but surely becoming an unwanted part of our food chain. <br /><br />Hungry as they were after 2 months at sea, they tossed this one.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SS399oMJyKI/AAAAAAAABMg/8TyBCuI_IrU/s1600-h/RainbowRunner_plastic.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SS399oMJyKI/AAAAAAAABMg/8TyBCuI_IrU/s400/RainbowRunner_plastic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273149973922957474" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the video account from JUNK.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dv_p-HGLnxs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dv_p-HGLnxs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-42534509244031302662008-11-13T08:56:00.000-08:002008-11-14T09:24:21.834-08:00Interview w/ BYO and JUNK on At Home NaturallyThis past summer, I met Sherry Beall, producer and host of <a href="http://athomenaturally.com/">“Healthy Planet, Healthy Me!”</a> on KPFK 90.7FM. After showing her a Gyre sample, a Bring Your Own bag, and a <a href="http://www.junkraft.com">photo of JUNK</a>, she invited me to be a guest on her show. <br /><br />She put together a wonderful program - Part 1 featuring Captain Charles Moore discussing Algalita's research on the plastic marine debris issue:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rsezwSydCzo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rsezwSydCzo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And part 2 with me discussing Bring Your Own, and a Satellite phone call in interview from Marcus on JUNK, in the middle of the Pacific!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5r3etwmDmo8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5r3etwmDmo8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-628697972849989632008-11-07T06:56:00.000-08:002008-11-07T09:49:50.671-08:00Plastic industry finds BPA safe!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SRR-SK5PbFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/N7bLVWVmIYs/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SRR-SK5PbFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/N7bLVWVmIYs/s200/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265972714930138194" /></a> Phew. I was worried, especially after Canada became the first country to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/18/ST2008041803545.html">ban BPA in bottles</a>, acting on research that links BPA exposure to breast and prostrate cancer, diabetes, and hyperactivity, to name a few. <br /><br />But according to research funded by the American Chemistry Council, we have nothing to worry about. Unless the following <a href="http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=809282">expose from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</a> gives you pause:<br /><br />"Although the Food and Drug Administration will not reveal who prepared its draft, the agency's own documents show that the work was done primarily by those with the most to gain by downplaying concerns about the safety of the chemical."<br /><br /><br />If you still wonder about BPA's safety, this overview - from a study by <a href="http://endocrinedisruptors.missouri.edu/vomsaal/vomsaal.html">Frederick Vom Saal</a> might help - 12 out of 12 studies funded by Chemical Corporations find it perfectly.....safe. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQcqWYITJOI/AAAAAAAABLw/1VXY4CMwuYc/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQcqWYITJOI/AAAAAAAABLw/1VXY4CMwuYc/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262221253528462562" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-72874060446286435152008-11-03T14:19:00.000-08:002008-11-03T14:42:53.059-08:00Martha chats JUNK (and BYO bags!)A few weeks back, Martha Stewart had Marcus on her show to talk about <a href="http://junkraft.com">JUNK</a> and the plastics issue - an incredible opportunity to <a href="http://www.algalita.org">spread our message</a> to millions of viewers - an audience we wouldn't often reach through our normal outreach channels.<br /><br />In my completely unbiased opinion, Marcus did a phenomenal job communicating some of the key plastics hazards in a very short 6 minutes:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lbXkW_kKAeg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lbXkW_kKAeg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And in the solutions discussion, Martha featured a few of my reusable produce bags made from old t-shirts! Which will soon be available on my revamped website, coming soon.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQ99VNjzV9I/AAAAAAAABMA/6dOc0WdwAIU/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQ99VNjzV9I/AAAAAAAABMA/6dOc0WdwAIU/s320/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264564292789950418" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQ99eC95S4I/AAAAAAAABMI/WgDzNyCScmM/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQ99eC95S4I/AAAAAAAABMI/WgDzNyCScmM/s200/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264564444565425026" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-5608007302296617752008-10-28T22:08:00.000-07:002008-10-29T13:33:44.703-07:00BYO on Whole Life Times!A little late posting this, but finally getting back to the blog, and my reusable bags now that <a href="http://junkraft.com/">JUNK has landed</a>!<br /><br />So it was great timing that Whole Life Times <a href="http://wholelifetimes.com/2008/10/pin0810.html">featured Bring Your Own</a> in their October issue<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQjG1Yl0t3I/AAAAAAAABL4/gXBQ-2vcqNk/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SQjG1Yl0t3I/AAAAAAAABL4/gXBQ-2vcqNk/s320/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262674785018886002" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Coming up next, see Marcus, JUNK, and BYO bags featured on the Martha Stewart Show!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-5020504312796226902008-06-28T06:59:00.001-07:002008-06-28T06:59:21.143-07:00Junk PSA #2: A Plastic Filled Ocean<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/8XQNJ0ZaUVw' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/8XQNJ0ZaUVw'/></object></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-40968967381622218752008-06-26T16:08:00.000-07:002008-11-13T10:07:20.707-08:00Calling for old T-shirtsI'm looking for your old T-shirts! That stack of "well I might wear them for workouts" that so many of us have --I'm turning these into reusable produce bags, thanks to a <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=2329&ln=68">grant from Patagonia</a>. I'll then distribute 400 bags for free in exchange for your pledge to USE THEM at least 10 times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SGQiClGbSmI/AAAAAAAAA88/mfTqoKXe0_k/s1600-h/lovebagJPG.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SGQiClGbSmI/AAAAAAAAA88/mfTqoKXe0_k/s400/lovebagJPG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216331696116025954" border="0" /></a><br />Hopefully it then becomes a habit....<br /><br />These aren't totes, but rather smaller, "plastic bag" sized bags - a non-petroleum solution to the farmers market dilemma:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">lovely organic produce carted home in a plastic bag mountain.</span><br /><br />Any T will do, as long as you're getting rid of them....tanks will also work, like this "Make love not war" bag. So far they are super cute, will post some pix soon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SRxsrNkTjLI/AAAAAAAABMY/wk8ypole_no/s1600-h/DSCN2041.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SRxsrNkTjLI/AAAAAAAABMY/wk8ypole_no/s320/DSCN2041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268205153748749490" /></a><br /><br />A wonderful parent volunteer from <a href="http://www.lennox.k12.ca.us/jefferson/jefferson.html">Jefferson Elementary</a>, where my sis is a counselor, is helping with the sewing. Local materials and local production for your local organic goods.<br /><br />Once I have enough completed "baguettes", I'll find a tabling venue to give them away, and let you know. So drop me a line if you have a bag full, for every 20 Ts, I'll kick you back a baguette!<br /><br /><br />Now that <a href="http://junkraft.com/">JUNK is safely afloat</a>, heading for the openwaters, I'm getting to creative projects to keep entertained......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-83810288551752918082008-05-29T11:47:00.000-07:002008-05-29T11:58:03.098-07:00A Plastic PredicamentReaching the next generation is one of our greatest hopes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SD78YqTqFCI/AAAAAAAAAxY/pQOGOp9a1hw/s1600-h/Marcus+at+FOLAR+event.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SD78YqTqFCI/AAAAAAAAAxY/pQOGOp9a1hw/s320/Marcus+at+FOLAR+event.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205875719890670626" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So we found the this student film, <a href="http://lpc1.laspositascollege.edu/lpc/media/achovnick/predicament/A_Plastic_Predicament.mov">"A Plastic Predicament"</a>, most encouraging. The filmmakers, 10-15 year old "Plastic Eliminators" from Las Positas, have already won a few awards for their piece. <br /><br /><br />We're hoping to connect with this crew on our <a href="http://www.algalita.org/message-in-a-bottle.html">fall bike tour</a>, from Vancouver to Mexico on amphibious bikes. <br /><br />If you live somewhere along the way, and are interested in having us ride through, give a shout.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-64507918530842323522008-05-17T10:05:00.000-07:002008-05-17T10:16:49.660-07:00Junk's maiden voyage tomorrow!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC8SRQeiF2I/AAAAAAAAAvE/zVq13jhE_Lk/s1600-h/JunkRaft.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC8SRQeiF2I/AAAAAAAAAvE/zVq13jhE_Lk/s200/JunkRaft.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201396182326318946" /></a><br />(Reposted from <a href="http://junkraft.blogspot.com/">Junk Raft</a>.)<br /><br />For those of who you have been following the construction of "Junk", the raft built of 15,000 bottles to sail to Hawaii:<br /><br />This coming Sunday, at noon, Junk will set forth on her first test sail before the big June 1st departure. <br /><br />Junk is part 2 of our <a href="http://www.algalita.org/message-in-a-bottle.html">"Message in a Bottle"</a> campaign, to draw public attention to the increasing ecological nightmare of plastic debris fouling our oceans. I won't be on this leg of the journey (I'll be blogging from land....) but will ride from Vancouver to Mexico with with Marcus next fall, giving presentations and passing out gyre samples to everyone we meet. <br /><br />For Sunday's test run, Captain Charles Moore and a crew from <a href="http://www.algalita.org">Algalita</a> will tow Junk with the ORV Alguita out to Catalina, where Joel and Marcus will have a chance to see how she handles wind and waves.<br /><br /><br />Hard to believe that what looked like this just a month ago:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC23BweiF0I/AAAAAAAAAu0/f6jidjiNc8o/s1600-h/IMG_2401.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC23BweiF0I/AAAAAAAAAu0/f6jidjiNc8o/s320/IMG_2401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201014385503508290" /></a><br /> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC23SweiF1I/AAAAAAAAAu8/yOULBgA33Gc/s1600-h/IMG_2245.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC23SweiF1I/AAAAAAAAAu8/yOULBgA33Gc/s200/IMG_2245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201014677561284434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Came to look like this a week ago, <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC0nUgeiFvI/AAAAAAAAAuM/D5M_Y3Y3_zg/s1600-h/DSCN2067.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SC0nUgeiFvI/AAAAAAAAAuM/D5M_Y3Y3_zg/s400/DSCN2067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200856377951655666" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />......and by Sunday will be a complete boat, with masts, sail, and two sailors with some serious cojones.<br /><br /><br />We'll return to the Aquarium marina Monday around noon. After Monday, Joel and Marcus should have a much better idea of any final tweaking that needs to be done, and an inkling of what they have in store for them......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-49703410596731621472008-04-15T21:30:00.000-07:002008-04-15T22:22:37.432-07:00Kickin' plASStic in PanamaRemember <a href="http://www.vancouvertovancouver.com/index.php">Tim Harvey</a>, our favorite ecoventurous Canadian "zero emissions traveler", who crossed oceans and continents sans petroleum - riding, walking, sailing, and charming his way around the world to raise awareness about climate change?<br /><br />He's now finishing up his manifesto in Panama, and tackling trash - for kicks - in his spare time. <br /><br />Tim's friend Harreson, sick of seeing garbage strewn about, took matters into his own hands. He gathered a local crew, a willing Canadian with a truck, and began carting loads of crap from the beautiful countryside.<br /><br />This awesome little photo montage tells the story. and makes garbage removal look way more appealing than in Los Angeles.....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGY7AsXiI/AAAAAAAAAj4/0NNSaCUxvmE/s1600-h/1_the_problem-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGY7AsXiI/AAAAAAAAAj4/0NNSaCUxvmE/s320/1_the_problem-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189701908329946658" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGOrAsXhI/AAAAAAAAAjw/yOoBnMTYuSo/s1600-h/2_harreson_bright_idea.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGOrAsXhI/AAAAAAAAAjw/yOoBnMTYuSo/s320/2_harreson_bright_idea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189701732236287506" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWF-bAsXgI/AAAAAAAAAjo/XR_vOSN3k28/s1600-h/3_work_crew-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWF-bAsXgI/AAAAAAAAAjo/XR_vOSN3k28/s320/3_work_crew-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189701453063413250" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFzrAsXfI/AAAAAAAAAjg/MtPk0apmOL4/s1600-h/4_nevia_working.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFzrAsXfI/AAAAAAAAAjg/MtPk0apmOL4/s320/4_nevia_working.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189701268379819506" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFoLAsXeI/AAAAAAAAAjY/sb9SIkG0rxA/s1600-h/5_kicking_plASStic.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFoLAsXeI/AAAAAAAAAjY/sb9SIkG0rxA/s320/5_kicking_plASStic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189701070811323874" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGqrAsXjI/AAAAAAAAAkA/53y7e2fkl_Y/s1600-h/7nevia_and_graciano.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWGqrAsXjI/AAAAAAAAAkA/53y7e2fkl_Y/s320/7nevia_and_graciano.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189702213272624690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWHebAsXlI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/0kmi3E9yJqM/s1600-h/6me_andthe_kid.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWHebAsXlI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/0kmi3E9yJqM/s320/6me_andthe_kid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189703102330854994" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFULAsXcI/AAAAAAAAAjI/j085xTDqyfY/s1600-h/8chillin_inthe_trash.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/SAWFULAsXcI/AAAAAAAAAjI/j085xTDqyfY/s400/8chillin_inthe_trash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189700727213940162" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-8773936437855790042008-03-13T14:51:00.000-07:002008-03-13T15:00:17.157-07:00Message in a Bottle Voyage(Reposted from <a href="http://ship2shore.blogspot.com/">Ship to Shore</a>)<br /><br />Building on the tremendous momentum of our <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/2008/02/algalitas-message-traveling-around.html">recent voyage across the North Pacific Gyre</a>, The Algalita Marine Research Foundation is planning another epic sailing journey from Los Angeles back to Hawaii.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9G5GxtR38I/AAAAAAAAAd0/79p_16wPGA4/s1600-h/fluke.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9G5GxtR38I/AAAAAAAAAd0/79p_16wPGA4/s200/fluke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175120972899016642" /></a><br /><br /><br />On a raft built of 20,000 plastic bottles. <br /><br />This will be the 2nd of a 3 part project called "Message in a Bottle", to raise awareness about our society's dirty disposable ways.....<br /><br />Part 1: the Gyre 2008 voyage, Part 3: a bike/raft adventure from Port Townsend to Los Angeles, and:<br /><br />Part 2: the upcoming plastic bottle raft adventures.<br /><br />This next 3,00o mile leg is the brainchild of Dr. Marcus Eriksen, Algalita's research and education director - and as my friends/readers now know, my crazy fiance. Marcus will design and build the raft, with the help of AMRF staff, local business sponsors, school communities, and myself, doing all I can to help ensure his safety. Not that he doesn't have a fair amount of experience with these stunts already....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WfaRtR4KI/AAAAAAAAAfY/cYjc86wcbJ8/s1600-h/saintlouis.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WfaRtR4KI/AAAAAAAAAfY/cYjc86wcbJ8/s200/saintlouis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176218620510986402" /></a><br /><br />Marcus has a long history of experience building recycled bottle boats. In 2003, honoring a pledge he made to a fellow marine during the Persian Gulf War, Marcus built a raft out of 232 2 liter plastic bottles <a href="http://plasticsareforever.org/bottlerocket_video.html">and sailed down the entire Mississippi River</a> <br /><br /><br />This spawned the construction of numerous seaworthy bottle crafts:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9V-UBtR4AI/AAAAAAAAAeU/hOjRgslmlms/s1600-h/fluke-boat.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9V-UBtR4AI/AAAAAAAAAeU/hOjRgslmlms/s320/fluke-boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176182229253087234" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fluke, built with <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1185904.php">students from the Environmental Charter High School</a>, sailed from Santa Barbara to San Diego raising ocean awareness along the way;<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WBshtR4EI/AAAAAAAAAe0/9g_RKEwB4Dc/s1600-h/colakayakbanner.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WBshtR4EI/AAAAAAAAAe0/9g_RKEwB4Dc/s200/colakayakbanner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176185948694765634" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Cola Kayak, also <a href="http://www.echsonline.org/">built with ECHS</a> students <a href="http://plasticsareforever.org/colakayak_video.html">rafted down the LA River</a>;<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WAdhtR4DI/AAAAAAAAAes/itKxe3aLjgM/s1600-h/Plastic+Poison+in+Alaska.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9WAdhtR4DI/AAAAAAAAAes/itKxe3aLjgM/s200/Plastic+Poison+in+Alaska.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176184591485100082" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The Plastic Poison, built in <a href="http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/122307/out_20071223024.shtml">Juneau Alaska</a> with partner organization <a href="http://www.alaskamg.com/tt/index.html">Turning the Tide</a>;<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9V_BhtR4BI/AAAAAAAAAec/8RxRWl7l-8c/s1600-h/_ELA2803.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9V_BhtR4BI/AAAAAAAAAec/8RxRWl7l-8c/s320/_ELA2803.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176183010937135122" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And the <a href="http://byotalk.blogspot.com/2007/12/potomac-attack-takes-dc.html">Potomac Attack</a> - which we built with students participating in the Weather Channel's <a href="http://climate.weather.com/promo/teensummit.html">Forecast Earth</a> summit, and paddled across the Potomac River. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />WE NEED YOU ON BOARD!</span><br />Just as with these previous journeys, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Message in a Bottle</span> will need active participation from school communities and business sponsors. For information on how to get involved, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Marcus: 323-295-1843, or Anna: 310-998-8616<br /><br /><br />With Algalita's experience researching plastic marine debris, and Marcuses experience building "junks", this mission promises to bring the plastic debris issue to new audiences, and continue engaging the public in solutions to this timely issue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-28728255123484025452008-03-06T14:29:00.000-08:002008-03-06T14:51:38.297-08:00Dave rocks the Gyre on KROQ!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9By4NBxWdI/AAAAAAAAAdo/fvcZ0B7GPZM/s1600-h/podcastlogo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9By4NBxWdI/AAAAAAAAAdo/fvcZ0B7GPZM/s200/podcastlogo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174762281744030162" /></a><br /><br />This is <a href="<br />http://web.mac.com/proteusmd/iWeb/Site%2025/KROQ%203.html">well worth a listen</a>, our friend "Sustainable Dave" holding his own with Kevin and Bean on KROQ. <br /><br />You can imagine the ribbing he took from these guys - what kind of an eco nut saves his trash in the basement....<a href="http://365daysoftrash.blogspot.com/">for an entire year??!!?!?!</a><br /><br />Dave proceeds to let KROQ listeners know that not only does he SAVE his trash, he carries an unusual piece around with him in his backpack. <br /><br />You guessed it, a gyre sample, straight from the Pacific Ocean, collected by Marcus and myself on our recent crossing.....<br /><br />Dave is on fire, and taking this zero waste thing on with a vengeance. <a href="http://www.sustainabledave.org/index.php">Check out some of his awesome projects</a>, <a href="http://web.mac.com/proteusmd/iWeb/Site%2025/KROQ%203.html">listen to the interview here</a>, and come visit us tonite at green drinks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9BytNBxWcI/AAAAAAAAAdg/rKm9HfdSrGc/s1600-h/DChameides.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R9BytNBxWcI/AAAAAAAAAdg/rKm9HfdSrGc/s200/DChameides.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174762092765469122" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-86439309888985443602008-03-02T19:10:00.000-08:002008-03-04T12:22:15.534-08:00Return from the Plastic Soup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82rEtBxWXI/AAAAAAAAAc4/uzedfMRWiUA/s1600-h/IMG_1924.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82rEtBxWXI/AAAAAAAAAc4/uzedfMRWiUA/s200/IMG_1924.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173979644213418354" /></a> We're back on solid ground after an incredible month at sea, 4,000 miles across the Pacific and back...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82pp9BxWVI/AAAAAAAAAco/zNeGPfSO3vU/s1600-h/P1010155.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82pp9BxWVI/AAAAAAAAAco/zNeGPfSO3vU/s200/P1010155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173978085140289874" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />An unforgettable, exhilarating, and sobering adventure. From witnessing first hand copious amounts of our waste FAR from land, to being chased by a Mako Shark during a night snorkel, to getting engaged atop the boom of the Oceanic Research Vessel Alguita, to experiencing first hand the humbling vastness of our aquatic planet....in short, a watershed experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82uVtBxWbI/AAAAAAAAAdY/RqfKJmGYdA8/s1600-h/DSCN1764.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82uVtBxWbI/AAAAAAAAAdY/RqfKJmGYdA8/s200/DSCN1764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173983234806077874" /></a><br />We brought back a ton of samples, using the "Manta Trawl" you see Marcus pulling up here - a fine mesh that we drag along the oceans surface. Half our samples will be processed in our lab, to determine the ratios of plastic particles to plankton. 10 years ago, these ratios were 6 to 1 plastic to plankton. Today, by a conservative estimate, they have increased 5 fold. <br /><br />The other samples we will use for educational purposes, giving them away to educators, policymakers, and the media. The visual impact of actually seeing and touching a sample is profound - "out of sight, out of mind" is no longer an option. <br /><br />You can <a href="http://chasingsustainability.blogspot.com/2008/03/pacific-gyre-sample.html">see a sample image here</a> - we gave one to Dave Chameides aka "Sustainable Dave", who shot a great little youtube clip for his website. Dave has taken sustainability education on with tireless passion - we'll post his morning KROQ interview soon. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82s_tBxWaI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LRMX5__TGMM/s1600-h/P1010114.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82s_tBxWaI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LRMX5__TGMM/s200/P1010114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173981757337328034" /></a><br /><br /><br />And if you live in town, you can see several of our nastiest samples <a href="http://www.lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/">this Thursday at Green Drinks</a>. <br /><br />There were far too many images/stories to recount here, so I'll leave you with a few memorable moments from our daily blog:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82rY9BxWYI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2QhCc3Ky4Z8/s1600-h/DSCN1726.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82rY9BxWYI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2QhCc3Ky4Z8/s200/DSCN1726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173979992105769346" /></a><br />Our visit to <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-day-at-sea.html">the worlds most polluted beach</a> in tropical paradise;<br /><br />Passing through an <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/2008/02/following-river-of-trash-in-sea.html">oceanic river of trash</a>;<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/2008/01/entering-plastic-soup-day-7-one-week.html">Experiencing the "plastic soup"</a>, not the good food kind....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82r_dBxWZI/AAAAAAAAAdI/lleNgsM_ags/s1600-h/P1010100.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R82r_dBxWZI/AAAAAAAAAdI/lleNgsM_ags/s200/P1010100.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173980653530732946" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/2008/02/day-11-on-hunt-for-ghost-nets.html">Hunting for ghost nets</a>, and finding huge schools of fish living under marine debris;<br /><br />These, and many more, can all be <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/">found on our blog</a>, or come <a href="http://www.lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/">chat with us at Green Drinks</a>.<br /><br />And now, the work begins to share this information with the public, and get our policymakers to kick plASStic! We'll be taking our samples and stories on the road next fall on a West Coast Bike Tour, more about that to come.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-57348277931475974532008-01-20T16:24:00.000-08:002008-01-20T17:16:47.564-08:00BYO blog moved for my month at seaAs I mentioned in the previous post, I'm headed out on a month long sea journey, sailing through the North Pacific Gyre with the <a href="http://www.algalita.org">Algalita Marine Research Foundation</a>, to research the mounting issue of plastic debris in our oceans. <br /><br /><br /><br />I won't have access to my blog, but you can <a href="http://orvalguita.blogspot.com/">follow our progress here</a>. I'll be keeping this updated with live info and images from the worlds trashiest ocean region. Check back for new info, findings, voyage gossip (whose gonna hurl first....) the works. <br /><br /><br />Here we are, the full crew, minus Nicole (2nd from left) - I'll be the only chick on board. Yikes. <br /><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R5Pm4OVgcDI/AAAAAAAAAb8/RC6bzaUf-ek/s1600-h/crew+shot.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R5Pm4OVgcDI/AAAAAAAAAb8/RC6bzaUf-ek/s400/crew+shot.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157719851864715314" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Captain Charles Moore has been studying plastic debris in the gyre for quite some time, yet believes that he has yet to see the worst of it. Which is a frightening thought, albeit intriguing at the same time. <br /><br />Now that departure time is on us, time to let go of any anxieties or fears I may have, trust in the expertise of my crewmates, and welcome the opportunity to see first hand evidence of an issue that has intrigued me for the last 5 years.......<br /><br />Lastly, if you are a teacher, student, or know students/teachers potentially interested in following the journey, direct them to the interactive <a href="http://ship2shore.blogspot.com/">Ship to Shore blog</a>. Here students/teachers may post questions directly, or send questions to Holly Gray: vesselsupport@algalita.org<br /><br />Questions will be posted on this blog, and the crew will answer them directly, weather conditions provided.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-27763084489938928152007-12-18T14:10:00.000-08:002007-12-19T13:13:45.523-08:00Texas sized garbage patch: mythbusting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2hszeVgb7I/AAAAAAAAAa8/KzImdUimV8Q/s1600-h/trash-pattern.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2hszeVgb7I/AAAAAAAAAa8/KzImdUimV8Q/s400/trash-pattern.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145482205843189682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So it's time to set the record straight, or at least qualify a bit. I myself have been tossing the "Texas sized garbage patch" image about carelessly, something we well-intentioned environmensters do from time to time.....<br /><br />There is certainly a GANG of plastic waste floating around in the Pacific, especially concentrated in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pacific_Gyre">North Pacific Gyre</a>. Its a huge problem.<br /><br />However, its not quite nicely shaped together in a patch <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=texas+sized+garbage+patch&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">"now twice the size of Texas"</a>. Rather, its spread out over a massive area, more like a big plastic soup than a patch per se. Even <a href="http://byotalk.blogspot.com/2006/09/oceans-plastic-soup.html">referred to it as Plastic Soup</a> a while back. "Patch" conjures up the notion of something solid, Trash Island, somewhere the hard core eco-travelers might consider vacationing.....<br /><br />The map above gives an idea of the scope - HUGE area. If the waste were all contained in a nice neat pile, might be easier to consider a cleanup.....<br /><br />Its just such an irresistible image, the "Texas sized" analogy. And visuals so help us to wrap our head around concepts that seem abstract or "out there", like many ecological issues.<br /><br />Another way to make this issue tangible, is bringing the gyre back. I mean literally.<br /><br /> I'm headed there for a month in January/February, sailing from Hawaii to the Gyre with <a href="http://www.algalita.org">The Algalita Marine Reseach Foundation</a> to do some more research on plastic marine debris. <br /><br />We'll be bringing back actual samples, like the one you see Captain Moore holding below. If you want your own personal sample, for educational or personal enlightenment purposes, give a call, perhaps we can work something out. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2hvWuVgb8I/AAAAAAAAAbE/ozBDEbgoHRc/s1600-h/charles_gyre.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2hvWuVgb8I/AAAAAAAAAbE/ozBDEbgoHRc/s400/charles_gyre.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145485010456833986" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-38038564244562249552007-12-13T16:51:00.000-08:002007-12-14T10:59:08.292-08:00December 20th: A Day Without A BayI know you can do it.....and if you're reading this blog, you're likely inclined to do so already: <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2LN-eVgb6I/AAAAAAAAAa0/2efQAOzwlIY/s1600-h/dwab-banner_square_345x345.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2LN-eVgb6I/AAAAAAAAAa0/2efQAOzwlIY/s400/dwab-banner_square_345x345.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143900197589381026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next Thursday, December 20th, Los Angeles has officially declared a day of plastic bag abstinence.<br /><br />If for any reason the lack of a bag is preventing you from joining in the BYO fun, this is your day to pick up a freebie - <a href="http://www.healthebay.org/actionalerts/2007_11_30_nobagday/">check out all the locations for bag giveaways</a>.<br /><br />You can read more about the event in <a href="http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=6837">my last SM Mirror column</a>, or visit <a href="http://www.healthebay.org/actionalerts/2007_11_30_nobagday/">Heal The Bay's Site</a> for more info.<br /><br />Plastic bags blow. Keep 'em out of our landfills and oceans - <a href="http://www.bringyourown.org/">Bring Your Own</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-91851429196196559482007-12-11T12:08:00.000-08:002008-03-17T14:34:24.230-07:00Potomac Attack Takes DCDespite my eco-cycicism, sometimes I see glimmers of hope for the future. This past weekend in DC was one of those moments.....<br /><br />I joined Marcus Eriksen from the <a href="http://www.algalita.org">Algalita Marine Research Foundation</a>, to attend the first <a href="http://press.weather.com/press_detail.asp?id=150">Forecast Earth Summitt hosted by the Weather Channel</a>, with <a href="http://climate.weather.com/promo/teensummit.html">22 young eco-ambassadors</a> from all over the US. The students, selected for their outstanding committment to sustainability, spent a whirlwind weekend participating in workshops, hearing presentations from speakers, going on various green tours around the Capitol....<br /><br />And learning all about the plastics plague. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BI-d-iHpI/AAAAAAAAAac/SzREd9ZGSj0/s1600-h/_ELB5588.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BI-d-iHpI/AAAAAAAAAac/SzREd9ZGSj0/s320/_ELB5588.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143191012493106834" /></a><br /><br />For many students, one of the weekend highlights was building a raft out of recycled plastic bottles with Marcus, test floating it in the Potomac River, and watching the two of us successfully paddle -using two old crutches fashioned into paddles - to the other side. <br /><br />It was without a doubt a memorable way for these super inspiring students to learn more about plastics issues, after a morning of indoor presentations on the subject, including some hands on activities - dissecting Albatross boluses to quantify plastic contents, making super strong, boatworthy rope with hundreds of plastic bags, and crafting PSAs about various ecological issues. I have no doubt they will take their new found knowledge back to their communities, and inspire positive action. Read <a href="http://climate.weather.com/promo/teensummit.html">more about these future leaders here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BIfd-iHoI/AAAAAAAAAaU/BHiq7suKjks/s1600-h/_ELA2760.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BIfd-iHoI/AAAAAAAAAaU/BHiq7suKjks/s320/_ELA2760.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143190479917162114" /></a><br /><br /><br />Marcus and a student test the raft for floatability.....<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BKhN-iHqI/AAAAAAAAAak/Sdlohybz3WU/s1600-h/_ELA2844.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BKhN-iHqI/AAAAAAAAAak/Sdlohybz3WU/s320/_ELA2844.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143192709005188770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BDAd-iHmI/AAAAAAAAAaE/IR04lXfaBwc/s1600-h/_ELB5757.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R2BDAd-iHmI/AAAAAAAAAaE/IR04lXfaBwc/s400/_ELB5757.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143184449783078498" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />....before I hop in, and help paddle across river. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mission accomplished! <br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://erikfoto.com/"> Erik Lesser</a> for the awesome images.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-60560659677513526792007-12-03T08:09:00.000-08:002007-12-06T10:25:33.988-08:00Plastic Bag Ban for LA County - you in??<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R1g-EN-iHjI/AAAAAAAAAZs/FVa6Ca5HgsA/s1600-h/sign-petition.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R1g-EN-iHjI/AAAAAAAAAZs/FVa6Ca5HgsA/s320/sign-petition.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140927216835763762" /></a><br /><br />You've been following this blog, you know plastic bags are a nuisance, you'd like to see them off your beaches and outta your sushi.....<br /><br />LA County has been considering a bag ban for some time, following San Francisco's lead. This is a big move, and there is clearly tremendous opposition from "the industry" (read petroleum, huge financial interests, war....) Such that the process has been stalled. See <a href="http://www.healthebay.org/actionalerts/2007_08_27_plasticbaghearing/default.asp">Heal The Bay's Website</a> for more background.<br /><br /><br />Now is the time to make your voice heard! Sign <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Ban-Plastic-Bags-4-LA-County">Heal The Bay's petition to ban plastic bags in LA County</a>, let the Board of Supervisors know how you feel. Lets work together to bag the bag and kick some plASStic. <br /><br /><br />"..plastic bag use is increasing at an exponential rate in the County of Los Angeles, throughout California, and worldwide. In Los Angeles County alone, a estimated 600 bags per erson are used each year. Millions of barrels of oil are used each year in the United States to manufacture plastic bags. Unfortunately, these bags are seldom recycled. The California Integrated Waste Management Board estmates that less than 5% of plastic bags consumed in the state are recycled."<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R1g9eN-iHhI/AAAAAAAAAZc/dnMW8t9Ty1Q/s1600-h/1171402753.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R1g9eN-iHhI/AAAAAAAAAZc/dnMW8t9Ty1Q/s320/1171402753.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140926564000734738" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-35494895620660831182007-11-26T12:36:00.000-08:002007-11-26T12:49:06.596-08:00Keep plastic outta my sushi<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R0swrxbvmWI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/s8TyjexRU5w/s1600-h/2007042G-2546.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/R0swrxbvmWI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/s8TyjexRU5w/s400/2007042G-2546.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137253328508393826" /></a><br />It seems a little self-promoting to post my own article here, but as its related to disposable issues, what they heck. <a href="http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=6695">A column I wrote for the Santa Monica Mirror</a>, on Santa Monica's efforts to ban styrofoam and non-recyclable plastics. <br /><br />For those that make the astute obervation that sushi-eating is hardly a green lifestyle practice, it's a metaphor. Though I admit sushi is one of my guilty pleasures....<br /><br />My <a href="http://www.eyecompose.com/page120.htm">lovely photographer friend Rebecca</a> was gracious enough to take this photo at the Grateful Bread on VERY short notice. If you find yourself with a mad cupcake craving after visiting her delicious website, trust me, you're not alone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-66581753281691144182007-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:002007-11-12T22:15:50.986-08:00ConsumedThis week on American Public Media, <a href="http://marketplace.publicradio.org/projects/project_display.php?proj_identifier=2007/11/08/consumed">CONSUMED, an excellent series about overconsumption, sustainability</a> and how/if to reconcile the two....<br /><br />Can we really expect to green-shop our way out of this mess?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rzk_oj_2uOI/AAAAAAAAAYs/LsVhggN8GJc/s1600-h/consumerism.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rzk_oj_2uOI/AAAAAAAAAYs/LsVhggN8GJc/s400/consumerism.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132203216455776482" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Half-listening this morning while multi-tasking, I stopped in my tracks to focus, finding myself cheering silently at what I was hearing. We're burning up copious amounts of petroleum to fuel our voracious appetites for stuff - new stuff certainly don't need, flown in from all over the world.....<br /><br />And the real costs for this transcends the price tag big time. Pollution, climate change, environmental degradation....how about the human costs - the <a href="http://icasualties.org/oif/BY_DOD.aspx">thousands of lives lost</a> to date in the war, so that we may continue our gas guzzling ways?<br /><br />According to commentator Robert Frank, we need economic structures in place that demand us to pay the real price for consumer goods: <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rzk__T_2uPI/AAAAAAAAAY0/VBTkDsO-vKU/s1600-h/keynote.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rzk__T_2uPI/AAAAAAAAAY0/VBTkDsO-vKU/s320/keynote.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132203607297800434" /></a><br /><br />"The simplest solution would be a carbon tax that would force consumers to confront the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions. Such a tax would raise the price of fuel sharply -- stuff from distant places would become much more expensive, and most people would buy much less of it."<br /><br />He seems well aware that this would hardly fly with our current admin:<br /><br />"A carbon tax proposal would be dead-on-arrival in Washington. If so, our problem is not that we don't know how to make the economy sustainable. Rather, it's that we simply lack the political will."<br /><br />Check out this and other stories on <a href=" http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/">Consumed: is our consumer society sustainable</a>?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-40959268504782664302007-11-08T08:49:00.000-08:002007-11-08T10:59:41.027-08:00Puente Hills Landfill: seen from Google EarthA modern day measure of magnitude: can you see it on Google Earth?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNOmT_2uLI/AAAAAAAAAYU/oRCk15ZHPuw/s1600-h/PH+Landfill2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNOmT_2uLI/AAAAAAAAAYU/oRCk15ZHPuw/s400/PH+Landfill2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130530820615223474" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNRXT_2uNI/AAAAAAAAAYk/Rimwe3B3jUg/s1600-h/landfill_seagull.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNRXT_2uNI/AAAAAAAAAYk/Rimwe3B3jUg/s320/landfill_seagull.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130533861452069074" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here it is, the <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/d/d2/250px-PHaerial.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.answers.com/topic/puente-hills-landfill&h=182&w=250&sz=23&tbnid=overKaYjhbYpSM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpuente%2Bhills%2Blandfill%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1">Puente Hills Landfill</a>, the largest in the nation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Landfiills are a pretty fascinating metaphor for the way we deal with our waste. Out of sight, out of --<br /><br />wait-- not so fast - the landfill is slated to shut down in 2013. <br /><br />After which time, we'll be sending all of our crap out to Arizona, to the <a href="http://www.lacsd.org/projects/mesquite.asp">Mequite Regional Landfill</a>, currently in the works. Any Arizoneans out there feeling a NIMBY twinge?<br /><br />If this leaves you hungry for more landfill tidbits, good news: our local dump will be the subject of an upcoming <a href="http://climate.weather.com/?cm_ven=one_deg_home&cm_ite=one_deg_header&from=one_deg_header">Forecast Earth series</a>, featuring<a href="http://www.algalita.org/marcus_bio.html"> Marcus Eriksen</a>, shown here with a BYO bag. Looks like a suggestion we can't refuse.......<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNQDz_2uMI/AAAAAAAAAYc/myKUJ1y1zQw/s1600-h/BYO!.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RzNQDz_2uMI/AAAAAAAAAYc/myKUJ1y1zQw/s400/BYO!.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130532426932992194" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-47454585875817536952007-10-31T15:53:00.000-07:002007-11-05T10:31:04.121-08:00USA Today: Can Plastic Alter Human Cells?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Ry9g307HEPI/AAAAAAAAAYE/nW33Lrf9OUo/s1600-h/6.21babybottle.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Ry9g307HEPI/AAAAAAAAAYE/nW33Lrf9OUo/s320/6.21babybottle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129425012813926642" /></a><br />Some pretty major publicity for the plastics issue - <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-10-30-plastics-cover_N.htm">a huge spread in last week's USA today</a> on plastic, toxicity, and human health. <br /><br />Women - new or expecting mothers especially - take note. Chemicals used in certain plastic products have been linked to reproductive abnormalities, and can have particularly damaging effects on young children. Research suggests that the timing of exposure is key; infants, fetuses, nursing children etc. are most susceptible. <br /><br />So where do we find these chemicals?<br /><br />Baby bottles, baby toys, even the lining in metal cans (yikes) contain Bisphenol A (BPA) one of the dangerous chemical that can act as an endocrine disrupter - <a href="http://byotalk.blogspot.com/2007/08/plastic-and-female-sexuality.html">see previous posts on BPA</a>. <br /><br />According to <a href="http://endocrinedisruptors.missouri.edu/vomsaal/vomsaal.html">Frederick vom Saal</a>, a leading researcher on endocrine disrupters, BPA is a phenomenally potent chemical that can alter human cells in the part per trillion range". <br /><br />Parts per trillion may sound like an inconsequential amount, however when you consider vom Saal's finding:<br /><br />"the amount that leaches out (of a liter bottle) is in the part per billion range, nanogram per milliliter of fluid..." Such that a baby drinking out of a liter bottle is taking in micrograms of BPA. <br /><br />Sounds like enough to warrant serious concern.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-8817313072036111182007-10-30T10:59:00.001-07:002007-10-30T11:01:54.438-07:00Further proof: there is no "pristine"Not even Half Dome, one of the world's wild wonders, in Yosemite National Park, is free of plastic.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rydt-E7HEKI/AAAAAAAAAXc/jVv7cYryyFw/s1600-h/plasticpout.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/Rydt-E7HEKI/AAAAAAAAAXc/jVv7cYryyFw/s320/plasticpout.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127187614025584802" /></a><br /><br />Here, en route to the final ascent, above Vernal Falls, I found a handfull of plastic bottles lodged in the rock, discarded by thirsty, "nature loving" hikers. Their short lived purpose served, these bottles will kick around for thousands of years, winding their way downstream, ugly reminders that there is no such thing as "pristine" anymore........<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RydJx07HEJI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Kmt24WUnRyE/s1600-h/bottles.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RydJx07HEJI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Kmt24WUnRyE/s400/bottles.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127147821153587346" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For an excellent synopsis of this idea, see the <a href="http://www.shiftingbaselines.org/slideshow/index.html">Shifting Baselines slideshow here</a>. As we increasingly accept trash in even our most treasured national parks, we begin to think this is "normal", and lose our sense of outrage. <br /><br /><br />We gotta keep being pissed off - while of course maintaining our sense of humor - or nothin's ever gonna change......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18711732.post-23545768527386311362007-10-29T15:03:00.000-07:002007-10-29T16:30:47.620-07:00Breaking news: THE PAPER CUP<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RyZj907HEGI/AAAAAAAAAW8/5Zis_0HrGh4/s1600-h/fulltrash.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RyZj907HEGI/AAAAAAAAAW8/5Zis_0HrGh4/s320/fulltrash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126895139637629026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Paper cups are all over the place these days. I mean in the media, not just strewn about streets and seas.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Toronto Star columnist David Rider contemplates cups in <a href="http://www.thestar.com/article/267491">Have mug, will travel</a>, for his weekly "enlightened shopper" column. He contacted me to ask my personal cup preference - ceramic vs. steel vs. plastic (see article for my answer: hint reuse!), and gave BYO a nice mention.<br /><br /><br />Then noticed <a href="http://realworldgreen.com/2007/09/28/paper-cups-do-you-use-them/">this plug for reusables in Real World Green</a>, "Paper cups, do you use them?" Clear message here to bring your own!<br /><br />Seems a small issue in the grand scheme of things, but such an easy one to shift. And as the Real World clip mentioned, paper cups are NOT in fact recyclable, which most people incorrectly assume. <br /><br />Personally, I'd avoid the plastic mug with hot coffee, as certain plastics can leach out nasty chemicals, especially when heated. <br /><br />Granted, there are numerous kinds of plastic, 7 actually, not sure what type is used for these coffee cups. <a href="http://www.lifetimefitness.com/magazine/index.cfm?strWebAction=article_detail&intArticleId=363">This article gives a plastics-health overview</a>, as well as a breakdown of the #s. <br /><br /> I'd stay on the safe side and stick to ceramic or stainless steel. <br /><br />And LOVE your cup! <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RyZmF07HEII/AAAAAAAAAXM/sSxoNKtHgiY/s1600-h/DSCN2235.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1bKnHq3a-W8/RyZmF07HEII/AAAAAAAAAXM/sSxoNKtHgiY/s200/DSCN2235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126897476099838082" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4