Check out Venice’s third Eco-Fest happening on July 10, 2010. Surfrider & 5 Gyres will be there.
Over 150 booths from green mind products, non-profits and more!
Please help ban the bag in California, AB 1998. See the list below, call your rep – especially the 16 who are leaning to voting YES! Tell them you support AB 1998 to ban the use of plastic bags at stores in California. Be the first state to take a stand against plastic pollution!
AB 1998 Floor Effort
Floor: We need 41 votes total
YES: 26
Speaker; Chesbro (D) ; Huffman (D); Evans (D); Yamada (D); Jones (D); Torlakson (D); Ma (D); Ammiano (D); Hill (D); Ruskin (D); Fong (D); Skinner (D); Carter (D); Beall (D); Monning (D); Nava (D); Blumenfield (D); Feuer (D); De Leon (D); DLTorre (D); Bass (D); Lieu (D); Lowenthal (D); Saldana (D); Torrico (D)
Galgiani (D) – Counties: Merced, San Joaquin & Stanislaus, Main Cities: Atwater, Lathrop, Merced, Newman, Stockton & Tracy, Capitol # (916) 319-2017 & Room # 5155, District # (209) 948-7479, Staff: Victoria.Grajek@asm.ca.gov (As of 5/28 is a firm YES)
LEANING YES: 16
FLOOR:
Davis (D) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Los Angeles, Capitol # (916) 319-2048 & Room # 2160, District # (213) 744-2111 (Leaning yes but still swing)
Coto (D) – County: Santa Clara, Main Cities: San Jose, Alum Rock, East Foothills & Seven Trees, Capitol # (916) 319-2023 & Room # 2196, District # (408) 277-1220
Hall (D) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Compton, Long Beach, Los Angeles & Paramount, Capitol # (916) 319-2052 & Room # 6025, District # (310) 223-1201 (Unknown)
Bradford (D) – Counties: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Los Angles, Westchester & West Compton, Capitol # (916) 319-2051 & Room # 5175, Distict # (310) 412-6400
Furutani (D) – Counties: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Carson, Lakewood, parts of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Capitol # (916) 319-2055 & Room # 3126, District # (562) 989-2919
Buchanan (D) – Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, & San Joaquin, Main Cities: Danville, Elk Grove, Galt, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Stockton, & Walnut Creek, Capitol # (916) 319-2015 & Room # 4167, District # (925) 328-1515
Hayashi (D) – County: Alameda, Main Cities: Castro Valley, Hayward, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, & San Lorenzo, Capitol # (916) 319-2018 & Room # 3013, District # (510) 583-8818
Caballero (D) – Counties: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, & Santa Cruz, Main Cities: Gilroy, Greenfield, Hollister, Salinas, San Jose, Watsonville, Soledad, Gonzales & King City, Capitol # (916) 319-2028 & Room # 5119, District # (831) 759-8676
Portantino (D) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Altadena, Arcadia, Duarte, La Canada, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Temple City, Monrovia, Mayflower, Glassell Park & Eagle Rock, Capitol # (916) 319-2044 & Room # 2003, District # (626) 577-9944
Manny Perez (D) – County: Imperial Riverside, Main Cities: Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Indio, La Quinta & Palm Springs, Capitol # (916) 319-2080 & Room # 4162, District # Indio: (760) 342-8047 & El Centro: (760) 336-8912
Eng (D) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Alhambra, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino & South El Monte, Capitol # (916) 319-2049 & Room # 4140, District # (626) 450-6116
Salas (D) – County: San Diego, Main Cities: Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City & San Diego, Capitol # (916) 319-2079 & Room # 2137, District # (619) 409-7979
Block (D) – County: San Diego, Main Cities: Chula Vista, Lemon Grove, San Diego & Spring Valley, Capitol # (916) 319-2078 & Room # 3132, District # (619) 462-7878
Swanson (D) – County: Alameda, Main Cities: Alameda, Oakland & Piedmont, Capitol # (916) 319-2016 & Room # 6012, District # (510) 286-1670
Fletcher (R) – County: San Diego, Main Cities: Escondido, La Jolla, Poway, San Diego, Capitol # (916) 319-2075 & Room # 2111, District # (858) 689-6290
Silva (R) – County: Orange, Main Cities: Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, Westminster, Capitol # (916) 319-2067 & Room # 2170, District # (714) 843-4966 (Unknown but there is an opening so let’s work him)
SWING/NO: 13
FLOOR:
Fuentes (D) – Counties: Los Angeles, Main Cities: North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, San Fernando, Sun Valley & Sylmar, Capitol # (916) 319-2039 & Room # 5136, District # (818) 504-3911
Solorio (D) – Counties: Orange, Main Cities: Santa Ana, parts of Anaheim and Garden Grove, Capitol # (916) 319-2069 & Room # 2013, District # (714) 939-8469 (Leaning NO)
Calderon (D) – Counties: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Downey, Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Whittier, And City of Industry, Capitol # (916) 319-2058 & Room # 2117, District # (562) 692-5858 (Leaning No/Stayed off in approps)
Miller (R) – Counties: Orange and Riverside, Main Cities: Anaheim, Corona, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Norco, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana, Tustin, Capitol # (916) 319-2071 & Room # 3147, District # (949) 598-7171 (Unknown)
Adams (R)- Counties: Los Angeles & San Bernardino County, Main Cities: Apple Valley, Arcadia, Bradbury, Claremont, Crestline, Glendora, Hesperia, Highland, La Crescenta, La Verne, Lake Arrowhead, Monrovia, Redlands, San Bernardino, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Capitol # (916) 319-2059 & Room # 4015, District # (909) 625-1038
Conway (R)– Counties: Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Tulare, Main Cities: Barstow, Bishop, Bishop Chamber of Commerce, California City, Exeter, Farmersville, Independence, Lindsay, Lone Pine, Needles, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake, Capitol # (916) 319-2034 & Room # 6027, District # (559) 636-3440
Smyth (R) – Counties: Los Angeles & Ventura, Main Cities: City of Glendale, City of Los Angeles, City of Santa Clarita, City of Simi Valley, Capitol # 916-319-2038 & Room # 4098, District # 661-286-1565 (Leaning NO. Keep on him!!!)
Blakeslee (R) – Counties: San Luis Obispo, Main Cities: Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cayucos, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, San Simeon, Santa Maria, Capitol # 916-319-2033 & Room # 2158, District # (805) 549-3381
Huber (D) – Counties: Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento & San Joaquin, Main Cities: El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Ione, Lodi, Rancho Cordova, & Sacramento, Capitol # (916) 319-2010 & Room # 2179, District (209) 333-5330 (Neutral. Needs to be pushed)
Arambula (I) – Counties: Fresno & Tulare, Main Cities: Caruthers, Firebaugh, Fowler, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma, Tranquillity, and portions of Fresno, Cutler-Orosi and Dinuba, Capitol # (916) 319-2031 & Room # 2141, District # (559) 445-5532
Strickland (R) – Counties: Kern, Los Angeles & Ventura, Main Cities: Camarillo, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, & Thousand Oaks, Capitol # (916) 319-2037 & Room # 4208, District # 805-230-9167
Hernandez (D) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Valinda, West Covina, Capitol # (916) 319-2057 & Room # 4112, District #(626) 960-4457, Staff: Walter.Hughes@asm.ca.gov (Neutral. Needs to be pushed)
Mendoza (R) – County: Los Angeles, Main Cities: Artesia, Buena Park, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier & Lakewood, Capitol # (916) 319-2056 & Room # 2188, District # (562) 864-5600, Staff: Rene.Bayardo@asm.ca.gov (Leaning NO. Keep on him though)
We need your help to BAN SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS IN CALIFORNIA!!!
There is an important piece of legislation working its way through Sacramento that would ban single-use bags at stores of a certain size (“Mom and Pops” would not be affected).
Here’s what the legislation will do and why it’s needed, on a fact sheet that you can read or download. Single-use plastics choke out creeks, streams, rivers and kill aquatic and marine life. This type of legislation has been proposed before but has died in committee because the plastics industry and their lobbyists have long held sway over Sacramento.
It’s time to change that and here are some easy steps you can take with the simplest ways first! Please take a moment and help.
Sign on to one or all of these action alerts from our friends:
Environment California
Heal the Bay
Californians Against Waste
Contact the Bill Sponsor and/or your legislators expressing your support (you can use our suggested language below and click, copy and paste)
Assemblymember Julia Brownley (click on Contact Us)
Look up your legislators and E-mail or call them
SEND THIS LETTER:
Dear ________,
I am writing to you, as a member/supporter of Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter (“Surfrider”) to urge passage of The Single-Use Bag Reduction Act (AB 1998). For the last several years, Surfrider has been engaged in a highly-active campaign entitled “Rise Above Plastics,” (RAP) with the mission to reduce the impacts of plastic in the marine environment by raising awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the increase of recycling of all plastics.
AB 1998, as amended, would ban plastic single-use carryout bags and regulate paper carryout bags at supermarkets, retail pharmacies, and convenience stores throughout the state. Already, San Francisco, Malibu, Fairfax, and Palo Alto have banned plastic bags and at least 20 more cities in California are considering this approach. Rather than taking a piecemeal city-by-city approach, AB 1998 will create one uniform policy for addressing all types of single-use bags (including paper bags which contribute to deforestation ads waste intensive processes) to encourage consumers to use reusable bags, the most sustainable alternative. I am requesting that you individually support and send a letter of support to the bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Julie Brownley.
As a governmental leader whose decisions directly affect the health of our ocean and waterways, you should be aware of the environmental AND economic impact of plastic bag pollution in inland, coastal communities and in our statewide oceans. Californians use an estimated 19 billion single-use plastic bags every year. The state spends $25 million annually to clean up and landfill these littered bags and this figure does not even include the over $300 million that local governments continually to spend to clean littered streets and waterways.
With a staggering less than 5% of single-use plastic bags are currently being recycled, most of these bags end up in our landfills or as litter, clog storm drain systems, and make their way to our waterways and ocean. An estimated 60–80% of all marine debris is plastic. Plastic lasts for hundreds of years and may never biodegrade in the ocean. As a result, it poses a persistent threat to wildlife, and is making it’s way up the food chain – to us. AB 1998 is a first step in addressing this problem.
The State of California has a critical role to play in becoming a leader in eliminating waste from single-use bags and preventing the proliferation of marine debris. The passage of AB 1998 is a first step in achieving these sound environmental policy goals and showing leadership in statewide environmental protection. I again strongly urge that you support this vital piece of legislation.
Sincerely,
Name
Full Address
Career ~ Community ~ Wellness
An Interactive Eco Lifestyle Event for Women
Brought to you by Women of the Green Generation
As part of West Basin’s Smart Landscaping Expo which runs from 9am-12noon, Surfrider’s South Bay OFG group will be tabling there and participating in the HOW which educates others on converting to a drip irrigation system. The Hands On Workshop is being taught by G3, Green Gardens Group, an organization devoted to educating homeowners, design professionals, and the local community in the latest eco-restorative landscape techniques and promoting the principles of low-impact development. You can check out the existing Ocean Friendly Garden with natives, drip irrigation, and rainwater catchment in front of the facility, that Surfrider helped G3 and its contractors create.
HELP BRING THE PRESIDENT TO A LOS ANGELES GREEN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL: ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER HIGH!
The students at the Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), an award-winning green college-prep LOW INCOME, PUBLIC, GREEN charter school in southeast Los Angeles, have recently been recognized by The White House and the Department of Education for academic excellence and has been named one of six finalist in President Obama’s ‘Race to the Top’ High School Commencement Challenge.
The White House and the Department of Education announced a Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge and invited public schools across the country to compete to have President Obama speak at their graduation.
You can help by voting for the Environmental Charter High School…the only green, climate-friendly finalist school. On Monday, April 26 – 29th, public review and ranking of the six high schools finalists will begin at http://WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement
Join LA Green Drinks as they celebrate the 3rd Annual Earth Night Event @ Cherokee Studios (www.loftsatcherokeestudios.com), the soon to be “greenest” LEED Platinum Certified mixed-use development in the state of California . The event brings the diverse LA Green community together in one space, in one night to celebrate Earth Day @ Night.
Enjoy organic drinks and delectables, music by solar-powered “DJ Ref” and bands. Connect with other local eco/ social organizations including Green Business Networking, Sustainable Business Council, Eco Tuesday, Sustainable Works, Surfrider WLA/Malibu, Venice Community Housing Corporation, GotoGreenLA, Your Daily Thread, EcoDivas and more as we Party with a Purpose!
This year part of the proceeds will go towards Global Green’s efforts to ensure that the rebuilding of Haiti is sustainable.
Bring an old t-shirt and Surfrider Rise Above Plastics committee will transform it into a new shopping bag!
CONTACT: Lia or Elizabeth @ LAGDevents@gmail.com, www.lagreendrinks.org
PARTICIPANT MEDIA IS TAKING ITS SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR OCEANS ON THE ROAD
SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR TO VISIT COLLEGES NATIONWIDE WITH LIVE MUSIC, ART AND FILM SCREENINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRISIS FACING THE WORLD’S OCEANS
Tour Cities Include: Berkeley, CA; Boulder, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Gainesville, FL;Honolulu, HI.; Los Angeles, CA; Tempe, AZ; San Diego, CA; Washington DC
DISNEYNATURE’S FILM OCEANS OPENS IN THEATERS - APRIL 22, 2010
LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2010) — Participant Media announced today that it will take its Social Action campaign for Disneynature’s upcoming motion picture OCEANS on the road with the SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR (www.savemyoceans.com). In conjunction with the opening of the film, the tour will visit a cross-section of college campuses nationwide with a series of events that celebrate our collective passion for the oceans and educate students on what they can do to help protect them. Those universities set to participate include the University of Colorado, University of Florida, San Diego State University, George Washington University, University of California Berkeley, University of Southern California, University of Utah, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Hawaii, and Arizona State University.
At each campus, the SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR will present a live OCEANS CONCERT, featuring a combination of nationally and locally known musical acts, including T-Pain, Clipse, Cold War Kids, Slightly Stoopid, LMFAO, G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ Skeet Skeet, State Radio, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rogue Wave and Pepper with more to be announced; an OCEANS ART INSTALLATION displayed in the center of each college campus; and an advance screening of OCEANS either on campus or a nearby theatre, depending on each school’s technical capabilities.
The Save My Oceans 2010 National College Tour Schedule Dates:
University of Florida: March 23rd, 2010 – March 27th, 2010 *OCEANS Screening: April 7th
University of Southern California: April 14th, 2010- April 16th, 2010 *Springfest Concert April 10th
University of California, Berkeley: April 17th, 2010 – April 22nd, 2010
San Diego State University: April 19th, 2010 – April 23rd, 2010
University of Utah: April 19th, 2010 – April 23rd, 2010
University of Hawaii: April 20th, 2010- April 23rd, 2010
George Washington University: April 20th, 2010 – April 24th, 2010
Arizona State University: April 20th, 2010 – April 24th, 2010
University of Colorado at Boulder:: April 20th, 2010 – April 22nd, 2010
The art installation is entitled “Infiltrate”. “Infiltrate” is designed, sculpted and produced by Julie B, a Planet Illogica Artist in Residence, and the owner of Pretty in Plastic.
“Infiltrate” will be comprised of sea turtle sculptures strategically placed on the grounds of each campus. The sculptural creatures will be built out of recycled plastic bottles and eco-friendly biodegradable materials. The sea turtles have an interactive element: during daylight, they are opaque- at night the creatures illuminate from the inside showing plastic bottles hidden inside each creature’s belly. This image resembles the way wildlife scour the ocean for food and come up with discarded bottles and other pollution caused by plastic.
The SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR is part of Participant Media’s Social Action campaign for OCEANS, which recently launched online at http://www.savemyoceans.com, and is designed to provide information about the various issues currently affecting our oceans as well as solutions and actions that people can take every day, from supporting national oceans policy to modifications in the types of fish they eat or household cleaning products they use.
“Participant is proud to be joining with Disneynature in support of this important and powerful film” said John Schreiber, EVP of Social Action for Participant. “OCEANS exemplifies the type of entertaining and socially relevant films with which we are proud to be associated, and we look forward to SAVE MY OCEANS as a vehicle to raise the visibility of both this issue and the film.”
A companion book, A Participant Media Guide: Oceans The Threats to Our Seas and What You Can Do to Turn the Tide, will be available on April 13, 2010, from PublicAffairs Books.
The SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR is being produced by The Marketing Division in connection with charity partners such as The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. In addition, the SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR key art was designed by Studio Number One, founded by Shepard Fairey. All tour stops will be sponsored by Emergen-C Blue. Lastly, Players for the Planet will have a presence on campus as well. Players for the Planet was founded by Chris Dickerson from the Cincinnati Reds and Jack Cassel. Their goal is to bring professional athletes together to inspire communities to build awareness of the growing environmental crisis.
About the Movie
Disneynature, the studio that presented the record-breaking film Earth, brings OCEANS to the big screen on Earth Day, 2010. Nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and OCEANS boldly chronicles the mysteries that lie beneath. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud dive deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind-exploring the harsh reality and the amazing creatures that live within. Featuring spectacular never-before-seen imagery captured by the latest underwater technologies, OCEANS offers an unprecedented look beneath the sea in a powerful motion picture that unfolds on April 22, 2010. “See OCEANS, Save Oceans” is an initiative in which Disneynature will make a contribution to The Nature Conservancy to save coral reefs in honor of every guest who sees OCEANS during opening week (April 22-28, 2010). For more information, visit disney.com/oceans or become a fan on Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature.
About Participant Media
Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media. Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President. Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs which provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant’s films include The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson’s War, Darfur Now, An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night and Good Luck., Syriana, Standard Operating Procedure, The Visitor, The Soloist, Food, Inc., The Informant! and The Crazies.
