Saturday, March 12, 2011

Day 205 - March 8, 2011


lifeguard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA
trash collected for 20 minutes
1.5 pounds
765.5 pounds total 

COMMUNITY COUNT DAY 116 - HEATHER AND JON
trash collected for 20 minutes
2 pounds
709.5 pounds total

THE DAILY OCEAN COMBINED TOTAL - 
1473.5 POUNDS OF TRASH OFF OF BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD


One of the first sights we see is a nondescript piece of feather-lite, clear plastic poking out of the sand. This is a typical discovery. I wish that it wasn't.


fr left to right: Jon, Heather and Whitney

Whitney wanted us to come out onto the beach a little earlier than I normally do so that she could shoot some footage for a CBS interview she is putting together as part of their "American Spirit" series. I am excited to be part of this! Thank you to Heather and Jon for coming out to be interviewed. This segment will most likely air while we are away on our 5 Gyres research expedition. If you watch CBS Nightly News, keep an eye out for it on a Wed. or Friday night edition, and let me know how it was!




Plastic bag rose origami that I found this way. 




We are already in Chile for the start of our 10 weeks away. Most of that time will be on the crew of a 5 Gyres Institute research expedition. You can join one too! Find out how and come aboard! I know that they have openings for the Cook Islands to Tahiti this summer that goes out for about a week. 


As soon as we sat down for a coffee in the Santiago Airport yesterday, we saw the footage of the earthquake in Japan on the nearest TV. Coastal Chile was on a tsunami warning, but all is well as far as we know. We are in Valdivia, which is a little farther inland in Southern Chile. My heart goes out to all of the families who may have a loved one missing at the moment, and to all of the Japanese people who were most likely very scared as it was happening. 

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!