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By: Serena Lee
The devastating British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the deep waters off the U.S. Gulf Coast is a wake up call about how fragile our ocean's ecosystem is, and how it affects all of us. From this disaster we must learn to be more responsible and proactive human beings.
There are always two sides to every issue. Federal and local governments focus on growth, prosperity, and security for the masses, which may often have a negative effect on our environment. It will take many years to become less dependent on energy from fossil fuel resources. We cannot keep quiet and merely watch what’s happening on the news and point accusing fingers at others. The responsibility for change lies on the shoulders of each and every one of us.
There is an abundance of environmental issues along our own coast that the general public needs to be more aware of. We have many more oceanic environmental issues we need to work on and become more proactive about. For example, there is the matter of non-biodegradable plastics, street runoff, sewage wastewater, agricultural poisons, over fishing, cigarette butts, coastal power plants, and soon-to-be coastal desalination plants.
Here are some ways to save our oceans:
1) Limit off-shore oil-drilling.
2) Limit construction of desalination plants.
3) Discontinue the use of plastic supermarket shopping bags or restaurant carry-out Styrofoam containers.
4) Avoid using pesticides on lawns and gardens.
5) Go to a carwash instead of wasting water and using soap to wash your car.
6) Use biodegradable soap for washing dishes and doing laundry.
7) Teach our children about the ocean’s sensitive ecosystem.
8) Pressure our politicians to implement stricter oceanic environmental guidelines.
9) Use social media as a forum to disseminate these messages.
There are many organizations, such as the Surfrider Foundation, that help to keep things in check. They are a very accessible and powerful group. People don’t have to agree with every one of their many causes to protect the ocean. The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. Please visit their local chapter website at www.surfridersd.org to learn more about how to become more involved. They hold open meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Forum Hall above the Wells Fargo Branch in UTC. Their homepage lists all of their upcoming events and forums.
Here are some of the upcoming Surfrider events you are invited to attend:
8/4: Hold On To Your Butt (Cigarette butts on our beaches) 6:30pm-8:00pm
E Street Café, Encinitas
8/10: Rise Above Plastics 6:30pm-7:30pm Encinitas location TBD
8/14: Beach Cleanup 9:00am-11:00am Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad
8/18: Surfrider Chapter Meeting 7:00pm-9:00pm
8/21: Beach Cleanup at Moonlight Beach 9:00am-11:00am
9/1: Hold On To Your Butt (forum regarding cigarette buts on our beaches) 6:30 pm-8:00pm E Street Café, Encinitas
9/4: Beach Cleanup at La Jolla Shores 9:00am–11:00am
9/12: Paddle for Clean Water at Ocean Beach Pier 9:00am–12:00pm - TBA
9/14: Rise Above Plastics 6:30pm–7:30pm Encinitas location TBA
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