Our Daily Ocean: Day 136

With temperatures pushing near 90˚ yesterday, I took my kids to Wrightsville Beach to go boogie boarding.  Watching my kids laughing and playing in the waves of the Atlantic, I paused and looked out at the horizon... that ocean... that view (and everything in it beneath the surface) is worth protecting...

A couple of summers ago, my family and I went to southern California.  I remember driving along PCH-1 and looking out to the ocean.  It was a perfect drive... but then there was a moment when I looked out at the ocean and said to my husband, "What the heck is that??"  Offshore oil rig.  Yuck.  When I stare out at the Atlantic Ocean, there are no off-shore oil rigs in my view.  It's perfect.  That ocean view is something that people pay top dollar for when choosing their hotels at the beach... and it's that unobstructed view of the ocean that people will spend major $$ on for their ocean front homes.  Yes, I'm all about the conservation and protection of our oceans, beaches and the wildlife that inhabit them... but let's be honest... the ocean is worth protecting on so many levels including enjoyment, real estate, tourism, fishing, LIFE, etc... 

Please take the time to send in your public comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean by using this Oceana action alert: 

Don't Drown Out Dolphins Voices

Yes, I'm still picking up cigarette butts and other litter at Wrightsville Beach... and the comparison of the amount of cigarette butts that Sara and I pick up at our respective beaches is still going strong.  During Sara's last 20 minute beach clean up in Santa Monica (a smoke-free beach), she picked up 4 cigarette butts... while I picked up 105.  Since March 9, Sara and I have each done 13 beach clean ups. Here are the tallies:

13 beach clean ups in Santa Monica: 107 cigarette butts

13 beach clean ups in Wrightsville Beach: 3,345 cigarette butts

Ummm.... as Sara says, "Ban the Butt works!"

20 minutes on May 3, 2012 at Access 36

Litter by weight: 12.7 oz

Cigarette butts: 105 

Straws: 36

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 136 days:

44,687

Our Daily Ocean: Day 135

This afternoon, I met a couple of moms from Mother's United at Wrightsville Beach.  Mother's United is a group of moms that are taking an active role in causes that impact the health of their (our) children because as they say "sometimes being a good mom means being an active citizen."

...and we're all learning.  Being an active citizen takes time and effort... and everyone knows that when you have kids, the amount of time you have to give (which usually isn't much) has to be spent wisely.  As much as I try to be an active and engaged citizen.... sometimes I fall short of what I want to be involved in.  I constantly have to remind myself that I can only do so much and that my first priority is being a mom to my three amazing kids.  BUT.  There are times when I personally push myself past the "I have kids, I can't do that"... "I can't attend that with my kids"... "I don't have time" lines and remind myself that because I HAVE kids is one of the main reasons that I NEED to show up... I have to make the time.  Thursday evening was one of those instances.  

Last night (April 26), my family and I attended the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management hearing for public comments regarding seismic testing off the Atlantic coast.  I am concerned about this on so many different levels... one being the negative impact that seismic testing has on marine mammals and other aquatic marine life.  AND... Let's just get it out there.  If they take the time to test for oil and natural gas reserves in the Atlantic Ocean... then it's obvious the next step would be to drill.  Drilling = spilling

I spend so much time at the beach... giving what I can to help keep it clean and beautiful because I love it so much.  I hate to think about the negative impacts that seismic testing has on all marine life... and it pains me to imagine the possibility of drilling for oil (or greenwashed "natural" gas) off our coast.  So we went to the hearing, because it was important.  I have to say being at the hearing was really really awesome.  Seeing the community come out and rally together in support of our oceans, beaches, marine life and ecosystems, marine fisheries, environment, economy and a sustainable future was an inspiring thing to see... and once again made me so proud of our community.  My husband along with 27 other people spoke out against seismic testing and in favor of Alternative C-- no action.  NC Senators Thom Goolsby and Bill Rabon along with another person (who appeared to work for the oil industry) commented in favor of seismic testing and off-shore drilling in the Atlantic.  28-3 against off-shore drilling!!

But while it felt good to be at the meeting and witness the community come together.  That meeting wasn't the end.  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is accepting public comment until May 30. I cannot stress enough how important it is for everyone (including YOU) to take the time to send a public comment opposing seismic testing off the Atlantic coast and in support of Alternative C.  This is the only time we have a chance to say anything... don't sit back thinking someone else has it under control... this isn't a someone else thing.. this is a "WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER" event!!

Please send written comments to ggeis@boem.gov by May 30, 2012

For more information, visit: 

Atlantic Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Activities Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)

20 minutes on April 27, 2012 at Access 29

Litter by weight: 8.1 oz

Cigarette butts: 159

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 135 days:

44,582

Our Daily Ocean: Day 22

This afternoon my kids and I headed to Wrightsville Beach... once again it was an absolutely beautiful day!!  This is the November that I LOVE and the reason I moved here!!!

I know we've been going to Access 16 a lot lately... but today I had a reason-- easy to find and convenient location!!  My purpose for heading to WB today was not only to do a 20 minute clean up, but to also meet Zak Keith of Oceana North Carolina!

Zak is in Wilmington working as a field organizer for Oceana's climate and energy campaign to stop the expansion of offshore drilling along the Atlantic Coast.  YAY!!  Now that's a campaign that I will happily support and encourage everyone else to support as well!!  Please visit Oceana and/or Oceana North Carolina to sign the petition to President Obama in support of clean energy and against offshore drilling!

So as we picked up butts (and other litter),  Zak got me up to speed on the issues of off-shore drilling.  I've always been one to say that--of course--I'm against offshore drilling for the obvious reasons.  Some other reasons are purely aesthetics.  I don't want to look out from Wrighstville Beach (or any other beach for that matter) and see a offshore drilling platform.  But as Zak informed me... even if we couldn't see it from our beach there would always be reminders that it's out there... reminders coming in the form of tarballs that could wash up on our East Coast beaches.  YUCK!!

It's been 7 months since the Deep Water Horizon disaster and it's important that people don't forget....The only way to prevent another oil spill is by stopping offshore drilling and investing in clean energy.

A clean, safer energy future is possible... and it's up to US to demand it!!  

Check out this video of dolphins and a whale filmed (today) off the coast of Wrightsville Beach by fellow local litter sweeper.... "we live in paradise"... let's protect it....

We NEED change.

20 minutes on November 22, 2010

Total amount of litter by weight: 1 lb 1 oz

Cigarette Butts: 545

Total amount of cigarette butts picked up off of Wrightsville Beach, NC in 22 days:

9,798

Join Hands with the World

Over 4 months ago, as a part of statewide action Floridians gathered on their beaches for Hands Across the Sand to protest plans for drilling off the Gulf Coast of Florida. It was then that a movement started....

On June 26-- my daughter's 6th birthday-- the world will join hands for the protection of ALL coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, and fishing industries.

Join the WORLD as we peacefully protest off-shore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables.

Wherever you are.... beach or no beach... join hands.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." --Anatole France

Believe that together we can change the future.

(and act on it ;) )