Our Daily Ocean: Day 154

As I sat down today to update the cigarette butt tally from last night's beach clean up, my daughter took notice of the difference between the comparison that The Daily Ocean and I have been doing since March.  Since March, Sara has done 50 beach clean ups and removed 297 cigarette butts from her Santa Monica beach.  We, on the other hand, have done only 31 beach clean ups and have removed 6,620 cigarette butts from Wrightsville Beach.  My daughter had 2 reactions to that information.  First she said, "Mom, you really need to catch up!  You need to do more beach clean ups." And then she said, "Wrightsville Beach should be a smoke-free beach." (agreed)

This November, the residents of Wrightsville Beach will have the opportunity to vote on making Wrightsville Beach a smoke-free beach.  Though, Wrightsville Beach may no longer have the opportunity to be first smoke-free beach in North Carolina BECAUSE on Tuesday, Carolina Beach officials voted 4-1 in favor of a smoke-free beach ordinance!!!  My husband went to the meeting with other Cape Fear Surfrider board members and spoke out about some confusion that had been created by the town's attorney.  This is an exciting time for my area, as Carolina Beach is set to become the first smoke-free beach in North Carolina.  There is one catch though... the ordinance is pending state legislation that will allow Carolina Beach to enforce the ordinance, which should happen sometime in 2013.  Read more here.

It is not a single wave that shapes the beach, but countless waves over time.

20 minutes on August 17, 2012 at Access 36

Litter by weight: 1 lb
Cigarette butts: 121
Straws: 28 (22 from Oceanic)

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 154 days:

48,872

Our Daily Ocean: Day 139

Sunday morning, my husband had an interview with News 14 at Wrightsville Beach regarding the still building support for Smoke-Free Wrightsville Beach and Cape Fear Surfrider's commitment to Wrightsville Beach.  It was a gorgeous morning to be at the beach and the Mother's Day crowd was quickly building...

Having only done a handful of beach clean ups in the morning, I'm always surprised by the amount of trash to be found on the beach so early.  No doubt much is left over from the previous night... sending a message to the new beach goers of the day that it's "ok" to leave their trash on the beach too.  The whole "everyone else is doing it" type of thing... 

Every beach clean up we do, it is obvious that the most found items on the beach are plastic.  Cigarette butts, plastic bottles, plastic caps, wrappers, toys, lids, straws, etc. they're all on Wrightsville Beach and littering most places of the world.  I continually ask myself, "How can I change that?"  An easy first step is to pick it up when I see it... but I know that doesn't "fix" it.  For me, I feel it's so important to reduce the amount of disposable plastic I use because I want to help change the "norm".  As a mom, I want my kids to understand and see firsthand that our actions or inactions impact the world.  We can all help change the norm of what "everyone else is doing" by showing others that there's a different way. 

...and one thing that is doable for everyone is to use reusable bags in lieu of plastic bags.  Yesterday, we found 4 in just a matter of minutes.  No doubt it's time long overdue to ban plastic bags here in New Hanover County.  I know that it won't be too long as the "Ban the Bag" movement is growing across our country/world.  Recently, the city and county of Honolulu signed a bill to enact a plastic bag ban.  This is BIG news because as all the other counties in Hawaii have already passed legislation banning plastic bags... this makes Hawaii the first state to ban the bag!!!  AWESOME.

20 minutes on May 13, 2012 at Access 16

Litter by weight: 2 lbs 13.1 oz

Cigarette butts: 136

Straws: 9

Total amount of cigarettes removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 139 days:

45,087

Our Daily Ocean: Day 134

Saturday morning, we woke up early and headed to Wrightsville Beach to set up the Surfrider Spring Beach Sweep at Wrightsville Beach.  If you didn't know, my husband and I both volunteer with Cape Fear Surfrider... it's something that we really enjoy doing because we get to connect with a community of people who are taking an active role in protecting and caring for our beaches.  I always encourage everyone to learn more about the work Surfrider Foundation does to protect our oceans, waves and beaches for now and tomorrow... and wherever you are (and whether you're a surfer or not) to definitely get involved with this awesome awesome organization!

As the sweep started, I decided to do a 20 minute beach clean up.  Normally, I don't do our beach clean ups in the morning, but since I was already there... it only made sense!  So I set off following fairly far behind WB Mayor Cignotti, who was volunteering during the Surfrider clean up.  I thought since someone was already picking up ahead of me that there wouldn't be too much to pick up.  Wrong.

In 20 minutes, I picked up 212 cigarette butts.  When Mayor Cignotti finished, he had picked up 211!  Two other Surfrider volunteers counted a whopping 457 cigarette butts that they found on WB!  I've added those two counts to the community count on the sidebar, which pushes the community count for WB to: 11,561!!

Not surprising: Cigarette butts were by far the most found littered item during the Surfrider clean up.

Since today is Earth Day, I was really hoping to do another 20 minute beach clean up.... but it just didn't happen.  Much needed rain and an opportunity to sit down with a friend and talk about some important issues facing our area... meant that a beach clean up could wait until another day.  Besides, in my world... everyday really is Earth Day. :)

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.  

~George Bernard Shaw

Happy Earth Day today and everyday!

20 minutes on April 21, 2012 at Access 29

Litter by weight: 4.6 oz

Cigarette butts: 212

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 134 days:

44,423

Our Daily Ocean: Day 130

If anyone were to ever ask me "what is the greatest thing that has happened from starting this litter project at Wrightsville Beach?"... I would easily respond "All of the people I've met and friends I've made."  It's true.  This simple project has connected me to people that I would have never known, let alone met.  By putting good karma out into the world/universe, we truly reflect back to us what we give and are rewarded with the best gifts... mine has come back full force with connecting me to amazing people and my good karma has rewarded me with friendships and so much more... :)

On Sunday, my family and I met Jillian-- a UNCW student-- at Johnnie Mercer's Pier to do our 130th beach clean up!  I met Jillian at the end of the WB public hearing on the proposed ordinance to ban smoking on Wrightsville Beach.  The vote didn't turn out the way I had hoped and I was all shaken up and frustrated... Jillian immediately brightened my spirits by asking if she could join us on a beach clean up and interview me (as a local activist! who me?! yes. me.)  for her "Writing & Activism" class.  Acknowledging me as an "activist" is a compliment that did something for me... gave me a nudge.... and since that night, I am working at wholeheartedly embracing the fact that I am an "activist."  (Thanks Jillian!!)  

Oh wait... back to the public hearing.  Have you heard there's big news on Smoke-Free WB?!?  Oh yes. BIG news.  There is currently a petition circling Wrightsville Beach for WB registered voters to sign stating their support for a smoke-free beach ordinance.  This petition could have the POWER to nudge the WB Board of Alderman to revisit their March 8 decision to vote against the smoke-free beach strand ordinance.  This is HUGE.  

If you're reading this and you are a registered voter at WB or have friends/family who are WB registered voters, please have them stop by Sweetwater Surf Shop or Lighthouse Beer & Wine to sign the petition. Also, we'd love to have you, your family, your friends... your friends of friends... join us on April 12 at WB Town Hall at 6PM.  

Questions?  Please don't hesitate to ask me or contact Cape Fear Surfrider  

20 minutes on April 1, 2012 at Access 16

Litter by weight: 2 lbs 2.9 oz

Cigarette butts: 278

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 130 days:

43,014

Leave Only Footprints

More Than Resolutions Revisited

Last year--as 2010 ended and 2011 began-- I began thinking about what I wanted to commit myself to for the year.  You see... 2010 was absolutely ah-mazing.  I had won the FilterForGood Film Project and began to "see" exactly what I was supposed to be doing.  I wanted 2011 to be the year that I gave back for all of the amazing things that had happened in 2010.  So...  having a thing (err... obsession?) with the number 5... I decided that I would make 5 resolutions (or commitments) for the new year.

Now that we're well into 2012... I think it's about time that I shared how my 2011 "More Than Resolutions" went....

1.  Join Surfrider.  Yeah, we became members right away.  Connected to our local chapter and made sure to attend all events.  BUT... we didn't stop there.  My husband and I both are now on the executive board of our local chapter-- Cape Fear Surfrider.   We're really loving taking an active role in helping create change and being part of a community of people who care about the same things that we do!!

Learn more about Surfrider Foundation here.

2.  Collect our plastic waste EVERY week for 2011.  And I did.  Every week I had a (small) pile of plastic sitting on my countertop to share on My Plastic Free Life "Plastic Trash Challenge."  I didn't hide it away in a cabinet... I left it in plain sight as a reminder of where I was.  Some weeks were AWESOME... others... not so much.  There are definitely some things that we can improve on... but we're getting better... and that's what is most important.  After a year of collecting our plastic, we have nearly perfected eating out and avoiding plastic and SO much more.  This year, I plan to share more of what we're doing to reduce the amount of plastic we use... and in turn reduce MORE!

Check out my plastic tallies for the year here: Plastic Trash Challenge >> Danielle 

Awesome outcome from collecting our plastic waste:  I've been asked to teach a "Plastic-Free Food" class at Tidal Creek Co-Op!  I'm super stoked to share some of how we're reducing our use of single-use disposable plastics and most importantly "why". :)

3.  Continue to support the efforts of Bonnie Monteleone.  If you've been reading this blog for awhile now... you know that I absolutely adore Bonnie.  She is a constant source of motivation and inspiration for me.  From traveling to research plastics in our ocean gyres to sharing what she's discovered through art... simply put she's amazing. So amazing incredible that she was chosen as a finalist in the global competition "In Search of Incredible".  Bonnie has big plans for this year, including traveling to the Indian Ocean.

Plus, we have some things we are going to be doing together and I can't wait to share them with everyone! :)



4. Become one of Wallace J. Nichols 100 Blue Angels.  We did this right away as well.  Then when it came time for my birthday in June, I asked that in lieu of gifts my friends and family donate to J.  We also took part of our California vacation and attended the 100 Blue Angels appreciation dinner.  It was a great time and we're so happy to contribute to a person who is such a strong voice for our oceans.

Learn more about the work J does and become one of his 100+ BlueAngels.



5. Ban the Bag Wilmington.  Ok, so we didn't ban the bag in 2011.  (I never thought we would.)  But, after writing a letter to Senator Goolsby regarding his sponsorship of a bill to repeal the OBX (that's Outer Banks) plastic bag ban, I got very involved in my local chapter of Surfrider (see #1)!  International Surfrider board member and local chapter Chair, Sean Ahlum, has given presentations at all of the beach towns and has garnered their support for a countywide plastic bag ban!  Now Sean and Bonnie are working side-by-side to garner even MORE support to ban the bag!  Community support is high for this to happen!  Ban the Bag Wilmington 2012??  I sure hope so!

Oh yeah... and thanks to my friends Kevin & Chris of Odysea Surf and Kiteboard School.... I totally learned how to surf!  (well... kind of... I can stand up on the board and ride a wave in.... that's surfing, right??)  ....and since I tried my legs at surfing in the summer and winter... I also learned that I'm not a fan of wetsuits or booties.  I like to feel the water... and well, I'm just a girl that always prefers to be barefoot.  Sooo.... I will only be surfing in the summer ;)

Happy 2012 everyone... here's to another year of giving back and making a difference.  May all the days of the year be filled with abundance... :)

Our Daily Ocean: Day 101

It feels like an eternity since I've been to Wrightsville Beach.  After I did my 100th clean up, my family and I had to take an unexpected trip back to St. Louis to visit family.  But this weekend, I got back to the beach and loved every second of it!!  On Saturday, I spent 7 hours at access 4 volunteering with Ocean Cure for Life Rolls On and with Surfrider for our "One Foot At A Time" beach clean up!  It was an awesome AWESOME day... and I can't wait to share it with you all!! :) Here's a little peak of what we were up to on Saturday ;)

Sunday evening,  my family and I met Nina (and her family) at Wrightsville Beach.  I met Nina (on Facebook) about 5 months ago, and when she told me she was going to be visiting family in my area... we both agreed that we just had to meet up!!  Nina lives in Florida and picks up litter and other treasures-- such as sea beans-- off of her local beach.   But not only is she another kindred spirit, she's planning on sharing her knowledge and love for the environment with children by having her first children's book series "Adventures with Nina & Steve " published.  LOVE that!  

Fall is definitely here in Wilmington.  Over the weekend, the temperatures took a dip into the 60's.  The change in weather, marks a change in the amount of litter found at the beach. As much as I'm bummed that summer is over... I'm happy for the break in picking up overwhelming amounts of litter.

One thing that Nina and I talked about is how at her beach, they get a lot of litter that washes up from other places... Wrightsville Beach, for whatever reason... doesn't get debris washed in.  The litter we pick up (unless there's been a hurricane or off-shore storm) is from beach goers.  People pick up your sh*t!!  Love (y)our beach!  ...and if you see someone leave something behind... speak up or pick it up... please and thank you :)

20 minutes on October 2, 2011 at Access 15

Litter by weight: 2 lbs 1.7 oz 
Cigarette butts: 175

 

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 101 days:

35,279

Our Daily Ocean: Day 100

I went to the beach with every intention of not doing a 20 minute clean up.  You see, I knew my next clean up would be my 100th... and I had big plans for #100.  I had been thinking about it for awhile... I really wanted to invite people to come out and join us for the momentous clean up... but sometimes things don't happen the way we think they should.  As I sat on the beach eating my dinner and snapping photos of the seagulls flying all around us, my husband said, "Look, there's a girl back there picking up litter."  Sure enough, I looked.  Then I paused and said, "Hey! That's Susan!"

Susan is a volunteer with the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project and contributes to the WB- Keep It Clean blog where she shares not only the litter she picks up, but also the treasures she finds!  Seeing Susan on the beach, made me change my mind about my 100th clean up... I mean... as much as we go out to Wrightsville Beach, we hardly ever run into people we know.  This was a rare event that I couldn't pass up!!   (Guess I'll have to do something for my 101st clean up... ;) )  In our 20 minutes at Access 40, Susan picked up 128 cigarette butts.  I'm adding that amount to the Wrightsville Beach Community Count (found on the sidebar)... THANKS Susan!!!

Another rare find at the beach last night: a horseshoe crab.  My daughter spotted it and I was super excited that she immediately knew what it was!  All those visits to the NC Aquarium payed off!! ;)  Did you know that horseshoe crabs are considered living fossils?? AND... that they actually are more closely related to spiders and scorpions?!?  Really amazing animal!!  Now, of course, it was no longer living... but it was still super cool to find on the beach especially considering I had started to wonder if they existed in the wild since I've only ever seen them at the NC Aquarium.

 On October 1, I'll be at Wrightsville Beach Access 4 volunteering with Ocean Cure for Life Rolls On: They Will Surf Again.  If you'll be in the area, learn more and register to volunteer here.  

On the same day (and same access), Surfrider Cape Fear Chapter is going to be having a beach clean up to mark the beginning of RAPtoberfest!!  What's RAPtoberfest??  Well... Surfrider will be dedicating the entire month of October to organizing beach clean ups and passing along tips to RISE ABOVE PLASTICS!!!  Bonnie, Ginger and I will be setting up our litter awareness art to help raise awareness to the amount of litter found on the beach... especially plastics!  So come out and see us!!!

20 minutes on September 15, 2011 at Access 40

Litter by weight: 1 lb 7.5 oz 

Cigarette butts: 163

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 100 days:

35,104

Our Daily Ocean: Day 98

Friday night was a SUPER exciting night!!  Moments after doing our 20 minute clean up at Access 36, we walked a bit north on the beach to see a Loggerhead sea turtle nest excavation!!!

It was so amazing seeing the teeny tiny baby sea turtles make their way to the ocean... and being there to witness this event solidified even more how important what we are doing really is...

One of my favorite sites for learning about sea turtles is SEEturtles.org.  If there was anything you ever wanted to learn about sea turtles... that's the place to go :)  By the way... did you know? 

It's estimated that only 1 in 1000 sea turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood.  (...whatever it is that we can do to help them make it to adulthood... I feel like it's our responsibility to do so.... "No thank you plastic _______.")

Hatchlings use the natural light horizon along with the white crests of the waves to reach the water when they emerge from the nest.  Any other light sources such as beachfront lighting, street lights, car lights, camera flashes, etc can disorientate the hatchlings and send them in the wrong direction. (That's no bueno!)

Sea turtle hatchlings have a long road to adulthood... the moment they emerge from the nest, they have natural predators-- ghost crabs, birds, dogs, raccoons, fish, etc-- to scoot and swim past.   ...And once they make it... they now have to contend with deciphering between what is edible food and what is our completely unnatural toxic trash.  (Only WE can change that.)

Rewinding a bit:  On Thursday evening, we met our friend Sean with the Surfrider Foundation at Wrightsville Beach Town Hall with all 33,989 cigarette butts we've collected off of Wrightsville Beach.  Sean presented to the Board of Aldermen about micro-litter (specifically cigarette butts) on WB.  He ended with asking the board to revisit the idea of banning smoking on the beach...  

Only time will tell what the board decides to do with the information that Sean presented to them.  In the meantime... we'll still be heading out to Wrightsville Beach... doing 20 minute clean ups and counting cigarette butts.

20 minutes on September 9, 2011 at Access 36

Litter by weight: 2 lbs 10.6 oz

Cigarette butts: 193

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 98 days:

34,182

Surfrider Spring Beach Sweep

On Saturday morning, we met up with our good friend Bonnie at Wrightsville Beach to participate in the Cape Fear Surfrider's Spring Surfer Sweep.  Doing an organized beach clean up is a little different than when we do our 20 minute clean ups... with no time limit we casually stroll and stop to talk A LOT!!  <--- apparently that's something that Bonnie and I are very good at!  ;)  Having gotten rain the day before (and not usually doing morning clean ups), I wasn't sure that there would be much to clean up on the beach.  BUT... as usual... the litter was there.  In fact, between our family and Bonnie, we picked up 3 lbs 4 oz of litter... which included 499 cigarette butts.  I've added those 499 cigarette butts to the Community Count for Wrightsville Beach (check the totals out on the sidebar). 

If you recall, back in January... one of my "More Than Resolutions" was to become a member of Surfrider.  BUT... for our family becoming a member is more than just donating some $$.  We want to make sure that we are actively involved in supporting and participating as much as we can.  And why wouldn't we all??   Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the worlds oceans, waves and beaches.  That's something we all should be supporting. 

 High Five Facts about Surfrider:  

1. Rise Above Plastics:  Surfrider is on a mission to reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics. Cape Fear Surfrider has ditched handing out plastic garbage bags for clean ups.  Instead, they're now using burlap bags!    
2. Not The Answer:  Surfrider is opposed to any new off-shore drilling and strongly advocates for America to seek a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable energy plan that includes energy conservation.  Save the date:  Hands Across the Sand is June 25!  
3. The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water
4. Surfrider SOUP:  Surfrider's informative (and free!) e-newsletter with the latest environmental and coastal news.  (Sign up at www.surfrider.org... in the top righthand corner.)
5.  Surfrider has kick ass apparel.  Seriously.  Looking for a "Ban The Bag" tee??  You'll find it here: Swell Surfrider Store

Ok... so anyone can join Surfrider.  You don't have to be a surfer. ;)  Become involved in anyway you can.  Make a donation, do a beach clean up, sign up for the weekly SOUP, share Surfrider's PSAs...  become engaged to protect what we love; our oceans, waves and beaches.

To learn more about how awesome Surfrider is... check out their website: www.surfrider.org