Pasted below is a “Statement on Wave Energy in Oregon" that was recently ratified by Oregon's chapters and statewide exec council. Please feel free to distribute freely. Over 60 different members and activists provided input and/or review on this document. The statement provides a framework for how Surfrider chapters in Oregon will engage locally on the issue of wave energy development. Thus far, seven different projects have been proposed along the Oregon coast, and Surfrider members are actively engaged in providing input on four of these. To revieve a copy of the statement by email or for more info contact Pete Stauffer pstauffer@surfrider.org


Statement on Wave Energy in Oregon

The Oregon Chapter of Surfrider Foundation recognizes that wave energy may offer important benefits as a renewable source of energy, as well as a cutting-edge industry for coastal communities.

Surfrider also recognizes that there are many questions and concerns about wave energy, including potential impacts to ocean recreation, nearshore ecology, public safety, aesthetics, and fishing access

Statement
Surfers and other recreational ocean users are affected by the development of wave energy in Oregon, and are a key stakeholder group in local and state planning efforts.

Surfrider believes the following principles must be applied when evaluating or planning for potential projects:

• Protect surfing and other ocean recreation opportunities by ensuring that project sites do not impact or overlap with priority recreational areas
• Consider impacts to the environment through comprehensive assessments and application of best available science
• Ensure public safety through designs standards and development of emergency response plans
• Require baseline data and frequent monitoring to quantify impacts to the environment and threats to public safety
• Evaluate the impact of EMFs (electromagnetic fields) on the behavior of fishes, sharks, and marine mammals
• Consider fishing and other existing uses of proposed project areas to assess lost opportunities and evaluate trade-offs
• Proceed incrementally and cautiously to ensure that impacts from one project are understood before proceeding with additional projects
• Initiate comprehensive planning for Oregon’s ocean ecosystem to ensure an appropriate balance between emerging industrial uses and conservation
• Employ adaptive management to ensure that new information is applied to assess needs for modification, mitigation, and/or removal.

Surfrider Foundation is an environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. Our membership in Oregon includes surfers, windsurfers, fishermen, kayakers and other ocean users.

ONCE a sinister home to notorious mobsters and murderers, San Francisco's Alcatraz is in line for an environmental makeover that could see the imposing former prison island become a tree-hugger's paradise," Click Here To Read Complete Article

Many of the species on the islands are found nowhere else on Earth

The Galapagos Islands, the first place on the planet officially designated as a World Heritage site, has been declared "in danger" by the UN.
Experts said the 19 islands and surrounding ocean were under threat from "invasive species", increased tourism and growing immigration.

Isolated some 1,000km (620 miles) off of Ecuador's coast, the islands contain much unique plant and animal life.

They were protected by Unesco 1978, with the boundaries extended in 2001.

The UN Environment, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which administers the list of World Heritage sites, added the Galapagos Islands to a comparatively small list of sites facing clear dangers. Click Here To Read Entire Article

Canadian Press

"A British man is hoping to wake up politicians in Canada and around the world to the threat of climate change by completing a kilometre-long swim in open water at the North Pole.

"I don't think anyone has ever done a swim in -1.8-degree water in a Speedo," said Lewis Gordon Pugh, who has already completed epic swims in waters from the Antarctic to the Indian Ocean," Click Here To Read Complete Article

By Douglas A. Moser , Staff writer
Gloucester Daily Times

The major shipping lane into Boston Harbor will be shifted several nautical miles starting Sunday in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of a vessel striking a whale - the scenario that led to two whales washing up dead on Cape Ann shores this year.

Researchers believe the shipping lane, which brings large commercial vessel traffic into Boston Harbor through the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, traverses an area with a lot of whale activity. This move will add 3.75 miles to the overall distance of the shipping lane and 10 to 22 minutes to overall travel time one way, according to the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"It may not be that much of a shift spatially, but it's a huge shift ecologically," said Mason Weinrich, executive director of the Whale Center of New England on Harbor Loop in Gloucester.

Weinrich said data, which covers sightings over the last 25 years, showed the shipping lane crossed waters frequently used by whales. The lane shifted to an area in the sanctuary with a different seabed, he said, that whales tend to avoid.

The move does not eliminate the risk of vessel strikes, Weinrich said, but "it helps in a big way."
Click Here To Read Complete Article

"The list of quality-compromised goods from China got longer Thursday as federal authorities slapped a highly unusual hold on shrimp and certain fish from that country after tests showed contamination from potentially harmful drugs," Click Here To Read The Complete Article

"The orange-bellied parrot, which threatened to kill off a large Victorian wind farm, has now emerged as a potential barrier to the state's planned desalination plant," Click Here For Complete Article

Reconstructions of the first Paleogene penguins next
to present day penguins.

"Giant prehistoric penguins? In Peru? It sounds more like something out of Hollywood than science, but a researcher from North Carolina State University along with U.S., Peruvian and Argentine collaborators has shown that two heretofore undiscovered penguin species reached equatorial regions tens of millions of years earlier than expected and during a period when the earth was much warmer than it is now," excerpt from article.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) announced today (June 27) the permanent protection of the 1,129 acre Pupukea-Paumalu coastal bluff, located along O‘ahu's famed North Shore. The City of Honolulu and the State of Hawai‘i will each own separate parcels for natural resource protection and public benefit. Knowing the property was for sale, the NSCLT approached TPL for its expertise in voluntary willing seller conservation real estate transactions. For several years, NSCLT and TPL negotiated with the landowner for the purchase of the property. Through the Surfrider Foundation Japan, a meeting was arranged between representatives of Obayashi and NSCLT at Obayashi's headquarters in Tokyo. NSCLT asked North Shore resident and musician Jack Johnson to represent NSCLT at the meeting in Japan. Johnson encouraged Obayashi to consider TPL's purchase offer. Community persistence and relationship building paid off.

Surfrider Chapters in Rhode Island and Oahu, along with many other conservation groups and local activists, aided in preserving coastal land from development, protecting natural resources and maintaining public access.

The properties are Point Judith Park, adjacent to the famous Point Judith Lighthouse in Rhode Island, and the 1,129 acre Pupukea-Paumalu coastal bluff, located along O‘ahu's famed North Shore.

Chris Murphy and his friends celebrated International Surfing Day by trying to clean up Guacalillos (just North of Jaco) during their visit to Costa Rica. The pictures of how much trash there is on the beach is horrible. In Chris's words "There is so much trash you would not be able to tell what was before or after we got about 50 trash bags just of new water bottles with no sand in them that is what the school can sell and also aluminum. You would need tractors or heavy machinery to clean the whole beach, and then it will collect again if you don’t make the residents aware of recycling and also that the rivers flow to the beach and anything put in that river will end up in the water."

June 28, 2007 — By Richard Cowen, Reuters

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives Wednesday, aiming to put an end to the debate over whether global warming is actually occurring, passed legislation recognizing the "reality" of climate change and providing money to work on the problem.

By a vote of 272-155, the House approved an environmental funding bill for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 that would increase federal investments in basic research on climate change and establish a new commission to review scientific questions that need to be addressed. Click here for full article.

The Northern Beaches Branch of Surfrider Australia held a BBQ to celebrate International Surfing Day. Some of the evening's highlights included Pin the Tail on the Thruster...

International Surfing Day in Southern California

Getting up at 3 am is usually not my thing. But it’s ISD, and I am the only German available to make this day truly international. We need to beat the morning traffic and meet the news crews at the crack of dawn in Venice. Surf is supposed to be flat, the coffee shop is not even open yet. But by 9 in the morning I have tried out standup paddle surfing on a 12 foot monster board, shredded some waves on Joel Tudor’s new Surftec prototype and appeared on Fox 11 ‘s morning news cleaning up the beach. Get interviewed by a Cuban surfer who is really excited to see a German guy surf. Turns out he is from Miami, and he can’t really surf.
Next stop is Raging Waters, to check the waves 30 miles away from the ocean. The wave is better than Venice, because it’s powered by jets, not the South Pacific. Some rippers throw spray and do shove-its on the FlowRider. We both give more TV interviews, everybody is excited about us coming down and flexing the Surfrider muscle.
Back to the beach, check in at Laguna Beach’s Thalia street where the surf shop hosted a great beach cleanup. Everybody is stoked, the weather is great, schwag bags are handed out to everybody who participates.
After a really needed pit stop at a coffee shop, we join our friends at Salt Creek. I surf for the third time this day, 11 Surfriders from the office share waves at Strands. What a great way to end the day!

- From Olaf Lohr, Surfrider headquarters USA

Primero que nada quiero agradecer a todos aquellos que el dia de hoy nos fueron a apoyar en el dia Internacional del Surfing en coordinacion de Surfrider Foundation de Ensenada y USA en la limpieza de nuestra querida playa 3M's. Y a los que no tuvieron la oportunidad de estar ahi con nosotros, solo les comento que entre mas seamos mejor nos saldran las cosas, espero seguir contando con su apoyo.

Thank you to those who supported our International Surfing Day Beach Clean Up at 3M's. For those who didn't have the opportunity to join us, we left things much better, and I hope you will support us in our efforts to keep it so.

- From Tao Valenzuela, Baja California Surfing Association

Although the day started off cool and rainy, Mother Nature seemed to know what was in store. A few hours before the Vancouver Surfrider crew got to the beach the sun started to peek through and the sand started to dry. By the time a hardy group of paddlers made it to English Bay it was a warm summer day and the beach was abuzz.

Despite the lack of waves, a few souls paddled out to celebrate our oceans and beach environment. Other beachgoers gathered on the beach and helped pick-up trash; making sure our beaches remained pristine. The sun finally started to dip behind the horizon and the night really started to heat up.

The party moved to Library Square were Surfrider members danced the night away to the rocking melodies of Under The Sun. International Surfing Day may not have had surf in Vancouver, but Vancouver had surf in its heart. More importantly Vancouver has a group of people that truly care for our oceans and beaches.

- From Adrian Nelsen, Surfrider Vancouver Chapter Organizing Committee

International Surfing Day started off with speeches by the leader of Surfrider Japan, Nori Kyo and Junji, Surfing Life's chief editor. All of us including Billabong and Simple had booths at the beach and there were about 30 people including top-class Japanese pro surfers. We did the beach clean-ups and also water quality test demonstration.

After that, we had a surf session with professional photographers in the water taking water shots of surfers who attended ISD! (Though waves were knee high...bummer.) And that was it for the morning.

In the evening we held an event at a bar by the beach in Shonan. A very, very
famous musician named Def-Tech stopped by to sing and celebrate ISD. He was super
cool. Also there was slide show by a famous photographer. The event was
hosted by a well-known artist as well. They all talked about surfing and
environment, and Surfrider. It was really cool.

- From Asako Oya, Surfrider Japan

We had a good turnout for International Surfing Day. Over 50 people helped to clean the beach. We all paddled out later to form a giant circle. We took pictures from the
hilltop and from a plane that flew overhead. With all of the beautiful sunsets we get here, it was too bad that it was grey and raining! Many people from around the world showed up and thanked us for having the paddle out.....the largest ever seen here in Tamarindo.

- From Lou Maresca, Chair of the Surfrider Tamarindo, Costa Rica Organizing Committee

Re-engineering America's Beaches, 1 Tax Dollar at a Time

Pumping sediment onto the nation's beaches is an expensive fix for the erosion caused by coastal development — and often a bad fix at that. Click here for a podcast on taming the coast.

By Chris Dixon
Published in the July 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics

A $9 million beach nourishment project meant to stave off erosion in Surf City, N.J., pumped offshore sediment — and old ordnance — near people’s homes. (Photograph by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

On a chilly day in late January, Darren Buscemi took his 10-year-old daughter, Ali, and 8-year-old son, David, to the beach at Surf City, N.J., to try out a new metal detector. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had just begun to pump 33,000 dumptruck loads' worth of sediment onto the shore, and Buscemi, a real estate developer, suspected he might find something interesting. When telltale beeping led him to a rusty cylinder 412 in. long, Buscemi thought it was a pin from the wooden beam of an old sailing ship. "I was jumping for joy," he says, "like, 'Look what I found.'"

To remove barnacles and rust, David banged on the pin with a butter knife and scrubbed it with a Brillo pad; Buscemi planned to mount the object on a wall. But two months later, when a beachcomber made a similar find, Buscemi learned that his son had been handling unexploded ordnance. The cylinder was a World War II-era bomb fuse.

In the following weeks, more than 200 fuses, many still potentially explosive, were excavated in Surf City. Beaches remained closed while contractors ran powerful magnetometers across the sand. The closures scared off buyers for a pair of half-million-dollar beach condos Buscemi had renovated, but what angers him most is simply thinking about what might have happened: "That thing could have blown my son's arm off."

Depositing sediment onto a beach and bulldozing it into place — a practice called beach nourishment — has become one of the more controversial functions of the Corps' Civil Works Directorate. Besides building levees, dredging harbors and running hydropower plants, the agency is tasked with restoring the nation's coastlines.

Nourishment projects are supposed to replace lost sand. Unfortunately, sediment is not the same thing. Even the stuff that doesn't carry ordnance is often the wrong size and color — and it rarely stays put. But most of all, critics say, these projects are a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. Fifty to 100 percent of the funding is drawn from the directorate's roughly $5 billion budget; the rest of the money comes from state or local coffers.

At the northern end of Folly Island, S.C., Duke University coastal scientist Orrin Pilkey points at a pair of houses rising from the surf. A wall of boulders stretches between them. "This should be illegal," Pilkey says. "The seawall is causing erosion and taxpayers will have to fix this."

Despite forecasts of rising sea levels and stronger storms, federally insured coastal development is booming. About 453,000 single-family homes and 303,000 multifamily units are built in coastal areas each year; along the East Coast, 654 people are packed into every square mile. But while development doesn't move, beach sand is in a constant state of flux — shifting inland and out, and up and down the shore. "Erosion becomes a problem when we're foolish enough to put a house in its way," Pilkey says. Home­owners or communities may erect seawalls or groins to trap sand, but on the other side of the barrier sand continues to erode. "You'll get a wider beach in front of your house," he says, "but your neighbor will get a narrow beach." This pattern prompts calls for yet more intervention.

Where Pilkey stands, there is scant evidence of a $12.5 million, 2 million cubic-yard beach nourishment project completed two years ago. Waves have swept the sediment to the island's southern half. There, the beaches are wide, but an unsettling gray — a color common to sediment from the seafloor. This fine material erodes from two to 10 times faster than natural golden or white beach sand, which consists of tiny grains of quartz that are able to withstand the waves' motion.

When high in clay and silt, dredge material can smother near-shore creatures such as sand fleas, damaging the food chain. It can also cause plumes of turbidity, or suspended sediment, that settle onto coral reefs, smothering them, too. In Palm Beach, Fla., in 2006, lifeguards closed the beaches because 11 miles of plumes made swimmers nearly invisible to schooling sharks.

Poor sediment can come from inshore, as well. In Port St. Lucie, Fla., a contractor dumped inland fill onto denuded sand dunes in 2004. The material concretized when dry, trapping turtle hatchlings beneath the surface. The contractor hauled it back off the beach in 2006. "The stuff was so bad that when they tried to transfer it to a landfill no one would take it," says Ericka D'Avanzo, Florida regional manager for Surfrider Foundation, an ocean conservation group. "The water wouldn't percolate through it."

For the complete article, click here.

June 25, 2007 — By Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Ecuador says tourism is threatening the Galapagos Islands and has asked UNESCO to add the habitat that inspired the theory of evolution to its endangered list, the culture agency said Friday.

The U.N. agency's World Heritage Committee will consider Ecuador's request at a weeklong meeting that begins in New Zealand on Saturday, chairman Tumu te Heuheu said.

The Galapagos Islands, about 620 miles off Ecuador's Pacific coast, are home to unique animal species that inspired Charles Darwin's ideas on evolution. They are also Ecuador's top tourist attraction.

The country's president, Rafael Correa, says the islands are suffering an environmental crisis and has called for restrictions on tourists.

The islands have "a very fragile ecosystem and there is a need to manage those activities," Te HeuHeu said.

UNESCO protects 830 sites around the world that have what it describes as "outstanding universal values." The Galapagos gained World Heritage Site status in 1978.

The Tower of London is another World Heritage Site the organization will consider listing as "in danger" when it meets in the southern city of Christchurch. The 900-year-old fortress once towered over the city but now skyscrapers threaten the view from its turreted towers.

Some 31 World Heritage Sites are already on the danger list. Besides tourism, the threats include natural disasters, pillaging and pollution.

Delegates will also consider applications to add at least another 45 new sites -- including the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House in Australia -- to the World Heritage list.

The meeting will also examine how climate change is affecting World Heritage sites and ways to protect them from natural disasters.

Source: Associated Press

Mark your calendar ...

Mara Dias, Surfrider Water Quality Coordinator, is testifying at a US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing entitled "Protecting Water Quality at America's Beaches".

Wed June 27, 10am EST, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room #456 (EPW Hearing Room), Washington, DC

If you can't come to watch the hearing in person then you can watch it online at www.epw.senate.gov. Go the website at 10am on Wed and click on the red box that says "live hearing".




Hearing Details

Mara Dias

Related Content in Making Waves

PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Margot / AP
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayor Newsom tours the Hetch Hetchy reservoir--a major source of water for the Bay Area.


By Karen Breslau
Newsweek


June 23, 2007 - When San Francisco recently banned the use of plastic grocery bags as part of its campaign to fight global warming, the city drew international attention. Now, plastic water bottles are in the cross hairs. This week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning the use of city funds to purchase single-serving plastic water bottles. The order also prohibits the sale of such water containers on city-owned property. The move is part of a campaign by the city to boost the environmental awareness of its already-green citizens by getting them to use tap water instead of bottled water—and cut down on the acres of plastic generated in the process. Residents who sign an online pledge not to buy bottles can get a stainless-steel recyclable container from the city for free. Newsom spoke with NEWSWEEK’s Karen Breslau about San Francisco’s latest trend-setting environmental campaign—and his own efforts to break the bottled water habit. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: Salt Lake City has also banned bottled water for its employees. Why are cities taking the lead in persuading people to stop buying bottled water?

Gavin Newsom: The transportation and distribution, developing the plastic for the water bottles, the cost of the water, has a huge environmental and economic impact. As a consequence of the prolific growth in bottled waters, we in the city feel we have a responsibility to address its cost and its environmental impact. We are looking to eliminate completely all of bottled water consumption supported by city money but also to begin an educational campaign to convey the real cost of bottled water, transported half way around the world. We are looking at a marketing campaign showing bottled water compared to a barrel of oil, that shows it takes far more energy to transport the water than the oil.

You’re talking about these little single-serving bottles like the ones I’ve got all over my desk and feel guilty about?
I was having one in the car today, and I was feeling badly as well. We are not preaching what we don’t intend to practice.

NEWSWEEK: Representatives from the bottled-water industry say it’s unfair to single out their product. Thousands of food and beverage items come in plastic packaging, they point out—and consumers like having a healthy choice of water, instead of buying drinks containing sugar and calories.

Newsome: Yes, but the difference between bottled water and Diet Coke is that you can’t get Diet Coke from the tap. It’s not like any other bottled liquids. These people are making huge amounts of money selling God’s natural resources. Sorry, we’re not going to be part of it. Our water in San Francisco comes from the Hetch Hetchy [reservoir] and is some of the most pristine water on the planet. Our water is arguably cleaner than a vast majority of the bottled water sold as "pure."

NEWSWEEK: You’ll be raising this campaign with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. And in Salt Lake City, Mayor Rocky Anderson has also banned his employees from using plastic water bottles. Other cities are looking into bottling their own municipal supplies and competing with commercial brands. Why are mayors all over bottled water all of a sudden?

You can start from our roles as fiduciaries. In San Francisco, we spend over $500,000 a year on bottled water, and it’s no better than our own tap water. Why are we paying for something that’s free to us? We are going to save a ton of money. But it’s also clear as we go around the country, or even around the world—I heard the same thing at the Davos summit—that people are talking about the environmental footprint of bottled water. It’s become a narrative over the past year. We as mayors recognize, as we’ve seen through our purchases of alternative-fuel vehicles for city fleets, that we can make purchasing decisions without asking permission. One gallon of bottled water costs the same as 10,000 gallons of tap water. We are going to offer our best practices to other mayors and are asking all cities to take a look at this issue. We did this with our recent ban on the use of noncompostable plastic grocery bags in San Francisco and got a lot of attention.

NEWSWEEK: Are you expecting some pushback from the industry?
The bottled water industry is huge; we are arguing to reduce the consumption of bottled water and that is going to wake up this giant. I imagine every marketer, whether its Coca-Cola with their Dasani brand or whoever, will spend their money saying I’m full of it.

NEWSWEEK: I’ve seen you gulping on occasion from a plastic water bottle. What are you doing to reform your own habits?

Newsome: About a year ago, my director of the office of the environment, Jared Blumenfeld, saw a case of Fiji water outside my office and he walked in furiously and said, "Do you know what you are doing to the environment?" You have to set a better example. It’s not enough that I have an electric car. I have to slowly wean myself off. I’m not sitting here perfect. I’m trying at home what we provide all of our city employees.

NEWSWEEK: A reusable stainless-steel bottle?
You’ll see me with a fancy recycled bottle; I’ve got about a dozen different prototypes, bottles for bikers, for hikers, every kind you can imagine. But it does [take] getting used to. They are not as portable and clean as they appear to be. I recycle my bottles, but I am hardly going to be the poster child. Still, it’s a start.

RELATED CONTENT: Environment: The Bottled-Water Battle

© 2007 Newsweek, Inc. |

Magazine Publishers of America, MPA, is undertaking an industry-wide public education campaign to let readers know that magazines can and should be recycled. MPA has created a pair of please recycle logos for members to prominently display in every issue of their magazines. Frequently asked Questions and Answers are below.
Questions and Answers

What is the Magazine Publishers of America Please Recycle Campaign?


The Please Recycle campaign is an industry-wide public education campaign the Magazine Publishers of America is undertaking with its member publications to get readers to recycle their magazines when they are done enjoying them. The centerpiece of the campaign is a pair of please recycle logos that MPA will be working with its members to prominently display in every issue of their magazines. The key objectives of the campaign are to overcome the lack of public awareness that magazines can be recycled in the vast majority of communities in the U.S. and, thereby, increase the percentage of used magazines that are recycled.

Why is MPA sponsoring a campaign to recycle magazines?

MPA has determined that on a nation-wide basis, there is ample capacity to accept magazines within household waste recycling programs. Most domestic curbside and drop-off recycling programs now accept magazines as well as a wide variety of other materials (e.g., catalogs, direct mail, phone books), yet awareness of this capacity and participation in these programs has lagged in many communities. Therefore, MPA believes that it is appropriate to launch a campaign to raise awareness and stimulate more widespread and consistent participation in magazine recycling activity wherever it is feasible. Today only about 20 percent of magazines are recycled from the home, even though at least two-thirds of the population has access to magazine recycling in their community. Increasing magazine recycling will reduce the amount of new fiber that must be obtained from wood, meaning that fewer trees can be harvested to produce a given quantity of paper or board product.

How can magazine publishers participate in the Please Recycle campaign?

In the next few months, MPA will be working with our sister organization, the American Society of Magazine Editors, to help teach MPA and ASME members how they can include this logo in each issue of their magazines. For maximum impact, it will be important that the logo be displayed in a consistent and easy-to-find location inside the magazine – for instance on the masthead or at the bottom of the table of contents.

MPA will also be designing public service ads that will be available to members to place in their magazines to bring additional attention to the logo and to reinforce the message that magazines are recyclable.

Why are there two logos?

Sometimes magazines include CDs, samples, or other non-paper inserts that can make it harder to recycle the magazine. In most cases, the magazine can still be recycled – but the recycling processor may have to remove the non-paper components first. So it would be better if these non-paper inserts are removed before the magazine is put in the recycling bin. Therefore, MPA created two logos.

The first logo includes the three chasing arrows symbol for recycling and the words Please Recycle This Magazine. The second logo is identical to the first logo except that it adds a second message – Please Remove Samples or Inserts Before Recycling.

MPA recommends that the logo containing the second message about removing samples or inserts should be placed in all issues that contain such a non-paper insert (e.g., CD disks, product samples, plastics). If publishers do not wish to alternate logos as needed, they may choose to always use the logo with the second message about removing samples or inserts, unless their magazines never contain non-paper inserts or samples, in which case they may choose to always use the logo without the second message.

Publishers should work with the designers of samples and inserts to ensure that the samples and inserts can be readily detached from their host magazines.

Are there other facets of magazine publishing that can make it harder to recycle magazines?


Several specific types of adhesives can be problematic because they tend to form very small particles (called “stickies”) that adhere to production equipment and are difficult to remove through the screening and other physical processing methods employed in pulp mills. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA), acrylic polymers, polystyrene polymers (such as styrene butadiene rubber), and hot melt adhesives (thermoplastics) are of particular concern. Water-soluble substitutes that make use of starch, dextrins, gums, and cellulose (polycel) can often accomplish the same functions and offer suitable performance characteristics, while not interfering with downstream paper fiber recovery operations.

Certain ink formulations and colors can pose problems because they are difficult to break up and remove in the repulping process. In particular, certain bright red, orange, and “day-glow” types of inks reportedly are difficult to remove from repulped recovered paper.

What will happen to the old magazines that are recycled?

Old magazines and similar materials that are currently recycled are used to make newsprint, tissue, paper/box board, and even writing and printing paper. Old magazines (and catalogs) are useful to producers of recycled-content newsprint, as they help to deink (remove ink) from recovered newspaper. They also contain fiber and clay coatings that can impart improved brightness and a smoother texture to certain components of multi-ply box and liner board.

Can recycled magazines be used to produce new, recycled content magazine paper?

Recycled magazines are not generally suitable for making new magazine paper. Instead, old magazines are commonly used in production of newsprint and tissue products, and also may be used, along with other types of fiber, to manufacture boxboard, and even writing and printing paper.

Many paper and board producers have a strong interest in using recovered paper, and would use more recovered paper were it available. This is particularly true of producers of recycled content products that do not have rigorous product quality standards for uniformity and brightness such as newsprint, tissue, and paper and box board.

Does MPA have other environmental initiatives?


Yes, MPA is working with its members on several other educational initiatives, including a revised, in-depth, environmental handbook covering all the environmental issues relevant to magazine publishing, and creating an environmental resources section on the MPA website. In addition, MPA is pursuing several initiatives to improve magazines’ environmental performance. These include improving retail sales efficiency for magazines sold at newsstands and other retail outlets and encouraging an increase in the availability and use of magazine papers certified for sustainable forestry harvesting practices.

The following are top ten reasons for eating locally.
By Jennifer Maiser

1) Eating local means more for the local economy. According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction. (reference)



2) Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer's market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value which declines with time.



3) Local food just plain tastes better. Ever tried a tomato that was picked within 24 hours? 'Nuff said.



4) Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit does not have to be "rugged" or to stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them, figs that would have been smashed to bits if they were sold using traditional methods, and melons that were allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine.



5) Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate creates environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic. (reference)



6) Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.



7) Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story. Whether it's the farmer who brings local apples to market or the baker who makes local bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.



8) Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination. (reference)



9) Local food translates to more variety. When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high-yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket. Supermarkets are interested in selling "Name brand" fruit: Romaine Lettuce, Red Delicious Apples, Russet Potatoes. Local producers often play with their crops from year to year, trying out Little Gem Lettuce, Senshu Apples, and Chieftain Potatoes.



10) Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.



Download a printable version (pdf) of this guide. Click here.



Save the date for the September 2007 Eat Local Challenge.

Surfers Against Sewage

UK Surf Threatened By Climate Change
On International Surfing Day, SAS launched a new report warning surfers that their sport is under threat from a changing climate. The report written by SAS examines the possible impacts a changing climate could have on one of the UK's fastest growing sports.



To illustrate our finding SAS campaigners moved to one of the highest points in Cornwall - Carn Brea - to unveil a 22nd century version of surfing, virtual style, as waves are off limits due to rising sea levels and polluted waters.

To view a 30 second film of launch action click here.

Over 600,000 people are now surfing in the UK. Surfers in the UK rely on a combination of clean, safe water, consistent swells and favourable tidal conditions to get the most out of British waves.



SAS have spent the last year researching the potential impacts of a changing climate and are now concerned that surfers in the UK could suffer from:

-A reduction in water quality as sewer systems are overwhelmed during storm events, increasing the health risks to surfers and other recreational water users.
-Changes in surf conditions as sea level rise leads to less surf at some lowtide reefs, increased beach erosion at some sites.
-Possible changes in the amount of surf reaching some areas or at certain times of the year.
-Much reduced water temperature if the Gulf Stream were to shut down.

View the report here (pdf)

More after the jump..

Surfers aged 6 to 16 from the Wildcoast Boardriders Club planted native trees on the Tasman Lookout Track at Piha on Sunday the 17th June, alongside rangers from the Auckland Regional Council and volunteers of the Piha Coastcare group. The area was stripped of vegetation by a fire several years ago.

For the surfers, who held their club comp on the same day, it was their contribution to International Surfing Day, an annual global celebration of surfing, which this year carried the theme of environmental protection. Led by Rosa Thompson (14), who co-ordinated the effort as part of her Schools Voluntary Service, the youngsters braved the cold south-easterly wind in between their competition heats to carry Pohutukawa trees up the hill. Many Christmases from now they could sit out on the Piha Bar, look up at the hill crimson with Pohutukawa flowers and be able to say: “We planted that!”

The surfing competition was followed by a beach clean up race, which saw kids swarming over the beach and foreshore flying their International Surfing Day rubbish bags which had been sent over for the occasion by The Surfrider Foundation.

Thank you to all those who came along and participated!!


--Submitted by the Wildcoast Boardriders Club in support of New Zealand's Surfbreak Protection Society and International Surfing Day

Surfrider Argentina celebrated International Surfing Day on June 16 at La Paloma, Mar del Plata with volunteers, members and the general public participating in a variety of activities and programs. Considering it was the middle of winter, the weather was great, with a south, southeast swell of about a meter that was perfect for a “best wave” surf contest that was won by Brian Masmud (12), a beach cleanup, yoga class, environmental discussions, tree plantings and lunch.

Over 150 people of all ages, including the top Argentine surfers Maxi Siri and Lele Usuna, participated in the events, setting an example to everyone who enjoys the beach, that by making small changes our lifestyle and actions, one can make a difference in the environment and in our community.

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Con motivo de la celebración del Día Internacional del Surf, Surfrider Argentina convocó el sábado 16 pasado en La Paloma (Ruta 11 camino Miramar ex peaje) Mar del Plata, a voluntarios, asociados y a numeroso público a las actividades programadas para ese día de fiesta

En un día a ratos soleados, agradable y con suaves vientos del cuadrante Oeste, ondulaciones del sud sudeste de casi un metro sobre un mar calmo, se llevo a cabo una competencia premiando a la mejor ola, una jornada de limpieza y concientización, clase de yoga, charlas, forestación y un almuerzo en el cual reinó un ambiente de camaradería, de esperanza y esfuerzo entre los participantes.


Durante toda la convocatoria, desde el mediodia del sábado hasta 18:00hs, ante el magnifico espectaculo natural, más de 150 personas de todas las edades, la presencia de dos de los mejores surfistas de Argentina Maxi Siri y Lele Usuna, mostraron su conciencia y compromiso trabajando desinteresadamente en tareas de limpieza, de logística y con su participación, se dio un positivo ejemplo para toda persona que concurra a nuestras playas y riberas, ya que con pequeños cambios en nuestros procederes se puede hacer la diferencia en la calidad ambiental de nuestra comunidad.

Clase de Yoga
Florencia Gomez Gerbi profesora de yoga del Club de Surf y Arte fue la responsable de conducir una clase con la que se dieron inicio las actividades. Esta vivificante experiencia,l a cual fue realizada por numerosos participantes, acercó aun mas al hombre con su medio ambiente y dio el marco perfecto para convertir los fines de la organización en una experiencia casi espiritual.

Jornada de Limpieza
Gracias a la expeditiva respuesta de la Delegación Municipal de Puerto, del EMVISUR y de Obras Públicas de la Municipalidad del Partido de Gral. Pueyrredón, se llevó a cabo días previos al evento una ardua tarea de limpieza y desmalezado del predio La Paloma/La Parena, escenario histórico del surf argentino de olas clase mundial, reconocido internacionalmente.

Con gran estusiasmo los voluntarios recogieron gran cantidad de residuos, que son abandonados irresponsablemente por ciertos sectores del público que disfrutan de los beneficios sin ningún tipo de responsabilidad por sus acciones, y que por las características de la playa y de la zona forestal son de muy difícil remoción si no es por medios manuales, que superan la capacidad de los entes de gobierno y que por lo tanto conlleva mas de una intervención por parte de las partes interesadas en su conservación.

Torneo a la mejor ola
Olas entre medio a un metro de buena formación fueron el marco del torneo organizado por el Mar del Plata Surf Club. El primer puesto fue para Brian Masmud (12) de la categoría Junior, una de las promesas del surf argentino. Se entregaron premios de Quiksilver hasta el sexto puesto, segundo puesto compartido para Segundo Mendez Acosta y Ignacio Auge y cuarto puesto Roberto Gispert.

Los jueces fueron Freddy Tórtora (presidente Federación Argentina de Surf), Horacio Ipucha ( Campeón Argentino 1981), Steve Willson (shaper Tablas Conosur).

Almuerzo
Se montó una cantina a cargo de Federico Garcia Posadas donde se escuchó música, se disfrutó de un almuerzo que contó con Coca Cola y Cerveza Imperial, sponsors del Día Internacional junto a Quiksilver y Timex.

Charlas:
El presidente de la Surfrider Argentina Pedro Balanesi, disertó sobre la importancia en la preservación de los recursos que tiene Mar del Plata y la Costa Bonaerense: sus playas y la conservación del perfil del acantilado de La Paloma /La Parena y sus playas de bolsillo asociadas.

Por Fundación Patagonia Natural habló José Muzmesi que se refirió al segundo censo de Contaminación Costera que el Capítulo Mar del Plata de Surfrider organizará junto a otras instituciones como la Fundación Vida Silvestre y la Fundación Reserva Natural del Puerto el primer domingo de septiembre en el partido de Gral. Pueyrredón.

Rodolfo Usuna Director de la xpoX dio precisiones sobre la próxima exposición de Deportes Extremos entre los días 24 a 26 de agosto en Costa Salguero. Hizo su invitación a Surfrider y a la fiesta del Surf que organizarán en Buenos Aires para esa fecha.

Plant for the Planet
Se plantaron una vez mas Siempre Verde en el marco del programa de las Naciones Unidas por el calentamiento global. Viveros Antoniucci de Mar del Plata proveyó de los plantines como lo viene haciendo desde la primera edición.


Charla Sobre Seguridad en el Agua
Participaron de la jornada Eduardo Cruz (vicepresidente)y Raúl Merlo (secretario) de la Agupación Guardavidas de Playa Grande, quienes realizaron una charla sobre los recaudos de seguridad a tener en cuenta en la práctica de deportes acuáticos, en este caso el surf y bodyborad, y sugirieron normas de acción y procedimientos ante eventuales inconvenientes y/o accidentes producidos durante su práctica ya sean propios o que involucren a terceros.

Organizaron ésta acción junto a Surfrider Foundation Argentina: revista Surfista, Surfing Mag y por KlaSurf 91.7

Apoyaron: EMTUR, Asociación Argentina de Surf, Federación Argentina de Surf, Asociación Marplatense de Surf, Asociación Argentina de Bodyboard. Asociación Argentina Canoas Outrigger, Mar del Plata Surf Club, Kikiwai Surf Club, Club de Surf y Arte, Asociación Marplatense de Kayak, Sunrider Surf Club,

El Día Internacional del Surf contó con el auspicio de:
Imperial, Quiksilver, Coca Cola, Timex y Tablas Conosur, Flor de Lis Surf Camp, empresas que colaboran para preservar los escenarios naturales para la práctica de aquellos deportes que utilizan las olas como recurso recreativo.

El 17 de junio el Capítulo Necochea Quequén de Surfrider Argentina organizó una limpieza de playa y una charla en Jamming Hostel sobre Dinámica de Playas a cargo del Lic en Ciencias Ambientales Eloy Romero.

Cordialmente
Hernan Azlor
Prensa SFA

Rolling Stone magazine has devoted a sizable portion of their latest issue (on newsstands until June 28) to talking about the dangers we face relating to global warming. They've enlisted help from some heavy hitters, including media juggernaut and "environmentalist-in-chief" Al Gore, who's been making the rounds lately. In an interview with the mag, Al talks about the rising tide of support for the climate crisis, whether or not we've reached a tipping point, and how events like Live Earth can help his cause. When asked if he believes we can be saved by Priuses and new light bulbs, Gore said, "I agree that we're not going to solve this problem by buying Priuses and changing our light bulbs. But driving hybrids and choosing better technology is still important in two respects. First, it makes a small contribution to reducing CO2. And second, when people make changes in their own lives, they are much more likely to become part of a critical mass of public opinion and to support the bigger policy changes that are going to be needed to really solve the problem."

This is an important point: individually, or as individuals, solving the problem isn't as easy as getting a new car or buying some new light bulbs, but it's an important part of the evolution of the idea that everything we do and everything we buy and consume has a carbon cost. While buying a hybrid won't stop global warming, support of cleaner technology and greener practices is not only a way to reduce an individual's carbon footprint, but a way to begin to engage in social, moral and political activism that represents the "sea change" that Gore references several times in the interview. And he's still optimistic; About his current attitude toward the problem (including his vision for the short term) Al says he still thinks we can turn the ship around: "I will 'fess up to the element of 'hope being father to the thought' here. But I don't think it's an unrealistic hope at all. I believe that it's much more likely than not that we will see within the next few years a very dramatic political change in most of the world, including in the United States, that will sharply reduce CO2." Hmm... read (or listen to) the rest of Al's thoughts, including his latest answer for the million dollar question about returning to politics HERE.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 June, 2007 : - - Newport Beach, Ca -- Tavik joined forces with OC Weekly’s ‘Stand Up For Something’ Summer Release Benefit to raise money and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation and the Saving Trestles Campaign with an all-day fashion show and fiesta. The invite-only event took place on June 10th on the top-level patio of Triangle Square in Newport Beach.

The focus of the event was on protecting the precious beaches of Orange County and increasing awareness of our human impact on the environment. The venue was packed, the sun was shining and the music was rocking. It was a beautiful booze-filled Sunday afternoon. A full runway was set up to debut Tavik’s current Summer Collection, in stores now, and give a sneak peak of the Fall Collection that will be hitting stores in the next thirty days.

Alongside the fashion show a raffle for various action sports apparel products garnered proceeds to benefit the Surfrider and Saving Trestles campaigns. People partied into the evening as scantly clad female models were posed as entertainment for the crowd in a large dunk tank meant to splash in the summer.

It was definitely a kick off to the warmer months with shorts, tanks, tattoos, spikes and sunglasses in the mix. Tavik’s gear was debuted alongside Billabong, Rusty, The Closet, Sullen and Beauty Heaven. With Widmer Hefeweizen and 3 Olives Vodka as sponsors, the party was quite the bash.

While the Palm Beach Chapter recently assisted in a victory to close the Delray Outfall from sewage, now the Department of Environmental Protection (otherwise known as Degrading the Environment by Permitting) wants to open a new outfall just north in Lake Worth for new Reverse Osmosis plant's briny byproduct. The proposed outfall would allow nitrogen and phosphorus on some of the most beautiful coral reefs north of the Florida Keys including federally-listed corals.


At both a press conference and public hearing yesterday, chapter members informed the DEP and the City of Lake Worth's consultants that permitting such a project would be in complete contradiction with the DEP Secretary's position to close all the ocean outfalls within 10 years. In addition, the draft permit lack any discuss on cumulative impacts or the potential economic impact it could have on the diving and fishing industry that bring in over $196 million a year to the County alone.

The chapter has met with local politicians and the County Env. Dept to discuss potential alternatives to an outfall or an injection well.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/06/19/s1b_lwcoral_0619.html

http://www.news12now.com/news/city_4703969___article.html/dumping_permit.html

To celebrate World Oceans Day, Surfrider Europe recruited their gutsiest surfers to jump in the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The public awareness stunt was part of a challenge that was issued to the new Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development to be more aware of the fragile state of France's coastal waters.

While the video is in French, you can clearly see the surfer activists waiting for the coast to clear and the media to gather. Donning hazmat suits, masks and goggles the activists jumped in the Seine and paddled out. Upon exiting the Seine, each activist was decontaminated, had a medical check up, and was cleared to re-enter the public environment.

We are more than happy to report that our activists didn't suffer from any major ailments after their courageous feat!

Most of my formative years were spent in the midwest. But I didn't fall in love (with the ocean/waves/beaches) there. That happened during our summer trips east... to Westerly, Rhode Island and on Mass's Cape and the Vineyard.

In fact most of my childhood days were spent atop a skateboard... not a surfboard. This is because I didn't know about this guide.

(I know, the guide wasn't around then...)

Massive kudos to the crew in the midwest that have found that simple, sea of joy right in front of them. Even more kudos for connecting midwest groms to the stoke we all have for... water.

When in doubt, paddle out.

More.

Jim Moriarty
CEO, Surfrider Foundation

Controversy rages on both coasts regarding a possible human activity link to seemingly increased frequency and duration of "red tide" events.

On the west coast of Florida, researcher Larry Brand is making waves by asserting a clear connection between human activities and more algal bloom events.

In southern California, red tides will be a topic of discussion at the next meeting of the Orange County Coastal Coalition on Thursday, June 28 from 9am to 11am at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. David Caron of USC will summarize the latest research on harmful algal blooms.

Our friends at Ocean Champions have an action alert regarding the Save Our Shores Act, to increase funding for scientific research to combat red tide and its effects.

What do you think? Are the blooms natural or are we making them worse?

By Dayton Morinaga

Carissa Moore, Hawai'i's newly crowned King of the Groms, just completed her freshman year at Punahou School. By placing first in yesterday's contest against more than 60 boys — some of them two years older — she became the first girl to qualify for the annual Quiksilver King of the Groms World Final, which will be held this summer at Capbreton, France.

Hawai'i's new King of the Groms is ... a queen.

Thanks to a gender-busting victory by Carissa Moore, Quiksilver will have to seriously think about changing the name of its annual contest for youth surfers.

Moore defeated more than 60 of Hawai'i's top boys yesterday to win the Quiksilver King of the Groms contest. The one-day event — "grom" is a surfing slang term for a youth competitor — was held at Kewalo Basin, where wave-faces ranged from 4 to 8 feet.

"I think when I surf with the boys I'm a little more relaxed," Moore said. "There's no pressure, and I was just thankful for the opportunity to go out and surf in this contest."

Moore, 14, just completed her freshman year at Punahou School.

As champion of the Hawai'i region, Moore won an expenses-paid trip to represent Hawai'i at the Quiksilver King of the Groms World Final at Capbreton, France, from July 31 to Aug. 5. She is the first girl to advance to the world final in the event's three-year history.

"I've never been to France, so I'd like to go just to see what it's like. It would be a long shot to win, so I would just go there for fun," she said.

The Hawai'i region contest was open to surfers age 16 and younger; Moore was one of three girls in the field of 64.

"Some of these guys are doing men's (professional) events, so for her to keep getting through heats and then come out on top was delightful," said her father, Chris Moore. "But this is her home break and that's one of the reasons why we entered this one.

"Here at Kewalos, she can match what the boys do because she surfs here so often."

Moore has proved it before. In a grom contest last year at Kewalo Basin, she beat the boys in a 14-and-under division.

"I think this one was bigger," her father said. "This one was for 16s, and she's still 14."

Moore won yesterday's contest with a wave in the closing seconds of the final. The contest followed a unique format in that the surfers were only scored on one wave per heat.

With time winding down, Moore paddled into a small wave and completed a difficult slash off the top before carving her way to shore. The judges rewarded her with a score of 6.33 (out of 10).

"It wasn't the greatest of waves, but I tried to surf it the best I could," Carissa said.

"I was getting nervous because it was getting down to the end and I didn't have a score. I think I just got lucky with that last one."

Albee Layer of Maui placed second with a 6.0. Layer, who is 16 and just completed his sophomore year at King Kekaulike High, represented Hawai'i at the King of the Groms World Final in 2005.

"I'm upset at myself," he said. "I caught a horrible wave in the final."

Layer said there is no shame or embarrassment in losing to Moore.

"She rips, I know that," he said. "I did this contest last year and she beat me last year, too."

Twelve-year-old Luke Hitchcock of Kaua'i, who was one of the youngest surfers in the field, placed third. Ford Archbold of O'ahu's North Shore was fourth.

In March, Moore placed second in a top-tier women's professional contest in Australia. She is already the most decorated surfer in the history of the National Scholastic Surfing Association with nine career championships.

Carissa will remain at Punahou until her graduation in 2010, her father said.

"We still have a few years to decide what's ahead," Chris Moore said. "There's no rush to push her into anything she's not ready for."

Carissa may not accept the trip to France because of a scheduling conflict. The winner in France will receive a spot in a top-tier professional men's contest, and could possibly surf against world champion Kelly Slater and top Hawai'i pros Andy and Bruce Irons.

"We're delighted with what she's doing, but to try and set her up against the best men in the world because of what she did today wouldn't be fair to her," her father said.

The West LA/Malibu Chapter is thrilled to announce the installation of an interpretive tidepool sign at Leo Carrillo State Beach. The purpose of the signs is to educate visitors on how to be responsible "tidepoolers." The sign encourages people to enjoy the tidepools, but to step carefully, never turn over rocks, do not pick up the animals, and never take animals from the tidepools. The tidepooler rules are in both english and spanish.

In 2007 the Chapter's Tidepool Protection Program will be reaching out to various surf camps in Malibu, such as the Malibu Makos, to teach young surfers the importance of the tidepools and what they tell us about the state of the ocean and beach.

On Saturday, June 9, Surfrider Ensenada Chapter Organizing Committee hosted Surfrider San Diego at their home break of San Miguel, in Baja California for a BBQ, surf and exchange of ideas and contact info. About 30 people turned out for the event that lasted from 10am-6pm and included a midday surf session when sleepy San Miguel came alive for about an hour as the tide started to roll in.

Already the leaders of the Ensenada Chapter Organizing Committee are planning on attending Surfrider San Diego Executive Committee and Chapter Meetings later this summer to learn more about their operational practices, programs, issues and events. Everyone is looking foward to another "Surfrider meeting of the minds" at San Miguel later this summer - we'll keep you posted!

Last week at Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet, the Volusia/Flagler organizing chapter sponsored a family-friendly cleanup event and surf camp to benefit local foster children. Volusia-Flagler Surfrider Chapter organized a fun-filled day at the beach in conjunction with Devereux to benefit families and children.

As part of this event the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach also organized a lesson plan and beach crafts.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST02061007.htm

BEIJING, China, June 5, 2007 (ENS) - The global conservation organization WWF and The Coca-Cola Company today announced collaboration on a new worldwide initiative by the beverage giant to conserve water resources and replace the water used to produce its drinks.

The Coca-Cola Company has been the target of a vigorous campaign in India, where communities near some of its bottling plants complain that the beverage company depletes and pollutes their water supplies.

Today at the WWF annual conferece in Beijing, the company pledged to lead its global beverage operations, including those of its franchise bottlers, to replace the water used in the company's beverages and their production.

As part of the initiative, the company has committed US$20 million to WWF. With the funding, the nongovernmental organization will work to conserve seven freshwater river basins, support more efficient water management in Coca-Cola's operations and global supply chain, and reduce the company's carbon footprint.

In 2006, company and its franchised bottlers used some 290 billion liters of water for beverages and their production. Coca-Cola produces more than 100 brands of beverages, including Sprite, Barq, Dasani and Fanta.

"Our goal is to replace every drop of water we use in our beverages and their production," said Neville Isdell, Coca-Cola's chairman and CEO. "For us that means reducing the amount of water used to produce our beverages, recycling water used for manufacturing processes so it can be returned safely to the environment, and replenishing water in communities and nature through locally relevant projects."

To reduce the amount of water used, the company pledged "to set specific water efficiency targets for global operations by 2008 to be the most efficient user of water within peer companies."

To recycle, the company pledged "to align its entire global system in returning all water that it uses for manufacturing processes to the environment at a level that supports aquatic life and agriculture by the end of 2010."

To replenish, the company said it will "expand support of healthy watersheds and sustainable communities to balance the water used in its finished beverages."

"The Coca-Cola Company is answering the call to help solve the global freshwater crisis through this bold partnership," said James Leape, director general of WWF International.

"The company is stepping into new and uncharted territory," said Leape, "and we look forward to working together to meet the bold commitments they have made to water stewardship."

The company will have challenging work to control its franchise bottlers, some of which are alleged to be violating environmental laws in India.

A team of investigators led by the India Resource Center released a report Monday on violations by a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Sinhachawar, Uttar Pradesh.

The investigators documented wastewater discharges into surrounding agricultural fields and a canal that feeds into the river Ganges, as well as illegal dumping of sludge on the plant's property.

"The Coca-Cola Company is announcing to the world that it is an environmentally responsible company, and it has partnered with UN agencies and NGO’s to paint a pretty green picture of itself," said Amit Srivastava of the India Resource Center.

But all that is corporate social responsibility gone wrong because the reality on the ground is different. It is littered with toxic waste and a complete disregard and destruction of the way of life as many people in rural India know it," Srivastava said.

In an address to the Nature Conservancy in Atlanta, Georgia in May, Isdell addressed the problems Coca-Cola is having in India over water.

"In India, we have been challenged to demonstrate our commitment to water stewardship," he said. "While we are not even close to being one of the largest users of water, we are certainly one of the most visible, and have been subject to criticism that we are depleting groundwater aquifers in the State of Kerala.

"Let me be very clear," said Isdell, "Coca-Cola has a shared interest with the communities where we operate in healthy watersheds - because they sustain life and our business. And the last thing we would ever do is spend millions of dollars to build a plant that would run itself dry."

He said the company is working with many partners in India to improve watershed management, and with the Central Ground Water Authority, local governments and communities to expand the use of rainwater harvesting technology.
"Society is just beginning to understand the world's water challenges," Isdell said today. "No single company or organization has all of the answers or holds ultimate responsibility, but we all can do our part to conserve and protect water resources."

"Our company will need time and cooperation from our bottlers, our suppliers and our conservation partners to accomplish the goal of replacing the water we use. We will be open about our progress and engage others to better understand what it takes," Isdell promised.

For its part of the initiative, WWF will focus on conserving seven of the world's largest watersheds - China’s Yangtze River, the Mekong River in Southeast Asia; the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo of United States and Mexico; the rivers and streams of the Southeastern United States, the water basins of the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef, the East Africa basin of Lake Malawi, and Europe’s Danube River.

WWF says these waters were chosen "because of their biological distinctiveness, opportunity for meaningful conservation gains, and potential to advance issues of resource protection."

The Coca-Cola agreement is not the only featured event at the WWF annual conference. More than 200 delegates marked World Environment Day by attending a special forum in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, sponsored by WWF and China's State Forest Administration.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will give the opening address. He is expected to challenge nations and citizens to change the way they think about and use energy to halt climate change and create a more fair and equitable society for all.

The theme of the conference is "Living Within One Planet," and never has the need to do so been greater, said WWF International President Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

"If poor countries are to develop, rich countries maintain their prosperity, and emerging economies reach their full potential," he said, "then we must all embrace sustainable development. We simply cannot go on living beyond our natural means."

It lacks the glamour of dolphins and whales, but at the bottom of the food chain, the lowly Atlantic menhaden might be the most important fish in the sea. Bruce Franklin suggests we get it an agent or maybe a celebrity spokesperson before it dies out.


MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is meeting in Geneva through June 15. Representatives from over 100 nations are discussing plans to limit commerce on endangered plants and animals. Increased protection for whales, sawfish and Brazilian spiny lobsters are on the agenda. Ever wonder how some animals get a lot of attention and others don't? Commentator Bruce Franklin says it all comes down to who represents you.

BRUCE FRANKLIN: The menhaden is a runt of a fish — small, smelly, boney and oily. You wouldn't eat it, and you wouldn't hang it on the wall.

Now, when it comes to saving threatened species, looks shouldn't matter. But they do.

We respond to the charismatic mega-fauna: the big, beautiful dolphins, whales, elephants, swordfish, polar bears. They inspire celebrities, money, boycotts and laws to save them.

So, will the new Darwinism mean that this runty fish has to compete on American Idol?

But this small, smelly, boney, oily fish just happens to be the most important fish in the sea.

Almost all our prized fish, as well as mammals and sea birds, feed on menhaden. They filter marine waters, averting algal blooms. Think of them as the ocean's liver.

Although the ecosystem needs them, more menhaden have been hauled out of American waters than all other fish combined.

Each year a single company, Omega Protein, boils and grinds millions of tons of Atlantic and Gulf menhaden, converting them into oils and meal that reappear as lipstick, chicken feed, linoleum, cat food.

Not surprisingly, the menhaden have begun to vanish.

Thirteen Atlantic states have now outlawed this rogue industry, but Virginia and North Carolina still allow it and that's a tragedy.

In the Chesapeake Bay alone, Omega Protein still sweeps up hundreds of millions of menhaden every year. In 2006, their catch was at a record low, and that's an ominous sign.

So, why do we allow it to continue?

Maybe, the problem is that the fish needs an agent more than it needs an advocate, someone to give it a makeover as they say in the business.

THOMAS: Bruce Franklin is author of "The Most Important Fish in the Sea." And in Los Angeles, I'm Mark Austin Thomas. Thanks for joining us. Have a great day.

by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 05.18.07
Science & Technology (science)


While the potential direct effects of climate change are often frightening enough, the possibility of feedback loops, in which these changes end up causing, and even reinforcing, others, are more worrisome over the long term. According to National Geographic News, one such positive feedback loop may be hampering the ability of oceans around Antarctica to absorb carbon dioxide. Scientists believed that these waters would serve as a massive sink for CO2 emissions, but, according to a new study that will be published in Science today, these oceans are no longer absorbing the greenhouse gas at the levels they once did.

Lead researcher Corinne Le Quéré, of the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Jena, Germany, and her team "examined atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements taken from points around the world during the past 24 years," and expected to find that the Southern oceans would absorb CO2 at a rate consistent with the growth in emissions. They discovered, however, that climate change and the Antarctic ozone hole were actually hampering these waters natural ability to mop up rising carbon levels:

Since the 1980s, the team estimated that the oceans carbon dioxide sink mechanism has weakened, and it is currently absorbing around one-third less than expected.
That means about 5 percent of human-caused greenhouse emissions are being left with nowhere to go.

Previous calculations have suggested that the oceans around Antarctica had capacity to absorb even more carbon dioxide, so the scientists were surprised to find the current low rate of uptake.

The problem appears to be an increase in winds over these oceans, and Le Quéré and her colleagues believe this is a result of "an increase in greenhouse gases and less ozone, which have both changed how heat is distributed in the atmosphere..." An independent study by Nicolas Gruber and Nicole Lovenduski of UCLA backs up these findings, and Gruber believes a feedback loop could be created, further hampering the ocean's ability to absorb CO2:
...if the oceans absorb less carbon dioxide, then there is more of the gas in the atmosphere.
"This could make the wind strength increase even more, meaning the oceans absorb even less carbon dioxide, and so on," [Gruber] said.

The ozone hole over Antarctica appears to be closing; that could provide some relief from higher wind speeds. Both Gruber and Le Quéré , however, note that reducing and stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions provides the only real long-term solution for this problem. ::National Geographic News and Inter Press Service News Agency
Photo credit: Maria Stenzel/NGS

Don't let these graphs intimidate you - they tell a simple story. (Click on graphic to see bigger version)

On beaches without shoreline armoring there are more birds and more kinds of birds.

On beaches with shoreline armoring there are less birds and less kinds of birds.

Why?

Birds are a visible indicator of a beach's ecological health. A healthy beach supports a rich set of beach critters that birds like to eat.

This graph is from a recently published paper titled "Sandy Beaches at the Brink". The authors - leading beach ecologists from around the world - are warning that beach ecology is suffering from escalating threats on a global scale.

The beach is alive! Let's keep it that way.