Thursday, May 21, 2009

Bay Savers: The Next Generation

by Amy Alton, Communications Associate

You're never too young to take an active role in caring for the Bay. Ten year old Alyssa Lee proved this point last weekend when she mobilized a group of her friends to clean up a section of the Alameda/Oakland shoreline. Here is the story…

Two weeks ago, when taking a walk with her family, she discovered an extremely littered section of the shoreline. Rather than turn a blind eye to the problem, she took action. She invited several friends to give up their weekends to join her in a trash cleanup.



Being the conscientious type, Alyssa's dad contacted Save The Bay to ask how to responsibly dispose of the heaps of trash they would no doubt collect. He also mentioned that most of the trash was plastic and that as a result, he had been telling his daughters and their friends about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the impact non-recycled plastics have on the environment.

As you can imagine we were thrilled to learn of these budding Bay Savers! We pointed them toward the appropriate recycling and waste centers and outfitted them with Save The Bay stickers and patches to thank them for their invaluable contribution to the health of the Bay.

According to dad, "the cleanup was a big hit with the kids! It gave them a great sense of pride to do something for the environment."



At the end of the day, they had filled at least four big garbage bags – most of which were non bio-degradable plastics. Both the impetus and result of Alyssa's cleanup serve as a good reminder of the massive amounts of trash flowing to the Bay from our parking lots, streets and neighborhoods. It also underscores the necessity to significantly reduce this trash and plastic pollution, which harms wildlife, spoils water quality and lowers property values and our quality of life.

Do your part and help Save The Bay protect our valuable resource from trash and litter:

  • Learn more about preventing trash pollution.

  • Sign our petition to "Kick the Bag Habit!" and make the switch to reusable bags.

  • Tell your leaders to eliminate plastic bags in California.

  • Tuesday, May 19, 2009

    No business like 'sow' business

    by Jocelyn Gretz, Community Programs Manager

    If you've ever been to Yosemite around this time of year, you would know that Yosemite Falls is in full force – much like the surge of requests for corporate group programs I have been receiving lately. Every spring things pick up, as if workers around the Bay Area are coming out of cubicle hibernation and are craving an outdoor team-building experience.

    The corporations that have recently come out with us or are scheduled to come out in the next few weeks include: Sun Microsystems, Roche, Trulia, SAP, Charles Schwab, Polycom, Life Technologies, Cupertino Electric, Robert Half International, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Delloitte, Codexis, Maxygen, VM Ware and NBC. Whew!



    Adult volunteers play an important role in our Community-based Restoration programs. They quickly learn plant identification skills that allow them to work in our most sensitive habitats, acting as sleuths to find and remove invasive weeds amongst recently planted seedlings. These volunteers also provide critical manpower in the delicate tasks of seed collection, sowing seeds and rooting plant cuttings for future seedlings in our two native plant nurseries.



    In addition to helping restore vital habitats, many of these businesses also make a donation to Save The Bay, acknowledging that providing team-building volunteer programs takes professional coordination, experienced field staff and adequate equipment to make the projects run smoothly. These donations help us offset some of these costs, but also allow us to continue to offer free programs to school and community groups that do not have funding. Save The Bay sincerely appreciates both the time and support these businesses have given our programs!

    Roughly 100 corporations and community groups come out with Save The Bay each year. We hope you will join us - during any season - and the long list of Bay Area businesses that make our Community-based Restoration programs a success.

    Learn more at www.saveSFbay.org/community.

    Thursday, May 14, 2009

    DMB plan should be DOA

    by Stephen Knight, Political Director



    Yesterday, DMB Associates unveiled their massive development plan for the Cargill site in Redwood City.

    As our Executive Director David Lewis says in this San Jose Mercury News article, this project "should be dead on arrival."

    Save The Bay opposes Cargill and DMB’s Bay salt pond development project in Redwood City. We therefore urge Redwood City, state and federal agencies to reject the project and promote full restoration and protection of habitat and open space on the site.

    The project would destroy Bay shoreline open space that should be restored. It would put new development in the path of flood waters and rising sea level.

    This site is not infill and it is not the place for housing and commercial development. Redwood City should continue its smart growth redevelopment downtown. These salt ponds should be permanently protected for restoration that benefits people and wildlife.

    Once again, it is up to residents to make their voices heard and stop this destructive project.

    Learn more at www.saveSFbay.org/redwoodcity.