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October 2006 Issue
Environmental News
Surfrider Paddle for Clean Water Makes a Big Splash
By Ken Pally
Photos by Will Russ
Skies were blue and sunny and the water cool and inviting on Saturday September 16th but, as Surfrider was quick to point out, hidden dangers lurked. No not C. Megadolon, the Great white Shark but more subtle and insidious dangers from bacteria, viruses and chemical pollutants. A little over 100 environmentally conscious people and activists and community members gathered on the sand at Stearn’s Wharf to hear Congresswoman Lois Capps, Assemblyman Pedro Nava, 1st district Supervisor Salud Carbajal and Santa Barbara city council member Helene Schneider talk about the need for local, regional and comprehensive national ocean policies. The focus of the event was to bring public awareness to the recommendations of the Pew Oceans Commission Report and the US Commission on Ocean Policy Report. Particularly important are the following recommendations:
1.Enact a National Ocean Policy Act to protect, maintain and restore the health, integrity, resilience, and productivity of our oceans
2.Establish National Ocean Council in the Executive Office of the president, chaired by an Assistant to the President, or establish an independent national oceans agency.
3.Double the nation’s investment in ocean research, launch a new area of ocean exploration, and create the advanced technologies and modern infrastructure needed to support them.
After all the serious talk the main event was a short, fun paddle out of surfboards, kayaks outrigger canoes to the Y at Stearn’s Wharf to form up into a healing circle of 85 people to pray to whatever gods or goddesses there may be to help us heal our ocean and to protect the world’s waves, oceans and beaches for all people.
Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter wants to thank all of the great folks that showed up to support our efforts. We want to thank our fabulous local community sponsors: Maps.com our principal corporate sponsor, Softshare, Patagonia, Clipper windpower Mr. Zogs Sex Wax, New Belgium Brewery, MapLink, Citrix Online, SurfTwig and BlueEdge magazine. Without the grass roots support of local citizens and the local businesses none of this would have been possible. Next year we hope to have a bigger and better paddle and look forward to seeing you all there.
If you want to learn more about these issues and find out how you can get involved in saving the ocean and your planet check out the following links.
http://www.pewoceans.org/
http://www.oceancommission.gov/
www.sbsurfrider.org
Riding the Wave of Change Campaign for universal health insurance in California
Landmark legislation that would provide comprehensive health and dental insurance to all California residents passed the legislature at the end of August. The Governor’s signature would set into motion the premise for all Californians to have excellent, publicly financed and accountable, and totally pre-paid health insurance. The legislation, SB 840 (Kuehl) the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, would provides for a single, lifetime, secure, health insurance policy, at affordable costs where everyone has free choice of their own personal, private doctor and treatment.
The non partisan health policy analysts, the Lewin Group, showed that a plan such as SB 840 would cost California taxpayers $8 billion less than is currently publicly and privately spent.
The grassroots, volunteer organization Health Care for All – California and other endorsing organizations are embarking on a year long public education and advocacy campaign called OneCareNow.
The launch of the OneCareNow campaign occurred in Morro Bay with the surfing theme “Riding the Wave of Change”. Sarah Gerhardt, the first female tow-in surfer and the first female stand-up surfer to ride Mavericks shared stories and her unequivocal support of SB 840.
The campaign culminates with a Rally in Sacramento on August 19, 2007 for the to promoting the passage and funding of a universal health insurance system and to make sure legislators fulfill their promise to provide health insurance for all Californians.
Join the OneCareNow event in Isla Vista on Sunday, October 22, 2006, 6:30 to 8:30PM. at Friendship Manor which will be followed by a procession along Embarcadero del Mar to People’s Park for a candlelight vigil remembering the uninsured.
For more information on SB840 go to www.healthcareforall.org, www.onecarenow.org, or contact Peter Conn at pconnt43@cox.net or 682-5183. 21st Century medicine in California can be affordably accessible to all, including our surfing community. Come Ride the Wave of Change.
(Article by Paulina Conn, 2612 Foothill Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. pconnt43@cox.net. 682-5183)
Shark Park
A documentary by Greg Huglin featuring an international team of towsurfers, including Rusty Long, Mark Healy, Dan Malloy, Eric Akiskalian and others who ride a secret virgin wave at a remote offshore reef
West Coast Premier showing . . .
Date: Wednesday, October 18 OR Thursday, October 19
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: all tickets $10 – general seating (doors open at 6:15 pm)
Where: Crane Country Day School
1795 San Leandro Lane, Montecito
Tickets may be purchased in advance at the school or at the door. For more information, call 969-7732 ext: 101
~ a benefit for Crane Country Day School ~
Posted October 2006 Blue Edge Magazine. All rights reserved.
