RAP @ OTIS - 07Dec09

...Parsons School of Design, that is...

Students from Otis college of Art and Design announced today that they will be hosting an event to raise awareness and educate the Otis community about the effects of single-use plastic consumption on the environment.

The event which is the result of a partnership between Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics Program and students from the Integrated Learning department at Otis. Students will showcase will involve art and design interventions, interactive installations, , and video and animation projects, which aim to promote and educateencourage visitors the community to reduce and refuse single-use plastic consumption in a fun and positive way.

The Green Ambassadors and Community Changemakers from the Green Ambassadors from Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale will be giving a special “Rise Above Plastics” very special RAP presentation and will also be modelling the “Plastic Fashion” they designed in their R’ahsion—Recycled Fashion—class. at the event and gGuests will be invited to participate in creative ways to pledge to take rise above plastics in creative ways, such as the plastic pledge. Students will be making reusable grocery bags at the event from used tank tops and more. . Refreshments will be served and there will be gift bags for those that arrive first!

OTIS RISE ABOVE PLASTICS DAY!

Monday December 7, 2009 - 4pm - 6pm
5 pm – Fashion Show and Presentation by Green Ambassadors & Community Changemakers

Otis Student Lounge, Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (800) 527-6847

Bring: old tank top – leave with a RAP designed shopping bag

Contact: Lara Hoad from Otis for more details:
larahoad@gmail.com, (310) 773-6674

Last Chance to Speak Up on South Coast Marine Protected Areas--Attend Commission Hearing on Dec 9 in LA

The 'end of the line' for South Coast Marine Protected Areas has arrived!  Dec 9th marks the final meeting in a 'yearlong process', and we need you to attend.  As you know, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward a final map to the Fish and Game Commission. The map, called the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), is a hybrid map representing diverse Stakeholder views.

The MLPA, as a law, was designed and written to ensure diverse views were incorporated into the final map. Surfrider fully supports the IPA because we believe it contains a balance of conservation and fishing interests--and perspectives from all ocean users. The Commission will base its decision on public support--and that’s why they need to hear from you on Dec 9th! 

Please attend the hearing and express that you are concerned about preserving ocean resources and that you support a 'balanced' proposal that provides strong protection while incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives.

If you would like help with talking points for the Dec 9^th meeting, please contact Stefanie at:  Ssekich@surfrider.org   To stay updated about Surfrider MLPA efforts and to send an action alert to the Commission here: http://mlpasurfrider.blogspot.com/

Dec 9th  Meeting Information:

Radisson Hotel--LAX 
ABC Ballroom 


6225 W. Century Blvd. 


Los Angeles, CA

**PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 9:00 AM AND MUST BE TURNED IN TO COMMISSION STAFF BY 10:10 AM FOR CONSIDERATION.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL  BE HEARD FROM APPROXIMATELY 10:15 AM -12:30 PM TODAY.  THE TIME ALLOTTED  PER INDIVIDUAL WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER CARDS RECEIVED, AND ANNOUNCED AT THE START OF THE MEETING.**

Please take the time to fill out this action alert that will be sent to the Commission. http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=428

Thanks and hope to see you at the Dec 9th hearing!

Final Marine Life Protection Act Map goes to Fish and Game Commission

This week, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA)map to the Fish and Game Commission. The IPA is a hybrid map containing shapes from all the Regional Stakeholder Group maps.

Surfrider is pleased with the map because we believe some of our recommendations were considered and incorporated into the final map. The BRTF will present the IPA to the Fish and Game Commission on Dec 9 and the Commission will make a final decision early in 2010

See a write up on Surfrider's thoughts about the final map here.

Activists Needed as RWQCB Considers Gregory Canyon Bridge

Thought a Toll Road through a State Park was a bad idea? How about a landfill on top of an aquifer and near an aqueduct in a geologically unstable region containing Native American sacred sites? This is exactly what the proponents of the Gregory Canyon Landfill have been trying to do for the last twenty plus years, despite the fact that the landfill site has been rejected by the County of San Diego, by using the initiative system to try to invalidate years of local government studies. The landfill would be squarely ontop of the aquifer that provides Oceanside and other communities with much of their current drinking water as well as adjacent to aqueducts providing fresh water to the City of San Diego. Sacred sites of the Pala Band of Mission Indians would be destroyed by the building of and operations of a landfill in this area. Earlier this year this damaging project was to go before the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board however their application for a "discharge permit" was deemed to be incomplete after a local water authority decided to not provide the proposed landfill with the reclaimed water it needed for its operations. Now the proponents are trying to piecemeal their application by getting a bridge needed for landfill operations approved before the discharge permit. The Board will be considering approval of this bridge at its November 18, 2009 monthly meeting. Concerned citizens and environmental groups are speaking up in order to oppose both the piecemeal approach to this project and this devastating project itself.

Contact Johnny Pappas or Stefanie Sekich if you are in need of additional information and are able to attend the meeting. Thanks!

Background Information on this project:

County of San Diego

Pala Band of Mission Indians

NRDC