News
TCEC members receive the Eco-Logic Newsletter, which is published monthly except for July/August and November/December issues. Each issue is full of local environmental news, events and activities, and ways you can get involved in environmental issues. Review a sample (past) issue.
Online, we feature the Closer Look column, written for our newsletter by TCEC Publications Chairperson, Donna Olsen.
Closer Look — October 2018
Shreya Wins National Award
We have some exciting news. Shreya Ramachadran has won the Gloria Barron prize. As you recall, she is the Kennedy High School student who is working on the grey water project. Here is how the award Committee described her project: “Shreya, age 14, of California, who founded the non-profit Grey Water Project to promote the safe reuse of grey water, along with water conservation, as a way to address drought. Her outreach includes curriculum for elementary students and a partnership with the United Nations’ Global Wastewater Initiative.” Shreya has won many awards, but this is the biggest. It also includes a significant monetary gift. Congratulation! At the October board meeting, the ecology center celebrated with Shreya and her mom with cupcakes and apple cider.
What is the Gloria Barron prize? The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 that have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes was established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron. Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and National Youth Editor
Wildlife Rehab Veterinarian is Local Hero
GREAT NEWS! David Anderson, the wildlife veterinarian at the OHS Wildlife Rehab Center, was recognized as a local hero by Senator Bob Wieckowski. The awards ceremony was held on September 26th at the Chabot College Community Center in Hayward. Congratulations. You are doing great work.
How hard do they work at the Wildlife Rehab Center? Here’s a partial list of the wildlife visiting the Ohlone Humane Society WRC this summer: American Kestrel, E.C. dove, Fox, Hermit thrush, Great horned owl, Pigeon, Opossums, American crow, Quail, Mallard ducks, Raccoons, Cooper’s hawks, California towhee, Northern mockingbird, Little brown myositis bat, Anna’s hummingbirds, Barn owl, Red-shouldered hawk , Red tailed hawk, Carpet python, Jackrabbit, White-tailed kite, Grey fox, Pigeons, Lesser goldfinch, Mourning dove, Golden eagle, Canada geese, Squirrels, House sparrows, Coyote, ground squirrel, Western screech owl ,Western bluebird, Swallows, Muskrat, Wild turkey, Finches, and a Black and white Tegu lizard. Source: Ohlone Humane Society Wildlife Rehab Center
You’ll Have To Ask if You Want a Plastic Straw in California Under New Law
California restaurants will only provide plastic straws to customers upon request after Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed legislation that aims to cut down on pollution. The change covers full-service dining, but not takeout establishments like fast-food restaurants. It will take effect in 2019.
“Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences,” Brown wrote in a signing message for Assembly Bill 1884, pointing to plastic waste found in dead animals and tap water around the world. “It is a very small step to make a customer who wants a plastic straw ask for it. And it might make them pause and think again about an alternative.”
Assemblyman Ian Calderon, D-Whittier, introduced AB 1884 to raise awareness about the effect of single-use plastic items on the environment. Plastic straws and stirrers are the sixth-most common item found at beach cleanup days, according to the California Coastal Commission, with more than 835,000 picked up between 1988 and 2016. Source: Sacramento Bee
So, What’s with the Plastic Whale?
Plastic waste in the ocean isn’t a run-of-the-mill, small problem. It’s an enormous one, almost impossible to visualize. Which is why we built an 82-foot-long blue whale made entirely out of plastic waste. As a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ocean, we wanted to talk about one of the most important issues we’re currently facing—plastic trash in the ocean. Consider this: Every nine minutes, plastic weighing as much as a blue whale (about 300,000 pounds) ends up in the ocean. We want to change that, and we hope you’ll come to Crissy Field October 13 through January 13 to see the whale and join the fight to save the ocean. Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium
TCEC Tours the Arctic Sunrise and More!
On Sunday, September 9th, we, a small group of Tri-City Ecology Center landlubbers boarded a ferry on Alameda Island and landed at the Ferry Building in San Francisco shortly after. There we met the rest of the group and got acquainted over a collection of iced coffees, lattes and frappuccinos. We then embarked on a short trek to our destination, the Arctic Sunrise. We casually strolled down the Embarcadero while enjoying the warm sunshine, views of the Bay, and mingling with travelers from all over the world.
The Arctic Sunrise is the smallest ship in the Greenpeace fleet but has sailed further north than any other Greenpeace ship, protected nearly 5 million acres of Amazon rainforest against illegal loggers, served on many anti-whaling campaigns, and transported activists to detour the Russian government from drilling for oil in Antarctica. San Francisco was one of the stops on a West Coast tour highlighting the need to protect our oceans from plastic pollution. Our group took advantage of a free 45 minute tour in which we got to see the bridge, top decks, interior main deck, and meet members of the crew. They were more than happy to tell about life on the ship, share stories of the travels, and answer questions.
We walked back to the Ferry Building for lunch after the tour. We were enjoying ourselves the same as during other TCEC outings so we decided to carry on to the newly opened Sales Force Transportation Center’s rooftop public open space. There we strolled along the two mile path enjoying the many different native and habitat gardens before ending up sitting in a plaza talking and playing Scrabble. It was time to catch the ferry back to Alameda as evening approached. A day that began with a trip to the Arctic Sunrise, would end with a ferry ride at sunset.
Another TCEC tour or outing will be coming soon. Information will be in an upcoming newsletter. Please join us. Source: Dan O’Donnell, TCEC Outings Chair