Activists To Protest Offshore Drilling In San Francisco On April 16

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Activists To Protest Offshore Drilling In San Francisco On April 16

The Surfrider Foundation is calling all environmentally-conscious ocean lovers to action once again to rally in opposition to offshore drilling.

Four upcoming public hearings will determine what actions the Obama Administration will be taking this fall with regard to allowing, for the first time, new offshore oil and gas drilling in our most sensitive coastal waters, and for approval of renewable energy industry proposals off of our coast.

US Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, is holding 4 public meetings to talk about the federal government’s plans for new offshore drilling.

DATES:

Monday, April 6, 2009
Atlantic City Convention Center
One Convention Boulevard
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tulane University
McAlister Auditorium Building
43 McAlister Drive
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center
600 West Seventh Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska

Thursday, April 16, 2009
University of California, San Francisco
Mission Bay Conference Center,
Robertson Auditorium
1675 Owens Street
San Francisco, California

Here’s the press release from Surfrider Foundation about plans to Protest In San Fransisco:

ACTIVISTS BUSING IN FROM AROUND THE STATE TO STAGE A PROTEST AGAINST OFFSHORE DRILLING

WHAT: Activists bused in from around the State will hold a protest against the Minerals Management Service’s (MMS) proposed five-year plan for oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Demonstrators will be making speeches, waving signs, speaking at the hearing to tell the MMS and public how the increase in offshore oil drilling and this proposed plan could critically impact some of the world’s most pristine marine ecosystems and lead to the destruction of important habitats that are home to a diversity of wildlife.

WHO: Join Surfrider Foundation activists, members, volunteers from around California, Oregon and Washington, surfers, beach enthusiasts, and local, regional and national elected officials

WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009
Doors will open at 8:00 AM
Hearing begins at 9:00 AM and will conclude by 8:00 PM

Press is also invited to join Surfrider Foundation and its supporters for a noontime rally and demonstration that will feature speeches from various elected officials and activists, along with live music.

WHERE: University of California, San Francisco
Mission Bay Conference Center
Robertson Auditorium
1675 Owens Street
San Francisco, CA

TO SPEAK: In order to speak at the hearing, RSVP to DOI_Events@ios.doi.gov

**If you are unable to attend the hearing, written comments will be accepted through September 21. Please submit your comments electronically at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/not_the_answer_03_09, or by mail to: Ms. Renee Orr, Chief, Leasing Division, Mineral Management Service, MS 4010, 318 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170-4817

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW WITH A SURFRIDER FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT
ALEXIS HENRY AT 949.732.6413 OR AHENRY@SURFRIDER.ORG

Stay tuned to Transworld Business for an interview with Surfrider Foundation’s Matt McClain.

josh hunter

April 06 2009 | 256 views

Press Releases

Help Surfrider Foundation Establish Marine Life Protection Act

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Help The Surfrider Foundation Get a Better Understanding of YOUR Community and Surrounding Marine Areas.

The Surfrider Foundation is currently working with a wide variety of individuals and organizations on the Marine Life Protection Act –or MLPA. The MLPA is a state law that requires establishing a “network” of marine protected areas along the California coastline. This law is currently being implemented in Southern California.

Much like our National Parks protect special places on land, these Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) offer heightened protection for marine life to thrive and people to enjoy. In short, MPAs protect special places for their “intrinsic value”–preserving ecological abundance for generations to come. MPAs around the globe have become popular attractions for people to enjoy nature’s beauty and abundance.

Establishing MPAs can also help restore healthy fisheries. Studies show alarming declines in fish populations worldwide. Fishermen are now catching half of what they did in 1990 and the fish they do catch are 45 percent smaller. Some local fisheries may take 50-80 years to recover. MPAs allow marine life populations to increase and individual species to grow to full maturity–which increases the number of off-spring from protected areas. These larger populations may “spill over” the boundaries of MPAs and provide improved fishing in areas adjacent to MPAs.

The state of California adopted the MLPA in 1999 and created the opportunity for members of the public to participate in identifying special places worthy of heightened protection. Surfrider Foundation members represent a broad spectrum of people who enjoy time in the ocean surfers, fishers, divers, kayakers, sailors and others who just love the natural beauty of our coast and ocean. Our collective knowledge from this experience can help design an effective network of MPAs.

The Surfrider Foundation is gathering information and recommendations from local communities to help formulate a regional network of MPAs. Our goal is to balance our members’ commitment to restoring and protecting our coast and ocean for generations, with our support of sustainable and accessible fishing opportunities.

Help establish successful Marine Protected Areas by completing this survey (all responses are anonymous).

**GO HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY**

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Surfrider Foundation Launches “Rise Above Plastics”

Program Seeks To Stem Flow of Plastics into Marine Environments

San Clemente, CA (November 19, 2008) – The Surfrider Foundation announced this week the roll out of its long awaited Rise Above Plastics program. The program seeks to reduce the amount of plastics making their way into our beach and marine environments though education and outreach efforts.

“In certain areas of our oceans, the amount of suspended plastic particles outnumbers plankton by a ratio of six to one,” says Angela Howe, who oversees the program for the Foundation. “Subsequently we see all this plastic making its way up the food chain, where it harms and kills birds and marine life.”

Surfrider Foundation began the initial outreach for its Rise Above Plastics (RAP) program earlier this summer as part of Jack Johnson’s All At Once tour, where it was featured in the show’s Village Green area.

“People are ready to make behavioral changes that benefit our environment,” says Kim Johnson, who along with her husband Jack, helped in the planning and launch of Surfrider’s RAP program.
“Simple choices such as utilizing reusable tote bags and water bottles make a big difference helping to reducing the amount of plastics in our marine environments.”

The public is invited to visit the program’s website, www.riseaboveplastics.org, where they can learn about how plastics impact our marine and coastal environments, as well as find information on how they take steps to reduce their own plastic “footprint.”

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org.

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News

Surfrider Celebrates Increased Protection for Monterey Bay Sanctuary

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - San Clemente, CA (November 17, 2008) – After nearly a decade of work, the Surfrider Foundation is celebrating a twofold success that balances resource protection with recreational access in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS).

Through a joint management plan review process in which many stakeholders participated, the Surfrider Foundation and its chapters worked with the Sanctuary officials and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to close a loophole in the laws governing usage of motorized personal watercraft (MPWC) in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The original restrictions were established in 1992 and designed to provide enhanced resource protection for marine mammal and seabird concentrations, kelp forests, river mouths, estuaries, lagoons and all near shore areas that numerous studies have shows to be highly vulnerable to disturbance and injury from personal watercraft. However changes in watercraft technology and design resulted in a definition loophole that allowed newer three- and four-seat personal watercraft models to operate outside of the four established zones within the Sanctuary. By changing the definition and closing the loophole, MPWC will be relegated back the four established zones, restoring the original intent of the law.

Additionally, NOAA has established a seasonal fifth MPWC zone at Mavericks. NOAA chose Mavericks as the seasonal fifth zone due to the break’s close proximity to an existing offshore MPWC zone. NOAA expects to minimize MPWC impacts to the local environment by restricting their use in this new zone, which borders the existing Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The seasonal fifth zone would be open for tow-in surfing and MPWC usages from December through February during National Weather Service-issued high surf warnings.

The inclusion of an additional seasonal fifth MPWC zone at Mavericks for tow-in surfing balances recreational access with maximum protection for Sanctuary resources. The Surfrider Foundation and its local San Mateo County Chapter recognize the value of these objectives and view the seasonal zone as a solution that holds protection of a National Marine Sanctuary in highest regard while allowing recreational use of MPWC.

“From the start, our goal has been maximal protection for the National Marine Sanctuary,” says Edmundo Larenas, Chair of the Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter. “We are pleased that NOAA’s inclusive approach with all the stakeholders in working to define the governing regulations produced a result that will restore protection to the National Marine Sanctuary.”

While the new regulations seek to protect Sanctuary resources and recreational access, the Sanctuary and stakeholders will have to work together to address issues such as safety, enforcement and environmental protection.

“The addition of a fifth zone will not be without its challenges,” Larenas cautioned. “With the seasonal fifth zone in place, it is important for all stakeholders to continue working together to safe guard the environment around the established fifth zone.”

The new regulations are expected to go in effect February 2009.

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org.