Do your part for the oceans and sea turtles this week!

In June, President Obama declared that June be National Oceans Month and his administration laid out a plan for moving forward to protect our ocean resources. This was great news amidst all our World Oceans Day activities in June. Now September has rolled around and this month offers some great opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of our oceans.

On September 17, 2009, from 2:30pm until 6pm, the Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting will take place in San Franisco at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco at Embarcadero Center, Ballroom A, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111 (near BART and MUNI Embarcadero Station). This is the second public meeting to accept public input on the issues set out in President Obama's Memorandum. You have an unprecedented opportunity to play a roll in setting the priorities for this administration and our marine resources.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/Press_Releases/September_1_2009/

If you are unable to attend the September 17th meeting, you can still submit your comments to the Whitehouse by visiting: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans Please be a voice to create and maintain healthy oceans by participating in the public process about the future of our oceans.

Several groups are planning a pre-meeting party and rally to prepare those of you attending the September 17th meeting. On September 16, please join ocean advocates at Baobab Village in San Francisco from 5:30pm until 9pm. Find out more details from the invite: http://www.oceanchampions.org/pdfs/OceanPartyInvite9_16_09FINAL.pdf

You can also get involved with the oceans this week by attending International Coastal Cleanup Day in your neighborhood. OceanHealth.Org will be a hosting a site at the Judah Street entrance to Ocean Beach in San Francisco from 9am until 12pm on Saturday, September 19th. If you're on Facebook, please sign up on our invitation (and while you are at it please become a fan of OceanHealth.Org on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/oceanhealth and Honu.Org http://www.facebook.com/honu.org if you have not already). You can find out more details about our beach cleanup location by clicking this link: http://www.facebook.com/oceanhealth#/event.php?eid=55792934233

We hope that you can join us for all these great events! Thank you for your efforts to improve ocean health.

World Oceans Day 2009 events in the San Francisco Bay Area

Here is an updated listed of all the OceanHealth.Org co-sponsored events for World Oceans Day 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

World Oceans Day 2009 Events:
http://www.oceandaysf.org

June 7, World Oceans Day Beach Cleanup
Sunday, 10a-12p
Judah Street Entrance to Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA 94122

Please RSVP http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55915392141 or by email to eli@oceanhealth.org. This is a free event!

We expect a big turnout this year and are excited for you to join us. Please join the hundreds of Bay Area residents that are expected to turn out to rid Ocean Beach of marine debris, which diminishes our beach experience and poses a threat to wildlife and ocean ecosystems. What better way to celebrate the oceans that give us so much than by helping make it cleaner?

9:30am-10:00am Registration and Orientation
10:00am-12:00pm Beach Cleanup
12:00pm Wrap up and thank you!

Please join us at the Judah Street entrance to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. You can reach the location by the MUNI N Judah line or check 511.org for public transportation from your area. Biking is highly recommended. Carpooling is requested of those who must drive.

Gloves and bags are provided for the event, but you are welcome to bring your own work gloves or reusable bag for picking up marine debris along Ocean Beach.

Participants should dress in clothing appropriate for variable weather conditions at Ocean Beach. Weather can differ even from other locations in San Francisco so dressing in layers and checking the current weather conditions is important. Rain gear could be brought as a precaution.

Strong rain or severe weather cancels, but please call 415-342-7497 to confirm if you have any questions on June 7.


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June 8th, World Oceans Day Film Festival
Monday, 6:30pm-9pm
Montara Lighthouse, 16th Street and Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA

Please RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172640435149 or by email to eli@oceanhealth.org. Please be sure to RSVP because there is a 50 person maximum for attending this event.

Please join OceanHealth.Org with the Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter for the World Oceans Day Film Festival. To celebrate, we'll be screening short ocean films. We hope that you'll join us in this great location to share our love of the oceans and to view a variety of films showing perspectives on the ocean.

Event is free if you RSVP, but $8 donation for World Oceans Day is appreciated and will help support local ocean nonprofits.

6:30-7pm Reception
7-8:30pm Films
8:30-9pm Discussion

Short films include:
"End of the Line"
"Silent Snow"
"Keeping Coast"
"Favela Surf Dreams"
"Papa Tortuga"
"Revolution of the Crabs"



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If you can, please take public transportation or carpool because there is limited parking.

Public transportation: From The Daly City BART station take the Samtrans 110 to the Linda Mar park and ride. Transfer to the Samtrans 294 and let the driver know you want to be dropped at the Pt. Montara Lighthouse stop.

June 10, World Oceans Day Film Festival
Wednesday, 6p doors open, 7p Films
Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St., San Francisco, CA (Near Mission Street and 16th Street BART)

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=83358966876
Buy tickets online at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door on June 10th. Your $10 ticket gets you admission for any or all of the films!

6pm: Doors Open and reception with local ocean nonprofits.
.
7pm: Short ocean films, including:
"Silent Snow"
"Favela Surf Dreams"
"Papa Tortuga"
"Revolution of the Crabs"
"Sand Dancer"
"Keeping Coast"

8:30pm: Discussion and Intermission

9pm: Feature Films:
"End of the Line" (23 minutes)
"A Sea Change: Imagine a World without Fish" (60 minutes)
"Tapped" Trailer (6 minutes)



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World Oceans Day Film Festival and Beach Cleanup 2009

Just a quick update and summary of our June events for World Oceans Day celebrations in the Bay Area. We are really excited and hope that you will join us at one or all of the events.

World Oceans Day 2009 Events:
http://www.oceandaysf.org

June 7, Sunday, 10a-12p
World Oceans Day Beach Cleanup
Judah Street Entrance to Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55915392141

June 8, Monday, 6:30p-9p
World Oceans Day Film Festival
Montara Lighthouse, Montara, CA
RSVP required: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172640435149
or email eli@oceanhealth.org

June 10, Wednesday, 6p doors open, 7p Films
World Oceans Day Film Festival
Victoria Theatre, 16th St. & Mission St., San Francisco, CA
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=83358966876
Buy tickets: http://www.victoriatheatre.org

Help Our Ten for Turtles Campaign - Donate $10 Through Twitter by May 23

Aloha to all our supporters!

Please join the Honu.Org 'Ohana and help us continue to support sea turtle conservation by participating in our Ten for Turtles campaign.

Between now and May 23 World Turtle Day, please go to http://honu.org and click on the link at the top. If you are a Twitter user, simply click on the link with your Twitter ID, then click through to make a donation of $10 or any amount that you can afford. It is a safe and secure way to help our work and support our cause. Will you become a member of the Honu 'Ohana (sea turtle family)?

If you are not already following us on Twitter, please find us at http://www.twitter.com/honu and read our updates of sea turtle news and actions that you can take.

Not on Twitter? You can also make donations through Paypal.

Mahalo nui loa! Thank you very much! We could not do our work without your support.

Oppose increased Hawaii swordfish longline fishing that endangers sea turtles by 5/18

If you have not already, please submit your opposition online to increased Hawaii swordfish longline fishing that harms sea turtles by May 18 by clicking: http://ow.ly/58tg

Federal regulations are proposed that would increase the longline fishery for swordfish in Hawai'i. This unnecessary increasing in catching toxic swordfish will further threaten endangered leatherback sea turtles,whose Pacific populations collapsed to less than 10 percent during the 1980s and 1990s, and loggerhead sea turtles.

Please tell the federal government that even a few injured or killed leatherbacks and loggerhead sea turtles is too many when these populations are so endangered. The current plan could triple the number of deaths if it is not stopped and further risk sea turtle extinction in the Pacific.

Swordfish is known to contain high levels methylmercury (a neurotoxin that should be avoided) and other contaminants because they bioaccumulate ocean toxins brought up the food chain. Some restaurants will not even serve swordfish anymore because of tumors in the tissue and concerns about its health effects. The question is why risk harming critically endangered sea turtles to put poison on your plate?

Please act by May 18 with your comments to tell the federal government to that we cannot risk sea turtles for increased swordfish catches. Swordfish, along with many top ocean predators, have also declined dramatically and should be protected from overfishing, too.

Thank you for your support of sustainable oceans!

Please also join us in our 10 for Turtles Campaign! In honor of World Turtle Day on May 23, we are asking Twitter users to donate $10 or any amount to help Honu.Org in our advocacy efforts.

Simply go to http://www.honu.org, then click on the link at the top for a quick and secure donation. Please follow us on Twitter while you are at it: http://twitter.com/honu to get our updates.

Thank you again! Mahalo!

Show your love for sea turtles on Valentine's Day

Love sea turtles? Pledge to use your reusable shopping bag on Valentine's Day http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42931894006

Check out what plastic pollution is doing to your seafood on this report by ABC Good Morning America: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JustOneThing/story?id=6797599

In addition to bringing pollution to your plate, ocean plastics harm sea turtles, birds, and other wildlife that depend on our oceans.

Show your love for that special someone in your life and the ocean on this Valentine's Day.

Love the Ocean, Use Less Plastic:

1. Bring your reusable bag when you go shopping and/or say "no" when offered a plastic bag.

2. Pick a non-plastic gift to show your love. Really, is plastic the way to say, "I love you"?

3. How about wrapping your gift in a reusable shopping bag?

4. If you live near the ocean, take the time to visit and have a romantic walk on the beach, go surfing, go wildlife watching, or just to watch the sun set. Maybe even take a couple of minutes to pick up some marine debris while you're there or to even join a beach cleanup that weekend (check your local Surfrider for info: www.surfrider.org).

5. If you go out to dinner, remember to order only sustainable seafood (if you order it at all) and bring your own container for leftovers.

6. Consider donating on behalf of your love to the ocean charity of your choice.

7. Share this event with your friends all over the world to spread the word.

The ocean thanks you and loves you back. ;-)

Save Sea Turtles by Saying, "No," to Plastic Bags on December 18

December 18 “Day without a Bag” Asks Shoppers to Give to the Environment
Volunteers Give Reusable Bags and Get Shoppers to Say No to Plastic Bags

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eli Saddler, Director of OceanHealth.Org, 415-342-7497, eli@oceanhealth.org
Wes Womack, President of San Francisco Surfrider , 510-717-7204, wesw@sfsurfrider.org

San Francisco, CA, December 18, 2008 – On Thursday, December 18, the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and OceanHealth.Org will be asking Christmas shoppers to participate in “A Day without a Bag.” “A Day without a Bag” is becoming a holiday tradition as environmental groups ask shoppers to say “no” when offered plastic bags and to remember to bring their own bags when shopping. To mark “A Day without a Bag,” volunteers will be handing out hundreds of reusable shopping bags to shoppers from noon until about 2 PM on Thursday, December 18, at Union Square in San Francisco. Volunteers will be distributing reusable bags donated by Surfrider and Whole Foods Markets as an alternative to single-use plastic bags.

“Many people remember reusable bags for grocery shopping, but this day is a reminder to holiday shoppers to bring bags when going to any store,” said Eli Saddler, Director of OceanHealth.Org and Surfrider volunteer. “Holiday shoppers can give back to the environment by saying, ‘no,’ when offered single-use plastic bags.”

Although San Francisco passed a plastic bag ban for grocery stores, more still needs to be done to educate consumers about reducing their consumption of single-use plastic bags. Worldwide, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed annually, which means that a million plastic bags are being used each minute. Annually, a million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die globally due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.

“Bags and other plastic items clog our beaches with pollution and harm wildlife,” said chapter president, Wes Womack. “It is great that we live in a city that bans plastic bags on some level, but we can all do more to cut down on single-use plastic items to reduce pollution on our beaches and in our ocean.”

Surfrider will be holding its next monthly beach cleanup at Stairwell 17 on Ocean Beach this coming Sunday, December 21, from 10 AM until 12 PM. Volunteers can give back to the oceans by helping remove man-made debris from the beaches, some of which is currently be gathered for art projects. For more information on this and other monthly beach cleanups, people can visit Surfrider’s website (http://www.sfsurfrider.org/).

Surfrider and OceanHealth.Org are promoting “December 18 – A Day without a Bag” online, also (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36865929853). In an effort to reach as many people as possible from around the world, the organizations hope that people will get the word and learn more about eliminating plastic bags and other items.

People can learn more about the event and its history at Heal the Bay's website (http://www.healthebay.org/nobagday/)



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About the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation: SF Surfrider is a volunteer organization of surfers and ocean enthusiasts that promotes environmental quality of our beaches and oceans. The San Francisco Chapter is one of many local chapters of the international nonprofit organization, the Surfrider Foundation, based in San Clemente, CA. Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco Chapter holds bi-monthly beach cleanups at Ocean Beach; cleanup times can be found on their website: http://www.sfsurfrider.org/

About OceanHealth.Org: OceanHealth.Org is a nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area, which works to promote ocean conservation and public health protection through education, advocacy, and science. http://www.oceanhealth.org