Respect the Beach

There are many opportunities to get involved and support the Sink the Breakwater Campaign along with other environmental issues. One good way to support is by joining the Surfrider Foundation in order to help confront water pollution, beach access, beach loss, and other serious concerns facing your beach. By visiting their website, Support Us, you can join or renew your membership, make a donation, or give a gift. All contributions will make a "lasting contribution toward a better world and ensure that our oceans waves and beaches are protected for generations to come" (Surfrider). Everyone can make a difference no matter what the contribution.



Everyone can make a difference daily as well. The following is a list from the Surfrider Foundation of twenty different ways to help the environment.

1. GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER
Sweep your driveways and sidewalks. Put your trash in the can instead of the gutter. Use your lawn dippings to fertilize your lawn.
2. PULL YOUR OWN WEEDS
The less herbicides and pesticides you spray, the less you will swim in on the weekend.
3. PLANT DON'T PAVE
Let the runoff water soak into the ground. Landscaping looks better and creates oxygen.
4. SCOOP THE POOP
Unless you like to swim in animal poop, make sure you and your neighbors pick up the droppings.
5. REPORT FULL CATCH BASINS
The Department of Public Works should clean a full storm sewer.
6. FIX YOUR CAR LEAKS
More oil enters the beach from urban runoff than from tanker spills. If your car drips, the oil will find its way to the ocean.
7. DON'T BE A DRIP
Low-flow shower heads, drip irrigation and low-flow toilets conserve water. Repair any leaks.
8. MINIMZE WATER LOSS
Water lawns in the mornings or evenings. Water deeply and less often for happier plants.
9. USE NON-TOXICS
Vinegar or bakind soda clean very well. Buy eco-sensitive products now available on the market.
10. OIL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Recycle your motor oil at a garage. Don't dump it into a storm drain.
11. RECYCLE ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH
Recycle reusable materials. Call 1-800-RECYCLE for drop off location.
12. BE AWARE OF STORM DRAINS
The trash and toxins that are dumped on the street run straight to the beaches. If we reduce the amount of slime that goes into our storm drains, our coastal waters will be protected.
13. QUIT USING STYROFOAM
The coffee generation brings its own mugs. Let the shop owners who use styrofoam know you disapprove.
14. PEOPLE CAUSE POLLUTION, PEOPLE CAN STOP IT
Next time you see some trash, pick it up.
15. JOIN A LOCAL ACTION GROUP, GET INVOLVED
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Check the facts and vote. One more voice does make a difference.
16. COVER YOUR TRAILS
Take household hazardous materials and containers to a local collection program for disposal.
17. CONSIDER, CONTROL, CONSERVE
Recycle reusable materials. Throw litter into trash cans and keep cans tightly covered to prevent foraging by animals.
18. DON'T WATER THE DRIVEWAY
It won't grow. All that water washes to the beach.
19. TALK AROUND TOWN
Because most people don't realize they are contributing to non-point source pollution, spread the word and get your neighbors an co-workers involved.
20. HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS
The beach is not your ashtray.

Another way to help the environment is to write, call, fax, or e-mail your Congressional representative, Senator and the President regularly to let them know your concern for pollution and support for stronger environmental laws.

If you have been sick lately and think it is related to your ocean water contact, please visit Surfrider Foundation Ocean Illness Form.

There are so many ways to get involved and help protect the ocean and our environment. Pollution in Long Beach is worse because the Long Beach Breakwater has stagnant water where trash tends to remain, but we cannot use that as an excuse. We need to start helping the problem by taking action everyday in order to help improve our beaches. Please help to keep our ocean clean. Respect the beach.





Surfrider