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>Team Marine at the Electric Lodge

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Come watch Team Marine’s 10 R’s video, as well as other environmentally friendly videos, at the Electric Lodge on January 22nd, 2011! Bill Macdonald’s Sea Pulse Films will be hosting the event from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. Other videos to be shown include The World Ocean “Trashed”,  The Majestic Plastic Bag, Whales Die, Zombies Dance (in protest).

Electric Lodge
1416 Electric Avenue
CA 90291-3734
(310) 306-1854

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>HTBSC Water Quality Report

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Zach Gold with sample tray and Safe to Surf? board

On December 23, 2010, Heal the Bay Surfrider Club’s Teach and Test Program conducted water quality tests in Santa Monica, after a long episode of rain. Their results were horrifying. Extremely high levels of fecal bacteria were visible in all samples. Zach Gold, Co-president of the club, recommended that all stay out of the water for the time being. Sites that were tested included the Pico-Kenter Drain, the Santa Monica Pier, and Lifeguard Station 26. Visit local surf shops in Santa Monica to check current bacteria levels.

Sample testing trays; glowing cells show high levels of fecal bacteria
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>More Recycling. More LifeStraws.

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On December 17th, 2010 Team Marine and Heal the Bay/Surfrider Club worked through heavy rain to count and sort recyclable containers. These recyclables will be saved to trade in for LifeStraws to send to people around the world without clean water sources. The LifeStraw is a portable water filtration system that prevents common diarrhoeal diseases from causing sickness. We recycled 5400 containers, which will provide 48 LifeStraws, and potentially save 48 lives. A huge thanks to all those who volunteered to sort with us in the pouring rain!

110 recyclables = 1 LifeStraw

We recycled 5400 containers, which will provide 48-49 LifeStraws, and potentially save 48-49 lives. A huge thanks to all those who volunteered to sort with us in the pouring rain!

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>Planting Trees with TreePeople

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Flavia Watering Trees & Sawdust in Cement Bays
On Monday, December 27, Flavia Cahn – our Gardening Committee leader – traveled to Oxnard to volunteer at a TreePeople event. TreePeople focuses on planting trees, particularly fruit trees, in low-income Los Angeles communities. They have planted fruit streets all over the city: in public gardens, individual’s backyards and on school campuses. In low-income neighborhoods, fresh, organic and healthy food is expensive and hard to come by. For this reason, TreePeople plant easy-to-care-for fruit trees that provide food, shade, beauty, and better air and water quality. TreePeople does other amazing green events such as mountain restorations to benefit the more needy members of our community. 
 
At the event Flavia and TreePeople unloaded a grand total of 3000 fruit trees. Peach, plum, nectarine, apple and apricot trees of all different varieties were sorted, and then organized into cement-lined bays to stay there until they are ready for planting in South Los Angeles schools. Once the trees were set up in the bays, moist sawdust was shoveled between them in order to keep them upright and to keep the roots alive.
TreePeople operates mostly on donations – not only money donations, so please be generous. Visit this link to find out more:  http://www.treepeople.org/more-ways-give
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>Recycling at the Rose Bowl!

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Team Marine and Marine Biology students from Santa Monica High School

After a morning of recycling on New Years Day, “our total was 2147 plastics, 1300 cans, and 453 glass“, according to Jane Davidson of the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, CA. Team Marine worked alongside San Gabrielino High School, UCLA, and SaMo’s Marine Biology students to recycle trash left behind from Pasadena’s Rose Parade. We rocked out “Ask Me Why I’m Recycling” T-Shirts, signifying that we were recycling for LifeStraws. The LifeStraw is a portable water filtration system that prevents common diarrhoeal diseases from sickening less fortunate people in third world countries. We had a great time helping fellow Eco-Beasts make SoCal a greener, cleaner place.

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>California Youth Leadership Summit

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The CAYLS (California Youth Leadership Summit) took place at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA. Patricio, Alexis, Natalie, Echo, and SJ attended the summit.
 
Day One (Nov. 19th):
Each group (except Team Marine) gave a 2-3 minute presentation on their group’s history, future plans, and basic info. We then decorated past Roots & Shoots t-shirts. Before bed we had smores by the fire. We decided to sign up for two workshops and yoga.
 
Day Two (Nov. 20th):
Participated in yoga, ate a great breakfast, and attended the workshops we signed up for. Some of the workshops available were: 
  • Creative outreach through music (attended)
  • How to tailor a project to different age groups, 
  • Problem solving (attended)
After attending the our two workshops, we visited the various Ocean Institute labs. We were able to  learn about the growth process of moon jellies (Aurelia aurita), find and identify different marine organisms,  dissect a mackeral, as well as test the Institute’s water acidity, salidity, and temperature. Afterward, we were able to go out to sea on the RX explorer. Using a mud grab, we tested the surrounding water’s mud quality, and searched for benthic organisms. Many different types of phytoplankton and zooplankton were seen. Later, we ate dinner and watched an eye-opening presentation on blue whales, by famous whale videographer Earl Richmond.  Steve Creech spoke about the Wyland Foundation’s conservation programs. Team Marine then hosted a screening about our 10 R’s and gave a presenation on what we’ve done so far. We also talked a little about the EV project. Afterwards, Mr. Kay gave a presentation about how to make your own team be as successful as Team Marine. Then we snacked on more smores and slept!
 
 
Day Three (Nov. 21)
 
After yoga and breakfast, we were led on an amazing hike. We hiked to a habitat that the Institute had been maintaining, and we combed the surrounding area for items that did not belong. Some items found were plastic as well as glass. There were broken beer/soda bottles everywhere! Because of the rain, some debris were covered in mud and were harder to spot. SJ even stumbled upon an animal’s skull! We hiked back down to the Institute, took a group photo, and ran over to the tide pools. It was a great day for tide pooling, because the tide was very low. We saw ochre sea stars, sea anenomies, chitons, limpets, and hundreds of muscles and barnacles. It was amazing. After three amazing days in Dana Point, it was time for Team Marine to say goodbye.
 
A huge thanks to Roots and Shoots, The Ocean Institute, and all the volunteers and speakers at the CYLS 2010!
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>DC Group Update

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Team Marine with Professor Somerville
Team Marine was invited to go to the Aquarium of the Pacific to hear a lecture from one of the leading climate change scientists, Richard Somerville, on November 17th, 2010. Team Marine had dinner with Somerville, then listened in to his lecture on climate change. It was a humbling experience to Kou, Jesse, Saundra Jay, and Morgan who attended this event. We all realized there is much more to learn. We would like to thank Alicia Archer, Professor Somerville, and Coastal America for this great opportunity.
On Sunday, Team Marine went to the Aquarium of the Pacific to learn about their upcoming trip to Washington D.C. in February. However, that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t any fun while we were there. Early in the day we took part in a tour, which took us to the back of the aquarium’s exhibits, .We met and interacted with many of the animals there. Just through seeing the mixture of terrestrial and marine animals, we were able to see that the two were dependent on each other. Because of this, if climate change destroys or alters one of them, the other would be affected in turn. Afterward, we sat in for a seminar showing us how to project our vision towards different groups of people. Thank you to Alicia for a great day at the aquarium.
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>The Last Straw

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Team Marine members recently collected and sorted about 20,000 straws to donate to The Last Straw Program by the 5 Gyres Institute and the Algalita Marine Research Foundation. The goal of this program is to build a fully functional boat out of single-use straws, in order to spread awareness about our oceans’ transformation into a plastic soup. Single-use straws are unnecessary and contribute to our planet’s massive problem with plastic pollution, so do not use them!

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Team Marine’s Gas to Electric Beetle Conversion

Team Marine’s mechanics have been working on converting a gas-guzzling 1971 Candy Red Volkswagen Beetle into a zero-emission electric vehicle.

The Whole Gang with SAMOHI’s Lesson on Wheels

Our Team’s car committee has been created, and currently meets every Tuesday and Thursday in Santa Monica High School’s Auto Shop. A million thanks to our Auto Guru, Mr. Cox, for allowing us to work in his shop.

Here are some updates on the project:

  • The engine has been taken out and we have just recently detached the clutch from the engine, which we need for the electric motor to attach to the transmission.
  • We ordered the yoke and motor plate; these are the main components in attaching the engine to the transmission.
  • We took the dimensions of the engine and the back of the car (where the motor will go) and theorized where the batteries will fit.

We are still researching what type of battery will be best for the car and budget we are currently working under, but are already getting our hands dirty. We also need to pick a name for the Beetle; comment with suggestions!

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