This is one of the photos I used to protest the threat of offshore drilling as an answer to rising gas prices last summer. This beach is 8 miles from my home, is a haven for migrating whales, pelicans, great blue herons and stubborn photographers. Just up the road there is a military firing range, used to train Seabees from the Point Mugu Naval base. While I rarely hear gunshots, there’s a cognitive dissonance to being on an amazing beach like this while target practice is held directly adjacent to protected wetlands.
Doc Searls reminds about why offshore drilling is a terrible idea, and links it up with the birth of Earth Day. (Full story of Santa Barbara oil spill here)
Just past the firing range, there is a strip of barbed-wire protected wetlands. Birds of all types nest, flock, eat, and visit there. Photo after the jump.
As the sun sets on this earth day, I wanted to share a little of my view of this earth with you, and also some of the other environmental news of the day.
President Obama announced a plan to lease federal waters to generate electricity. He unveiled his plan in Newton, Iowa, along with a renewed pledge to push for a plan to develop alternative energy sources and squarely address climate change. The federal initiatives to focus on energy alternatives also open the door toward a restart on a healthier economy through the emerging green industries and associated green jobs.
In the world of hybrids, Honda launched their new Insight in Canada today, and Leebosworld on Twitter is driving cross-country in one. You can follow him in pictures and tweets by adding him to your Twitter follows or reading his blog.
Hummer introduced a hybrid that can get 100 mpg, though I can’t imagine ever wanting to drive a tank on city streets. But, that’s just me.
Sundance Channel debuts a new reality show intended to highlight the environmental impact of every day products, while suggesting alternatives, and the House of Representatives began debate on the climate bill.
Meanwhile, Glenn Beck spent Earth Day cutting down trees while Rush Limbaugh celebrated the invention of the plastic bag. Rush also vowed to try to destroy at least 2 acres of rain forest.
No matter how one might feel about global warming, I’m at a loss to understand why anyone would celebrate the destruction of natural resources. I can’t imagine what would happen if Rush or Glenn Beck were excited about cutting this tree down:
I am still learning how to be a good earth citizen. It is a re-education process because I was raised in an era of waste and pollution-deafness. My children are teaching me better ways. I am listening and learning. It is my hope that this transcends partisan politics. My images of this earth are moments caught in time, not to be repeated or duplicated but with the hope of new moments to come. That seems to me to be a human, not political, goal.
If you want my photo impressions of today, I’ve written a post with more photos over on Mother Nature Network.
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I can contrast this with the beach I lived near when going to college in Long Beach, Calif.
There were oil derricks and nicely discussed oil-producing manmade islands just offshore.
And there’s nothing so romantic as going for a walk on the sand with your girl, sharing a few smooches and returning to your apartment…. to scrape the black tar-like sand off your feet.
I hear it’s been cleaned up quite a bit since, and we can thanks environmentalism for that.