Heal the Bay Blog

In Santa Monica, there are two environmental issues that seem to come up every five years like clockwork: fluoridation of drinking water and dog beaches.  A few weeks ago, the Santa Monica City Council decided to mollify the dog beach supporters by voting 6-1 to study the feasibility of a dog beach in the city. 

Thankfully, the latest battle over dog beaches seems to have come to an abrupt end with state officials making it clear to Santa Monica staff that they will not provide necessary approvals.

As the president of Heal the Bay, a scientist with a doctorate on the health risks of swimming at polluted beaches, the owner of three rescue dogs, a father of three, and the longtime chair of the city’s Environmental Task Force, I’ve been involved at every level imaginable of the great dog beach debate for 15 years.

Although Santa Monica beach water quality has improved dramatically in the last three years (thanks to voter support of Measure V), our beaches still don’t consistently meet water quality standards for fecal bacteria.

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Today’s guest blogger is Tara Treiber, education director for Heal the Bay.

I pulled on my rain boots on Saturday and walked the mile or so from my house to the AMC Broadway 4 on the Santa Monica Promenade to watch “The Big Fix” and participate in a Q&A panel after the film.  I’d never seen the movie before the screening, but felt as though I was pretty aware of the story about the Deepwater Horizon disaster and Macondo blowout.

I’d read a great deal about it (including the 381-page Report to the President by the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling), watched podcasts and attended lectures about the spill, and participated in conversations with my marine and aquatic educator peers from the area affected.

The advantage of a well-done documentary, however, is that it brings a story to life, draws the viewer into the story.  You feel like you are the one talking with the fishermen who are wondering if they’ll ever get their livelihood back, the one walking on a beach coated with a slick of oil, the one looking up to see the planes dropping gallons of the dispersant Corexit (a toxic chemical banned in the EU) on the ocean and shores, the one chatting with experts about the long-term impacts on the Gulf, and the one who is asking how in the world did this happen.

The movie, helmed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, also looks at the power of perception in our world – what makes the ocean seem clean versus actually being clean, safe and healthy for the people and animals that rely on it?  I think this is a powerful movie that is well worth seeing.

The only issue I have with the movie is that the producers left me with a feeling of dread and anger, but not much of an outlet for taking action. It surprised me, because they did such a great job leaving us with a sense of hope and purpose at the end of their previous film, “Fuel,” which looked at alternative energy.

Working for Heal the Bay, I know everyday actions can make a big impact on the health of our environment, and, if you want to make a difference, you can.  Heal the Bay has provided a helpful Q&A about offshore drilling and what you can do to help.

Ever wonder what to do with your unused or expired prescription drugs? To keep them from entering our waterways and ecosystem, please do not pour them down the sink or flush them down the toilet.

Instead, bring them for disposal to the front of the Santa Monica Police Department at 333 Olympic Drive on Saturday, Oct. 29,  from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. An officer will be available at the curb to make it easier for you to just drive up and drop off your unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs.  The service is free, anonymous and no questions will be asked.

For more information, contact Sergeant Richard Lewis at 310-458-8462 or richard.lewis@smgov.net. 

Can’t make it to the disposal event? For safe drug disposal, consult these FDA guidelines.