Archive | Environment RSS feed for this section

Demonstration in front of Chevron to Protest New Oil Drilling Off Central Coast

Published on July 23, 2009 in Environment

no-new-drilling_7-23-09-sm On July 23rd, as the California budget bill moves to the state legislature, local residents, some dressed as jelly fish and a sea anemone, held an afternoon demonstration in front of the Chevron on Ocean St. in Santa Cruz to oppose a plan to open the Central Coast to new drilling for the first time in 40 years. Demonstrators, including the staff of Save Our Shores, a non-profit organization based in Santa Cruz working since 1978 to prevent oil drilling in the Monterey Bay, are calling on the legislature to oppose new drilling off the California Coast, and instead pass an oil severance tax which would reportedly raise $1 billion a year from existing leases. Read More and View Photos

photo gallery >>

Rally at Natural Bridges to Save State Parks & Beaches

Published on June 1, 2009 in Environment, Government

save-parks_1_6-1-09-sm If approved by the state legislature, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget plan will close 220 of 279 State Parks and Beaches, including each and every State Park and Beach in Santa Cruz County.

The proposed Santa Cruz County State Park and Beach closures are Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park, Coast Dairies State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Lighthouse Field State Beach, Manresa State Beach, Manresa Uplands State Park, Natural Bridges State Beach, New Brighton State Beach, Palm State Beach, Rio Del Mar State Beach, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Seabright State Beach, Seacliff State Beach, Sunset State Beach, The Forest of Nisene Marks, Twin Lakes State Beach and Wilder Ranch State Park.

A rally to save State Parks and Beaches took place on June 1st at Natural Bridges State Beach. On June 2nd, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks took a bus to Sacramento for the only public hearing on this proposal before the Legislative Budget Conference Committee. Read More and View Photos

photo gallery >>

Life Lab Science Program Celebrates 30 Years with Garden Festival

Published on May 30, 2009 in Education, Environment

meet-the-goats_5-30-09-sm For 30 years, Life Lab Science Program has been helping educators and students bring learning to life in the garden. Based in Santa Cruz, Life Lab has been a leader in the garden-based learning movement locally and across the nation.

On May 30th, Life Lab celebrated its 30-year history with a birthday party in and around the Garden Classroom, located on the UCSC Farm, and featured garden crafts, visiting the chickens and goats, honey tasting, wheat threshing, tractor rides, and carrot birthday cake. Woodoven pizzas, strawberry tarts, fresh squeezed lemonade and hand-cranked ice cream were also available. Read More and View Photos

photo gallery >>

Hitting Home: Capitola Home Depot Hit With Literature to Save Patagonia

Published on May 3, 2009 in Environment, Globalization, Solidarity & Outreach

The Home Depot in Capitola, California was targeted on Sunday, May 3rd with hundreds of stickers and handbills to publicize their involvement in a controversial development project in Patagonia, Chile. Read More and View Photos

photo gallery >>

Tour de Everyday Rides in the Rain

Published on February 15, 2009 in Bicycles, Environment

king_2-15-09-sm On February 15th, ten bicyclists participated in the Tour de Everyday ride through Santa Cruz to demonstrate the utility of the bicycle for transportation. Highlights of the tour included riding across the new bike/pedestrian bridge that crosses the San Lorenzo River adjacent to Highway 1 and learning about the bicycle parking facilities planned for the new New Leaf. Even in the rain, bicycles are an efficient, inexpensive, and enjoyable way to get around town. Read More and View Photos

photo gallery >>