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Ocean Wild Things

Not all reusable bags are created equal

August 31, 2016 by Carolyn Kraft 6 Comments

It turns out that some reusable bags aren’t reusable at all! How do I know this? Well, about a year and a half ago, my husband received a free reusable bag from his new healthcare provider. The bag contained very useful information, a free pen and bonus, you get to keep the bag. We added… [read more]

Filed Under: Consumer Alerts Tagged With: bad freebies, canvas bag, consumer beware, plastic bag, reusable bag, sometimes freebies aren't worth it

California’s plastic bag ban on hold

March 12, 2015 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

I must confess, I have been avoiding writing about this subject for awhile. But in an attempt to face reality, here’s the deal…California’s statewide plastic bag ban is on hold. The plastics industry spent $3.2 million gathering signatures to overturn the new law and alas, California’s Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that the referendum… [read more]

Filed Under: Imagine Something, Ocean pollution Tagged With: California, marine debris, plastic, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, plastic pollution, pollution, SB270 referendum

Californians report your experience with signature gatherers

December 7, 2014 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

In my last post about the plastics industry’s effort to overturn SB270, California’s state ban on single-use plastic bags, I forgot to mention one thing. If you happen to bump into a signature gatherer when you’re out and about, the organization Californians Against Waste would like to hear about it. They’re collecting information on people’s… [read more]

Filed Under: Ocean pollution, Say Something Tagged With: Californians Against Waste, marine debris, ocean trash, plastic, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, plastic pollution, pollution, say something

Say no to bag petitions

November 30, 2014 by Carolyn Kraft 2 Comments

On September 30, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 270 into law, officially making California the first state to ban single-use plastic bags. And now that ban is under attack! The plastics industry has teamed up to overturn the ban through Calfornia’s referendum process. Proponents of a referendum have 90 days from the day a… [read more]

Filed Under: Ocean pollution, Say Something Tagged With: plastic, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, plastic pollution, SB270, SB270 referendum

Imagine a country where everyone voted

November 6, 2014 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

Election Day on Nov. 4 reminded me of my last interaction with an elected official’s office. It was the middle of August and SB 270, the statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, was working its way through the California State Assembly. At that point, the bill had made it out of committee and was headed… [read more]

Filed Under: Earth musings, Imagine Something, Ocean pollution Tagged With: California State Assembly, constituent, Election Day, imagine something, participation, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, voting

Happy plastic bag-free New Year!

January 2, 2014 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Yesterday was the first day of the New Year and the first day of the City of Los Angeles plastic bag ban. What a thrilling way to start 2014. Hooray, hooray! I actually thought the plastic bag ban didn’t start until July 1, 2014, but then I started seeing signs…as in real signs, not omens.… [read more]

Filed Under: Ocean pollution Tagged With: City of Los Angeles plastic bag ban, marine debris, plastic, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, pollution

See the movie Plastic Paradise

November 21, 2013 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

Join me on December 3rd at 7:30pm to see the documentary “Plastic Paradise” at the Laemmle’s Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles. As soon as I heard about this movie, I knew I had to see it. Many of us have read about the plastic plague impacting our oceans, but do we really understand the… [read more]

Filed Under: Do Something, Ocean events, Ocean pollution Tagged With: marine debris, plastic, plastic bag, pollution

A gift wrapped in biodegradable plastic

October 7, 2013 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

My in-laws recently visited Los Angeles and they came bearing gifts! During a trip to Italy, they went on a tour of Federica, a famous Murano glass production facility and maker of awesome Murano glass animals. They picked up a beautiful glass dolphin for me, which was very exciting to receive. How is this relevant… [read more]

Filed Under: Ocean pollution Tagged With: biodegradable plastic, marine debris, ocean trash, plastic, plastic bag, plastic pollution

One Piece: it all adds up!

July 17, 2013 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

Yesterday I received something very cool in the mail: a One Piece sticker! What’s that you say? Well, the One Piece sticker is the brainchild of Tom Fucigna, a writer, ocean fan, paddleboard enthusiast, environmental steward and all around cool guy doing whatever he can to help save the oceans and in particular Florida’s coast.… [read more]

Filed Under: Do Something, Ocean heroes, Ocean pollution Tagged With: balloon trash, marine debris, ocean trash, Pacific garbage patch, plastic, plastic bag, plastic pollution, pollution, trash

Thank you for the plastic grocery bag ban Los Angeles!

June 30, 2013 by Carolyn Kraft 2 Comments

As I was busy spending time with my parents who were visiting last week, an amazing thing happened: On June 26, 2013, outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed into law a plastic bag ban for the City of Los Angeles. At first I was confused because I thought the plastic bag ban had already passed last… [read more]

Filed Under: Ocean pollution Tagged With: marine debris, ocean trash, plastic, plastic bag, plastic pollution, pollution

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