CONTENTS

• Question of the Month
• Next Month's Question
• River Pumps Shut off from California by Order of the Federal Government
• A View
• A Visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Interview of Pittsburg High School Seniors
• Editor's Corner
• Poetry: "Glory's Dying Rays" by Rebecca Smith
• Join Us

Mission Statement: We are attempting to strengthen and unify the young environmental community in the Bay Area by sharing interests, information, and calls to action between 1,500 local youth. We seek to inspire participation in projects and events between groups, strenghten journalistic skills, and foster career exploration.

What experience or person has inspired you to care about the environment and why?

Kim Schroder:
Acalanes High
What inspired me to care about the environment? That it is the center of, and is connected to, everything. How we affect it, affects us.

Rebecca Smith:
California High
I have loved the outdoors and environment my whole life - my mother made sure I was immersed. She would take me and my sister out hiking on the weekends and turn on animal shows for us to watch - I was fascinated. It was only natural that I would continue to love it. My dad was also very encouraging, taking us to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the museum in San Francisco. The sciences have always my favorite classes, because I could learn about how the environment and those fascinating creatures I saw work.

Rayona Young:
Pittsburg High School
My grandfather always took me on driving trips where he would tell me all the names of the plants that we passed. It was as I got to know more about the environment that my desire to preserve it developed.

Andrew Mossett:
Pinole Valley High School
The person who has inspired me the most to make a difference in the environment would be the academy teachers at my school. They are the ones who encouraged us to make something of ourselves and take the purgative to make a difference in the world around us.

Katie King:
Acalanes High School
I feel increasingly inclined to protect and pay a lot of attention to the environment especially because of the direction that our society is heading with the decline of consideration for the environment. If people don't protest and fight back against some of the destructive actions performed by big companies and even each individual, then they have won and our environment will soon [be depleted]. It is important (even vital) to spread environmental awareness at such a time of intense capitalism

Charles Holz:
Acalanes High School
I became environmentally aware when my friends' only source of water was threatened by loggers looking for a profit. The well that feeds their house water served at least fifty other families, and neither the courts nor the department of forests were willing to do anything about it. This is why people must stop the unnecessary harm to the environment themselves.

Zach Bjornson Hooper:
Las Lomas High School
No one person really got me started on environmental work, rather the work of many people including Julia Butterfly Hill, Ocean Robbins, etc really got me concerned about environmental destruction. I'd been doing some small projects before EarthTeam's time, and then I saw an article featuring EarthTeam and got involved with lots of their projects. Now I'm part of the Youth Coalition and have taken a bigger step with environmental work.

Thien Le:
De Anza
I earned a scholarship to go be part of a 25-day mountaineering trip on the mountains of California during the summer of 2000. My group leader name was Mark, and he taught us to leave no trace and conserve the delicate eco system of the wilderness. For the first time after 1 week of camping we were eating at a restaurant, I used too much of napkin - and Mark told me that I didn't have to use any napkin when I was camping. I learned from the experience to reduce the use of everyday non-necessary items to help the environment. I stood on top of a peak in Yosemite National park and was breathless on how green and beautiful nature is. Then I remembered the familiar places at home, full of asphalt and polluted with toxic chemicals, and kids with asthma. Then I made up my mind to conserve whatever is left of this natural wonder so that other people from my community and I can come back again in the future and become breathless all over again.

Jeff Gustafson:
San Ramon Valley High
My passion and inspiration first stemmed not from a single incident or event, but from an entire childhood. Living in suburban Columbia, Maryland in my elementary years running from yard to yard and the stretches of forest in between each street, I became attached to nature in a way that would only be corrupted by words. By spending all of my free time outdoors, it became my haven, my favorite place, my life. As I watched my friends carelessly litter or break branches for our games and forts, I developed my passions. This was the most wonderful place and through this day I will stand to defend it.

Jessica Burgeson:
Antioch High School
My cat has surprisingly given me the inspiration. Autumn was a very playful kitten, and when I noticed how as he got older he lost his spunk and became broken due to captivity, it saddened me. It made me concerned for the other animals losing their natural homes, living in zoos and losing their spark and their soul.

Therman Rich:
Antioch High School
One person that has inspired me to take care of the environment is my dad. Since he works in the field of landscaping, he has taught me to leave your surroundings better than when you found it. He always picks up after himself, and people respect him because of it. This has taught me that people can respect me for how I live my life and treat the environment.

Dan Bedford:
Antioch High School
The experience that made me care about the environment was a little trip to our local wetlands. When we arrived there it was like we were so far away from the city, but truly we had only traveled about a mile outside of town. It was so amazing what taking care of our environment could change. There were so many birds, plants, and other animals. It left me thinking of how I treat my environment.

Nick Tablanza:
Antioch High School
The experience that has inspired me to care about the environment was taking a trip to the Mendocino National Forest and seeing half of it burned. I was just there a year before walking through thousands of trees. Then one year later and half of that was gone.

Stuart Lessig:
Antioch High School
The only person who comes close is my Dad, since he is the one who got me involved with the environment by taking me on so many fishing, hiking, and backpacking trips.

Jennifer Williams:
Antioch High School
My grandma has inspired me to care about the environment. She gets very upset when she sees people throwing their garbage down. Sometimes she will go out and pick up all the garbage around where she lives.

Angela Westmoreland:
Antioch High School
My mom is the person who inspired me to care about the environment. The reason being she has always taught me to throw my trash in the garbage not the ground because it could get washed down the drain and into the river.

David Willis:
Antioch High School
A person that has inspired me to take care of the environment is Paul Eilers. He showed me the importance of maintaining trails by keeping them clean. If everybody that walked on a trail left only 1 piece of garbage, the trail would be covered with garbage by the end of the month. If the trail is littered with garbage then that makes the trail unenjoyable for everybody.

David Harris:
UC Berkeley
The one thing that inspired me to care about the environment was in fact a cartoon called “Captain Planet”. The show was about a bunch of kids (about 5) that cared so much for the environment that they were given special environment power rings by the super hero “Captain Planet” to assist them in stopping people who would do harm to the planet. They were given the powers of earth, water, wind, fire, and heart to save the environment.

Willie Siddiqi:
Antioch High School
An experience that has really inspired me to care about the environment was when I went to summer camp with the Boy Scouts. I took a few merit badges that involved nature but the main one was the Environmental Science merit badge. I learned a lot about conservation of the environment and species and I have been interested in environmental studies ever since.

Arlen Silva:
Antioch High School
What has inspired me is probably living next to the Marina both in Pittsburg and Antioch. I enjoy walking my dogs by the water and I want to see the shores of the Marina clean and beautiful. It’s a nice place to go to when you just want to relax and it’s a shame to see all the trash and murky water when it can be so much better.

Emily Robinson:
Antioch High School
A variety of different experiences have inspired me to care about the environment. Seeing beautiful areas destroyed for no reason really angered me. People being lazy and not disposing their trash properly bother me greatly. Footage of rainforest destruction makes me want to stop it.

Daniel Evans:
Antioch High School
Seeing pictures and hearing stories of how beautiful and wild the country used to be inspired me to care about the environment. We’ve destroyed so much and just replaced it with parking lots and ugly, cold office buildings. Also, camping has played a large role in my inspiration. I think the only way to save the environment is to wipe out the entire human species.

Isaac Aquilar:
Antioch High School
The person who inspired me to care about the environment is my grandfather Eloy Sanabria. He was a farmer who learned a great deal about plants and how they work. When I was 6 years old, my grandfather and I would work in his garden, and even at that age I saw the tranquility that plants brought to his home. This time and knowledge that I acquired led me to respect the environment.

Elizabeth Kemp:
Antioch High School
Well I have always cared about the environment, it is where I live and I want it to be nice. But I remember when I was about 10 years old, learning about the rainforest and how we destroy it by logging and burning down trees. I was hurt knowing how we just diminish the rainforest.

Daniel Hernandez:
Antioch High School
As a young boy I lived in a small town in Mexico where my grandpa farmed. Because of this, I saw the importance nature played in our lives. When I came to the U.S., I quickly saw differences and how nature was undermined and is still so today. Now, I try to find ways to show the importance of nature.

Jessica Dean:
Antioch High School
The experience that most inspired me to care about the environment was seeing a giant sequoia tree that was cut down. My family and I went on a camping trip to the Sierras when I was eight years old. We went on a trail that had several stops along the way where you could read about historical events that occurred in the area. One of the stops was the base of a tree that was 90 ft around. Loggers in the 1800’s had cut down the tree and used the base as a stage or dance floor. Everyone in the group I was hiking with climbed up on it and started walking around. They were talking about how big it was, but all I could think about was how big could it have been if they had just left it to grow. After that trip I have been interested in how to protect the environment.

Lontavious Johnson:
Antioch High School
When the tanker spilled, it made me realize how serious pollution is. Everyone has littered and I know I have. I say that it’s just one piece, but then many others probably say that too. Just think if everyone picked up a piece of paper or throw their trash in the garbage, the world would be a lot cleaner.

Question of the Month for March - Answers Invited

If you had the power to create an environmental law what would it be and why?"

See your name and school in print! Please send your answer to JennyC@acterra.org SheilahF@earthteam.net by February 17. Be sure to include your name, school and the city your school is in.

By order of the federal government, the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shut off three of eight major pumps on Lake Havasu that transfers water from the Colorado River to California on New Years Day at 8:00 am. The federal government called for a suspension on California’s use of surplus water from the Colorado River.

According to New York Times, the district and other California water agencies did not meet the December 31 federal deadline for an agreement that would outline how California would reduce its overuse of the Colorado River water.

The federal government warned that it would cut off the state’s excess Colorado River water supply if an agreement was not approved by the deadline.

Precious Water of Colorado River So much life is dependent on the Colorado River. The Colorado River Project states that the Colorado River supplies water to over 25 million people and helps to irrigate 3.5 million of acres of farmland. More water is exported from the Colorado River's 250,000 square-mile basin than from any other river basin in the world.

Sources report that for years, California has used 800,000 acre-feet of surplus water that neighboring states didn't need. Under an agreement with six other Western states, California is entitled to draw 4.4 million acre-feet of water, but has typically used 5.2 million acre-feet of water. Rapid growth and drought across the region prompted the other states to complain to the U.S Department of Interior about enforcing the agreement. However, Adan Ortega, a spokesman for the water district stated that the water would have been not used by consumers, but stored as part of a long- term strategy to build California’s reserves and wean the state off the river.

It’s been reported that Southern California currently has enough stored water to last up to two years. If a long-term plan to reduce its reliance on the Colorado River is approved, the state could possibly have its surplus water supply restored.

“Choices we routinely make every day add up to large environmental impacts”

Here are few water saving tips from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:

• Change your old toilet with a new water-efficient model. Since 1994, that's the only kind you can buy in California.
• Check with your retail water agency about the availability of financial incentives.
• Check to see if your toilets are leaking. Put some food coloring in the tank and see if it enters the bowl without flushing. If it does, try replacing the flapper.
• Install a new water-efficient showerhead. It saves on hot water energy costs and stretches the availability of hot water for others.
• Look at how water is used at your work and consider suggesting some of these same ideas to management. They'll save water and sewer charges and improve their bottom line. Also, check with local utilities to see if they offer financial incentives to encourage retrofits.

Water Saving Tips


Sources :
Water Education Foundation - Colorado River
http://www.water-ed.org/coloradoriver.asp

In a First, U.S. Puts Limits on California's Thirst
http://www.nytimes.com/ads/amex_popunder10103.html

After being subjected to many years of anti-drug courses from fourth grade on through my junior year in high school, I find it sad that I fall into a minority: those of us who haven’t tried any drugs and plan not to. Certainly I was not one of only a few students who actually paid attention in my D.A.R.E years. The D.A.R.E program along with all other anti-drug programs now widely taught have one common flaw. This is that they label drugs as “bad” and “harmful,” words powerful enough only to keep elementary and middle school children away from them. But, we adolescents are immortal and invincible, great beings that can neither harm nor feel any pain. With this mind-set, drugs are no longer “bad,” for they, like everything else, can do nothing to harm us. The result: drugs everywhere.

There is no question that the human race has a great impact upon the natural environment and as every day passes, the effects of our species become ever clearer and more defined. News reports and articles describing what seems to be an Armageddon due to ecological disaster and destruction has lost almost all practical meaning to many around the world. Pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, population, loss of ecosystems, etc. are issues that we all confront on a day to day basis and yet the majority of the population sits back and continues contributing to the escalating problems. It is hard to convince society of the great need to reform when the effects appear to be so small that they are unnoticeable to the average person or have no direct influence in their lives. Yes, we hear constantly about global warming, but it was cold enough to make everyone wear a jacket this morning, so what’s the problem with a little more heat? We are immortal and invincible, great beings that can neither harm nor feel any pain. The result: a population driving rapidly (in an SUV) toward an unsustainable future and ultimately destruction.

For me, the urge to protect the environment comes from my own personal connection with nature, from the sense of awe and wonder that the natural world presents, but also from an innate desire for survival. In the course of human history, there was a point where we broke away from the typical circle of life and began our domination over the world. At this very point, we reached a deep gorge with a frail rope bridge only strong enough to allow the population to the other side. As industry and technology increased as it continues to do today, the environment, our rope bridge, suffered drastically. What doesn’t seem to be understood by the general population is that we absolutely depend upon a healthy environment and a healthy planet, for it supplies everything that we need to live. As we destroy the environment, we are each standing on the bridge with saws cutting away in ignorance as the future becomes the long fall to the jagged rocks on the bottom of the gorge. It is possible to pass the gorge safely, but it will require change immediately. Let us put down our saws and continue crossing into a sustainable future!

We are killing ourselves and we don’t even know it. I’ll give everyone the choice to live or to die. I already know the overwhelming vote will be to live. This is it, this is life, and we know nothing but it and if you see clearly enough, you will love it and realize that it is everything. You can find it everywhere in our society and in nature, this obsession with betterment and survival and I praise all who are “selfish” even though our society interprets and uses the word “selfish” almost always to denote something in a negative manner.

Now, for those of you who are questioning the significance of the first paragraph, I have not forgotten it and plan to expand upon it. After the insufficient influences of the anti-drug programs have bowed to the adolescent monarch, drugs are tried by a large majority of students and people. Although many drugs are far from lethal when just experimented with a single time, multiple doses can be extremely harmful to one’s health in the long term and can even be deadly. What keeps one in the boundaries of the law? Is it the great desire to follow rules and to please society as a role model community member? I think not, for when a law is made official, there is the enforcement of the law and the penalties. Why don’t I drive 50 mph up my residential street? Because I fear the consequences. Fear is the key. I praise the "selfish,” for they fight for the betterment of themselves and fear anything that could possibly end their life or progress. What if we went into elementary school classes and replaced the statement, “drugs may be harmful to your health” with “drugs can only have negative influences in your life and on your health and WILL contribute to an earlier death or missed opportunities?” The idea of guaranteed problems and even a shortened life will motivate kids and provide support for their position on “saying no” much stronger as well as making each person more prepared to support it through the reign of the adolescent mind. Fear will force us to fight for the betterment of our lives and ourselves. Although many might argue that fear should not be added to the curriculum at any age, I retort that it’s far too late for that. After all, why do we do our homework?

When you listen to the agenda of the present presidential administration, the environment does not come up and this very idea puzzles me. If people are naturally and innately striving for their own success and happiness, then it would only be fitting that organizations and governments would hold the same traits, for they are only institutions made up of people. It is no mistake that governments and society run exactly as they do, yet I have heard ideal after ideal on saving the environment calling for a massive and complete social revolution to reverse the destructive ways of the world, that we must all come together as one, and that social justice must be obtained before any ecological revolution is to occur. In my opinion, revolution is not necessary and will take far too long. The environment is beginning to collapse and what we don’t have to stop this, is time.

It is my view that although we are bound into a community, each individual is in constant competition with each other and “selfishness” is rampant. It is quite sad, but peace and social justice will never be completely obtained because the human mind is set with this state of competition at all times and will create rifts between individuals no matter how intimate. I am fully supportive of the fight for social justice and find it to be one of the noblest movements to stand behind, however, I believe that although laws may reduce social injustice, it is not erasable completely. Although in many ways this “selfishness” creates large social problems, I believe the answer to saving the environment can be found by using it. By using and manipulating the social systems, governments, and institutions that we already have established, we can use the innate urges of each individual to change to world. This way, a revolution is not needed to pioneer its way into a sustainable future and waste precious time. We must not present the issue fully in an environmental context, for many hold the same ideals as an adolescent towards drugs with the environment: it has no effect on me. We must move past words that anti-drug courses use to fully convince the population of the world that our lives are in serious danger in the future and that problems WILL emerge sooner that we think. The message must reach down to the “selfishness” of most everyone to trigger an innate urge for reform as the downfall of nature presents itself more obviously in our everyday lives. To those who are not deeply passionate for nature, the message must make them fully grasp that the environment in their bridge, their life-line, and that destroying it as we are today, is cutting the bridge as they stand upon it and without the life-line, there is no life or hope.

I am not writing to tell everyone what that message should be or how to present it, but rather to say that it is greatly needed and that all who wish to save the environment are responsible to work on developing it to present to the world. In so doing, the environment will not be left off the agenda of the most influential country in the world or any other for that matter and steps will be taken to allow the signs of environmental disaster to reverse and man to live more equitably with nature. I understand that this ideal is quite vague and undefined, buy I invite everyone to help answer this question: how can we, at this present time, use the current social institutions to bring about rapid environmental reform? Social revolution takes drastic time that is too valuable to waste so I suggest that we must manipulate the systems that we have to get the fastest results. Society is perfectly created for the workings of the natural man, so revolution will prove in vain. We must use the system! The clock is ticking!

A Visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Every day I would love to hear something about aquatic life. After my experience at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I value marine life even more. I love all of the amazing sea animals that look so alien-like. It would be horrible to hear on the news one day that the lives of sea animals were in danger because of human acts. It would be disrespectful to disturb, injure, or even kill our sea animals just because of some project. It would be like someone running us all out of our area with no warning; just tearing down our houses, destroying precious lives, and forcing us to move to a brand new area, without much time to adapt. If people don't adapt quick enough, it would only lead to one thing - death. That is like what happens to our aquatic life.

I thought it would be interesting to find out what opinions my fellow classmates have about the environment before we head out into the world to start our new lives so this month, I decided to do brief interviews with nine seniors at my high school. Note: These interviews were done with students not actively involved with environmental causes in order to get the perspective of average teens.

Sara Estrada

At what point do you think environmentalists cross the line?

When they put the needs of animals over the needs of people

Mark Wilson

In comparison to other issues that you feel affect you, how would you rate your concern about environmental causes on a scale of 1 to 10.

Four. It’s not that I think other things are more important, it’s just that I don’t think about it that much.

Irene Berania

What is your opinion of environmentalists?

It is nice that they’re doing it [helping the environment] so we can have clean air and stuff because pollution causes cancer and I don’t want cancer.

Deepu Bindal

Are there any environmental issues that you strongly agree or disagree with?

I don’t like it when I see people trashing their own community. I also don’t like that President Bush is drilling for oil in the Mexico Gulf.

Cindy Ma

Do you feel like you are more informed about local or worldwide environmental issues?

Worldwide issues because of mass media and celebrities talking about it.

Yolanda Kinard

What is your opinion of environmentalists?

I think that environmentalists are good because without them we’d end up with like 3 trees left.

Carmen Palomera

Are there any environmental issues you strongly agree or disagree with?

I really agree with animal rights. I don’t think people should wear animal skin and I don’t think people should be allowed to do testing on animals or have them in the circus. Dressing a chimpanzee up in a tutu for amusement is wrong.

Tina Boyer

At what point do you think environmentalists cross the line?

I think they cross the line when they put people’s lives in danger or when what they do affects our way of life.

In comparison to other issues that you feel affect you, how would you rate your concern about environmental causes on a scale of 1 to 10?

Six or seven because I go hunting and fishing a lot so since I am always around nature it makes me want to preserve it. It’s not the most important thing in my life though.

Michael Santos

Do you feel like you are more informed about local or worldwide environmental issues?

I don’t know because nobody tells me anything. I guess local because of the weather.

I’d like, for a moment, to touch on the issue of war.

It has come to my attention that some environmentalists are touting that the potential war on Iraq is not at all an environmental issue, and that it only relates to the worlds of politics and social problems. I, for one, strongly disagree. Firstly, once nuclear, biological, chemical, or even just plain ol’ warfare is brought into the picture, we’re obviously talking about an environmental issue. Common sense, as well as past experience, tells us that battle totally devastates the local natural environment. Bombs don’t just kill people, you know. More importantly though, is the fact that neither the human race nor nature lives in its own private, impenetrable bubble. We do in fact completely share the same world. I propose that war and the environment are not only related issues, but are in fact two sub-issues of an overarching one. And no, I’m not just talking about oil.

I probably don’t have to tell you that a war in Iraq is expected to turn into urban warfare in huge cities, resulting in thousands upon thousands of civilian deaths. How can we expect to become, or even pretend to be, a society with any regard for the environment if millions of us are willing to do that to members of our own species? After all, are those civilians guilty of anything more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time?

I say that we, as a movement of committed individuals looking to limit, reverse, or revolutionize the way our people treat Mother Nature, must take this timely opportunity to limit, reverse, or revolutionize the way we treat each other.

Now, I’m obviously not speaking to those of you who believe a war on Iraq is a moral imperative, or even ethically acceptable. To you, I can only direct you to sources that may convince you otherwise: Global Exchange, Alternet, and Not In Our Name.

I’m writing this for the majority of us, who know, feel, or think that there’s something just plain wrong about Bush’s plans for war. I feel with all my heart that we must come together around this issue, whether or not it fits the traditional definition of an “environmental issue”. We need to mobilize around this issue simply because it is so immediate, so important, and because there is so much we can do about it. (Perhaps your environmental club can start an anti-war campaign?)

Glory's Dying Rays
by Rebecca Smith

On a spur of rock jutting out into the sea lies a lighthouse,
lonely and forlorn in the waning light.
From its vantage point it can see for miles into the sunset,
the sun's last rays mixing colors into the drab clouds hovering on the horizon.
Waves, anxious to wreak havoc upon the lighthouse,
vainly stretch upwards before crashing back down into the tumultuous waters below.
These seething waters that converge and separate around the promontory
have gradually worn away the sturdy foundation upon which the lighthouse depends.
The eons have left their mark upon the lighthouse itself, as well,
having reduced it to a feeble structure that creaks in the slightest gale.
Seabirds, careening on the last warm air currents of a summer evening,
cry out with the joy of living.
Oh, if only one could regain what they had lost.
Gone are the days of glory
when humans' only salvation lay in the beam radiating out from the lighthouse's core.
The sun is setting on the age of exploration
and in the deepening shadows,
the lighthouse weeps for what once was and what can never be.