Green Options » beach

37 Miles of Australian Beaches Declared Disaster Zone Due to Oil Spill

Derek Markham — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:26:38 +0000

Some of Australia’s most popular white sand beaches were declared a disaster zone today after an 11,000 gallon fuel oil spill from the cargo ship Pacific Adventurer.

The oil blackened miles of pristine beaches and has led to the detainment of the ship by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

“This could … be the worst environmental disaster we have faced.” - Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier

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Toxic Ship Firm Fined $500k For Illegal Sale of Deadly PCBs

Andrew Williams — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:31:36 +0000

The US Environmental Protection Agency has imposed a record fine on a toxic ship dealer for attempting to export a ship containing deadly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to the infamous shipbreaking beaches of South Asia.

Toxic Trade pressure group Basel Action Network claimed victory after Global Shipping LLC and Global Marketing Systems, Inc. were ordered to pay $518,500 for the alleged illegal distribution and export of a ship containing PCBs in violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Commenting on the judgement, Jim Puckett, Executive Director of Basel Action Network said, “”While half a million dollars is not much of a financial deterrent for such actors when a single ship can be worth well over $5 million in scrap steel, they are now on notice - another such export would be a “knowing and willful” criminal violation, and they could find themselves behind bars.”

The action was brought after Basel Action Network and the Save the Classic Liners Campaign informed the EPA when they discovered that Global Marketing Systems, Inc. had bought the SS Oceanic, a cruise ship formerly known as the SS Independence.

The company towed the toxic ship out of San Francisco Bay intending to scrap the vessel on the beaches of India and Bangladesh in South Asia.

“While the Oceanic wasn’t recalled to the U.S., we’re very happy that EPA took their job seriously and that one of the world’s leading exporters and exploiters of the infamous shipbreaking beaches of South Asia has finally been held to account,” said Puckett.

Around 700 toxic ships are exported to the once pristine beaches of Asia for scrapping. The coastline is now strewn with a cocktail of polluting material including, machinery parts, oil rags and leaking barrels. The local air is poisoned by open fires, the land and surrounding water are contaminated by asbestos, heavy metals, dioxins and other persistent organic pollutants and the workers are unprotected from toxic substances, explosions and falling steel.

Image Credit - misserion via flickr on a Creative Commons license

Top 5 Must Haves for an Eco-Friendly Beach Vacation with Kids

Kristen Chase — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:52:43 +0000

With all the cold, overcast weather we’ve had here in Atlanta, I have to say we’ve time our vacation perfectly. Okay, so we actually had no choice in the matter thanks to my husband job, but still, heading to the beach in the dead of winter sounds practically perfect to me. So, in exactly one week (oh yes, I’m counting), I’ll be packing up my family of five and shoving off to a warm beach destination, which in the past has meant one gigantic eco nightmare.

Granted, it is vacation and so it’s going to be hard to keep things as green minded as I usually try to be, but thanks to so many exciting new products, it’s not that hard to go green on vacation.

Whether you’re flying off to an island resort, or just taking a long drive South for the winter, here are some great products that will help lessen your carbon footprint and still enjoy the sun and sand.

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Dubai to Create World’s First Refrigerated Beach

Andrew Williams — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:01:15 +0000

Most of the time here at Cleantechnica, we report on important technical advances and breakthroughs that help mankind to reduce its harmful impact on the environment. Once in a while though, a tech story emerges that highlights how willfully unconcerned some people are with the green issues that worry the rest of us.

The latest news from Dubai falls squarely into the latter category. It seems that planners in the Arab state have stumbled on the great idea of creating a fully refrigerated beach so that tourists don’t burn their feet. From late next year, guests at the exclusive Palazzo Versace hotel will enjoy private access to the beach, situated next to the main building.

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Feel Sexy and Hot in that Bikini: Modeling Green Swimsuits, Part II

Lucille Chi — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:56:59 +0000

Above left to right~

The first look shown is an affordable, Aaron Chang suit, with class and style. “A classy, full-coverage one-piece with gold accent straps. Adjustable tie straps criss-cross the back. It has a nice stretch, and will stay put during water sports.”
The Mikaela Swimsuits by Jungle Gurl, are great. These are cool one-of-a kind bikinis, created from vintage fabrics from all over the world.
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Feel Sexy and Hot in that Bikini this Summer: Modeling Green Swimsuits at the Beach

Lucille Chi — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:35:18 +0000

Shown above from left to right~

Kelly B has created by far the most sophisticated eco swimsuit seen yet! Front ring gathers the top, under bust stitching provides shaping and lined in front for full coverage. “Halter ties remove so you can wear it strapless if you prefer. 3 fabric strips on each side give this 1-piece back interest. They tie together for a perfect fit around the bodice.”
For less coverage try this triangle bikini by Anna Cohen (a Portland based designer on a mission to marry cutting edge fashion with sustainability) which has flattering low rise, side tie bottoms with a neck and back tie triangle top. The beautiful teal color is fade resistant and will dry fast. “Created using surplus fabric leftover from making Olympic speed skater uniforms”
Named the Blissful bikini by Nikster.
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Beach Trips Make Good Sea Glass Pendants

Kelly Rand — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:30:52 +0000

One of my favorite things about summer, hands down, is the beach. I grew up very close by so my summers were always very beach filled. I’ve also been very lucky that throughout my adult life, I’ve had the same privilege. I might not be as close as when I was in school, but through a little bit of coaxing I can usually get a friend with a car to take the drive to the shore.

The beach is such a wonderful place. The waves, the sand, the sun, the wind and the veritable treasures that the ocean provides is a wonderful sensory smorgasbord! I love tide pools and the small vignettes of life found within. I love picking up and looking over beautiful pebbles, shells and sea glass.

I usually don’t take any of the small treasures that I find, often admiring them then giving them back to the waves. But one time, I found this amazing piece of sea glass. It is small and rounded and it is tinted this great soft green. I’ve kept hold of it for a good long time in my jewelry box thinking that one day I’ll do something with it.

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California’s 2008 Beach Report Card Released

Cassie Walker — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:00:41 +0000

With the Memorial Day holiday weekend fast approaching, Heal the Bay has perfect timing for all of you beach-goers: they have just released their 18th Annual Beach Report Card, which grades the water quality at California’s beaches. And, as expected, there’s good news and bad news.

Do you want the good news first, or the bad news? Good news it is! California achieved its best “dry-weather” beach water quality since recording began. During last year’s summer season, 93% of beaches received an A or B grade, based on daily and weekly bacteria measurements taken from April, 2007 to March, 2008. That figure is up 8% from the prior year.

That is good news, at least until you learn that last year’s drought in SoCal contributed to this improvement. With less rainfall, the amount of urban runoff traveling through our storm drains and out into the ocean was reduced. Urban runoff consists of everything that hits the ground, from cigarette butts to plastic bottles to dog doo. Because of this disgusting stew, “wet-weather” results are not good, with 26% of beaches receiving F grades.

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