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Ocean Pollution California Article
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Land Pollution: Forever Changing Geography
from:When you think of land pollution, perhaps you think of general pollution like people throwing rubbish onto the side of the road but it is much more. Basically, land pollution is the decline of the earth’s surfaces caused by misuse of the land.
How Did It All Happen?
There is no one particular cause of this type of pollution. No one person or group who can be held responsible. A few examples of how this has happened would include:
• Wastes – Urban and Industrial wastes had to go somewhere, so the school of thought was to dig a large hole in the ground and dump it there. Once you cover it up then it just goes away, right? Well, eventually we learned that it takes many years for some of these things to decompose and others have yet to do so. The decomposition also led to leakage of toxins into the soil.
• Minerals – With the need of certain minerals to keep things running, such as coal, we quickly exploited our lands to strip mining. Many people got rich from this but you have to wonder at what cost to our precious Earth.
• Agricultural – Farming may seem like it would be harmless, however before we learned about proper crop rotation and fertilization, we would abuse the land with one type of crop and when the land would no longer produce because we stripped it of its vital nutrients, then we would abandon that land and move on.
How Can We Stop It?
Thankfully, we have learned a few expensive lessons along the way. Many new laws were instilled to prevent strip mining, crowded landfills, and proper crop rotation and fertilization. However, we have much more work to do and we all can help. A few suggestions:
• The three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We have all heard of these three words, but they become increasingly important. We need to reduce the amount of waste that needs disposal and smart buying can help to do this. Reuse an item for another purpose instead of buying an additional item; so get your creativity cap on and think how an item can be used again. Recycle anything and everything you can. Get your local government involved and get a program started in your area. Another idea is to bring your unwanted clothes and household items to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army so others can benefit.
• Budgeting – Budget your fuel usage in your car and at home. Doing this will lessen the demand of fuel and will conserve our fossil fuels. Lump your errands together and put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat. Also, learning about alternative fuels and getting local government involved in the solution is always a good idea.
• Smart gardening – Having your own garden provides enjoyment and fresh food for you. However, take on the organic way of gardening so you are not dumping pesticides and chemical fertilizers into your own soil.
Land pollution has been in the making ever since man started learning what the soil can provide us. We are supposed to get smarter as we evolve and hopefully greed and productivity do not get in the way of that.
Ocean Pollution California Specific links
Ocean Pollution California News
Water at California beaches cleanest in years - San Francisco Chronicle
 KTLA | Water at California beaches cleanest in years San Francisco Chronicle Nearly every beach in the Bay Area, and throughout the state, had dramatically lower levels of bacteria and pollution than last year, according to an annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches by Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica environmental group. LA County Home to 7 of State's Most Polluted Beaches 7 of 10 Dirtiest California Beaches Are in Los Angeles County Bay Area Beaches Get Mostly Good Grades in 'Heal the Bay' Report |
LA Council moves to ban plastic grocery bags - BusinessWeek
 Greener Ideal | LA Council moves to ban plastic grocery bags BusinessWeek A large percentage of ocean pollution is plastic, she said, and that pollution damages ocean life and the jobs that depend on it. The ban was opposed by lobbyists for manufacturers and union employees who produce the ubiquitous bags and argued that a ... Los Angeles Largest US City to Ban Plastic Bags Los Angeles City Council expected to ban plastic bags, improve marine health L.A.'s Plastic and Paper Bag Ban is Built on Past Mistakes |
Ocean Acidification: The Local Story - The Daily Score
Ocean Acidification: The Local Story The Daily Score When people learn that carbon dioxide pollution is turning our oceans more corrosive, it's tempting to decide that the problem is too big for any person or local government to tackle. But as our knowledge of ocean acidification continues to evolve, ... |
Surfrider partners with city to promote ocean-friendly gardens - Ventura County Star
Surfrider partners with city to promote ocean-friendly gardens Ventura County Star By Christopher Stolz Pamela Berstler (front center) of the G3 Green Gardens Group, talks about a soil sample during an ocean-friendly gardening workshop held April 15 in Ventura. To reduce flooding, prevent street pollutants from washing into the ocean ... |
Toxic tsunami debris will flood Alaska shores - Anchorage Daily News
Toxic tsunami debris will flood Alaska shores Anchorage Daily News A recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimate stated that 1.5 million tons of tsunami-generated debris will hit the North American west coast. That translates into 30 billion pounds. If only 1% of that reaches Alaska's shores, ... |