Southern Sierran
EVOLUTION OF A WASTE WATCHER
WHY ONE ANGELES CHAPTER MEMBER JOINED THE ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE, AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO!

BY BERNADETTE DOLLARD

Zero Waste Committee

I grew up with the kind of love of nature that comes from having the practical benefit of an oasis patch of urban woods for a playground. The three lanes I played on as a child backed right up to Prospect Hill Park, a twenty minute drive due west from Boston. Either by myself, with friends or siblings I spent numerous happy hours walking precious few trails bathed in the dappled light of a deciduous forest canopy accompanied by the original wall of sound from natures own sweet song birds. Their earnest solo performances often reached soaring heights of rapturous joy and beauty, such ironically large sound coming from fragile feathered little souls. Such a glad and welcome respite it was.

It was in those happy moments in the woods that nature showed me something rare. A predictable opportunity to unwind, relax and re-connect with not only myself but also something bigger than myself. Today Prospect Hill Park is considerably smaller encroached from all sides by housing and business park development.

I've lived a life that allows me to re-connect with nature as much as possible, not only for its sheer beauty, but also for its regenerative value as well. That is a big reason why 15 years ago I joined the Sierra Club. I had occasionally read about their victories. One piece of natural land protected after another. I decided I needed to add my name to their mailing list so I could get more positive mileage out of the small financial support I could offer.

Zoom ahead to 2009 and the threat of Global Warming. Now the challenges are global and require bigger effort. I see this as my time to step up and participate more than just by paying my annual membership dues. Helping to create a Zero Waste Society makes sense. What does that look like? A good start is the acceptance that today we don't ever throw anything away, just out of sight. Better infrastructure and plans need to be put in place to prevent or capture the waste and gases we generate today. I also know it means something bigger than what my efforts alone and those of my fellow citizen recyclers can attain. It will take new City, State, Federal Government policy and Industry intervention to guide us along to make the changes as quick as the planet needs us to make them. Government and Business cannot act quickly enough without support from the people. That is the local solution to this global problem.

To raise awareness and move others to want to embrace change to move forward the concept of ZERO WASTE. Start by doing what you can to prevent waste in the first place and also continue to recycle whatever you can. The ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE at the Sierra Club is moved to get the word out to Industry, local government and people like you. We need more hands on board this earth ship to help get this done. We would love to see you at our next scheduled meeting. We meet next on June 28th at 7:00PM in the Angeles Chapter office. Don't worry that you don't know enough to show up; showing up is the perfect step in the right direction. I have three empty spaces in my car donated to carpooling so if you need a lift from the Culver City area, email me at travelmorenow@earthlink.net

See you there.

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