London favors plastic bag fee over ban

Proposals to introduce a ban on plastic shopping bags in London have been withdrawn by council leaders [because they favor a plastic bag fee].

London Councils - the umbrella body for the city's 33 councils - dropped the measure after ministers pledged a minimum charge on plastic bags. Ministers hope the charge will lead retailers to cut the number of bags they offer and reduce consumer demand.

About 1.6 billion bags are used in London every year and only one in 200 of these is recycled, said London Councils. Merrick Cockell, of London Councils, said the aim of the city-wide ban was to rid the capital of the "environmental blight" of plastic bags.

Full article available here.

Bag Monster sighting at Encinitas elementary school

Bag Monster sighted early Wednesday morning at Paul Ecke Central School in Encinitas, CA. This Bag Monster lamented over being kicked out of Ireland, South Africa, San Francisco, Malibu, Manhattan Beach and the Town of Fairfax (by overwhelming public vote in the recent election!) – expressing his desire to keep a “home” in Encinitas.

Rest assured, the mighty 4^th graders turned the Bag Monster away with the Oath to remind their family and friends to use reusable shopping bags over paper or plastic whenever they shop. Rejected yet again, the Bag Monster blew across the room and out the door – threatening to send his “Sister Bag Monster” over to City Hall make a plea to the Mayor & City Council.

It’s rumored that the evil “Sister Bag Monster” will try to take over the media event. Come show your support, get your own reusable bags out in the Courtyard during the press event – help us thank the businesses that generously donated over 1,600 bags on top of the 2,500 of the “city logo” bags that will be given out at 9 locations around town AND help us tell “Sister Bag Monster” to “GET OUTTA TOWN!”

Breaking News: Bag Monsters organize counter-protest to "Day Without A Bag" November 18th in Los Angeles area

Be part of the solution: Join Heal the Bay in giving up single-use bags on Thurs., December 18th.

Bag Monsters will be at events inspired by Heal the Bay in locations all over Southern California. The event's mission helping people to adopt a consistent reusable bag habit and ChicoBag has donated thousands of compact reusable bags for those in attendance - except for the Bag Monsters.

Here's more info on the Santa Barbara portion of "A Day Without A Bag"...

JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU’S OCEAN FUTURES SOCIETY AND SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY GIVE A HOLIDAY GIFT TO THE ENVIRONMENT!

On December 18th, 2008, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society is planning and hosting the Santa Barbara County portion of the statewide campaign - A Day Without A Bag. This is a community wide event in Santa Barbara County to help develop positive eco-friendly behavior and use of sustainable products. Together with the help of over 35 local businesses, city government entities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, OFS will educate community members of all ages about the significant effect single-use bags have on our environment. Volunteers will hand out approximately 6,000 reusable bags available at various locations throughout Santa Barbara County.

Reusable bags and information about how we as a community, and as individuals, can make positive changes and choices for our environment will be available at over 24 locations throughout Santa Barbara County on December 18th, 2008. For more information on the “Day Without A Bag” campaign in Santa Barbara County and where you can receive your reusable bag and take an environmental pledge, go to www.echossb.com, or contact Andrea Neal, the OFS “Day Without a Bag” Event Coordinator. Please come out and support this great community and our efforts to make this year and every year a greener holiday and future! -

About Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society (OFS) Ocean Futures Society is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. With the motto, “Protect the ocean and you protect yourself.” The mission of OFS is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. OFS is based in Santa Barbara, California, with offices in Paris, France Lucca, Italy, and São Paulo, Brasil. For more information, visit Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society at www.oceanfutures.org.

Contacts for Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society and “Day Without A Bag” events:
Andrea Neal, “Day Without A Bag” Event Coordinator (626) 808-8737, Email: andrea@nealenterprises.com

Karen Keltner, Ambassadors of the Environment Education Program Director (805) 899-8899 ext. 104, Email: kkeltner@oceanfutures.org

OFS Ambassadors of the Environment program website: www.aote.org

Eco Elvis dukes it out with a Bag Monster! Will the King prevail over plastics?

Have a green Christmas, let Eco Elvis show you how it's done!


Eco Elvis takes on a Bag Monster in a no-holds-barred grudge match! YERT shares some Christmas spirit with The King of "green" and gets schooled on the three R's. Can Julie's ChicoBag save the day?