Since its recent popularization, bottled water (in all its flavors) has become one of the most consumed, yet least recycled beverages. For example, it is estimated that in 2005 alone approximately 30 billion plastic water bottles were purchased, with only about 12% recycled (in part due to out-dated deposit laws). The remaining 25 billion bottles were either landfilled, littered or incinerated. Obviously that's a lot of bottles, but statistics involving "billions of bottles per year" can be difficult to put into perspective.This computer animation provides a simple visual comparison of the rate at which plastic water bottles were recycled (approx. 100 bottles/second) to the nonrecycled rate (approx. 845 bottles/second; see image) in 2005. To make it more compelling we simulated and rendered both torrents of plastic water bottles using custom multibody dynamics, collisions, finite-element structural vibrations and sound synthesis. Portland chapter is starting the work on plastic bags...another culprit of environmental disasters at sea. Join the Ban the Bag campaign to learn more and get involved!

Tired of listening to the unstoked say that surfing isn't a legitimate economic contribution to coastal communities and to Oregon? Surfrider has partnered with an online survey called "Surf First" to get a better grasp on the socioeconomic contribution on a nationwide level, and you can do your part by providing information of your contribution in Oregon. Our goal with the survey is to better understand the demographics, behaviors and economics of surfing around the nation. Hopefully, that information will help all of us better protect the coastal environment. To participate in the study, click on the link below:

Pint Night: Pints Against Plastic has been cancelled due to inclement weather and travel conditions! Please spread the word, we will try and reschedule for sometime early in the new year. For now, take some action on Portland's Ban The Bag Campaign - Click Here!

Got a case of the sewage sniffles...ya know, every fall just after the rain, surf sessions turn to sniffle sessions. Meager infections of the gastrointestinal to the sinus drip leave you fatigued or running duck-legged to the nearest bathroom. We all get it and we often seem to buck it up for the session, regardless of the advisory alert or the recent results from one of our Blue Water Task Force labs. My standard fall surf haiku: The east wind calls me, to the ocean less than blue, poop does not deter. But does it have to be that way? Storm water infiltrates and ovewhelms our aging sewer lines, pump stations fail, beaches become posted advisories of contamination, city managers and public works staff work overtime...dig, replace, replumb, repeat. Our coastal cities are forced by small budgets to operate on disaster response. Rarely do we find comprehensive planning for repairing and budgeting for these out of sight, out of mind systems. This winter, we embark on a public awareness campaign to highlight solution-based efforts to water quality issues in coastal Oregon. We're planning to collaborate on a Winter Water Film Series in the coming months. We're kicking off our efforts next Thursday with "Liquid Assets" in Newport Oregon (www.surfrider.org/centralcoastoregon). We're sleuthing sewer solutions in Seaside (www.surfrider.org/oregon/northcoast/index.html). Volunteer for one of our Blue Water Task Force labs, plug into your local communities planning, get involved and stay tuned for more!

The Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) will be meeting in Lincoln City this week on Monday and Tuesday (17th& 18th) for discussions and deliberations to establish Marine Protected Areas and Reserves at specific sites within Oregon's Territorial Sea before passing their recommendation onto Governor Kulongoski. The Surfrider Foundation has been engaged through our membership and chapters on this issue in Oregon since 2001 through our Special Places Initiative, to find out more on this topic click on the issues section. As ocean users, we have been working within communities throughout Oregon to promote education, foster dialogue, and taking steps towards an ecosystem-based management approach to our ocean environment.

The OPAC meeting will be held at the Chinook Winds Convention Center, Mikonotunne Room, 1777 NW 44th St, in Lincoln City from 8am to 5pm. Public comment period will be from 1pm to 5pm on Monday, please come and show your support of individual sites as well as a network of reserves along Oregon's coast. If you can't attend the meeting in person, please take 15 minutes to make your voice heard by providing your comments at:

The Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) will be meeting in Florence this Thursday & Friday from 8am to 6pm at the Florence Events Center to review the 20 site proposals for Marine Reserves that have been submitted to ODFW by the public. On Thursday morning, ODFW will present an analysis of the proposals based upon ecological significance, minimizing socioeconomic impacts, and community collaboration. On Thursday afternoon the groups that have proposed the sites will be given the opportunity to give presentations on the proposals. Friday's meeting will largely be dedicated to public comment starting at 8am, if you are interested please come and show your support for protecting special places in Oregon's territorial sea.

Also, in Florence on Friday evening, and Saturday will be the 4th annual Heceta Head Coastal Conference featuring keynote presentations by world renowned marine scientist Dr. Bill Ballantine from New Zealand. To register for the conference, visit http://www.hecetaheadconference.org/

For more information, please contact Gus Gates @ ggates@surfrider.org