The Rebels who Saved the Golden Gate

The city of Marincello was to be built in the virtually untouched Marin Headlands. The area's natural beauty and proximity to San Francisco made it a no-brainer for suburban developers of the time, who had hoped to establish a planned community of 30,000 people. The project city had everything going for it — the rise of suburbia, big corporate sponsorships, and immense natural beauty — that is until it ran up against a nascent environmental movement that would stop the project in its tracks, saving the Headlands forever from development.

Rebels with a Cause tells the story of how a group of conservationists, politicians, ranchers, farmers, and volunteers spearheaded a campaign to block development projects like Marincello. Today, the planned city lies within the boundaries of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of the most popular in the entire National Park Service.  The recreation area's existence is a direct result of the tireless work chronicled in Rebels with a Cause. Thanks to the efforts of those depicted in the film,  the only real remnant of Marincello is a mountain biking trail that follows what would have been the potential town's main boulevard.

"They were working against some behemoths, the biggest of which was Gulf Oil," said Kenji Yamamoto, the film's editor and co-producer. Formerly owned by the US military, Gulf Oil helped purchase a vast swath of land in the Headlands for the development. They weren't expecting a relentless effort to protect the land's natural beauty. "The campaigners always knew that it seemed impossible to battle against [Gulf Oil], but they kept on plugging away."

One of the most influential people in the fight against Marincello was Dr. Edgar Wayburn, a five-term president of the Sierra Club who was instrumental in the creation of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore just to the north. Aside from the influence of Dr. Wayburn, the film also stresses the importance of local government in the fight against Marincello.

"With local government you can accomplish so much more of the groundwork," said Yamamoto. "Local support is key to winning any battle. It could be against a Wal-Mart or any company that wants to come into your community."

Yamamoto believes that the legacy of Golden Gate Recreation Area and the rebels' fight has been felt far beyond the San Francisco Bay Area. The film received an especially warm reception recently at a screening in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Created in 2000 and just 20 minutes from Cleveland, the park has a similar urban proximity, and Yamamoto believes its creation was directly inspired by the fight for Golden Gate Recreation Area.

And Yamamoto hopes that Rebels has a similarly enduring legacy. The film has received a grant from Marin County that gives every school in the county a copy of the film and an accompanying readers' guide.

The film will be broadcast by American Public Television in tandem with Earth Week and Earth Month celebrations. Visit rebelsdocumentary.org for more info on the film.

--Image courtesy of iStockphoto/carterdayne

Callum Beals is an editorial intern at Sierra. He recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he studied history and literature. He enjoys hiking, camping, and waking up at ungodly hours to watch soccer games.

 

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Mission Compostable: Is Eco-Comedy Funny?

Why aren’t environmentalists funny? Because they recycle all their jokes.

Luckily this year’s Eco-Comedy Film Competition winners have better jokes than I do. Started by Professor Chris Palmer of American University, the competition is now in its fifth year and receives around 50 submissions annually. They are judged on multiple criteria and being funny is only one of them. The winning video receives $1,000.

Palmer, an environmental filmmaker and one-time stand up comedian, came up with the idea to combine his interests.

“[Participants] gain a renewed appreciation of how using comedy and humor can help convey the message of conservation more powerfully,” Palmer said. He hopes comedy can encourage people to act on environmental problems.

“Comedy has so much potential, and as advocates for our planet, we must learn to harness this potential to do good,” Palmer said at the DC Environmental Film Fest.

The winners were announced at American University. See this year’s top picks below.

First Place: Be a Better Roommate 

Second Place: Joe Wakes Up

Second Place: Go Green with Eloise

Third Place: Earth Copz  

 

 

--Cover image courtesy of iStock/

 

Bianca Hernandezis an editorial intern at Sierra. She recently received her MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and has written for various publications.

 

Read More: 

Green Your Humor: Irreverant News

Eco-Friendly Flicks

The Real Debbie Downer: An Interview with SNL's Rachel Dratch

 

6 Ways to Avoid Valentine’s Day

If any mention of Valentine’s Day has you cringing and gagging, we understand. All the fluffy pink, sparkly red, and mushy PDA at this time of the year gets to be a little much. Whether you’re a die-heard anti-Valentine’s Day-er at heart or simply feeling tired of all the hullabaloo, you can still have a nice, normal, non-gag inducing February 14. So grab your tennis shoes and get ready for the best un-Valentine’s Day ever.

1.) Go slow cycling. No weird two-seater bicycle needed for you. Pull out your bike or rent one from a shop nearby, and savor a leisurely ride while keeping an eye out for the invasive species (a.k.a. couples) in your path. They seem to be everywhere, but if you cross them, simply avert your eyes and visit your mental happy place. In the blink of an eye, they’ll have passed and the road will be all yours once again.

2.) Find a hidden treasure. Described by its fans as grown-up hide and seek, geocaching is a great way to get outdoors and feel a bit nostalgic at the same time. To geocache, you need a free basic membership from Geocaching.com and a GPS-enabled device. Then you simply search for geocaches near you and head out on your search. Geocaches can hold a number of objects, ranging from only the traditional log sheet to a full chest of treasures. But remember, if you take anything, you’re expected to leave something of equal or greater value as well. Geocache on!

4 Ways to Host a Green Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl, essentially an American holiday, is an excuse to scream at a TV and eat and drink more than the average human should. More than 100 million Americans are expected to tune in Sunday to watch the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos. But like all large sporting events, the Super Bowl, and all the fanfare that goes along with it, carries a rather hefty environmental impact. To its credit, the National Football league has stepped up its efforts to host a greener event, making this year's event the greenest Super Bowl ever. But there are plenty of ways for those of us not privileged enough to watch the game in person to do our part as we watch at home. Here are a few ways to make sure your Super Bowl party is as green as possible.

Recycle

Quiz: Which Penguin Species Are You?

How will you celebrate National Penguin Awareness Day on January 20? Whether or not you achieve your dream of trekking to see penguins or hosting a perfect penguin-themed bash, you can still have a festive (although flightless) day. To honor our feathered friends, we've picked five species — the Emperor Penguins, Galápagos Penguins, Adelie Penguins, Little Penguins, and Snares Penguins — to highlight. Take our quiz to find out your penguin personality!

Quiz: Which Penguin Species Are You?

High Tea, Low Impact: Throw a Green Tea Party

The return of Downton Abbey to the states has sparked a trend for all-things British. While not everyone can visit Highclere Castle, the setting for the ITV/PBS series, holding a high tea is the next best way to bring a little bit of Britain into your home. (If you aren't a fan of the hit drama then keep in mind that January is National Hot Tea Month and there's no better way to celebrate your favorite beverage.)

Adding a green touch to your next tea party is an enterprising idea that even the Dowager would approve of. Here are some ways you can do it: 

The Tea  

To party in true Grantham style, be selective about what tea you serve. Look for organic and fair trade labels when choosing a blend. See if there is a tea maker near you or make your own mix. 

There are a multitude of other ways to green your tea choices, like buying loose-leaf and composting used tea leaves. 

The Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches don't have to be so last season. Spice up the classic cucumber with local greens that are in season, like arugula, watercress, or dandelion greens. A simple egg-salad can be made with free-range eggs, or for a vegan option, try tofu and Vegenaise. 

Make your plate even more special by using gluten-free bread or making it yourself (but don't let Mrs. Patmore know you were in the kitchen). 

8 Transformative Staycation Ideas

Traveling takes time and money, not to mention the waste it produces. Staycations have grown increasingly popular in the past few years, and it’s no secret that staying at home is a greener option than increasing congestion on roads or hopping on a plane. Plus, when you’re vacationing at home, you can go anywhere you’d like. So whether you’re held captive inside your home due to a snow monster rampage (hi, polar vortex) or simply opting for a greener vacation, here are eight different worlds to transform your living room.

1. Island paradise

Break out leftover ribbon to make these DIY leis and infuse the room with native music from your favorite islands, or simply the sound of crashing waves. Turn a room into a cabana by bringing lawn chairs inside and placing them on tarps. Keep the island fusion going through dinner with a warm bowl of asopao de pollo and Caribbean spice cake.

2. The big blue

Whether you live on the coast or 100 miles from water, it’s easy to bring the ocean into your home. Make a faux-aquarium in your sink with underwater-inspired toys and save broken or leftover paperware from the recycling bin by decorating with hanging paper bowl jellyfish and paper plate fish. For a laugh-filled evening, make portraits of one another in fish form and hang them on the walls. Later, go with the flow and hold a viewing of Finding Nemo (2003) while chowing down on starfish-shaped sandwiches and seaweed salad.

3. Camping country

The 10 Best Blog Posts of 2013

From the most dangerous trails to the most beautiful canyons, we covered a lot of ground this year. To celebrate the year's end, we've ranked our most popular blog posts. Check out the list to see the year's highlights and tell us in the comments section what you'd like to see next year.

And the best blog posts of 2013 are. . .

1.) 6 of America's Most Dangerous Hiking Trails How many of these treacherous trails have you tried?

2.) 5 Dangerous Hiking Mistakes Stay safe outdoors by avoiding these common mistakes.

3.) 7 of the World's Strangest Flowers These blooms are bizarre.

4.) 4 of the World's Most Magical Treehouse Hotels Travel to new heights. Bonus: Check out our brand new tree house photo gallery.

5.) 9 of the World's Most Breathtaking Canyons We found the grandest canyons.

Recipe: Vegan Matzah Ball Soup

As a child of mixed religions, my mother brought her culture to all special family days. This meant that I grew up having matzah ball soup on Hanukkah and Thanksgiving (and Christmas and Easter). Matzah ball soup was and continues to be something that comforts me when I'm sick, connects me with my mother, and links me to my family's history. When I went vegan, I knew I had to make a version of my grandmother's special recipe. After the "once in a lifetime" event of Hanukkah falling on Thanksgiving, it seemed only right to share it. Enjoy, shalom, and thanks!

Matzah Ball Soup

Stunning Art Made from Trash

"Thongs" by John Dahlsen

An ad for a new line of footwear at Old Navy? Nope, these brightly colored sandals are part of an art piece for a new show at the Anchorage Museum. The exhibition if part of the Gyre Project, a collaboration between scientists, artists, museums, and filmmakers. The art they've produced will inspire, and just maybe shock you (see photos below). 

Art has helped build awareness with other global environmental issues that are hard to see. In 2010, artists "flooded" dry arroyos in New Mexico with blue art visible from space. “The world’s best scientists have tried to wake up politicians to the climate crisis,” said Bill McKibben, a spokesperson for 350.org. “Now we’re counting on artists to help.” Other provocative eco art has included giant polar bear sculptures and melting portraits. 

The Gyre Project builds the eco-awareness for a different crisis: non-biodegradable plastic trash, which collects in the world oceans and washes ashore in pristine places like southwestern Alaska. The "gyres" are gyrating systems of currents that keep trash circulating in loops. Trash collected for the exhibition come from the northern Pacific gyre.