A Very Special Coastal Hotlist
Hey there! I’m posting to share the first of what hopes to be many coastal hotlist updates.
I figured today would be a great day to post this, because the South Carolina coast’s got a lot going on this week, such as…
Sea Change Exhibition Now Open
You may have read in one of Rebecca’s past hotlists that there is currently legislation pending in the South Carolina General Assembly that would limit the ability of local communities to control the use of plastics in their own backyards.
A new series of exhibitions aims to help educate the general public on the dangers posed by plastics and hopes to engage Charleston and the Lowcountry in actively recognizing and mitigating our enormous plastic waste problem.
Here’s the setup for the new exhibitions, called Sea Change, now open at the Halsey Gallery at the College of Charleston:
“Our culture of convenience comes at a price. Plastic pollution is entering the oceans at an alarming rate, making its way into the food chain, threatening the lives of animals and potentially causing harm to humans. As hard as we may try to prevent waste from reaching waterways, it’s estimated that 14 billion pounds of trash end up in our oceans each Year. By 2050, it is projected that our oceans will contain more plastic than fish.”
This amazing collaboration between artists, researchers, and activists opened on Friday to a packed house and rave reviews.
Presented by the South Carolina Aquarium and College of Charleston, Sea Change will run through December 9 and aims to raise awareness of our enormous plastic waste problem and the detrimental effects on our planet.
Follow this link for more information about Sea Change. >>
Come to these events and to the gallery and look for a post card where you can write your elected officials about keeping the right of local communities to control plastics. I hope to see you there and see how these exhibits inspire you.
DHEC Beachfront Jurisdiction Hearings
The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is hosting three public hearings this week on proposed changes to the two lines of beachfront jurisdiction (the baseline and setback line); one in Beaufort, one in Charleston and one in Myrtle Beach.
This process happens once every seven to ten Years and your voice is crucial to making sure DHEC gets it right. We need you there to speak up about how DHEC’s proposals will impact your community.
Our partners at the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) have been taking the lead on fact-checking DHEC’s suggested lines and ensuring they’re based on sound science and data.
As CCL writes, these lines “are designed to help regulatory agencies guide beachfront development away from the active beach without adversely impacting property values. This aim has never been more important than it is today – as sea level rises and inclement weather events impact our coastline.”
Green Drinks Is Returning to Charleston
Here’s some pretty exciting news…
We’ve been working with a group of Lowcountry activists to bring back Charleston Green Drinks. If you’re unfamiliar with Green Drinks, it’s a monthly gathering of conservation-minded folks and people who work in the environmental field.
It’s a force for the good and we’re excited to help bring it back to the Lowcountry. We’ll keep you informed as things progress.
Have a great week and thanks for your engagement!