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Welcome to September! In this edition of IslandWire: 2024 Brower Youth Award Winners announced, exciting new developments for regulating plastic pollution, a new conservation association to protect the Serengeti launches, food recovery progresses in California, our search for a Strategic Planning Consultant, and California’s Coastal Cleanup Day is upon us.
Meet the six recipients of this year’s Brower Youth Awards. Awarded annually through a competitive process, the prize uplifts the impact of youth leaders between the ages of 13 and 22. Now in its 25th year, the Brower Youth Awards is the leading environmental youth award in the country. From ecologically-informed murals in public spaces to coral reef restoration in Latin America, this year's awardees are solving some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Get tickets for the in-person ceremony and post-event reception in Berkeley, California, on October 8!
The D.C. Court of Appeals issued a decision in August finding that Earth Island Institute can challenge Coca-Cola’s environmental and sustainability claims under the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA), which protects consumers from false, deceptive, or unfair business practices. If successful, this lawsuit will prevent Coca-Cola from falsely advertising its business as sustainable, among other things.
Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) is celebrating a big win, as the U.S. has shifted its position to support a global plastic reduction target in the UN Plastics Treaty. The fifth and final planned negotiating session (INC-5) for the treaty will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, November 25 - December 1. Join PPC on September 24 for a lively discussion that will tackle pressing questions about the treaty from the perspectives of frontline activism, policy, art, science, and law.
Serengeti Watch recently established an association expressly for travel companies and their clients visiting the Serengeti. The new group, Friends of Serengeti, aims to engage all who visit the Serengeti to give back to the region. To accomplish this, Friends of Serengeti is building a membership organization that provides advocacy and funding for community conservation efforts. As Serengeti Watch Director David Blanton notes, “The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem has entered a critical phase. It’s an important time for the ecosystem and the local communities, and travel companies have a key role to play.” For more information, email: info@serengetiwatch.org.
Food Shift nourishes its neighbors with fresh and nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste in Alameda County. However, its hyperlocal expertise has an impact and influence well beyond the county. Food Shift’s consulting services assist municipalities to comply with CA Senate Bill 1383, which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wasted food, and maximizing food access in the broader region. The income generated from these services fuels Food Shift’s own food recovery and redistribution program, Operation Together, establishing an innovative, revenue-generating model for a community nonprofit.
Earth Island Institute will kick off a strategic planning process in early 2025. We have an open Request For Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultants to apply. Help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity. The deadline for proposals is Friday, October 11.
Do your part to reduce plastic pollution. Help protect our coastlines and restore a cleaner watershed and healthy environment for all communities! Find an event location near you and/or join Earth Island’s KIDS for the BAY on September 21 at 9:30 a.m. for the California Coastal Commission's Cleanup Day at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Please bring a pair of tongs and a reusable bag for collecting trash. Read our Trash Cleanup Safety Guidelines prior to cleanup day. Thank you for being an environmentalist!