Samo organizations support recently adopted environmental bill
The Samohi Solar Alliance (SSA) is campaigning with Santa Monica organizations Team Marine and Heal the Bay for the complete enactment of the Sustainability Bill of Rights (SBR) in Santa Monica following the passing of the bill's resolution on Tuesday, Jan. 24.The SBR Ordinance, which was first drafted by Heal the Bay president Mark Gold, is a new bill that, if passed, will protect Santa Monica citizens’ right to a healthy environment. The bill requests a 50 percent increase in bike paths and a completely self-sufficient energy and water supply by 2020; it also mandates that 25 percent of food sold in Santa Monica be produced from sustainable local sources, and that city decisions be guided by environmental concerns.The resolution is the first step in getting an ordinance enacted in Santa Monica, because it allows the City Council to vote on the ordinance. Then the council will meet and discuss the aspects of the bill that can realistically be enacted.According to SSA senior and Co-President Charlotte Biren, the bill will control the chemical emissions of local businesses and enforce the freedom to access clean water, safe air and healthy foods.“If this ordinance is passed, no corporation or Santa Monica business can emit a large amount of toxic gases that affect not only the environment, but the people who live in the Santa Monica area,” Biren said. “It is a comprehensive sustainability plan, perhaps one of the most overarching environmental protection doctrines in the United States.”According to Biren, the ordinance would give Santa Monica citizens more power to control their environment.“This ordinance calls for a paradigm shift, reallocating the power of large businesses and corporations into the hands of the community and its citizens,” Biren said.When the resolution to the bill was passed unanimously, SSA senior and Co-President Jenna Perelman, senior Nicole Daghigian, junior Amanda Bang and freshman Claire Goldberg joined Biren in speaking in front of the City Council to pass the resolution."I only got to speak for about a minute, but it still felt extremely empowering to share my opinion with people who have so much authority, and speak for a cause I am really passionate about," Goldberg said. "After the resolution passed, I felt amazing knowing that I was a part of something that meant a lot to our community."
“SSA became involved shortly after we got commended by President Obama and the EPA, when community groups like Neighbors Unite that campaign for SBR first head about our commendation. In July, we started working with Neighbors Unite and the community, and began to read, understand and revise the SBR Ordinance,” Biren said. “We have spread the word and have helped to bring students to workshops at the public library and at Santa Monica College.”However, SSA is not the only Samo club behind the bill.“This year’s Team Marine first got involved in November of 2011, when we went to a lecture at the Fairview Library Branch and discussed it to a certain extent with environmental activists from Santa Monica College, SSA, and other members of the Santa Monica community,” junior Team Marine member Matilda Mead said. "SBR is very important to Team Marine because the bill addresses issues such as oil use and ocean acidification, the types of problems that Team Marine raises awareness for."Because of the ordinance’s numerous supporters and strong ideas, Biren is optimistic that the SBR will be successful.“The night the resolution passed, I remember seeing people from Burbank, Encino, and other places who came to express their support and encourage other communities to make the change,” Biren said. “SBR is driven by many activists and a large network of passionate people who strongly believe in a sustainable future for their communities.”mgumbel@thesamohi.com