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The Local Malibu and 90265 Magazine headed to Honolulu recently for the IUCN World Conservation Congress to get a report card on the state of the environment from top environmentalists and world leaders. about cutting edge technologies that could greatly affect our future. It was a life changing trip that inpired new ideas and the motivation to move forward with the ‘Power of Purpose’. - Cece Woods

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ISSUE 38 AUG./SEPT. 2016

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THE CITY OBSERVED

COURT RULES ON PCBS MESS ALL GUILTY, CLEAN-UP CONTINUES

BY SAM HALL KAPLAN

Time to celebrate the end the end of the protracted and nasty PCB controversy in Malibu now that in the court has rendered a judgement?

Not really, for no one came out victorious as some have claimed in the litigious hostilities over what to do about the PCBs on the Malibu High campus.

Certainly not the self serving dubious District, nor the bellowing misdirected parents, and the confused , ineffective City Council.

Also sadly not the students, the teachers; nor also the high school’s reputation, or Malibu’s, as a congenial community with safe public education facilities, and so I comment on 97.5 KBU, radiomalibu.net and other select websites.

Everyone lost, except of course the lawyers and consultants hired by the School District to oppose publicity ravenous parents parading originally as Malibu Unites and now America Unites for Kids.

Both claimed specious victories in the recent Federal Court decision vindicating the district’s continued cleanup of the PCBs, and ordering a chastised America Unites and its supporters to back off.

Beth Lucas, a member of America Unites, continues to home schools her son after health issues arose while he attended Malibu High School.

This comes when Malibu is in sensitive negotiations with Santa Monica to divorce itself from the school district, which would involve inheriting the PCB problem and dealing with concerned parents..

The parents initially appeared well intentioned; motivated by reports that several teachers in classrooms with window caulked in material containing PCB had been diagnosed with cancer. They were rightfully worried for their kids.

Not helping was a defensive School Board and a muddled District bureaucracy that never had been particularly sympathetic to Malibu’s concerns: eschewing transparency they instead circled the wagons, and brought in the lawyers.

The District was never clear if all the PCBs would be removed, prompting the parents to become more concerned, and the District more guarded.

The situation was further aggravated by the entry into the fray of a Washington DC whistleblower support group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

This happening in high profile Malibu involving a skittish school bureaucracy and a vain glorious parents group must have been like throwing in a raw slab of meat into the tiger’s cage of the DC group.

America Unites in turn pumped up its celebrity allies and not incidentally fund raising efforts, and became a publicity presence, putting down doubters, and playing up the cancer card.

Malibu resident and high profile celebrity Cindy Crawford got involved with America Unites in 2014 appearing on national news channels to create awareness for America Unites.

Though PCBs have been linked to cancer, whether there was or is a cancer cluster on the Malibu campus has not been proven. Many people have cancer for as many reasons, and identifying clusters is reported difficult, and unlikely to be caused by a single environmental factor or exposure.

Meanwhile, the District has been doggedly pursuing a clean up program on the Malibu campus, following the so-called best management practices prescribed by the federal Environmental Protect Agency.

This nevertheless has been questioned by the involved parents, a few of whom pulled their children out of the schools, to the detriment of the Malibu system. Though the leadership in time put them back in, albeit quietly.

Enter the City Council, which with any leadership might have calmed the conflict. But instead, to curry favor, it awarded a token of public funds to the parent group that in effect was compromising the city’s efforts to divorce itself from the District.

The city’s school advocates were chagrined, but kept quiet and its distance. No one enjoyed the spleen of America Unites’ leadership.

But putting the cacophonic conflict in perspective, I feel there was oddly a winner: Malibu’s valiant efforts led to divorce itself from the Santa Monica dominated school board.

And this in my opinion is big, and rises above the fray.

The PCB controversy unquestionably light a fire under the negotiations between Santa Monica and Malibu, and appears to have prompted a settlement.

Chicago transplant and former actress, Jennifer DeNicola moved to Malibu 2012 and founded America Unites in 2014. DeNicola solicited celebrity exposure to the help further the PCBS issue at Malibu High School.

Hopefully in time it will be mitigated, as will the PCBs; the schools repaired, and eventually, so will be Malibu’s reputation.

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ELECTION 2016

LOCAL ELECTIONS LOOM LARGE

BY SAM HALL KAPLAN The bloated local ballot in Malibu needs some attention, that is if we can possibly tune out the inanities emanating from the national elections, where the gut issues of the day are being drowned out in the nit picking of a trumped up Trump, and a harassed Hillary.

For the first time local elections are being held in November, concurrent with the national and state ballots, in hopes of a decent turnout.

Ever since the city of Malibu was founded 25 years ago the local elections had been held in the Spring, with the results there has been a low turnout, generally about 25 percent lower than State and National elections.

The reasons have been many: The time of year, which occasionally conflicted with Spring break for schools; and no gut-wrenching issues threatening residents, such as the closure of PCH, or a blatant municipal scandal.

In addition, the public frankly seemed content with the status quo, whether just an illusion, the lack of municipal transparency or an undiscerning local media. Whatever.

Team Malibu 2016 at the Malibu democratic Club debate.

From left, Jefferson Wagner, Rick Mullen and mayor pro tem Skylar Peak..

That is, until recently, with traffic on PCH becoming intolerable; the civic center stripped of local serving business for high end shops; the public schools neglected by a distant school district, and a languid City Council, except when it came to self aggrandizing.

To be sure, there was a quiet complaint that the low turnout fed a favored a clique of residents who dealt in personal favors. But this was put down as whining.

But even it could not ignore the low turnouts and the heightened concerns, and subsequently approved moving the elections from the Spring to the Fall, to coincide with State and National elections. Helping was that the switch gave incumbents an extra 9 months in office.

The question now is whether it will actually improve the local vote, which will be conducted concurrently with the State and National elections.

That means voters will have to wade through a National and State slate, plus some 17 propositions, before having to ponder the local elections, and the six candidates vying for the 3 council seats.

For some indication of that task coming soon in the mail is a 224 page Voter Guide, said to be the most voluminous in California history.

Voters are just going to have to be more alert than ever, listen harder, and think more deeply about the candidates, and what they are saying and doing. That I feel is especially applies to our local candidates ,judging from the recently launched election campaigns.

All six presented themselves to a crowd of about 100 crowded into the community room in City Hall at a recent meeting sponsored by the local Democratic Club.

For most of the forum the statements of the candidates tended to be indistinguishable, all pledging their commitment to uphold the city’s mission statement to avoid suburbanization and commercialization, try to somehow to better handle traffic on the PCH, and to encourage a transparent and responsive City Hall.

The most excitement came after, when the club voted to see whom it will endorse. Questions were raised concerning the eligibility of some who voted and whether the balloting was handled correctly, and should the vote be nullified. Confusion reigned into the late night, and in the morning Club President Ann Doneen resigned.

Nevertheless, the club met the following day in an emergency meeting and upheld the vote for Jennifer DeNicola, with one abstention. She promptly trumpeted the endorsement , and at press time was seeking the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic organization.

PEAK PUTS THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST Mayor pro tem Skylar Peak and the Los Angeles Leadership Council of the NRDC met with Mayor Eric Garcetti to discuss environmental policy in the Los Angeles area. Topics that were covered included: Drought and conservation efforts.

Garnered support for Pro 67 (Plastic Bag Ban) Reviewed homeless programs and low income housing LA River revitalization and TMDLs Building and energy efficiency ordinance Improvements in Watts for its Green Alley and green streets for an RMC grant Los Angeles City Zero Waste Franchise Policy Measure M LA County Measure A to expand parkland and protect open space LA City Quimby Ordinance update to development fees program

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Mayor pro tem Skylar Peak.

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DEVOCEAN

ISSUE 1, VOL. 2 THE OCEAN CONSERVATION ISSUE

Mayor pro tem Skylar Peak, fiance and LA Leadership Co Chair Janet Friesen, NRDC trustee Kelly Meyer and members of NRDC LA Leadership Council.

When passions for the oceans unite, you get

DEVOCEAN LIMITED EDITION PRINT NOW AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT MALIBU!

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Issue 1 vol. 2, celebrates the countless organizations that defend, protect and clean our waterways. The DEVOCEAN issue features businessman and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria on the cover. The longtime Malibu resident is a Sea Shepherd Board of Advisors member, founder of Patron Spirits, and co-founder of cruelty-free Paul Mitchell Haircare line. DeJoria, an ocean advocate for decades, traveled to the Gulf of St. Lawrence onboard the Sea Shepherd III to stand against the Canadian seal hunt in 1998. This issue includes some of the most celebrated ocean activists and philanthropists in the world sharing their passion to protect the ocean.

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ELECTION 2016

DEMS FUMBLE COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT PRESIDENT ANN DONEEN RESIGNS

BY CECE WOODS

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Malibu Democratic Club’s Board of Directors held a debate to allow the Democratic Club’s members to endorse three open council positions. Six candidates running for three available seats on the upcoming Malibu City Council election attended the debate: Skylar Peak, Rick Mullen, Zuma Jay Wagner, Laureen Sills, Carl Randall and Jennifer deNicola.

A letter was sent to the candidates eleven days before the forum, specifying certain rules for eligible voters. A portion read: “Club members may vote in the endorsement proceedings if they joined the Malibu Democratic Club this year more than 30 days before the election, or if they updated their 2015 membership for 2016 by paying at the door.”

These club rules had been enacted, according to an email blast sent out by deNicola’s campaign consultant and board member Dorothy Reik, to prevent any candidate from “packing” the Club’s endorsement vote.

Instead of preventing voter manipulation, these new rules apparently left a door open for one of the candidates. The one privy to inner club knowledge, including the club’s master list of members – the only city council candidate that sits on the Democratic Club’s Board of Directors - Jennifer deNicola.

The other five candidates had no access to the club’s master list and no efficient method of inviting a prequalified list of members to the debate to garner support from.

They were informed too late of the Club’s 30-day rule, preventing these candidates from promoting their platforms to new supporters. Another rule left out was that each candidate had to achieve 60 percent of the votes in order to win a Club endorsement. Without knowledge of who was eligible to invite, the deadline to invite new members and how many votes were needed – five candidates had no way of determining the magical number of votes needed to win. Crucial information if someone wanted to “pack” the vote in his or her favor. The only candidate with access to all insider knowledge was deNicola.

Carl Randall and Jennifer deNicola at the Malibu Democratic Club debate. Randall, a Parks and Rec commissioner, is openly prodevelopment of Bluffs Park, one of the rarest open coasta bluffs left in Malibu, while deNicola calls herself a “defender of the environment.

Carl Randall attentive during the debate while Jennifer deNicola and Laureen Sills share a moment. Sills is a close confidante of pro-development City Council member Laura Rosenthal.

Former mayor Jefferson Wagner won the endorsement of the LA Democratic Party with a unanimous vote, 10-10 with Laureen Sills following behind at 7-10 and Jennifer deNicola’s endorsement from County Democrats was won only by whipping votes from other areas.

A table was set up in the hall where eligible voters obtained their ballots. The forum began and Democratic Club President Ann Doneen began by explaining the club’s endorsement policy. Suddenly a board member entered, interrupting her, and waving ballot forms in the air and asking who needed a ballot. Confusion ensued.

Mayor pro tem Skylar Peak speaks to the crowd during the debate as Malibu Fire Captain and City Council candidate Rick Mullen looks on.

After the debate (due to chaos), Doneen asked to examine all of the ballots collected in order to verify that every voter who got a ballot was within the club’s eligibility guidelines. Doneen states that her request was refused.

The debate ended and the vote count began. As expected, each ballot had votes for three different candidates. Suddenly the count changed; ballot after ballot, reportedly over a dozen, had only one name checked: Malibu Democratic Club board member Jennifer deNicola.

The definition of a “packed vote”. Also called “bullet voting”. It is considered underhanded by many and is precisely why the club supposedly changed their bylaws to prevent it from happening. It’s a tactic of packing specific supporters into the voting process to vote for only one candidate in order to stack that candidate’s odds of winning. When another board member attempted to point out the glaring voting irregularities, he report being harassed by deNicola’s campaign manager (who sat next to the voting table and was advising the process).

Due to the apparent “packing” of ballots, deNicola was the only candidate of the six able to secure 60 percent of the votes. Thus, the Malibu Democratic Club was left endorsing one sole candidate, board member deNicola.

In response to the evident appearance of impropriety, the board decided to reconvene to determine their next move. Dorothy Reik (recently under fire from the Democratic Party for her disparaging remarks about Elie Wiesel), purportedly urged that this endorsement be rushed through quickly in order for deNicola to also achieve the larger and more prestigious LA County Democratic Party (LACDP) endorsement by Sunday afternoon. To meet her deadline, the board quickly finalized her lone endorsement.

In the aftermath of the voting debacle, president Ann Doneen immediately resigned her position stating, “There is no way that the accuracy of the vote can be assured.” She also mentioned “sequences of votes that looked HIGHLY improbable.” She further said “It never dawned on me that any board member of our club would use the debate rules in this manner.” She requested that the vote be nullified. In her absence from the board meeting that followed, the members did not comply. In fact, board member and candidate deNicola quickly announced in a citywide email that she won the Malibu Democratic Club endorsement.

ELECTION 2016 JEFFERSON WAGNER

JEFFERSON WAGNER WINS UNANIMOUS COUNTY DEM ENDORSEMENT SILLS FOLLOWS WAGNER WITH DEMS SUPPORT WHILE DENICOLA SNAGS A ‘NO CONSENSUS’ ENDORSEMENT IN AN UNPRECENTED POLITICAL MOVE

BY CECE WOODS Congratulations to Team Malibu 2016 team member and former Mayor Jefferson Wagner who earned a unanimous endorsement from the L.A. County Democrats recommendation committee, 10-0. While that was a well deserved victory for Wagner and for the Team Malibu 2016 slate, the story, unfortunately, does not end there. It was also a sad night for Malibu city politics with scandalous behavior demonstrated at the LACDP at the Sept. 19th meeting by a competing council candidate and her staff. This will most certainly have a long term negative impact on Malibu’s reputation in the political circles.

Nasty mudslinging and personal attacks directed at Skylar Peak, Zuma Jay Wagner and Rick Mullen began days before County Democrats converged to give their local endorsements at the party meeting. This was done via an email blast from Jennifer deNicola’s wing woman, Dorothy Reik,to her extensive database of Democratic party members .That aggressive behavior continued throughout the meeting, in plain view, bringing to light the dark side of local city politics by Malibu outsider Reik, who lives in Topanga, and political newcomer to Malibu, Jennifer deNicola.

A little complex and multi-layered; here is a little background on how this all transpired.

During the interviews Sunday, Sept. 18th, each of the Democratic candidates met with the LACDP’s Endorsement Recommendation Committee. To earn the endorsement recommendation, a candidate must earn at least 60% of the “Yes” votes from the committee members. - i.e. 6 out of the 10 committee members had to vote “Yes” on the candidate. The committee then presents the recommendations to the LACDP’s general body (during the Monday evening meeting), and the general body can either accept or reject the committee’s recommendations. Jefferson earned 10/10 and Laureen earned 7/10. The general body voted to accept those recommendations. On Sunday, as it turns out, neither Carl, Skylar or Jennifer met the 60% threshold by the endorsement recommendation committee. This is called a “No Consensus” vote. In this particular case for Malibu City Council, there was a “No Consensus” vote for the 3rd open seat this cycle. In order achieve that, some serious political jockeying took place.

Fast forward to Monday evening’s meeting. LACDP’s general body - about 120-150 voting members - gets to vote to accept or reject the endorsement recommendation committee’s recommendations in a variety of LA County races. The general body also gets to vote on which candidate to endorse in the “No Consensus” recommendations, like the 3rd Malibu City Council seat. As you might expect, Jennifer’s staff (who, for the record, are not from Malibu, and are political insiders at the party level) whipped votes from the crowded room to vote for deNicola.

After it was announced that deNicola received 60% of the general body’s vote for the third opening (and thus the official LACDP endorsement), Susie, Jennifer’s campaign manager,and her contingency hooted and hollered. Peak and staff were verbally attacked. Reik then mouthed “F*** you” to Lillian Raffel (the Chair of 50th AD committee), stuck her tongue out, and conducted herself inappropriately in general - all on video. Letters reportedly have been submitted from delegation members in protest citing party violations. Make no mistake, Malibu endured a trauma by association from deNicola’s campaign and Reik’s vulgar actions to ensure deNicola’s ‘win at any cost’ attitudes.

After her handlers begged for endorsements from the crowded room, and finally received the desired vote, deNicola stood and took a proud bow.

Interestingly -- and particularly noteworthy -- Malibu residents were not represented in that vote to endorse deNicola. Remember that when you go to cast your vote November 8th. This endorsement for deNicola definitely has it’s holes and unfortunately has brought polarizing, outside, party politics into our local city council elections - which is the worst thing that could have happened to Malibu.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Both articles were approved by knowledgable sources as well as two board members of the Malibu Democratic Club. -Cece Woods

ROBERT KENNEDY JR. STEPS UP TO SUPPORT TEAM MALIBU 2016 SLATE

Point Dume resident, President of Waterkeeper Alliance and environmental hero Robert Kennedy Jr., puts his vote behind the Team Malibu 2016 slate; PEAK - MULLEN - WAGNER. Kennedy, just home from Ladakh, picks up more signs to show support after his went missing from his and his wife Cheryl Hines front yard.

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OPINION THE

PART I

GHOST IN THE MACHINE

BY SUZANNE GUILDMANN

Before we begin looking for ghosts, we need to read the Malibu Vision and Mission Statements: The General Plan Vision and Mission statements were prepared by the General Plan Task Force and subsequently adopted by the City Council prior to the development of the goals, objectives, policies and implementation programs by the General Plan Task Force and the City’s planning consulting team. The statements guide the formation of programs and policies that are included in the General Plan.

Vision Statement—Malibu is a unique land and marine environment and residential community whose citizens have historically evidenced a commitment to sacrifice urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics.

The people of Malibu are a responsible custodian of the area’s natural resources for present and future generations.

Mission Statement—Malibu is committed to ensure the physical and biological integrity of its environment through the development of land use programs and decisions, to protect the public and private health, safety and general welfare.

Every Malibu election season the ominous rumblings and clankings of the Malibu Political Machine can reportedly be heard, a sort of small town Deus ex machina that seeks, critics say, to arrange the future of Malibu. Assuming you managed to get an audience with Malibu’s version of the Great and Powerful Oz, what would you find behind the curtain? Let’s see if we can find out. Image source: Google.

Malibu will plan to preserve its natural and cultural resources, which include the ocean, marine life, tide pools, beaches, creeks, canyons, hills, mountains, ridges, views, wildlife and plant life, open spaces, archaeological, paleontological and historic sites, as well as other resources that contribute to Malibu’s special natural and rural setting.

Malibu will maintain its rural character by establishing programs and policies that avoid suburbanization and commercialization of its natural and cultural resources.

Malibu will gradually recycle areas of deteriorated commercial development that detract from the public benefits or deteriorate the public values of its natural, cultural and rural resources.

Malibu will provide passive, coastal-dependent and resource-dependent visitor-serving recreational opportunities (at proper times, places and manners) that remain subordinate to their natural, cultural and rural setting, and which are consistent with the fragility of the natural resources of the area, the proximity of the access to residential uses, the need to protect the privacy of property owners, the aesthetic values of the area, and the capacity of the area to sustain particular levels of use.

On June 5, 1990, the City of Malibu became a reality. After three decades of fighting Los Angeles County, and three failed attempts at incorporation, residents overwhelmingly passed Measure Y, the ballot initiative that gave Malibu its independence.

It was a brutal marathon of a battle (you can read the details here), but optimism was in the air in the months following the landslide vote. A mission statement was drafted and the future never looked brighter.

Things fell apart almost at once. Instead of uniting to make the mission statement a reality, the first city council—men and women who fought ferociously for cityhood—fell out. A bitter rift developed, one swiftly exploited by development interests.

“Malibu’s warring political factions, whose disagreements are rooted in petty rivalries, each have pitched the election as a plebiscite on development,” wrote Los Angeles Times reporter Ron Russell on April 2, 1992.

“The minority and their supporters insist that the majority has sold out to development interests, something the majority vigorously denies. Meanwhile, the majority accuses the other side of wanting to turn back the clock completely on development, which the minority disputes.

“The result has been a sharply divided City Council that critics from each side say has been ineffectual, leaving Malibu severely polarized barely a year after it officially became a city,” Russell stated.

“We’re finally going to have a city government that is responsive to this community,”

The first Malibu City Council, in a 1991 photo by Tom Dobyns for the Malibu Surfside News, blissfully unaware of the Pandora’s box of troubles before them.

“THE RESULT HAS BEEN A SHARPLY DIVIDED CITY COUNCIL THAT CRITICS FROM EACH SIDE SAY HAS BEEN INEFFECTUAL, LEAVING MALIBU SEVERELY POLARIZED BARELY A YEAR AFTER IT OFFICIALLY BECAME A CITY,” LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTER RON RUSSELL ON APRIL 2, 1992.

Councilmember Carolyn Van Horn told Russell when the dust settled. She, with challengers Jeff Kramer and Joan House “trounced 17 other candidates Tuesday—including two incumbents—to win four-year terms on the City Council,” Russell wrote.

If you disregarded the date and replaced “frustrated by the county” with “frustrated by the city council,” and “Cityhood June 5” with “city council election November 8,” this 1991 Malibu Surfside News cover could be reused this week. A quarter of a century after incorporation, Malibu is still fighting many of the same battles.

The Malibu Mission Statement and what it stands for is really at the center of the rift that developed. The side that favors a looser interpretation of the mission statement is unofficially known as The Malibu Machine. It isn’t really a machine so much as a well-organized group of like-minded people who share a common vision. Unfortunately for those on the other side of the divide, achieving that vision all too often seems to involve inverting the Malibu Mission Statement by agreeing to trade some of the area’s “unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics” for some of the “urban and suburban conveniences” we are not supposed to want.

OPINION Opposing the so-called Machine is a group of community activists comprised of Malibu residents with occasional help from non profit environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and the National Resource Defense Council.

Every time there’s a council election the machine wheezes and clatters into action. In 2002, council candidate Beverly Taki told the Malibu Times that “Most Malibu voters don’t want a political machine running our city government, therefore, they are voting for me, an independent candidate.”

She didn’t win.

In a March 13, 2002 letter to the editor of the Malibu Times,during the same election battle, longtime Malibu resident Carole Bush wrote: At the two recent candidates’ forums, Sharon Barovsky was asked about her political machine and alliance with Andy Stern. Both times she adamantly denied being a part of any such team. This weekend, campaign yard signs have cropped up all over town. I noticed that every house that featured a Barovsky sign also featured a Stern sign. Looks like a political alliance to my neighbors and me. We have now caught Barovsky in a lie. What more will she lie about if elected? Or what lies is she telling us now in order to get herself elected?

Are both of these candidates so devoid of character that they are sending their machine workers Deirdre Roney, Pat Lang, Laureen Sills, Anne Hoffman and Lloyd Ahern out to smear the other candidate’s daring to challenge their hold on City Hall?

Barovsky supporter Mona Loo responded to critics, stating: [ They] seem to believe that Sharon Barovsky has created a deep, dark, and dangerous political machine. I and many other Malibuites have volunteered repeatedly to work on numerous local campaigns. If working together in the past qualifies a group as a “machine,” then I plead guilty as charged. However, I would insist that there is nothing malevolent, dark or dangerous about campaign volunteerism. More people ought to do it. This city deserves a political process that includes all of us.”

In 2014 the shadow of that “deep dark machine” was still apparently felt: Council candidate Hamish Patterson ran on the platform of being an “outsider to the political machine.”

He didn’t win.

This isn’t Soviet Era Berlin. Malibu residents drift from one side of the debate to the other depending on current issues. People on both sides remain neighbors who come together during emergencies, no matter how much they oppose each other’s politics or how nasty the rhetoric becomes at times. Both sides are in favor of public safety and good schools, clean water, and mom and apple pie. When the energy lobby pushed for a massive liquefied natural gas facility off the coast Malibu both sides worked together to defeat it. However, while the socalled Machine side and their opponents may agree on many things and work together to achieve common goals, development remains an unreconcilable divide.

The Malibu preservationists have always been a loose-knit alliance rather than an organized force.

Perhaps the closest the preservation side has ever come to being a well-oiled machine was during the fight for Measure R, when everyone banded together to take on powerful developers proposing a 38,425-squarefoot shopping center on the corner of Civic Center Way and Cross Creek Road.

Development pressure was the reason Malibu residents sought independence from a county government that was actively promoting a population of 120,000 by 1980. Local activists have fought an unending series of battles against freeways, marinas, high rises, sewers, subdivisions, shopping centers and that infamous nuclear power plant.

Here’s another headline from Malibu’s Measure Y election in 1990 that could just as easily be a news story in the 2016 city council election.

“THE MALIBU PRESERVATIONISTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LOOSE-KNIT ALLIANCE RATHER THAN AN ORGANIZED FORCE. PERHAPS THE CLOSEST THE PRESERVATION SIDE HAS EVER COME TO BEING A WELL-OILED MACHINE WAS DURING THE FIGHT FOR MEASURE R...”

It’s unlikely that even the most ambitious developer retains any delusions about the level of development once envisioned, but Malibu has some of the most valuable real estate on the planet and development pressure is a constant.

The pro-development faction still views undeveloped land as raw material that should be shaped into a new vision, but instead of the high rise hotels and yacht marines that were promoted in the 20th century, they envision a sort of Beverly Hills by the Sea, where high end shopping and bijou apartments and hotels are a destination.

PART TWO OF THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE LOCAL MALIBU.

Discover the art of Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement that restores balance and harmony in your home.

DEVOCEAN FENG SHUI DESIGN

MARIE KNOOS is a world-reknowned feng shui consultant with over 18 years of experience.

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LOCAL

THE LOCAL GOES GLOBAL AT IUCN’S WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS MALIBU REPRESENTS AT THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT.

BY CECE WOODS I PHOTOS BY CECE WOODS World leaders, dignitaries, indigenous people, business people and educators descended upon the shores of Waikiki, not necessarily for the Mai Tais, but for the magnitude of knowledge, awareness and global game changing strategy that took place at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress. This is, without question, the most prestigious environmental event on the planet.

The Malibu community was well represented (with our staff from 90265 Magazine and The Local Malibu) at the conference, taking over the Honolulu Convention Center Sept. 1-10th. The event, which was held on U.S. soil for the first time, brought together global organizations all with a common goal to address numerous environmental conservation issues facing the planet. About 8,000 delegates and dignitaries from around the world gathered, including President Barack Obama who announced the world’s largest marine reserve at Papahanaumokuakea, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

It was, without question, an awe-inspiring experience which began with a traditional island welcome at dawn on the beach to honor guests from across the globe. The ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village was held under clear skies (although two hurricanes loomed over the islands in the Pacific) followed by an even more spectacular opening ceremony at the Neal Blaisdell Center with speeches from Hawai’i Governor David Ige, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, Sally Jewell and our personal favorite, Tommy Remengesau, the President of Palau.His speech was nothing less than passionate about the environment and particularly inspiring as to their accomplishments in Palau.

DOWNTOWN HONOLULU, the home to IUCN Congress from Sept. 1-10th. The Congress is often referred to as the “Olympics of the environment” and is considered to be the world’s most prestigious environmental event.

The IUCN Congress Opening Reception continued into the evening featuring Hawaiʻi-born musician, actor and filmmaker, Jack Johnson who’s Kokua Hawaii Foundation is passionate about the plastic problems that plague our oceans, and who sponsored Maika’i Tubbs, an environmentally focused artist whose work was commissioned for the IUCN event using plastic trash to make a profound statement about the issue.

Environmental influencers were in our midst as well as universally praised figures like Jane Goodall, Nat. Geo. explorer Sylvia Earle and the legendary Cousteau family, all of whom’s presentations were as thought provoking and surreal as one could imagine. This global event was nothing less than a life changer for environmentalists. After all, would you expect any less from the pioneers of nature conservation?

The goal of the IUCN Congress, which meets on a schedule similar to the Olympics, is to present a boundary-less concept, a place where organizations put their differences aside and construct a fouryear plan for preservation. “Island governments, national and sub-national, working together can lead the way to find solutions to the most pressing problems of our planet,” said Hawaii Gov. David Ige Mother nature’s clock is ticking. I say we all make a concerted effort to slow the hands of time and create a better environment for future generations to come.

OXYBENZONE BAN: An issue close to our hearts in Malibu is banning sunscreen with the oxybenzone compound in it that is destroying coral reefs. The 90265 Mag staff here with Senator Will Espero (center, right), Brad Diaz Dir. of Strategic Partnerships and CEO Bob Doherty of Airtech Foam, an oil remediation company, eco technology game changers poised to make a serious difference in our environment.

Andrew McDonald, 90265 Magazine Sustainability editor with friends at the Nature Conservancy and RARE at IUCN

FIRST FAMILY OF THE SEA: Jean-Michel and Celine Cousteau previewed Celine’s documentary “Tribes on the Edge” at IUCN (here with the staff of 90265 Magazine/The Local Malibu), a result of a request the tribes of the Vale do Javari, Brazilian Amazon made to have her tell the world they exist.

Ray Hollowell, far right Founder of PLANSEA. ORG, Angelo Villagomez, center, Pew Charitable Trust Father of the Papahonmukeaka Act, and Patty Mitchell.

90265 Magazine advisory board member Mark Armfield and Nat Geo explorer Sylvia Earle at the conference. Both Earle and Armfield are featured in the DevoCean issue of 90265 Magazine which was distributed at the event.

ENVIRONMENT THE

HAWAI’I COMMITMENTS OFFERED BY IUCN WORK GROUP I PHOTOS BY CECE WOODS

Over ten thousand leaders from government, civil society, indigenous communities, faith and spiritual traditions, the private sector, and academia gathered in an historically important meeting in Hawai’i, from the 1st to the 10th of September 2016. The theme of this IUCN World Conservation Congress was ‘Planet at the Crossroads’ to reflect the serious choices and actions the world needs to make to reverse environmental declines and secure a healthy, livable planet. The meeting confirmed that we have a closing window of opportunity to move to sustainability and harness nature-based solutions for conservation.

We need to meet the major global challenges of species loss, ecosystem decline and climate change with their profound impacts on human life and well-being. Building on the Paris Agreement on climate change, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Promise of Sydney, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the Earth Charter, and The Honolulu Challenge on Invasive Alien Species, the World Conservation Congress was a unique opportunity where different voices came together to find common ground in a spirit of partnership and collaboration. While science continues to reveal how Earth provides the conditions essential to life and human well-being, all too often we do not recognize the benefits that nature provides. Through ignorance, willfulness, complacency, or corruption, we continue to degrade ecosystems and the services they provide, depleting biodiversity, as well as geodiversity, and eroding traditional biocultural relationships. An alternative approach is that nature conservation and human progress are not mutually exclusive but can be essential partners in achieving sustainable development. We must undertake profound transformations in how human societies live on Earth, with particular attention to making our patterns of production and consumption more sustainable. We must recognize that human health and well-being depend on healthy ecosystems. We must recognize that every form of life has value – regardless of its worth to humans. We are faced with tremendous forces of transformation sweeping the world, such as climate change and dramatic socioeconomic and gender inequality, and the urgent need to eradicate poverty. Delegates affirmed that there are credible and accessible political, economic, legal, cultural and technological choices which can promote human well being in ways that support, and even enhance, our planet’s natural assets. The environmental rule of law is essential and needs to be cultivated and strengthened. The establishment of environment courts in more than 50 nations is an encouraging and necessary development.

World leaders, dignitaries, indigenous people, business people and educators descended upon the shores of Waikiki for the world’s most prestigious environmental event. The IUCN World Conservation Congress began with a traditional island ceremony at dawn on Sept. 1 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

THE HAWAI’I CONTEXT Hawaiʻi, in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, provided a special context for the 2016 World Conservation Congress, infusing it with the Aloha spirit and the tradition of living in harmony with nature. Aloha ʻĀina, an inherent part of the traditions and customs of Native Hawaiians, embodies the mutual respect for one another and a commitment of service to the natural world.

This island context highlighted three critical issues for conservation in the coming decades: 1. The nexus between biological and cultural diversity, and how their conservation and sustainability requires a combination of traditional wisdom and modern knowledge.

2. The significance of the world’s ocean for biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. 3. The threats to biodiversity from habitat loss, climate change, invasive alien species, unsustainable exploitation, and pollution. These issues are shared throughout the world, and the Congress provided an opportunity to examine nature-based, life-affirming solutions and the roles of governments, civil society and the private sector in their development and delivery. Embodying Aloha ʻĀina globally will help address the tremendous environmental challenges we face.

The opportunities identified by the Congress to achieve the transformation required to promote a ‘Culture of Conservation’, while respecting human rights and gender equity, we need to support and build constituencies for nature, and to address the way human societies are changing nature and our world. Cultivating a Culture of Conservation • Linking Spirituality, Religion, Culture and Conservation. The world’s rich diversity of cultures and faith traditions are a major source of our ethical values and provide insights into ways of valuing nature. The wisdom of indigenous traditions is of particular significance as we begin to relearn how to live in communion with, rather than in dominance over, the natural world.

THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER

The Moana Pasifika Voyage is welcomed at the opening ceremony of the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The Moana Pasifika is a voyage for the Pacific Ocean, by our brother and sisters in Hawai’i, who sail for action on Climate Change and a Sustainable Pacific Ocean. The voyage brings the voice of our communities and the lessons from our traditions to help chart our course to carry us into a safer future.

Laudato Si’, the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change, and the Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders among many other statements from world religions, provide insights. To create a stronger culture of conservation, we need to look beyond mere technical means. The values and wisdom of indigenous peoples, Elders, and the world’s rich faith and spiritual communities offer a deeper understanding of our connections with nature, and help inform the necessary transformational changes in the financial, technological, industrial, governance and regulatory systems of our societies. To incorporate such insights, spiritual leaders and the conservation community need to come together to share the values that connect us. Artists, educators and innovators all can contribute to this expanded vision.

• Engage and Empower Youth We need a global movement that nurtures a new generation across all sectors of society to connect with nature and take action to support conservation. And we need to engage and empower youth to work for the planet, creating together a culture of conservation that will endure. In an increasingly urbanized world, people, especially children, often have little chance to experience and connect with the natural world. Young adults have a greater stake in long-term sustainability, yet can feel that conservation is irrelevant to them.

Solutions: When navigating Island Earth, we rely on the winds of youth to fill our sails. Their vitality and innovation catalyzes and sustains conservation action. Nurturing youth requires access to nature, and investing in protected areas and parkland, especially in and near urban zones, so that they provide threshold experiences that lead to a life of conservation. Technology can help provide the means to connect and network. The conservation community has a responsibility to help youth by inspiring those who have yet to care for nature, empowering young professionals already inspired to develop their capacities and networks, and by lending our time and experience as mentors -- recognizing that youth have as much to teach as they have to learn.

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF A PLANET AT THE CROSSROADS

Pacific leaders were greeted by a traditional Hawaiian welcome at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the opening ceremony of the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

ENVIRONMENT • The Challenge of Sustaining the Global Food Supply and Conserving Nature.

The need to provide food for people has resulted in the intensification and industrialization of agriculture, including aquaculture, while traditionally farmed areas, biodiversity and natural ecosystems have been lost, and water resources have been depleted and degraded. Ecological communities and evolutionary processes have been disrupted. Ongoing use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers affect the biodiversity and ecosystem services that support our food production systems, and we have lost crop genetic diversity, nitrified our freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and disrupted pollinator systems. Traditional farming practices are under pressure and associated knowledge is being lost.

Solutions: Providing global food security requires increasing the cost effectiveness of food production, reducing food loss in the distribution chain, decreasing the waste of food, changing food consumption preferences, and ensuring that water resources are managed sustain ably. We need to generate the knowledge – and do so with urgency -- to create the ‘roadmap’ that can transform our complex food production/consumption systems so that they do not degrade the biodiversity and ecosystem services on which they depend. This will require bringing together currently fragmented organizations and initiatives, and reform of the current systems of counterproductive and perverse subsidies, taxes and other incentives, according to national circumstances.

We must strengthen the governance system managing the food production system. While we need to increase the overall efficiency of food, we must also maintain crop genetic diversity and local systems of production.

A Hawaiian chant and hula performance kicked off the first day of opening ceremonies at the 10-day conference, which ended Sept. 10th.

• The Challenge of Preserving the Health of the World Ocean The world’s oceans, and the communities that depend on them, are under immense and unprecedented human pressures. Sea level rise and natural disasters not only affect livelihoods but threaten human security. Destructive, illegal and unsustainable fishing practices deplete fish populations and degrade their habitats and spawning grounds. Mining activities, pollution and plastic debris threaten marine ecosystems and species, destroy life and jeopardize the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the long term. The integrity and resilience of key ecosystems, such as coral reefs and other ocean life, are threatened by rising temperatures, depletion and pollution of terrestrial water flows, over-fishing, and ocean acidification.

Solutions: Throughout the world, countries are embracing vast marine protected areas as an approach to support resilience and secure the future of humankind. The scale at which oceanic biological and ecological processes operate demands matching conservation efforts.

The United States of America, on August 31, 2016 expanded the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, making it the biggest protected area on the planet at 1,508,670 km2 . French Polynesia announced the creation of Taini Atea, a marine managed area covering their entire economic exclusive zone, a 5,000,000 km2 area nearly half the size of Europe, building on the traditional management system of rāhui. Colombia has announced a quadrupling in size of the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary bringing this UNESCO World Heritage site to 27,000 km2 .

These were preceded by other designations of large-scale marine protected areas by governments such as Palau. At the other end of the scale, there is a proliferation of locally managed marine areas. The total area of marine protected areas now exceeds that of land under protection and the rate of increase is an order of great magnitude. However, protected area approaches alone are not sufficient, and linking diverse methods and tools, such as fisheries and coastal zone management, is essential if we are to solve the multiple, interacting challenges facing oceans. Ocean warming and acidification cannot be ignored.

The opening night reception of the IUCN featured Hawai’i born musician, filmmaker and environmental activist Jack Johnson.

The pervasiveness of plastic waste in the ocean, and its effects on marine food chains, demand that we find ways to “turn off the plastic tap”.

• The Challenge of Ending Wildlife Trafficking The illegal trade in wildlife generates tens of billions of dollars for criminals every year and it continues to grow at an alarming rate. The involvement of organized criminal networks and militias poses a threat to national and international security as well as to social and economic development. The illegal trade in wildlife is leading to declines in the populations of target species, and often to their local extirpation, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Local people lose access to the natural resources upon which they depend for their livelihoods, community integrity, and jobs.

Solutions: Stopping this illegal trade will require concerted efforts on many fronts: better protection of wildlife populations, both through laws and strengthened enforcement, behavioral change to reduce demand for these illegal products, and enhanced cooperation at all levels, including greater involvement of local communities. Solving this problem requires an integrated approach that addresses the whole supply chain of illegal products – from source to consumer – and involves all stakeholders, national and local government, as well as local communities. Real outcomes can only be realized by addressing the needs of local people, so that the benefits of a legal economy outweigh those of the illegal economy.

“No nation, not even one as powerful as the U.S., is immune from a changing climate.” - President Barack Obama

• The Challenge of Engaging with the Private Sector The finance sector is increasingly aware of the potential that investing in nature has for generating returns, both in natural capital stock and also in economic yield. The corporate sector is also cognizant of the importance of maintaining nature to secure supply chains and manage institutional risk, especially under the uncertain conditions that climate change brings. And the conservation community is pressing hard for everyone to acknowledge the undeniable urgency of sustaining nature for the future of humanity.

Solutions: Economic and legal systems are needed that reward communities and companies for actions and investments that protect and restore nature. Equally, economic activity that destroys and degrades nature should be viewed as an economic cost imposed on the capacity of humanity and the greater community of life to survive and flourish. There is a palpable and urgent need to significantly increase investment in conservation action from both public and private sector sources. A precondition for attracting private investment is that conservation opportunities exist at scale. Additionally, regulatory and policy regimes that create a level playing field for business operations and that incentivize private investment to promote conservation are necessary. Ultimately, a collaborative approach, including government, civil society, and the private sector, is essential for success.

Internationally renowned environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

ENVIRONMENT • The Challenge of Climate Change Climate change is one the most pressing global challenges confronting humanity today. Healthy ecosystems – terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal – can act as powerful carbon sinks and reservoirs, and provide the basis for resilience to climate change impacts. Their better management, conservation and restoration – can make a crucial difference in enabling a low-carbon climate-resilient world, while also safeguarding biodiversity and aiding sustainable development. Furthermore, ecosystem-based adaptation helps reduce people’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, providing significant co-benefits for local communities. Climate change is exacerbating the challenge of invasive alien species. The Paris Agreement recognizes the value of these ecosystem services and the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans and the protection of biodiversity.

Solutions: The Paris Agreement confirms that the world community now accepts the reality of climate change, current and projected impacts, and the difficult fact that emissions from all sources must contract in line with what science prescribes to meet agreed targets. Nature-based solutions, such as protected areas, have become widely recognized as an essential component of a comprehensive approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Restoration of forests and peat lands are examples of such solutions. Critical to the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement is building trust across the full range of stakeholders, especially indigenous peoples and women in local communities, who engage directly in mitigating climate change.

ABOVE: Dr. Sylvia Earle at the IUCN Congress with the Plastic Soup Foundation.

The conservation community’s contributions are vital, providing solutions that reduce emissions, help vulnerable human communities adapt, manage impacts on native species, strengthen bio security measures to control and eradicate invasive alien species, and generate co-benefits for sustainability. Setting sail such is the magnitude of the human ecological footprint. Island Earth’s natural life support systems are straining to the breaking point, imperiling the well-being and resilience of all life. Communities struggle everywhere to hold on to what is most precious, naturally and culturally. The forces of change can appear unrelenting.

The situation is urgent and a transformation is needed in the boldness of our aspirations, the strengths of our efforts, and the weight of our investments. Acting with a sense of responsibility for our planet and in solidarity, conservationists offer solutions for some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Nature-based solutions have been shown - in many different settings and in both developed and developing countries - to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to climate change impacts, reduce the risk of natural disasters, and support sustainable livelihoods. Connected systems of protected areas, whether on land and sea, when effectively managed and governed, provide sanctuary for biodiversity and generate an extraordinary range of benefits for people. Ecosystem services from these protected areas contribute to human health and well being. Our problems are complex, values are contested, and the future uncertain. Strong partnerships are needed to implement conservation at the scales required. We need to broaden and deepen the global dialogue about how we relate to nature, motivate collective action, and ensure that nature-based solutions are fair, just and enduring. The conservation community will meet these challenges, emboldened by the creativity of human imagination, empowered by scientific and traditional knowledge, and inspired by the spirit of Aloha ʻĀina.

BELOW: A majestic Diamond Head was a spectscular backdrop for the world’s most prestigious environmental event.

Hawaii’s magnificant sea turtles.

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ENVIRONMENT

PLASTIC FANTASTIC?

BY CECE WOODS

AN ART EXHIBITION OF PLASTIC TRASH AT THE IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS SHOWS A DANGEROUS LEVEL OF HUMAN CONSUMPTION LEADING TO A SOBERING REALITY FOR OUR OCEANS AND WILDLIFE. In August the Honolulu Museum, Jack Johnson’s Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Hawaiian Electric brought artist Maikai’i Tubbs back to his native Hawai‘i to work on a profound plastic art project for the IUCN World Conservation Congress as an extension of the “Plastic Fantastic?” The exhibition closes October 2nd.

Tubs wrote this on his instagram @thecommoner recently about his experience curating the project: “In the last room of the exhibit, there is a statistic on the wall stating the average American throws away around 185 pounds of plastic each year, which equates to 1 ounce every 3 hours. Visitors are asked to weigh out 1 ounce of plastic, string it with wire and hang it on the walls so they can see, feel and smell it. Tubbs was brought in to work with the hundreds of 1-ounce pieces that have been made since February along with about 1,000 pounds of plastic, fishing nets and slippers collected on the shores of our islands by Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i. Thinking about the 185 pounds, I realized it was as if the average American threw away an average American each year, so I knew I wanted to work a human form into the final image. After a few iterations, I decided on a floor installation of the collected debris to be placed at the Hawaii Convention Center for the IUCN Congress.

From the ground floor, you can see the rubbish up close, picking out collections of plastic lighters, bottles, crates, caps and fragments. When you take the nearby escalator to the 2nd floor parking garage level and look down, this is what you see. I chose this image because I felt it represented how Hawaiʻi is often portrayed to outsiders, a beautiful woman in the pristine waters of our islands swimming with our endangered green sea turtles. But the materials that make up the work spotlight the reality of this idealized paradise. As people get some distance from the piece, I want them to see the bigger picture, the larger impact of their small plastic remains. It leaves our hands and a lot of it makes its way back into the environment, into the marine life and into us. Plastic affects us all and you can help by refusing single-use items like shopping bags, utensils and straws.”

“THE AVERAGE AMERICAN THROWS AWAY AROUND 185 POUNDS OF PLASTIC EACH YEAR WHICH EQUATES TO 1 OUNCE EVERY 3 HOURS.” - MAIKAI’I TUBBS

MAKE PEACE WITH NATURE

A HUMAN AERIAL ART INSTALLMENT TO CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE Blue Water Entertainment, in partnership with the Captain Planet Foundation, Earth Day Texas, TSE Foundation and Spectral Q will celebrated the International Day of Peace with a Human Aerial Art Installation on the Great Hill in Central Park, NY on Wednesday, September 21st in New York City.

Activists, students, indigenous tribes, influencers and well-known personalities were on hand to send a global visual message that World Peace is attainable and that sustainability is integral to the effort to solve the climate crisis and bring balance to the planet.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on the 21st of September. The UN General Assembly has declared this a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”

The event is the brainchild of award-winning filmmaker Greg Reitman, whose new film, Rooted In Peace, challenges viewers to examine their values and question how they want future generations to live. With Climate Action Week and the ratification of COP 21 at the UN occurring at the same time, Reitman asks “Why are we ignoring what’s so present in front of us? What is it about our human nature that makes us extract? The earth is not a never-ending resource and needs to be replenished. And the trees are the source of life.”

Greg founded the One Tree Initiative, whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people into taking personal responsibility for the natural environment. The One Tree Initiative has pledged to plant 50 million trees over the next 5 years, which aligns with Pope Francis’ call for one billion people to plant trees!

Trammell S. Crow (founder of Earth Day Texas, the largest Earth Day celebration in the United States and the world’s largest annual forum for sharing the latest initiatives, discoveries, research, innovations, policies and corporate practices that are reshaping our world) says that “Trees are the largest living things in our daily lives. We need to remember, every day, how important they are to sustain us and how important it is for us to protect them.”

Joining Earth Day Texas in supporting the ‘Make Peace with Nature’ aerial art installment is the Captain Planet Foundation, which was founded to give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the natural world in which they live. Laura Turner Seydel, chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation, states that “Trees are the lifeblood of humanity. They cool our cities, provide the oxygen we breathe, pull carbon out of the atmosphere and make life possible for countless numbers of wondrous creatures. They also feed the human spirit with their grounded grace and beauty and provide a safe place for our children to dream.”

The event kicks off at 12:00pm with an Indigenous Ceremony, led by a local New York State tribe, followed by hundreds of participants from all over New York City and the world joining together to create the message ‘Make Peace With Nature’ on the Great Hill. The event concludes with closing words from Greg Reitman.

About Human Aerial Art: Human Aerial Art is a unique mix of human installation and aerial photography and political activism that brings together communities to create large-scale messages for the common good.

Focusing on themes of health, human rights, social justice, ecological balance, democracy and freedom, the work strives to liberate the spirit and inspire unity and creative activation through participation.

About One Tree Initiative: The One Tree Initiative informs and inspires people to take responsibility for preserving the environment. Over the next 5 years, the One Tree Initiative pledges to plant 50 million trees.

Donate: Text #27722 to give to the One Tree Initiative About Earth Day Texas: Earth Day Texas (EDTx) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the world’s largest eco-celebration. April 21-23, 2017, visit Fair Park in Dallas to experience Earth Day like you’ve never seen it before. The three-day exhibition brings together communities, educators, businesses, families, government, music, influential public figures and more for a fun and learning-filled Earth Day weekend.

At Earth Day Texas, we believe Earth Day should be every day. Through several initiatives, we keep the conversation moving year-round. During our Earth Day Monthly events – or EDMos – learn sustainable practices and enjoy panel discussions at popular venues and watering holes in Dallas. Bring education and environmental hot topics to the big screen at our EDTx+TEDxSMU Film Series. Our latest addition, Earth Day Texas Expeditions, will take you on fascinating excursions into North Texas habitats, led by passionate and knowledgeable experts.

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COVER STORY

MIKE D

MALIBU’S RESIDENT BEASTIE BOY OPENS UP ABOUT LIFE IN THE BU PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW BY KEEGAN GIBBS MD: Yes. If you surf and you’re outside, you can’t not have a broader perspective. I think surfing is a great gift that we get. It puts us in the position where we are literally sitting in something that is way bigger than ourselves. And we see right away that we aren’t in control. It’s our role to be really respectful and protective. That applies locally as well as globally. Everyone should be like that but I think surfers certainly should have that awareness.

KG: I think it goes down to the core of who we are as surfers…wanting to protect our natural habitat. Our habitat is the ocean. If the ocean doesn’t flourish, we don’t flourish.

MD: Exactly. If the ocean is nasty we don’t want to get in. On a smaller level, I’ve got staph infections from surfing down front. I think a lot of people have…you go in the ocean with a cut and you get a staph infection.

KG: Let’s talk about work stuff for you. A lot has been said and celebrated about your musical influence. What are you currently working on and what are you working on for the future?

MD: I took a break from working on music for a little while and that was cool. I did that Transmission LA show at MOCA when Jeffrey Deitch was the curator. I was able to combine visual art and music. I am always interested in that alignment. Just like it’s interesting to me being an outsider in the surf world and then seeing how music is so integrated into surfing. I think if you talk to most people that surf, music is something that fuels that passion, fuels that activity. People surf but then they have that soundtrack going around in their brains. Whatever it is they are listening to, whatever it is that gets them in the flow when they’re surfing.Just like visual artists…whenever they’re working in their studios, they’re blasting their music. It’s a big driving influence on their work.

Now I’ve had the opportunity to produce and co-write with a lot of younger groups. I worked on a record with a French group called Cassius. And I produced another record from a London group called Slaves. They’re a really fresh punk band and I loved working with them because the songs were good and it was just a two piece band…a guitar player and a drummer. I felt like the world needed something like that right now, something raw and that shakes things up a bit.

KG: Do you have a different perspective on music now that you’ve taken a break? Is it nice to work on stuff more removed from something that’s so close to you?

MD: Yes and yes. It was important for me to have a break so I wasn’t governed by my emotions while working on music. It’s cool for me to have the opportunity to work with people who are younger. I’ve learned a couple things along the way…if only I knew then what I know now. I can actually explain myself now, explain why I think one idea works better than another. Whereas when you’re 23, you just get mad and walk out of the room. You don’t know how to be straight up with people in a way that works. You just don’t have the tools.

KG: Who are you voting for in the upcoming local elections?

MD: I’m voting Peak! Conservation and environmentalism are my top two things.

Watching Skylar grow up, it makes me feel optimistic about raising my kids out here because he’s so diverse and multi- faceted. He surfs and he’s got that connection to the environment. And as long as I’ve known him, he always traveled a lot. Even MD: One of the first times we came to Los Angeles was when we were on tour. Somebody though I know that’s not a criteria for somebody who’s going to be a leader in our suggested we come visit the beaches here in Malibu. I didn’t know any different, I am from community but I don’t feel it’s a small thing. I think it’s really important to have that New York. We ended up in Zuma Beach of course, where everybody ends up the first time global perspective and not just see ourselves as an insular community. If we are when visiting Malibu. I remember I got invited to Lou Adler’s house. I had no idea people lived going to do things to help the environment, we have to look to examples from other like that or that you could have a beautiful home on the beach. I didn’t know this kind of quality cultures. of life existed.

KG: When was the first time you visited Malibu outside of wanting to move here? And why did you move here?

KG: The quality of life in New York is so different than the quality of life in Los Angeles.

Was seeing how people lived in Malibu a turning point for you as far as moving to Malibu?

MD: It wasn’t a turning point, it was more eye -opening. The turning point for me was when we were living in Los Feliz and Davis was a newborn (he’s 14 now). A couple people I had met while studying yoga in India were living in Malibu. They had asked me to come visit them in Little Dume. As soon we came out here to Little Dume, that changed everything. We were able to see how it made sense to live out here and how it was a community where we could raise a family.

KG: When did you guys end up moving out here?

MD: Almost 11 years ago. For a while, we were going back and forth between here and Brooklyn but now we’re here full time.

KG: Now that you’ve been out here for a period of time and there has already been a lot of changes… what do you hope for the future holds for Malibu? And what kind of changes do you hope for?

MD: The reason we all choose to be out here is for nature on some level. Whether it’s how you interface with the ocean or the mountains or the amount of open space. Preservation and conservation, in terms of quality of life, are tops for me. I’m in the ocean as many days as I can. It’s been awesome raising kids in New York City and Brooklyn and here… I have more perspective on it. It’s very important to me that my kids travel and interface with the world a lot because it can be kind of remote and cut off here. But if I compare the two lifestyles…there’s no comparison, my kids are flourishing out here. The fact that my kids get to have surf practice and surf Zuma before school makes such a big difference in their lives. They love it and I love it.

Because of that, it’s very important for me to protect the integrity of our oceans and the integrity of our nature here.

KG: Obviously you have a lot of passion for the natural resources here…do you have a broader passion for natural conservation?

LOCAL

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY STILL HAUNTS CORRAL CANYON CAVES

BY STEVE WOODS

Although there has been less criminal graffiti vandalism at the State Parks Corral Canyon rock formations since the ‘birth canal’ of the main cave was concreted /closed, gang taggers have struck again.

Local residents involved with Arson Watch have been keeping an eye on visitors who may visit the park after sunset ,when the area is closed, and have reported that over the Labor Day weekend that 3 cars showed up at 3 am .Apparently, a group of Orange County visitors was unaware that the fictitious Morrison Cave was closed for graffiti vandals and other criminal activities, but they left their 714 Orange County gang tags for display on the rock below the cave . Not all previous visitors have not received the news that the ancient Chumash cave formation has been sand blasted and sealed shut so they decided to desecrate the rock formations, even though law enforcement has stepped up patrols in the area .State Parks Rangers have been making felony arrests and citing visitors $380 for being within 50 feet of the main cave but have not been able to catch every offender engaged in criminal activity. Graffiti activity has waned but some are still ignoring the posted closed signs and the law that prohibits desecrating rock formations ,illegally smoking or leaving trash .Craig Sap of State Parks has been regularly dispatching a crew of park employees to use their new mobile power washer to cleanse any spray painted rocks on any of the states properties, including Big Dume and the Encinal Beach parks.

The rumored Jim Morrison Corral Canyon Cave has been sealed off, but that has not stopped graffiti vandals from desecrating State Parks natural rock formations near the cave.

Graffiti vandals are also attacking rock features at Point Dume State Park as well as El Matador State Park.

Anyone caught spray painting on State property resources will be charged with a felony arrest, and those who are loitering within 50 feet of the posted closed cave area will be served with a $380 citation.

TRAIL EASEMENT DEDICATION PROGRAM ENDED There was a major victory for Malibu residents at City Hall on Sept. 12th. Residents from Ramirez Canyon led

by Rick Mullen and Sycamore Park led by Ken Kearsley came out in force to ask the City to walk away from the long-standing Trails Dedication Incentive Program. This program, started with the noblest of intentions in an era with several million less visitors to Malibu, has become a symbol of the institutionalized back-room deal where developers get to increase the size of their development by giving a public trail easement to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy that negatively impacts the rural character of quiet neighborhoods without ever consulting the affected neighbors. The Trails Committee was headed by Don Schmitz one of the biggest developer expeditors in Malibu. This program has gone on for years and has resulted in communities having to expend huge amounts of time and effort to defend their neighborhoods from the symbiotic actions of the Conservancy and the Developers, strange but frequent bedfellows.

Rick Mullen, the long-time President of the Ramirez Canyon Preservation Fund and a veteran of dealing with the Conservancy’s and developers’ impact on his neighborhoods, was first to address the Council and cited the problems with the program that has become a giveaway to developers and allowed the Conservancy to encroach into neighborhoods against the wishes of the residents and without the knowledge of the residents. A long time and successful defender of the rural character of his neighborhood, Mullen detailed the problems with the program and highlighted that the Conservancy had already spent an enormous amount of money to get a mile long section of the Coastal Slope Trail approved by the Coastal commission just behind Ramirez Canyon in unincorporated Los Angeles County. He was supported by a large contingent from his neighborhood in attendance.

Mullen was followed by many speakers from Sycamore Park led off by Elizabeth Stephens who detailed the impact of the Conservancy focusing its sights on the neighborhood of Sycamore Park. Speaker after speaker from Sycamore Park supported her comments along with former City Council Member Ken Kearsley providing the common sense clarity of the ridiculous aspects of what the program has become.

To the Council’s credit, they listened and heard the residents. After a brief period of comments that emphasized that times have indeed changed since this program was initiated and that the primary beneficiaries were the developers and the Conservancy they unanimously agreed with Skylar Peak’s motion to end the controversial program.

It was a great example of how the City Government should work: listen to the residents, hear them and fulfill the mission to maintain Malibu’s rural character. It was also a great lesson for all that residents need to understand all of these insidious methods that are fashioned by the people who spend the most time at City Hall, the developers, and get engaged in defending their neighborhoods. Left unchecked, the forces acting to change Malibu will expand into everything. A trails program that benefits developers? That is a lesson for all: they will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to transform Malibu.

Rick Mullen, Malibu Fire Captain and President of theRamirez Canyon Preservation Fund with his wife Jen.

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PHILANTHROPY STRANGE FAMILY PLANS A LEGACY OF ADVENTURE WITH PURPOSE

IN HONOR OF MALIBU LOCAL JOHNNY STRANGE

On October 1, 2015, Malibu lost a local and a legend when Johnny Strange, 23, died suddenly dur-ing a BASE jumping excursion in the Swiss Alps. One year later, the family has revealed plans on how they will start to create a legacy for their beloved Johnny.

Their first project is the Johnny Strange Skate Park in Thimphu, Bhutan. Johnny spent time in Bhutan when he was invited to the visit the country to investigate climbing Gangkhar Puensome, the highest unclimbed Mountain in the world. Johnny had just become the youngest person in the world to climb the tallest mountain in each of the seven continents, which includes Mt. Vinson in Antarctica and Mt. Everest in Nepal. While the Bhutanese did not allow the climb, since the summit of the mountain is considered sacred, Johnny and his Dad, Brian met with the King of Bhutan about how to motivate the young people of Bhutan. Johnny was involved in teaching Bhutanese youth how to skateboard, and working with the Prince of Bhutan on the Bhutanese Olympic Committee, who has also donated land for the skate park. The Park will forever memorialize Johnny’s presence in Bhutan and the Strange family hopes that it will inspire Bhutanese youth. They have been assisted on the project by Malibu local and friend of the Strange family, Nick Schaar, fa-ther of five time X Games skateboarding medal winner Tom Schaar. Skateboarding will be an official sport of the Olympics in 2020 and the opening of the Johnny Strange Skatepark for the youth of Bhutan is very timely.

The family has also committed to donating one million dollars in matching funds to build a second Johnny Strange Skate Park in Malibu. Johnny could often be found skating the Malibu can-yons and LA freeways at incredibly high speeds. This park would provide a safe place for Malibu youth and their families to skate while showcasing the natural beauty of Malibu. Johnny’s mission was adventures with purpose. He created a series of YouTube videos where he was filmed doing extreme sports to grab people’s attention and then promote causes close to his heart, such as glob-al genocide awareness. He felt that through extreme sports he could capture the attention of a dif-ferent audience, young, adventurous men and women. He strongly believed that younger genera-tions held the responsibility to make a difference in the world. His family hopes that keeping Johnny’s message alive will help motivate further generations of young people to find passion in helping people .

Johnny was more than an indulgent thrill seeker and extraordinary adventurer; he traveled the world and with his first-hand experiences his big heart grew bigger and bigger with compassion for many of the travesties and human rights abuses affecting other cultures. In the memory of his special spirit, his family is donating $1 million towards a skate park for the youth of Malibu. One of the only complaints I ever heard from Johnny was that Malibu, of all places, was the only surf city on the entire California Coast not to have a skate park. Thanks to the efforts of Patt Healy and Slow Growth Malibu, Trancas land developers have given up on plans to build a residential condo complex. Mayor Pro Tem Skylar Peak quickly took advantage of an opportunity and was successful in encouraging the city of Malibu to purchase the land at a bargain price. With most of Malibu’s population on the Westside, it makes much more sense to have a community park at Trancas than destroying the last undeveloped pristine coastal bluff in LA county at Bluffs Park. Thanks to Johnny Strange and his family’s generosity, Malibu’s youth can look forward to a new skate park.

-Steve Woods

WELLNESS In my health coaching practice, I find that my clients are a bit like investigative reporters rivaling Sherlock Holmes! They’re desperately trying to uncover the truth on differing opinions regarding nutrition. No one is in your body! So, if eating less meat (or no meat) feels good then do that. The fact is that nutrition is a science that the opposite can be proven from person to person. That’s why it’s important to keep an open mind and pay attention to what fuels your body best. Rather than tell my clients what’s best for them, I encourage them to investigate themselves, their family history, DNA, blood type, etc. The result? They tell me what works best for them! Trust your gut instinct. In addition, quite often what we discover is that some everyday foods can either be a lifesaver or a poisonous sabotager! Below are 10 foods to be aware of!

COFFEE - Drinking too much coffee will promote the release of the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These chemicals increase your body’s heart rate, blood pressure and tension levels ‘fight or flight’ response. Also, drinking coffee on an empty stomach, such as first thing in the morning, stimulates hydrochloric (“HCL”) acid production. This can be a problem because HCl should only be produced to digest meals.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

10 POTENTIALLY POISONOUS FOODS TO BE AWARE OF

BY DIANA NICHOLSON

KALE - It’s a wonderful veggie. However, too much kale can actually be dangerous. Kale can seriously mess with your thyroid. Kale has a compound in it called thiocyanate that, in high amounts, severely interferes with iodine metabolism, which can, in turn, result in hypothyroidism. Eating too much kale in an effort to lose weight can actually lower your metabolism (and affect a lot of other things that your thyroid controls). The condition is not common, and drinking kale juice seems to pose the biggest risk.

ALMONDS - Exceptionally popular with many benefits but also it’s a natural source of cyanide!

In 2014 Whole Foods recalled a line of Organic Raw Almonds, due to elevated levels of a natural chemical, hydrogen cyanide, that could be potentially fatal if consumed in high amounts, according to an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration.

APPLES - Everyone’s heard “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”... and are aware of the great sources of nutrition but keep in mind that apple seeds contain amygdalin, a substance that releases cyanide into the blood stream when chewed and digested. When comparing the amount of cyanide present in apple seeds with the amount needed to induce death (approximately 20 apple core’s or 200 seeds), apple seeds in small amounts do not contain enough cyanide to cause harm. However, it is better to spit out seeds to avoid any potential issues.While the seeds of an apple or two won’t cause you any harm, beware... there have been known to cause illness and in rare cases, deaths as a result of overeating.

Drinking too much coffee will promote the release of the stress hormones.

CHERRIES, APRICOTS, PEACHES & PLUMS - Stone fruits -The pits of the stone fruits, contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison. Swallowing a whole pit or two won’t do a lot of damage, but much like almonds, the toxin becomes exposed when the seed is crushed or damaged or chewed upon, making children and pets particularly vulnerable. Every year, a handful of deaths (in children and adults) are attributed to an over-indulgence in fruit pits!

NUTMEG - While the chemical in nutmeg is not poisonous, it is a psychoactive neurotoxin which can cause vomiting, dizziness and hallucinations, with headaches, nausea, dry mouth, bloodshot eyes, and memory disturbances. Nutmeg is also reported to induce hallucinogenic effects, such as visual distortions and paranoid ideation (Nostradamus used it to enter deep trances for his prophetic visions). But have no fear, the amount needed to cause a serious reaction is more than you’ll find in a pumpkin pie.

Almonds have many health benefits but they also are a natural source of cyanide!

GOJI BERRIES - Goji berries are a superfood… they contain antioxidants! There are even some claims that they have cancer-fighting properties. However, Goji berries can possibly cause drugherb interactions, especially in patients who regularly take medications for blood thinning, such as warfarin. Warfarin is used to treat blood clots that are formed because of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus condition. That is why if you are taking warfarin, you must avoid eating Goji berries as it can adversely affect your health. Also, diabetic patients have to take a daily dose of medication for keeping their blood sugar level under control. Goji berries have been found to affect the functioning of the pancreas and the production of insulin. This reaction is exactly opposite to that caused by the medication. That is why diabetic patients must avoid eating these berries.

AVOCADOS - Are fattening! The standard serving size for 50 calories? It’s one-fifth of an avocado. Because avocados are high in dietary fat, eating too much can pack on the pounds. One avocado provides almost 30 grams of dietary fat and 322 calories. The good news is that the majority of the fat in avocados is healthy, unsaturated fat. However, even healthy fats can cause unwanted weight gain if you consume them in excess.

SALMON - Salmon is a near perfect food. Rich in omega-3s, selenium, B12, and protein, it’s been referred to as one of the world’s healthiest foods. But be careful. Salmon contains mercury, a neurotoxin. Too much of it can cause mercury poisoning and major neurological damage. Pregnant women are especially advised to limit their consumption due to the presence of mercury. But … how much mercury? You can safely eat 12 ounces of salmon per week (about two standard servings).

TOMATOES - The tomato is a universal staple, but, it’s full of acids. Excessive consumption of tomatoes can trigger acid reflux, a common intestinal disorder. This raises the digestive acid level in our stomach, which starts seeping out. Gradually, the acids reach the wall of our esophagus and cause a burning sensation in it. The acids from tomatoes can make this condition worse and can even give you heartburn. So, if you have already been diagnosed with acid reflux or other such digestive issues, limit your intake of tomatoes.

In your pursuit of perfect health, keep in mind your individual needs and tolerances... and the pitfalls that may be poisonous!

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FIRE SEASON

We are rapidly approaching the “danger zone” of Santa Ana winds and the most dangerous time of the year historically for fires – October and November. The ’93, ’96, Canyon, Corral Fires and Malibu road fires all happened during this time of year. Add to that that this is the worst year on record for dryness of fuels due to the extended drought conditions and you have a recipe for a very dangerous scenario for Malibu. But you can prepare and the time to prepare is now, while things are calm and before the wind blows, the fires start, the embers start flying and the smoke fills your eyes and lungs. When that happens you do not want to look around you and think “oh no, I should have prepared.” What you want to say is “I am ready.”

So what can you do? First of all, the brush clearance program is designed to remove the ability of a fire on the ground or embers flying through the air to catch your house on fire. Look at your house and determine what your “Achilles’ Heel” is –if raining embers fall on the ground near your house, what is nearby that could spread a fire to your house ? Typically, it is things like dry wooden decks, or dry wooden eaves under your roof, open vents at the bottom or top of your house where blowing embers can get inside or underneath your house and start an unseen fire inside your home. It could also be bougainvillea or other dry plants too close to the house. Put fire-retardant varnish or paint on your deck or eaves and close those open vents off with fire safe ones. Get those dry bushes and bougainvillea away from your house. Just stand outside and look at your house. Imagine the wind blowing embers on to your house and the plants around it. What is the thing that is most likely to catch on fire and is that close to the house itself? Trees are some of the worst things.

If you have a dangerously dry and flammable tree right next to your house, that is a problem because your house may survive the embers but the tree may catch on fire and once it gets going it can put out enough heat, if it is close enough to your house and ignite your home. A tree two or three feet from the house is much worse than a tree ten feet from the house. Look at the branches; where do they hang, do they brush up against a part of the house that is vulnerable? Do they need trimming or maybe removal? Look at other things – do you have any steps or decking made with creosote wood, like old railroad ties or telephone pole material? Those things catch on fire and do not go out. They are very dangerous and you should consider getting rid of them if they are anywhere where they can ignite your home. What kind of outdoor furniture do you have – is it vulnerable to ignition? Can it bring the fire to your home?

THE

DEVIL’S WIND IS READY ARE YOU?

BY RICK MULLEN,

MALIBU FIRE CAPTAIN, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, AND MALIBU CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE

If you have outdoor faucets for garden hoses around your home, think about getting those little “Y” splitters with individual shutoffs from the hardware store so that you can put two garden hoses on each faucet in your yard. A garden hose is a great tool for dealing with these small spot fires started by embers. Garden hoses are light and you can spread them in each direction from each faucet to cover the whole perimeter of your home. Put on a basic garden nozzle that you can shut off. This way you, or a firefighter who comes to your home while you are not there, can easily move from spot to spot and not have to drag the hose all over the place. You can just move from hose to hose. Light, quick, and does not drain your energy.

Topography is important – fire below you on a hill is very dangerous because it moves much faster, even without the wind, and the heat precedes the fire and can be deadly. Be very, very careful if you are in a spot where the fire can get below you and where there is plenty of fuel for it to burn on a slope. If you live in a steep canyon area, like Corral Canyon, leaving early may be your best option. If you live in a flat area, the heat and fire won’t move as quickly or be as intense as it will be in a steep canyon and it may give you a few more minutes to think. If you find yourself at home as a fire is coming through your area, you can use your home to shield yourself – get behind the house or even inside the house to protect yourself as the fire moves through your area. If it is moving fast, the worst part may be over quickly but it will be frightening and anxiety-inducing at the worst moments.

Rick Mullen is a fire captain and 18 year veteran with L.A. County Fire Department.

The best thing to do is to make your evacuation decision now and get everything in order. Decide NOW at what point you will leave and not during the emergency. Rather than gathering all of your important documents and photos at the moment of the emergency, scan them ahead of time and store them in the cloud or off-site so that you have less to do when you make the decision to go. Think of where you will go, which may be different if the fire comes from the east or the west. We all tend to put these decisions off, but a few moments with the family together and a pad of paper to plan for the worst case scenario will be worth its weight in gold should the time ever come to evacuate. If cell phone capability goes down, establish a rallying point for the family – where you will meet up if you each have to evacuate on your own because you may not be able to communicate.

Mullen, an avid environmentalist, is currently running for one of three open seats on Malibu City Council along side Mayor pro tem Skylar Peak and former mayor Jefferson Wagner.

These are just a few things you can do and think about now. We are still in the “calm before the storm.”

It is possible the storm won’t come at all, but if history is any guide it is best to prepare right now for the worst fire season ever. We are almost at its threshold; if you have not thought about the things I mentioned above, it is time for a serious family meeting and planning session. It could mean the difference between survival and protection of your home or tragedy. Big fires happen in Malibu, it is just our reality. It is each of our responsibility to prepare mentally and physically for the worst case scenario rather than hope it will not happen.

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ENVIRONMENT

MONARCH MORNINGS

BY LORA COLTON COBB

This past spring my photographer friend Suzy and I were walking down the beach enjoying a plethora of quintessentially Malibu eye candy, she occasionally snapping off a shot. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar flight, flickering and flitting, descending in a fairy-like dance. Black and orange stained-glass patterns with colors reminiscent of a tiger’s stripes revealed it to be a monarch butterfly! “Look SuzyQ!” I squealed with delight spotting the cast of a playful twin shadow. Our new companion’s mission at this juncture involved hovering over, then landing on a big bright green seaweed-covered rock nuzzled in the sand, beautifully exposed by low tide. Suzy took her shot.

What was this gossamer-winged damsel doing here all by her lonesome? It hadn’t occurred to me before now - butterflies may enjoy the seashore as much as we do, perhaps more.

Here we are together enjoying the sights and sounds, the tastes and textures of another picturesque day at the beach. The powerful, roaring, turquoise, surf sprays salty seawater whilst ebbing and flowing across the vast shoreline, flanking those delicate, noiseless earnestly beating wings barely holding my tiny new friend aloft. A humbling realization washes over me of just how sensitively interconnected each organism, each ecosystem is. From the barometric pressure of the moist ocean breeze cooling my cheeks down to the bounty of interstitial organisms thriving in the sand underfoot - we are all connected.

I wake up every morning fortunate enough to live in one of the most desirable places on Earth. Malibu holds a remarkably delicious juxtaposition of ocean, mountain, forest, desert, sage and chaparral habitats; one of the most breathtakingly distinctive assemblages of landscapes and vistas in the world – and home to an incredible amount of wildlife diversity.

As if to accentuate this point, I glimpse a pod of dolphins swimming just beyond the waves, my heartbeat obligingly accelerates. The pristine peerless beauty of Malibu - flora and fauna, sky and sea - has once again taken my breath away.

In these inspired moments I find myself in awe of the many miracles and wonders of Mother Nature, the many gifts freely given by Gaia herself day after day. I feel her nurturing support from underneath soothing my aching feet - electric healing as she offers up an unending supply of electrons. I know my heartbeat is an electrical signal and my nervous system runs on electrical impulses. Thus, I am recharged, refreshed and rebooted with every barefoot step in the sand. Astounded by and grateful for her seemingly endless generosity, I regard venerable Mother Earth as she continually provides for a vast variety of living creatures, including myself, yet never hear her ask for anything in return.

Immersed in this reverence, I feel a responsibility to ask: how do I help to heal a world that I, however ignorantly or unintentionally, had a hand in polluting? What can I do to help tip the scales back into balance; give back more than I take? Am I doing everything I can to properly steward this land left in my charge? And particularly, how do I give a voice to the voiceless?

Sometimes, thinking about the problems and poisoning of this world, I am overcome by sadness; it all seems so overwhelming, the task at hand too daunting. With so many issues to address, where does one begin? Other times I am overcome by anger at the lack of substantive information. My feelings are my responsibility; it is up to me to transform any disillusionment, sadness, anger or frustration into positive proactivity through community action, service, perspiration and inspiration. So, I count my myriad of blessings, I say thank you, and again I ask: how may I be of service?

I know I love butterflies and I’ve heard my dear friends the monarchs are in peril. Could I actually be witness to the extinction of these pixyish pollinating world travelers? What about their long and courageous 2,000 plus-mile journey, from as far away as Canada, to hibernate in the highlands of Mexico each winter - that incredible feat of migratory willpower? Is it possible that in 40 years from now my grandchildren will live in a world where monarchs exist solely in exhibits? The celeritous downsizing of the monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years is estimated to be as much as 90% in the Eastern U.S. and over 70% here in the West. The numbers are startling. Human-related factors, such as habitat loss from development, pesticides and herbicides or weed-killers, rob the monarchs of the precious milkweed they depend upon to lay their eggs. How do I keep my Monarch Morning from becoming a Monarch Mourning?

Change is happening slowly. Recently, through the efforts of Poison Free Malibu, the city has become pesticide free. The Malibu Monarch Project is dedicated to bringing back the monarch butterfly as well as other needed pollinators. Bravo to everyone who is doing something to make a difference. Awareness and education are keys to both getting started and moving forward. If you feel inspired to help save the monarchs and want to learn how to plant a pesticide free butterfly garden so the monarchs can survive, then please visit: www. malibumonarchproject.com. If you want something educational and perfect for the whole family, then watch a PBS NOVA documentary called “The Incredible Journey of Butterflies.”

In another noteworthy project: HBO produced a phenomenal Docu-Series called “Saving My Tomorrow.” Season 1, Episode 1 includes a very short story about monarchs narrated by Tina Fey followed by a heart-warming report on an 8-year-old Florida boy who champions for them, proving that anyone, anywhere, with a desire can affect change.

Simple steps we can take individually result in huge changes collectively. Each and every advancement toward a better future is encouraging; inspiration is abounds. Mere words can’t express my admiration for that lone intrepid monarch adventuring on the beach that fine fortunate spring morning. But, “Thank you for uplifting me and motivating me to take action,” may be a good place to start...

Fast forward: it’s the first Friday of August. I find myself sitting at a table with other Malibu Monarch Project volunteers. Attending this monthly meeting, volunteering my time, input and support – I am satisfied for now. It feels like a small step in the right direction, an offering, a tiny token of my appreciation for what I received one hundredfold with each and every step in the sand that miraculous Malibu Monarch Morning.

PHILANTHROPY

TWO COASTS: ONE OCEAN.

POINT DUME PARTIES TO PROMOTE PHOTOS BY JERITT CLARK AWARENESS FOR A PLASTIC FREE COASTLINE

WHO: Host committee and attendees included the who’s who of fashion, music, and surf including Kelly Slater, Greg Long, Mike D, James McAdoo, Johnny Knoxville, John Paul Mitchell, Takuji Masuda, Stephanie Gilmore, Steven Lippman, David Chokachi, Robert Trujillo, Annabeth Gish, Tori Praver + Danny Fuller, Kalani + Oleema Miller, and John Moore.

WHAT: Guests gathered at sunset for local food offerings from Blue Plate Restaurant Group and specialty cocktails sponsored by Finlandia Vodka, set against a stunning natural backdrop of the vast hilltop private backyard in Point Dume. Cocktail hour festivities included the music styling of DJ KK (big wave surfer Keala Kennelly), a colossal skate ramp, and noteworthy silent auction. The night continued on the far side of the property with rustic, candlelit tablescapes and dinner prepared by LA Roots. Famed auctioneer, CK Swett, roused the crowd with an exciting live auction, followed by an electrifying live set by the head banging pre-teen metal band The Helmets with impromptu stage performances by Stephanie Gilmore and Robert Trujillo.

The Helmets with Dr. Chad Nelson, Stephanie Gilmore, Kelly Slater and Greg Long.

HIGHLIGHTS: •The exclusive debut of Surfrider’s short film, “Long Live The Beach” narrated by bigwig surfer Greg Long and presented by Surfrider Foundation CEO, Dr. Chad Nelsen.

•An auction featured an exciting trip to Volcom’s Pipeline house on the North Shore of Oahu, a trip to the Billabong Pipeline Masters and private surf ses- Mike D and Dr. Chad Nelson sion with Mark Occhilupo, a luxury vacation to St. Lucia at Viceroy’s Sugar Beach Resort, and a Patagonia sponsored surf session with the Shaun Tomson.

WHY: Two Coasts: One Ocean in Malibu funds two critical efforts to expand Surfrider’s outreach and advocacy efforts to reduce ocean plastic pollution and protect the California coast. (1) Funds raised at the event will support Surfrider’s “Save Our Coast” campaign and ensure that California’s dramatic 1,100-mile coastline will remain open and protected for generations to come. (2) The Surfrider Foundation will launch its nationwide “Long Live the Beach” campaign to engage the next generation of coastal defenders and ensure our coasts are protected for the future. For more information about Two Coasts: One Ocean in Malibu, visit www.surfrider.org/two-coasts-oneocean.

Steven Lippmann, John Paul DeJoria and his wife Eloise and Rob Wells.

ABOUT SURFRIDER FOUNDATION The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide. Learn more at surfrider.org Stephanie Gilmore on stage.

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FIREWIRE TEAM WINS SURFAID CUP AT MALIBU For a fourth year in a row, the team from Firewire won the SurfAid Cup at the iconic First Point at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, California. The event raised an extraordinary $125,000 for humanitarian organization SurfAid. The team from Indoteak Design, sponsored by Frank and Amy Ragen, won the fundraising Cup by raising $16,150 with team captain Jeremy Horowitz. In the past five years, the SurfAid Cup in Malibu has raised more than $500,000 for SurfAid. “We are obviously stoked to win today, but there are no bragging rights, because anything we did today pales in comparison to what SurfAid does every day. SurfAid is a phenomenal organization and we are proud to support them,” says Mark Price, CEO of Firewire.

All funds raised contribute to SurfAid’s mother and child health programs in remote areas of Indonesia in Nias, the Mentawai Islands, Sumbawa and Sumba. “The funds raised by the SurfAid Cup in Malibu, the ongoing support of Malibu Surf Association (MSA), and the community of Malibu truly saves lives in Indonesia. With a ‘hand up, not a hand out’ philosophy, SurfAid works with simple, but high impact solutions including clean water, access to basic health care and improved nutrition.

Days like today show that surfers can make a real difference and give back to the places they love” says Andrew Judge, CEO of SurfAid.

ALLEN SARLO

Malibu delivered a clean, long interval south swell with sets that were shoulder high to overhead and rippable. Contestants taking off deep blew minds, making outside sections at warp speed before carving huge cutties on the inside and throwing buckets of spray. The level of surfing took the SurfAid Cup competition to a new high. A five-man tag team format, the SurfAid Cup was part of the annual MSA Classic Invitational contest and all the teams picked a pro surfer or legend to join their fundraising team.

The pro line-up this year was amazing. Competing alongside legends such as Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, Jen Smith and Joel Tudor, paired with the opportunity to support SurfAid’s life saving programs and surf an empty First Point break in Malibu is what drives most of the competitors.

The team from Firewire won the final with a very impressive score of 203. Three points separated them from second place team Indoteak Design who finished with a score of 200. Crystal Blue Persuasion, Malaria Sucks, Malibu Backbone and Team Ola Scream rounded out the exciting finals.

Mark Price, Chuy Reyna, Taylor Jensen, Rob Machado, with pro rider Johnny Noris brought home yet another winning trophy for Firewire.

ROB MACHADO

Supporting sponsors for the 2016 SurfAid Cup Malibu were Indoteak Design, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Duke’s Malibu, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, Casa Escobar and the Malibu Surfing Association, The Local Malibu and 90265 Magazine.

For more information about SurfAid go to www.surfaid.org SurfAid Cup Malibu 2016 Pro Roster: Shane Dorian, Reef McIntosh, Matt McCabe, Mike McCabe, Johnny Noris, Anthony Petruso, Allen Sarlo, Jen Smith, Pascal Stansfield, Guy Takayama, Joel Tudor, Tyler Warren

ALLEN SARLO

SHANE DORIAN

PASCAL STANSFIELD

Photo Credit: Grey Lockwood @greylockwoodphoto, Keelee Lovaas @keeleelovaas, Noah Crider @cridernoah, Sean Stahl @sean.stahl