I am writing this in reply to the article “Surfrider behind scathing report on Malibu.”
I was once a person who held signs and voiced the phrase “Power to the People.” Then my idealism came to a halt when I began to meet some of “those people.” Although the full report mentions education on the subject of freeing the beaches, nowhere in the report does it mention education on the environment.
Please! I have been cleaning up the beaches way before it was fashionable! I have walked on beaches in many parts of America and in other countries. Yes, the beach should be for the people and for fun. However, my observations have shown me that many of these people don’t deserve to be on the beach (or other environmental areas)!
I have witnessed people tearing starfish off of rocks, tramping through tide pools and sensitive plant communities, collecting shells that still had live animals inside, fish lines left on beaches (that wrap around the birds, fish, sea lions, etc. causing death), cigarette butts, which cause death to birds and fish that mistake them for food), and just plain abuse to the beach and the animals that live in the sea!
The beach is there for those who deserve it. Those who keep it clean enjoy and preserve it and understand the sensitive habitat.
I did, and do stop and try to explain to people the significance of the beach. However, many of them just laughed at me. There doesn’t need to be education on beach access for all, the education should be on the environment and how to protect the beach. Perhaps everyone who wants to go to the beach should have to do a test on the environment and pass before allowed entrance! Then, there needs to be an Environmental Patrol, people who are trained in environmental issues who walk up and down the beaches and instruct or give tickets to those who disturb environmental habitats, etc.
Forget about the campaign of educating the people about public access to beaches and instead educate them about the privilege it is to be able to even walk on the beach!
Alessandra DeClario, Ph.D.
Former Malibu resident