Baykeeper's E-Newsletter for June 2012

Take Action to Control Flame Retardant Pollution

Urge Governor Brown to take action to reduce flame retardant pollution in California.

California's current standards for flame retardants in furniture and other consumer products don't provide protection against deadly fires—but they do result in toxic chemicals entering our households, waterways, food supply and ecosystem, exposing humans and wildlife to these dangerous substances.

Governor Brown can act to make California's standards more like the superior protections proposed at the federal level that reduce the risk the deadly fires while reducing exposure to toxic chemicals.

Please sign our petition asking Governor Brown to control flame retardant pollution in California.

Baykeeper Earns Charity Navigator's Top 4-Star Rating

Charity Navigator, the nation's leading evaluator of nonprofit organizations' financial performance, has awarded San Francisco Baykeeper its top 4-star rating.

This rating designates Baykeeper's financial efficiency, accountability and transparency to be "Exceptional: Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause."

"Baykeeper is proud of our effective use of our supporters' donations," says Deb Self, Executive Director. "We strive for the highest standards of financial efficiency and responsibility in our work to protect San Francisco Bay from pollution, and this rating a great reflection of our efforts."

Read more about Baykeeper's 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Progress to Protect Bay Wildlife from Oil Spills

Birds and other wildlife coated with oil during oil spills will be more likely to get rescue and care under Baykeeper-sponsored legislation that just passed the California Senate.

SB 1192 raises fees on oil and shipping companies to improve funding for the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. The network rescues, cleans and cares for birds and other wildlife during oil spills.

SB 1192 will next be considered by the California Assembly and must be signed by Governor Jerry Brown before becoming law.

Read more about the Baykeeper-sponsored bill to protect wildlife from oil spills.

Free App Locates Clean Water for Play in the Bay

Want to find clean water for swimming, surfing or other recreation? Baykeeper's new, free smart phone app, Swim Guide, gives you real-time water quality information on more than a dozen Bay Area ocean and Bay beaches.

Download it free from the Apple App Store, for Android from Google Play or online at www.theswimguide.org.

Read more about Baykeeper's free Swim Guide app.

Swim for the Bay

Calling all open water swimmers! On Sunday, September 30, join Baykeeper for the third annual Swim for the Bay to benefit a healthy San Francisco Bay.

The Swim for the Bay is a noncompetitive 9-mile swim from the Golden Gate to the East Bay. Swimmers may participate on a relay team or solo. Registration cost is $100; each swimmer must raise an additional $300 for Baykeeper.

Learn more and register for the swim.