Sen. Leland Yee: Earth Day celebration

When the Earth Day celebration started in 1970, environmentalism was not a broadly embraced movement, but a minor concern in the political world. In the decades since, our awareness of the health of the world around us has vastly expanded, along with our understanding of the many threats that confront our natural environment.

Now, with climate change already taking effect around the world, burying our heads in the sand is a luxury we can no longer afford.

This year, I am authoring two bills to address environmental concerns. First and foremost is Senate Bill 535 which will allow vehicles such as plug-in hybrid to use the carpool lanes on California's highways.Ê These vehicles produce far less greenhouse gases and consume much less fuel than the average car, and it is important that the state provide real incentives to support the purchase and use of these vehicles so that we may reduce our carbon footprint.Ê

Senate Bill 300 seeks to provide greater oversight over the bar pilots who oversee oil tankers in our waterways. After last year's Cosco Buscan oil spill in San Francisco Bay, it is my belief that more oversight is necessary to protect our bay and put in-place critical safety and training measures to prevent future tanker collisions and the potential for fuel spills.ÊÊÊ

Beyond the halls of the Capitol, there is still much work to be done. So in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, I joined my staff and hundreds of volunteers at Half Moon Bay State Beach on Saturday, April 25, in an effort to do my part for our environment.Ê

We all know that one part of our town that is strewn with litter, but all too often we pass it off as someone else's problem and walk right past. This reaction is understandable, but it must be overcome if we wish to see positive change. We must not view this as a chore, but as another aspect of being a good citizen, something that keeps us invested in our community. Something that is larger than simply us.Ê

Now, more than ever, is the time for us to realize that all of our actions have consequences, and if we do not tread carefully, we could leave a world much harsher and far less beautiful for the next generation.

Recently, the U.S. Department of the Interior held a hearing at the University of California, San Francisco regarding the potential for oil drilling off the California coast. The hearing was part of an information gathering effort by President Barack Obama's administration as it considers reversing an executive order issued last August by former President George Bush to lift the federal legislative moratorium that since 1981 had been protecting California's coast and beaches from oil spills.

As an Assemblymember in 2005, I authored and passed Assembly Joint Resolution 14 - state legislation opposing all federal efforts to lift the moratorium. More recently, I joined with many Californians in calling for our new president to reverse this destructive order. It is just this sort of effort that every Californian can undertake in our collective work to protect and reclaim our environment.

I thank all the volunteers for participating in this year's Earth Day celebration and hope that we recommit ourselves to a cleaner, greener world.

Sen. Leland Yee is a California state senator.