On June 18th, a hundred & twenty friends and supporters attended an evening of stories of environmental successes, laughter, behind-the-scenes politics, campy songs, and a fond farewell to our own Senator Barbara Boxer. She retires this year after spending ten years in the US House of Representatives and another 24 years as Senator from California.
Yet, the Senator stressed, she is not leaving efforts to protect the environment and the public – she is planning her new career continuing conservation work she started in Congress.
As a member of the House, Senator Boxer authored legislation to establish the standards for the Dolphin Safe tuna label, developed by our International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP). The legislation has saved the lives of an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 dolphins per year since its successful adoption by Congress in 1990 – an astonishing success.
Sen Barbara Boxer at IMMP Headquarters from Int'l Marine Mammal Project on Vimeo.
Senator Boxer has also been a long-time advocate of taking steps to reduce the threat of global warming, has authored legislation to reduce the impacts of toxics on children, and has helped protect thousands of acres of forests and wildlands as Wilderness Areas.
Senator Boxer talked about the dolphin legislation (one of her favorite successes) in her new book The Art of Tough. At our event, she read selections from the book and even sang a few of her parody songs she used to help “break the ice” with her male colleagues in Congress. After her presentation and a short question and answer session, IMMP Director David Phillips and Associate Director Mark J. Palmer presented Senator Boxer with a bronze casting of artist Bud Bottoms’ dolphin family. (Bud’s beautiful large and world-famous bronze dolphin sculptures and monuments decorate the marina fountain in Santa Barbara, as well as sites in Japan, Ireland, Mexico and various US cities.) The base we inscribed stated:
To Senator Barbara Boxer:
In grateful recognition of your outstanding commitment to protecting dolphins and all marine life.
International Marine Mammal Project, Earth Island Institute, 2016
Senator Boxer then graciously met members of the audience and signed copies of her new book.
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IMMP would like to thank the many people who made the event such a wonderful success.
A special thanks to our event organizer, Mary Jo Rice. She put her heart into having a wonderful event, and we all are very grateful.
Our generous Event Partners were Hachette Books and the David Brower Center.
Event Sponsors included Frank and Ronita Egger, Josh Floum & Maggie O’Donnell, Frey Vineyards, Good Earth Natural Foods, Dr. Peter Joseph & Marcy Levine, Toby McLeod & Jessica Abbe, Mark J. Palmer, and Ed Payne.
A special thanks to the Berkeley Police Department for their cooperation and support.
Special thanks to Frey Vineyards for providing both their organic wines and their pouring skills.
Thanks for outstanding food and drink to Comforts, Full Belly Farms, Good Faith Farm, J.B. Events, Judy’s Breadsticks, Miyoko’s Kitchen, Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., Sweet Things, Trader Joe’s Berkeley, Trader Joe’s San Rafael, World Centric, Razan’s Organic Kitchen, and Tomatero Organic Farm.
We want to thank all the excellent volunteers for set up, serving, and clean-up, for sign-ins and ushering, and for their good spirits and willingness to share:
Linda Appleby, Kevin Connelly, Cynthia Doll, Lew Epstein, Michelle Epstein, Helena González, Karen Gosling, Aubrey Hills, Valerie Lowe, Sharon Negri, Ginny Palmer, Sharon Tamm, Richard Tamm, Ryan Walker and Hanna Weiler.
Biggest of All Thanks to Senator Barbara Boxer and her staff for attending and for all her years of environmental leadership. We look forward to working with Senator Boxer in her new capacity as a full-time Californian!
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