Nishanta Rajakaruna, a professor of botany at College of the Atlantic, sent me UC Davis geologist Eldridge M. Moores's list on why serpentine should remain the State Rock of California (background here). Why should you care? It's simple: When politicians make so-called "scientific" decisions based on nonsense, it's our collective responsibility to call them out on it! Alright, so what can you do? Judgment on the bill in question (SB624) happens this week, so if you live in CA, please email/call: 1. Senator Feinstein 2. Senator Boxer 3. The Governor 4. Gloria Romero who is naively pushing for this (and we're not sure why) 5. Your state assembly person Let them know that sound science must play a role in the policy-making process. Here are Eldridge's talking points:
Serpentine is closely associated with gold deposits in the foothills, with the California Gold Rush, and California's history;
Serpentine is formed by ...
