Saving Oceans, Waves and Beaches!
Written
by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation is
riding a wave of success with its 500th victory in its quest to protect the
world's oceans, waves and beaches against negative environmental impacts,
including pollution, offshore drilling, destruction of natural habitat, and
more.
Pete Stauffer, Surfrider's Environmental Director, says,"Since
Surfrider was founded on August 22, 1984, we have been known for our
special breed of grassroots activism. Our chapters and members work tirelessly
to defend our coasts from looming threats like seawalls, oil drilling, and loss
of public access."
In Surfrider's latest victory, Washington
state adopted a marine spatial plan for its Pacific coast that
brings state and federal agencies and tribal governments together to coordinate
how the state's marine environment will be utilized and protected. It took
people working as a team to bring this about, including a decade of advocacy
from Surfrider and other ocean stakeholders.
On the opposite side of the country,
Surfrider has achieved numerous victories to protect the Atlantic Ocean
from offshore oil drilling - helping to get 120 local government resolutions
passed.
And, in a 2016 victory that's close
to surfers' hearts, Surfrider organized forces to save the iconic SoCal surf
spot Trestles from a six-lane toll road that was scheduled to run
through it.
Other victories include stopping a
luxury home development in Hawaii that was going to impact Honolua Bay.
Obtaining public beach access in Maine.
Spearheading California's successful
Ban the Bag Act to limit single-use plastic bags that pollute our oceans
and waterways.
To celebrate these victories...and
more in the making, Surfrider revised its logo to emphasize "the wave of
impact" that it is having on protecting our waves and coasts.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and
Patti Kishel are excited about Surfrider's success and proud to be part of this
grassroots movement. With more than 160 chapters and student clubs nationwide
and chapters around the globe, the Surfrider Foundation is proving that
volunteer-advocacy is a powerful force for good.
As Surfrider's CEO Dr. Chad
Nelsen says, "protecting the environment needs more than science and
government – it needs people!"
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the
exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint
it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit
groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is
given.
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