Surf Girl – July 2019

environment

I

nspired by Greta Thornberg and her revolutionary

school strike movement, a small group of local

Torquay surfers in Victoria, Australia, amalgamated

to create our own strike – surf style. On 15 March

we met at the beach and painted our signs. Each surfer

wrote a letter stating, ‘we will be voting for the climate,’

in the next election, with aims at placing pressure on our

local political candidates to improve their environmental

policies. ‘Climate strike’ and ‘Fight for the Bight’, echoed

well beyond the sandy shore, reaching up past the rocky

cliff and creating a contagious and powerful vibe. To be

part of this energy and passion brought up emotions of

security; most compelling was the optimism in humanity

to act. Unified, we continued to chant in the name of our

future, paddling out in the two-foot onshore waves with

our signs and heads held high.

Connecting with our local community and creating

our own tribe of female eco-warriors has been a way

to stay positive, motivated and purposeful. We will

continue to come up with creative ways of generating

awareness for both provincial and global issues, and

provide the community with avenues and events so we

can collectively have our voices and demands heard.

We believe that whilst global change may be difficult,

thousands of small community changes are possible if

we lead the charge.

Before leading the paddle out, Belinda said: “We

are living in a state of climate emergency. At a time

when there is a simple fix to keep it in the ground and

implement renewable solutions, our elected leaders

continue to place our coastline, wildlife and way of life

in immediate danger by approving climate-wrecking

projects that will doom the future of our planet for future

generations. Us surfers have first-hand experience of

any change to our local environment and climate, and

we say enough is enough. It’s time to stand united to

protect our oceans and demand climate justice for our

children’s future and all life on earth.”

We are the first generation to feel the effects of

climate change and maybe the last generation who can

do something about it. Tomorrow brings a new day and

with it another opportunity to change the course we are

on. So, don’t get depressed, find your own tribe, and

get active! Across oceans and borders, we are in the

fight for climate justice, so let us act together.

THE SEA IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF OUR HELP,

SO SURFERS BELINDA BAGGS AND EMMA BÄCKLUND

SPEARHEADED A PADDLE OUT FOR

CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE RISE OF THE

EC WARRIORS

EMMA BÄCKLUND

EMMA BÄCKLUND