Surf Girl – July 2019

knowledge

W

hy does it matter if our oceans are

choked with plastic?

There’s a concept in human and

veterinary medicine called One

Health. This suggests that without a healthy planet, you

don’t have healthy people, and you don’t have healthy

animals. The three are so intrinsically linked. Plastic is

damaging ecosystems, in particular marine ones, by

killing animals – and we are talking millions of victims

a year – and damaging precious ecosystems. These

ocean ecosystems produce over half the oxygen we

breathe on Earth! They are our life force.

But there’s a more insidious issue too. Plastic attracts

and releases chemicals, carcinogens and endocrine

(hormone) disruptors. With plastic pollution being such

a ubiquitous problem, these chemicals are entering our

bodies, too.

What can we do about it?

It can be incredibly overwhelming acknowledging the

scale of the issue, and considering what on Earth we

can do about it. I believe that small, positive actions

DO make a big difference. To start with, it converts that

feeling of paralysis into a feeling of pride, which inevitably

leads to further positive action. It also inspires others

around you to make changes too, and makes your

stance clear that you do not support the degradation of

our environment for the sake of convenience. This can

be very empowering, and living by our values leads to a

greater sense of self worth.

It can seem like such a tiny action to pick up a few

pieces of plastic on a beach clean, but it is often the

start of a journey into connecting the dots between the

single-use plastic we use in our everyday lives, and that

which ends up in our environment. It also helps to open

other peoples’ eyes to its presence; they may not have

noticed it before seeing you pick it up. And, each piece

of litter you remove from the environment can no longer

harm an animal.

As surfers, we already have a very strong connection

to our oceans; I strongly believe this is the most

important precursor to doing something about protecting

them. People protect what they love: We are stewards

of the sea. The more time we spend appreciating how

incredible nature is for our wellbeing, the more likely we

are to want to protect it. So maintain that connection at

all costs!

Here are a few practical tips for tackling the plastic

pollution problem:

Travel considerately.

Travel well with as little plastic as possible. Choose

shampoo and soap bars over bottles, take a Mooncup

instead of tampons, and don’t forget to pack your

reusable coffee cup, shopping bag, water bottle and

drinking straw.

Choose brands that are making the right decisions.

Finisterre are making swimsuits out of recycled fishing

nets, Olas Ocean Tribe are making some amazing sea

leggings from recycled plastic bottles, and Waterhaul are

making sunglasses from marine litter.

Get involved in your local community’s efforts to rid

your favourite surf beach of plastic.

The Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Coastlines

campaign has communities all over the UK, working

hard to remove plastic from the local environment. One

of the most wonderful side effects of this for me has

been seeing my community brought together over a

subject we all feel passionately about. Finding your tribe

is important in maintaining motivation and getting help to

make bigger steps. I’d really recommend reaching out

to your local Surfers Against Sewage Regional Rep or

Community Leader.

It’s not only SAS working towards cleaner seas and

beaches; there are charities, community groups and

movements across the globe all with the same goal. So

check out what’s in your local area and get involved.

Make the time for beach cleans, volunteer at fundraising

events and support your local community movements.

Wherever you are in the world, there will be a group,

a charity or an organisation striving to tackle plastic

pollution. Here are some to look out for:

■ 2-Minute Beach Clean

■ Take 3 For The Sea

■ WWF

■ Greenpeace

■ The Ocean Clean Up

■ Bye Bye Plastic Bags

■ Surf Rider Foundation

Plastic Pollution,

what can we do?

WE’VE ALL HEARD BY NOW ABOUT THE PLASTIC POLLUTION

CRISIS, WHICH IS DESTROYING OUR OCEANS AND KILLING

WILDLIFE. SO, WHY SHOULD WE CARE, AND WHAT CAN WE

ACTUALLY DO ABOUT IT THAT’S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

words CAL MAJOR