Paddling against a tide of plastic

Two paddle surfers Morgan Hoesterey and Jenny Kalmbeach have taken it upon themselves to paddle some 200 nautical miles across the Hawaiian islands to raise awareness of the state of pollution.

Many of the islands look untouched, however a closer inspection always reveals much more information. Although the feat has been completed before by Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama in 2006, the state off pollution is growing worse and can only be combatted by repeated attempts to raise awareness.

As they passed Lanai, a central island, known as 'Shipwreck Beach, also described as a beachcombers paradise, they come across a concrete hulled WW2 tanker, glusticks from Asia, sandals from the US, bottle tops, wrappers, trays, utensils, bags, baggies, detergent bottles, brushes, eyeglasses, tubing, barrels, drift nets, buoys and fragments of plastic worn down to no more than a grain off sand.

Plastic that has been worn down this small, then gets eaten up by fish, who we then fish. Plastic that we throw away will make it's way back into our bodies through the food chain.

Destination 3 Degrees- Snippet #1 from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Lost Jewel of the Atlantic

Lost Jewel of the Atlantic profiles one of the world’s most significant surf discoveries, the island of Madeira, and the subsequent battle to protect its world-class surf spots from destruction. The story follows the fight to save Lugar de Baixo, Save The Waves’s very first campaign and victory, as well as the bittersweet compromise at Jardim do Mar, where a sea wall damaged one of the best big-wave point breaks in the world.

Keeping coast

Clean water, strong communities. This film explores the aquatic inspirations behind a wave of activism that began with Save The Waves and our co-founding of the first Waterkeeper Alliance program in Chile. Featuring polluting beach-front coal plants, impassioned coastal leaders, and blue-collar Chilean environmentalists empowered by community to protect the coastal environment.

ASR Multi Purpose Reef

India's First Multi-Purpose Reef Goes Off from ASR Limited on Vimeo.

When will we stop wasting money on sand replenishment projects that only last a few years, or build sea walls to protect coastal property that usually end up worsening the coastal erosion? Can't somebody design an artificial reef that would solve these problems and also create good surf? A frustrated surfer/taxpayer...

ASR is a company who instead of building walls to protect the coast, thinks of a way to provide sustained protection along with improved surfing conditions and ecological habitats through innovative methods.

Their reefs reduce erosion, enhance marine habitats and provide valuable recreational playgrounds for both locals and tourists. All of this has been made possible through their research of marine systems, science and technology. Their approach has been used to combat erosion, sediment transport, effluent dispersion, ecological impacts, environmental impacts, and poor surf.

Recently they completed a project in India transforming the surf into world class waves other benefits included preventing further coastal erosion and allowing another marine habitat to grow over time.

All points South

All Points South relates how surfers and fishermen in Southern Chile are joining together to fight against rampant pollution from the pulp and forestry industry, and how consumers can help by making better choices when buying paper. From California to the long left points of Southern Chile, surfers find themselves increasingly in the line of fire between coastal waters and industrial pollution.

World Water Day

A cross hewn for Epiphany in the ice of Maine's Kennebec River by parishioners of St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the baptism of Christ. The water from the carving will bless the church.


Mahendra Kumar surfaces to catch his breath as he dives into a polluted section of the River Yamuna to scavenge for ornaments and coins left by Hindu rituals at the river bank, in New Delhi, India, Monday, March 22, 2010. Officials say factories are ignoring regulations and dumping untreated sewage and industrial pollution, turning toxic the river that gives the capital much of its drinking water.
4,000 baby bottles containing polluted water stand on the Bundesplatz in Bern, Switzerland, Monday, March 22. 2010. The action was organized by the Swiss association for International Cooperation Helvetas to highlight the UN's World Water Day.
A boy swims in the murky waters of Manila Bay March 21, 2010.

A selection of Images from World Water Day. (March 22nd) The photo's from the National Geographic aim to raise awareness of the fact that although we live in such a water covered planet, only 1% of it is available from human consumption, with the rest being held in the oceans, atmosphere, and ice.

Giving Back

Surfrider Europe create a comical advert showing the ocean giving back, what we throw away. Similar to the Smirnoff adverts, the idea has potential to be explored further. The following one, takes a more sinister strategy conjuring guilt to change ones ways.

Rise Above Plastic

Artists Spray Job

David Carson
Beejoir
Eine

Surfers against Sewage commissioned fourteen artists to create board sprays around the topic of pollution so they could be auctioned off to raise money and awareness. Artists involved included notorious British artists such as Tracy Emin, Kurt Jackson, and Sir Paul McCartney.

Pulp, Poo and Perfection

Pulp, Poo & Perfection is a short film that investigates two major issues threatening surfing and water quality in Chile: Pichilemu's sewage pipeline and pulp mill pollution. Mythical waves, activists, angry fisherman, environmental problems and sharky corporate executives weave a classic South American tale of environmental action and ecological solutions.