The photo here was taken one of our recent surf trips. While it's not a very pretty piece of graffiti, the message is one that should not be ignored. Here at Surf Like a Girl, we have have all been working hard to be green and we hope our fellow surfers will do the same.
As surfers, we are obviously interested in clean water for surfing and clean beaches for chilling. We live in Los Angeles, where Heal the Bay is devoted to working to keep our water clean is. The group offers a Beach Report Card to keep us updated on the water quality of our local breaks and also hosts clean-ups, including the annual Coastal Cleanup Day (September 15 this year). "We've all got sick going in the water. It's not a myth—it's real," says Mark Gold, the president of the non-profit organization. But Gold also offers good news. "We've seen so much improvement, but there's still a lot of work to do and we need to take it as seriously as needed."
You can start by actions in your own life and looking into beach clean-ups near your local break. We've volunteered for Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation clean-ups and encourage you to do the same. We also asked them to share their tips with us.
Finally, it's more than just the waters and beaches we should care about. Try to be mindful of all of your actions and work to help protect and preserve our planet. To help you, check out our new "Ask Betty" column with suggestions for the environmentally conscious surfer. Plus, we've got eco-travel info, a report on global warming, and we also asked surfer Carissa Moore some questions about green living.
Go green and you'll be happy you did. Trust us: it's easier than you think!
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