Local activists paddle five miles out to a Santa Barbara oil platform in protest of the May 19th, 2015 spill. Grassroots activism and supporting advocacy groups and non-profits may be more important now than ever before. Photo: Patagonia.
No matter where along the political spectrum you fall, no one can deny that November 9, 2016 will go down as a major shift in the global geopolitical landscape. Some might say for the better, others say for the worse. For now, millions if not billions of people around the world are sitting on pins and needles to see what the implications of electing Donald J. Trump the 45th president of the United States will be with respect to their daily lives.
Surfers will continue to surf, no doubt. But if Mr. Trump’s, tweets, campaign promises, or his 100-day-plan are any indication, ocean and outdoor enthusiasts are likely to witness changes in basic federal regulatory frameworks designed to combat the acceleration and effects of climate change, and conserve wildlife and marine areas.
The landscape has changed. And no amount of online rants admonishing large swaths of the American electorate will change it back. But for those feeling especially emotionally charged about the outcome of the election, and even if you agree with some of President-elect Trump’s policies but are concerned about climate change, the following is for you. Here are 10 organizations you can support right now and precisely how to support them:
Surfrider has been integral in the advocacy for and protection of the beaches and waters we surf. Founded in 1984, for over 30 years Surfrider’s executive team, paid staff, local chapters, and volunteers have been at the forefront of supporting issues related to the health and wellbeing of our oceans, supporting efforts to curb the effects of climate change, and promoting beach access and vigilance of coastal development projects.
You can find your local chapter to attend a meeting and volunteer your time right here. Or, if you have the financial means and wish to make a donation to become a member, you can do so here.
2. Natural Resources Defense Council
Founded in 1970, the NRDC is a non-profit and environmental advocacy group made up of some 500 lawyers, scientists, and policy advocates with the goal of ensuring access of all people to air, water, and the wild.
The NRDC’s website makes it easy and straightforward to get involved. You can sign petitions for issues you truly care about (there is currently one about supertankers and barges from transporting tar sands, and another about protecting marine wildlife from ocean noise to name a few). There are also concrete steps you can take personally to minimize your carbon footprint. And, you can also make a donation here.
Save the Waves exists, as the organization’s name suggests, to preserve the waves we ride. Save the Wave’s hallmark program is the declaration of World Surf Reserves – surf breaks that become protected through a network of community, public, and private stakeholders – around the world. To date, eight distinct breaks around the world have been saved.
By sheer coincidence, Save the Waves has been embroiled in a major campaign against a proposed seawall at Doughmore Beach in Ireland, proposed by none other than Donald Trump in an effort to protect the golf course he owns there. The irony of a man who has said publicly he does not believe in climate change, but is proposing a major development project to protect it from climate change’s effects is inescapable here. To support Save the Waves and their #NatureTrumpsWalls campaign, you can sign the petition here. You can also donate.
4. WiLDCOAST
Sixteen years ago, Serge Dedina co-founded WiLDCOAST in an effort to preserve coastal areas in California and Latin America. The organization operates principally in Southern California and Mexico to advocate for marine wildlife and seek to promote awareness for and conserve coastal ecosystems. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities with WiLDCOAST MPA Watch, a citizen-science data collection program, here. You can also sign numerous petitions WiLDCOAST has spearheaded here. And/or you can make a donation to support their work.
Founded in 2009 by professional surfer Jon Rose, W4W has the lofty goal of giving clean water to everyone in the world that needs it. A significant element of w4w’s programming since its founding has included delivering water filters to communities impacted by natural disasters – some of which are believed to be occurring around the world at an increasing rate due to climate change. W4W has responded to such disasters as Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, Hurricane Sandy in New York, and more. To get involved you can choose to become a Clean Water Courier, where you would bring filters with you during a trip you were either already planning on going on or that you organize yourself. You can start your own project using an app called _ForWater. You can purchase filters. Or you can donate.
Sustainable Surf is the leading advocacy group seeking to change the way surfers behave as consumers, and the way that products made for surfers are made through advocacy and education. The EcoBoard Project is a major tenet of Sustainable Surf, and is essentially a certification program with different levels that denote how sustainably a surfboard is made. To support, you might consider donating directly to Sustainable Surf. But, if you’re in the market for a new surfboard already or have a friend who might be, the most pragmatic way to support sustainable surf would be to seek out an EcoBoard with fervor.
Editor’s Note: This list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to suggest any additional relevant organizations worthy of support in the comments section below.
