World Oceans Day 2011

In 2008, the U.N. declared June 8th to be "World Oceans Day" in order to bring awareness of the ocean and it's value to people from all aspects: The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.

Being in D.C., land-locked and entrenched in yet another sweltering pre-summer heat wave, I decided to celebrate the day by attending a lecture by National Geographic Oceans Fellow Dr. Enric Sala entitled The Last Wild Places in the Ocean at SI's National Museum of National History. (Click on the link to watch this amazing webcast.)

Enric with his delightful Spanish accent posed a question to the audience, "What is your first memory of the ocean?"  He paused for a few moments to let everyone think back and pointed out that this is the baseline upon what one compares every thought of the ocean since.  Well for me, that wasn't a great baseline.  So it got me thinking, where did my love affair with the oceans come from?

Being from a speck of a village in eastern Ohio, there wasn't much thought of the ocean.  It was hours away by car and for a kid it might as well been on another planet.  I did love to watch the great Jacques Cousteau's underwater adventures, but thought those places were so far out of my reach.

I finally took my first trip to the ocean at age 8.  Mind you I thought I was very acquainted with the water as my family vacationed yearly on the lovely Lake Erie who at that time was still recovering from being deemed a "dead lake".  Still, my first experience of the ocean wasn't what you would call love at first sight.

After a ridiculous multi-day, Wally World-style trip to Florida, that included at least one over-heated radiator (and subsequent repair), my first encounter with cockroaches in the unplanned visit to a motel while said car was being fixed, we landed in Daytona Beach, Florida.

My first thought was why is the water and sand so brown?  Where is the blue water and white sand?  Why do they let cars drive on the beach?  (I'm still wondering that one by the way.)  I hated everything about it, the waves, the sand in my bathing suit, the way my eyes stung.  My first encountered with the ocean lasted approximately 1 hour when I then begged my parents to take me back to the hotel pool.

I didn't let that first encounter deter me.  I went to Cocoa Beach for a high school trip and participated in releasing baby turtles back in the sea.  Watching them scurry across the sand and into the water gave me such a sense of pride and amazement.  I've snorkeled with manatees and my love affair grew.  I've explored the reefs in the Keys and the Caribbean.  I learned to scuba dive.  And most importantly, I learned to surf.

Surfing for me has opened my eyes to what the ocean is, the life and soul of this planet.  There is nothing more serene, nothing more awe-inspiring for me than sitting out on your surfboard in the early morning when the water is glassy and smooth, looking out into the great vastness simply watching the waves roll in.  You feel connected, grounded to the natural world.  You realize you are apart of something bigger, something that needs to be protected so others can feel this same way for generations to come.

So after what one might call recent serendipitous events, I've decided to start a new chapter of my life.  One where I intend to do what I can to study, preserve, and protect this wondrous, blue planet - the one I fell in love with.




Mahalo!

BAG IT OREGON! - Take Action!

From the Surfrider Foundation website...

Single-use plastic bags represent one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our generation. It is estimated that 60-80% of all debris in the ocean is land-based plastic. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down at sea and most types never truly biodegrade. As a result, marine animals often get entangled in the debris or mistake it for food.

For these and other reasons, the Oregon Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation are urging the Oregon State Legislature to pass Senate Bill 536 that promotes the use of reusable bags, bans plastic checkout bags and requires retailers to charge for paper checkout bags.

Starting on Friday, March 4th and running through Thursday, March 10th, the Hollywood Theater will present Bag It, a humble documentary that makes a lasting impression about the prevalence of plastic in our daily lives.

Check out the trailer below:


Bag It Intro from Suzan Beraza on Vimeo.

For more info on how you can help, check out the Portland Chapter's Ban the Bag Facebook page.

"Surfing on the Potomac"

How to Choose a Surfboard for your Dog

In honor of my puppy Omar's 8th birthday, I've dedicated this post to him (albeit he's a bit afraid of waves).

From WikiHow.com:

Want to take your canine buddy surfing with you? Plenty of keen surfers do; it just takes a little patience in teaching your dog, as long as your dog is willing to try it out. Fortunately, today's modern surf doggy has many options when choosing the right board. This article discusses a progression through which you can encourage your dog to use different types of surfboards to surf either individually, or in tandem with you.

Steps

1. Start with a boogie board. Boogie boards have the speed and maneuverability that a dog may be able to maneuver better. It is small and a dog tends to feel that it can control it better, so this is the best board to start your dog with.
2. Get a soft top. Hard fiberglass resin boards are tough for a dog to grip. If you do use a resin top, reduce the slipperiness by putting on a deck patch, which is some rough material glued to the surface of the board. However, it will still be hard for your dog to stay on. Foam soft top boards works better for dogs because they can get a grip by digging in their claws to get more traction and stay on top.

   

3. Try moving to a longboard. As your dog progresses from the boogie board, a longer board allows for more margin of error. Your dog can navigate from the nose of the board. It is also great for tandem surfing with you, as your dog can grip on to the board at the nose and get better traction with the claws.

   
   

4. Rock on. The more curvature to the board, the easier it is for your dog balance on the wave. The older boogie boards tend to have more curve, are softer, and are better for dogs to balance on. The newer ones are very flat. You might be able to pick up older ones from online auctions or used surfboard dealers.
5. Be prepared for chewing. Your dog will become attached to its favorite board and in response, will probably chew it. Expect it, along with all the claw marks from digging in. See it as your dog modifying the board for its own personal use. And in other words, if it's your prize board and you don't want bite or claw marks in it, don't use it with Fido!

Rebuilding a River

Monday marks the 40th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire of 1969. This small event (the fire was put on in under 30 minutes and damages were around $50,000) became the symbol of how polluted our waterways had become. It lead to the establishment of the Clean Water Act of 1977.

Having lived a few years along side the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I can personally attest to how beautiful the river is and how far it has come. It is amazing when given the chance how fast nature can heal herself.

For more information, PBS is airing a great program entitled "The Return of the Cuyahoga".

Let's celebrate the 40th anniversary as a testament of how far we have come with the water quality in this country and remember there are rivers, lakes, and bays out there (e.g. the Anacostia and the Chesapeake) that still need our help!

More Reasons to Love Australia!

I wish governments in the States would recognize the importance of protecting our beaches from development not just for surfing, but as important ecosystems necessary to protecting our coastlines.

From SurferMag.com:

AUSTRALIA'S NEWEST NATIONAL SURFING RESERVE
By Taylor Soppe

Surfers have always worshiped the world's best waves, but who knew the Australian government honored historic surf spots? On June 6, Killalea was officially recognized as a national surfing reserve, making it the fifth of its kind in New South Wales and the seventh in Australia. The purpose of identifying these sites is to both legally protect them and to spread awareness about the necessity of preserving the area. Not only that, but the reserves honor the relationship between the sport and the local culture.

Killalea’s popular breaks, The Farm and Mystics, are part of the 3.5km stretch of coast that will be protected. The area, which already belongs to a State Park, was recognized not only for the quality of surf but also for its natural beauty. During the ceremony to dedicate the national reserve, a booklet describing the history of surfing in the region was presented along with a plaque to commemorate the newly protected spot. More than 150 people attended the event, including 70 members of the Killalea family that historically farmed the area.

However, not everybody celebrated the site’s new recognition. The dedication was disputed by some who claim the measure was merely a distraction from the development of an eco-resort at Killalea that may be detrimental to the surf spots.

The first surfing reserve in New South Wales was Angourie, a point break that was dedicated in January of 2007 for its legendary waves. Since the 1970’s surfers have flocked to the destination that was originally a meeting place for local Aborigines.

Other surfing reserves in the state include south Sydney’s Cronulla Beach; Crescent Head, which became a popular spot after World War II and has been dominated by long boarders ever since; and Lennox, which was chosen because of its prominent role in the Australian surf history.

Cultural, historical, and environmental factors contribute to the selection of new surfing reserves, which are preserved for public use under the Crown Lands Act of 1989. Right now, there are 24 sites in New South Wales that have been suggested for dedication.

For information about an organization that creates similar reserves around the world click here.

Creative Ways to Recycle: Reuseable Sandwich Bags

I absolutely hate washing out and drying Ziploc(r) bags and I can't imagine it being anyone's favorite thing to do. So, today I stumbled across some inventive ways to make your own reusable (and stylish) bags.

From The Party Dress blog:

Here’s the how-to:

1. Cut a rectangle approximately 8 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ out of oilcloth with pinking shears or sharp scissors.
2. Turn edges under 1/4″ and stitch with machine.
3. With wrong sides facing each other, fold over oilcloth leaving 2-1/2″ of extra material for the flap.
4. Stitch along sides to form the pocket.
5. Attach velcro on flap and pocket of bag.
6. Enjoy your reusable sandwich bag and hand wash with soap and water.


CraftStylish also has some easy-to-follow directions using polyurethane laminated fabrics (i.e. table cloth material - great use for an old table cloth!)

You can also check out ehow for Reusable Sandwich Wrap directions.

Not feeling crafty? Check out these sites:

• The Reusable Fresh Snack Pack is washable and see-through. As a plus, the flap can fold out to become a handy place mat.
• Dajo Bags come in sandwich and snack sizes (a cute drawstring style) that look like they'd fit anybody's lunch needs.
• 3 Green Moms offer the lunch skins which can hold both sandwiches and snacks in one convenient size.
• Snack Taxi is another sandwich style bag that comes in a variety of colors.
• Wrap-N-Mat unfolds completely for easy cleaning and to act as a place mat while eating.
• Happy Sacks offers a variety of different reusable and biodegradable bags, as well as boxes, utensils and bottles.
• www.greengoosebags.etsy.com
• www.crafttwins.etsy.com