What if the Next Wave Never Comes?

photo from http://www.protectourwaves.org.uk

What would you do if you couldn't surf anymore? What if you couldn't enjoy the beach because there is too much sewage in the water? Or because a developer "bought" your wave for their business income? Wouldn't you be confused? Livid? Saddened, perhaps? I've been seeing a lot of buzz, via my twitter feed, concerning the hashtag #protectourwaves. My first thought was that obviously protecting your coastline was every surfer's priority. But I saw the massive response on social networks and I was left wondering, Why now? Why such a huge backing now, today? 

"Protect Our Waves" is a new campaign that just launched by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) to provide insight as to why UK waves and coastlines have extreme economic and intrinsic value. UK coastlines and waves are in major jeopardy of destructive development/offshore drilling, sewage and litter. There are four key points that SAS wants to convey:

"SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE ARGUES THAT IT IS MORE USEFUL TO TAKE A BROADER APPROACH AND SHOW THAT WAVES ARE IMPORTANT TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN FOUR WAYS:

ENVIRONMENTALLY

Waves form an integral and essential part of a naturally functioning coastline; interfering with waves could affect the physical, biological, geological and chemical stability of the coast - alter them and entire ecosystems could be damaged.

ECONOMICALLY

Surfers and other wave-lovers bring money into the local community through hotels, shops, petrol stations, competitions and much more, year round. Surfing, unlike most other tourist activities, continues throughout the winter, which gives it additional value.

CULTURALLY

The UK's waves were first surfed in 1890. Many coastal areas have been defined and characterised by the existence of certain iconic waves and surf spots, Thurso in Scotland and Newquay in England for example.

SOCIALLY

Waves are the central thread to the social integrity of many coastal communities from Cornwall, England to Portrush in Northern Ireland."**

If you have a moment, sign the petition--it took me only a few seconds. While you are there, read the goals, approaches, and legislations on SAS's website. The aim of SAS‘s Protect Our Waves petition is to generate at least 100,000 signatures to highlight the value of surfing waves and locations to the UK government and encourage MPs to debate legislation in order to recognise the importance of waves as a cultural, social, economic and environmental asset to coastal communities**.

**text credit to http://www.protectourwaves.org.uk