My great friend, talented filmmaker and longboard surfer Bastien Sabarros sent me this video he filmed of the band Kadjoo with Bino Piga playing live during a recent trip to Cap-Vert.

If you like it, go and taste some more of the distinct Kadjoo flavours!

The Surfrider Foundation has just announced that there has been good news for those hoping for plastic bag reductions as “The Plastic Bag Dominos Continue to Fall”. Following up on this good news is the fact that on Monday the City Council in Seattle voted unanimously to ban plastic grocery bags and charge a 5-cent fee on paper bags.

But is it the fight against plastics worthwhile?

The most interesting article I have read recently on the dangers of plastics doesn’t actually come from Surfrider or Surfers Against Sewage – who do sterling work on the subject – but an article by Stiv Wilson entitled 7 Dangerous Lies About Plastics, which comes with the sub-heading: “Big Plastic is big money and survives regulatory scrutiny by creating big spin”.

The seven biggest lies about plastics are:

• Plastics are safe
• The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch does not exist
• Plastics don’t kill sea life or pose a threat to people eating fish.
• It shouldn’t be called “plastic pollution” but rather “marine debris”
• Plastic retail carry-out bags are 100 percent recyclable and made from clean natural gas
• Reusable bags are dangerous
• We care about polar bears and recycling (eg Coca Cola)

Are these arguments true? For me, the article acts as a stirring call to arms – albeit a very reasonable and well thought-out one – which puts down the logic behind his seven big statements.

What to do now? Read it and take the pledge to rise above plastics!

Some fun courtesy of Surfrider San Diego.

Budding surf film-maker or environmental activist? Lacking in time?

The Surfrider Foundation have launched a cool competition to celebrate World Water Day on the 22nd March. The idea is to challenge supporters to share their cinematic visions and interpretations of water by creating a three second film. Why?

• Every 3 seconds, approximately 70 tons of sewage and human effluent is discharged into the world’s waterways.
• Every 3 seconds, the world’s population grows by 7 people.
• Every 3 seconds, approximately 103 lbs of nitrogen pollution flow into the Gulf of Mexico

For some inspiration here is “There is Something in the Water”:

For more info visit Surfrider.