How to be ocean-friendly, starting on World Oceans Day
Arya Touserkani
This World Oceans Day, there are local victories to celebrate on the Pacific Rim!
By Lilly Woodbury.
Through Surfrider’s campaigning efforts, both the Districts of Tofino and Ucluelet recently passed a Motion to Regulate Single-Use Plastics in 2018, beginning with a ban on single-use plastic bags and straws on June 8th, 2019. This action is both historic and timely. Did you know that these coastal towns were the first to ban plastic straws in B.C., in 2016?
Lilly Woodbury
We’re promoting easy-to-achieve Ocean Friendly behaviours to everyone who loves the ocean, beaches, and waves. Join in with these three actions:
- First, by refusing common forms of plastic we all encounter on a daily basis. Start with frequent offenders like plastic check-out bags, straws, styrofoam items, cutlery, coffee cups, and plastic bottles.
- Secondly, try to support those businesses that are working on their environmental footprint by eliminating single-use plastics, providing bulk and refill options, and lowering pollution and waste.
- Lastly, take five and do a #5minutebeachclean on your visit to the beach – or extend this effort to clean a nearby river, lake, park, or neighbourhood street!
After all of this action, we need to talk it out! Conversations around all of these efforts with our social networks, loved ones, coworkers, and youth in our lives magnify our singular efforts, creating a greater impact.
Every single day, we have the option to wake up and decide how we want to change the world.
As we continue to learn here in Tofino, by taking steps to protect and restore our surroundings, we create greater capacity in our surrounding environments to rejuvenate, nourish and inspire us.
About Surfrider:
Surfrider Pacific Rim’s mission is the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, beaches, and waves. Learn more about how you can get involved, by visiting pacificrim.surfrider.org.
About Lilly:
Lilly Woodbury loves her time surfing on the West Coast and influences positive, achievable actions to make the world a healthier place. At the time of writing this post, she was Chapter Manager of the local Pacific Rim chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and is now REgional Manager, working with an incredible team to create change. She now works as an environmental communicator and campaigner.
