A Bit More about No More Butts on the Beach

I hear that already that already, barely a couple of hours after a photocall on Porthtowan beach this morning, the No More Butts on the Beach campaign is taking off. Surfers Against Sewage campaigns director Richard Hardy tells me that there has been oodles of support from the press and local authorities, after SAS and The Blue Bar joined forces to highlight the odiousness - and destructiveness - of cigarette litter on our beaches. I also hear that SAS has teamed up with Rip Curl to introduce a free, interactive and innovative education resource for Key Stage 3 Science, English and Citizenship. The resource - available to all teachers at www.sas.org.uk - is called Operation Beach Clean a nd will be launched at the Education Show at the National Exhibition Centre on 22, 23 and 24 March. Two ecogroms - 'Sandy Bottom' and 'Crystal Clear' - are based on St Ives hotshot Jayce Robinson and 13-year-old Spanish kitesurfing wonder Gisela Pulido, whose cartoon forms come alive to illustrate the evils of pollution and what to do about it. They're guided by SAS campaigns officer Andy Cummins, pictured here this morning with Tara Roberts from The Blue Bar. 

There needs to be more of this kind of enterprise from the surfing community - and we can all do our bit. Today, at the same time as the Porthtowan photocall, I looked out on gorgeous 2-3ft longboard surf around the corner from my local break (which I couldn't surf because of my broken wrist - woe is me). I was taking in the mesmerising view and thinking that in a few weeks I'll be able to surf this wave (something of a secret spot but right on my doorstep), when I saw a couple of crisp packets drifting in the gentle breeze. Some morons had slung them there on the cliffs rather than take them home. Now, those crisp packets were pretty rank, but I picked them up and took them to my bin. This isn't a big deal, it's just something we can all do to combat the idiots who have no respect for their environment.

I'll be mentioning Operation Beach Clean to my kids' local schools and reckon that if any parents reading this do likewise, that'd be a good thing too. Aloha.

Comments

[phil sweeney]

Just back from a mammoth trip - good to see that an effort's being made. There's no sign of it in pretty much everywhere else. Just litter, disrespect, jokers and debris.