What If The Next Wave Never Comes?

The ad is dark, but the message is brilliantly potent—and it's just the latest move from the UK group, Surfers Against Sewage. The campaign, dubbed Protect Our Waves, hopes to secure 100,000 signatures in order to "highlight the value of surfing waves and locations to the UK government and encourage MPs (Members of Parliament) to debate legislation in order to recognise the importance of waves as a cultural, social, economic and environmental asset to coastal communities."  

As Jim Moriarty points out on The Inertia, a similar push is beginning in the U.S. A recent (great) piece in The Washington Post details the economics of surf breaks—as in, how much money surfers drop in a community known for its breaks—and how this model could help translate the inherent, natural value of waves into a more government-friendly language.

But no matter the side of the Atlantic, the overall message is clear: Current environmental practices aren't cutting it—and if waves, and surfing, are in the world's future, it's time to take action.

So go ahead, start small and sign the petition no matter your locale (I did). Then go ahead and let that act serve as inspiration to get involved with a group working to protect a break near you. And finally (as if you needed me to tell you), grab your board, get out there and enjoy what you're working to protect.