Beach Clean

When doing the weekly roundup I realised I hadn't done a post I had planned about the beach clean up!

 

So a week ago last Saturday, I went on a beach clean up. It was organised by some friends I have who are members of the SAS (Surfers Against Sewage). I have to say, when I heard it was planned for three hours I thought 'there is NOT enough rubbish on the beach for this to last for three hours'.

I was wrong.

Just because the rubbish there isn't huge and right in your face, it doesn't mean it isn't there. If you were to stand still and just look around you, I reckon you would see at least 15 pieces of rubbish that you could gather. Kaylah also talks about collecting rubbish at the beach (although she finds much cooler things than we found). I think it's such a shame that people don't know, because it means we do have to put on such big events to get things a little more sorted. So next time you're at the beach, please just do a little bit and pick up a few things.

The next thing I'd like to ask of you, is to sign this petition that the SAS have at the moment. Why??? I hear you cry.. well here's a bit from the SAS.

WHY PROTECT WAVES?

British surfing waves are under threat from a growing number of activities around our coastline that can hamper or have long term devastating impacts on some of our most prized surfing beaches. This includes coastal developments, pollution, and restricted access.

• Waves are under threat from 3 sources: new structures and developments, pollution including sewage and litter, and restricted access.
• Multiple surf breaks around the UK are currently under extreme threat with many more subject to lesser, but escalating, degrees of threat.
• No specific laws exist in the UK to protect surf spots.
• According to the water industry itself, the number of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs) around the UK is around 31,000. Many of these are completely unregulated.
• In the 10 weeks since the 2012 bathing season started this year SAS have issued over 30,000 text messages warning water users about the 416 individual raw sewage discharges across just 62 beaches as part of the Sewage Alert Service.
• The UK's world-class south coast surf spot Broad Bench is off limits for up to 228 days a year.
• The amount of marine litter found on UK beaches has increased almost two-fold in the last fifteen years.
• A plastic bottle may persist in the marine environment for more than 450 years if left on a beach.'

If you do feel like you could sign the petition, then please please do :)