International Surfing Day - June 20, 2011

There is a unspoken unity among surfers all over the world. On Monday, June 20th 2011, they will come together to celebrate International Surfing Day. It is a day for surfers and beach lovers alike to celebrate the art of surfing and the surf life mentality.

In 2005, the very first International Surfing day consisted of 16 events in the United States and one even in Venezuela. Now seven years later, International Surfing Day has over 200 different event locations worldwide. International Surfing Day was established by Surfing Magazine and the Surfrider Foundation.

Often this day is celebrated by holding surfing contests, doing beach cleanups, movie screenings, taking surf lessons, having bar-b-ques and enjoying the beauty of the ocean. It is a day to show your appreciation for the ocean and all it gives to you. This year Billabong and Chipotle restaurants are getting in on the act too. If you are one of the first 25 people to bring in a bag of plastic bottles to a participating Chipotle location you will receive a pair of recycled board shorts!

You can head over to International Surfing Day website www.intlsurfingday.com for all the information on the day. Look for events on your area, as well as see what the rest of the world is doing in celebration of this day. Also check out The Surfrider Foundation's web site www.surfrider.org. They will also have information on this day, as well as other events that go on throughout the year. Who says you can only celebrate the ocean once a year?

One thing is true, we ALL share the ocean. It's time to come together and celebrate the glorious ocean - the one thing that unites us all.

World Water Day - March 22nd

March 22nd is World Water Day. Founded in 1993 by the United Nations, this global observance highlights the need for the care and management of the world’s water resources. This year’s theme, “Urban Water Usage” highlights the ongoing challenges we face as urban populations continue to grow.

Here are 15 ways you can take action you can do to reduce your water waste in and around your home courtesy of the wonderful Surfrider Foundation:

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks – A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per day.
2. Use a broom to sweep your driveway and sidewalks – Hosing down your driveway and sidewalks is wasteful and can contribute to declines in downstream water quality. Use a broom and dustpan instead.
3. Take shorter showers – One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
4. Check your toilets for leaks – Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
5. Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks – Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
6. Put a brick in your tank – If you are still using a traditional non-low flow toilet, you can put one or two bricks in your tank. This will help displace some of the volume and reduce the amount of water used during each flush.
7. Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth – Turning off the water while you brush your teeth helps to save over 150 gallons of water a month.
8. Rinse your razor in the sink – Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste.
9. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads – Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation.
10. Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge – Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful. Instead keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. See a wide selection of pitchers from Brita.
11. Water plants and landscaping in the morning or evening – Watering in the morning or evening reduces loss to evaporation.
12.  Utilize climate adapted plants in your yard and landscaping – Climate adapted plants require less water. Find out more information on climate adapted plants.
13. Avoid using the Permanent Press cycle on your washer – With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 5 gallons for the extra rinse.
14. Find a car wash! – Using a commercial car wash that recycles their water will save over 150 gallons each time you wash your vehicle and help reduce runoff.
15. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily – Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet

Support Surfrider Foundation This Valentine's Day

The Surfrider Foundation is a cause that I really believe in. And I think other beach and ocean lovers might too. For Valentine's Day this year, Surfrider is offering a very special membership deal:

Buy your favorite beach enthusiast a Surfrider Foundation membership and we'll include a very special Valentine's Day gift - your choice of two ocean-themed charms: a rugged surfer or a "Heart of the Sea" along with a necklace to match. Both charms are cast in 100% pewter and could also make a lovely addition to a bracelet or keychain.

What better way to show your love to your special someone than to help protect our Mother Ocean? This special offer won't last, so don't wait - the last day to order is February 8th, 2011. Give a membership today! Your Valentine and your Mother Ocean will love you for it!

All Surfrider members receive the following benefits:

• 1 year's worth (6 issues) of Surfrider's award-winning publication, Making Waves
• 20% discount at SWELL.com
• 2 Surfrider Membership Stickers
• Surfrider Chapter contact and volunteer information

I am already a member, so I can't take advantage of this great deal, but you can!