The Trestles toll road crashes today after the Department of Commerce upheld the California Coastal Commission’s objection to the proposed environmental nemesis of San Clemente. After years of debate and dedication from rightfully concerned residents, surfers, and environmental activists, the commission objected to the proposed project under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act on the grounds that the toll road was not consistent with the state’s coastal zone management program. Woot, woot! Read more about the Trestles Toll Road fight here. 

WOULD YOU SPEND 15 MINUTES, IF IT MEANT SURFING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

We thought you would. And the good news is you can. All across the country, surfers are facing access and environmental fights that fail to consider their needs and enormous impact. While fishermen and other recreational ocean users flex big muscle in courthouses and town halls, surfers get pushed aside a ’segment group.’ A minor hobby for punk kids - instead of healthy lifestyle for whole families. That’s because we let them. Go to www.surf-first.org and be a part of changing the impact surfers have on supporting their cases or saving their breaks.

 In what is sure to be a monumental partnership in the race to protect surf breaks world wide, the Save The Waves Coalition and the International Surfing Association (ISA) have ljoined to launch the World Surfing Reserves program. “The ISA is very pleased to act as a catalyst in this new program,” said Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association. “We’re not saving the waves for surfers, because we’re surfers. We’re protecting these special places as citizens of the world, because community surfing areas are not only an important part of the natural coastal environment, but they are increasingly an important part of local and national culture…” Dean LaTourrette, executive director of Save The Waves, explained that the ISA’s support was critical toward future efforts in reaching regional leaders where wave zones are located. “Without the grassroots support of local communities, we couldn’t move forward with this program.” Other key elements of the program will include the creation of a World Wave Sites Fund to finance signage, research, and campaigns for the protection of waves, and pending partnerships and endorsements with the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), National Surfing Reserves (NSR) Australia, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Center, Global Heritage Fund (GHF), as well as other groups that will help support and implement the program worldwide.

My friends at Holiday Matinee are teaming up with Plant-It 2020 to help plant, maintain and protect indigenous trees worldwide! So instead of just sitting under a tree, or building a tree house, go here and learn how to buy a tree friendly organic cotton shirt where all proceeds go toward helping save our friends the trees!

Whenever I’m at the beach, I try to pick up a few pieces of trash on my way out of the water. It harms wildlife, pollutes the water, and looks nasty.   

But what about the trash we don’t see? I recently had a chance to hear Ximena Waissbluth from Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics campaign and learn a bit about the North Pacific Gyre. A gyre is sort of a vortex produced by circulating ocean currents. The problem is that more plastic trash than ever is being dumped in our oceans and these currents have created a giant garbage patch (twice the size of Texas!) in the middle of the Pacific. This story has been around for a while, but considering the speed that the patch is growing, I wanted to bring it up again.

What can we do? The main thing is: reduce your consumption of single use plastics. That means using stainless steel water bottles, reusable grocery bags, etc. The more disposable plastic you reduce from your life, the less there is to end up polluting our beaches and seas. But be forewarned: you’ll be surprised how much single-use plastics are in your daily routine once you consciously make a decision to get rid of them.

Learn More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch

http://riseaboveplastics.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM

From legends to liars, Billy Laity’s fan base runs the full spectrum. This week we hear from a desperate girlfriend who is torn between her jealous man and her love for sneaker sets. Of course, Billy knows exactly how she should clean up her act. And if you have a burning question that needs answering, please write to askadude@swell.com

Here we go again. Our recent victory for the protection of San Onofre could possibly be overturned! Surfrider Foundation is sending out an urgent plea for protestors to attend the next Coastal Commision Hearing on September 22 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Click here for more information.

Your favorite eco site and ours, Treehugger.com, recently spread their arms around Propaganda HQ’s main man Vipe Desai during their profile on project BLUE. And as the exclusive online dealer for all project BLUE merchandise, our name and product shots were all over the place. Read the full article here.

Swell stormed the beach at Poche this morning, fearlessly risking bacteria and staph infections to bring peace to a toxic San Clemente shore. As a thank you to the fine people of Poche Beach for allowing us to conduct a photo shoot on their compound, 12 Swell army members volunteered in a clean-up effort that resulted in 12 bags of trash, a vintage Obi Wan collectible, a pink dolphin and 3 condoms. Click here to view all the action at our Flickr page.

June 20 has been officially declared the International Go Surfing Day by your friends at Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine. As the world’s premier online surf apparel shop, naturally will be taking the day off. Freaking figures 6/20 happens to fall on a Saturday. Click here to see how folks at your home break will be celebrating: