Up Close with Dr. Chad Nelson,
CEO of Surfrider Foundation
Introduction
I was in Southern California when I first heard about the Surfrider Foundation. My friends were headed off to particpate in a garbage clean up in San Diego. As I went up and down the coast I kept hearing about a group of people that were getting together, doing great work for our beaches and having a lot of fun.
The more I looked into Surfrider the more impressed I became with their commitment, achievements and mission to help protect our waters. In the episode we get up close with Dr. Chad Nelson, CEO of Surfrider Foundation. Enjoy, share and get ready to meet a great group of people.
~ Chris ~
About Surfrider
Thirty years ago, a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot and they took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot.
Since 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Today, Surfrider is even stronger with 84 chapters, plus 30 high school and college clubs, and more than 250,000 supporters, volunteers and activists around the country.
About Dr. Chad Nelson
CNN Interview with Chad Nelson
My Introduction
Dr. Chad Nelson on the Surfrider Mission,
“I believe our biggest challenge is 
going to be adapting to climate change along our coasts. Even if we stopped emitting carbon tomorrow, we are going to see 100 years of change due to the lag time for warming in the atmosphere. Sea level rise and ocean acidification are already having massive impacts on our coasts and those impacts are expected to accelerate.
In the face of sea level rise and the associated coastal erosion you have three tough choices: armor the coasts and lose our beaches, pump sand on the beach at great cost and impact, or move back, which requires moving or abandoning coastal property.
Surfrider has been addressing these on a case-by-case issues for decades so we understand the impacts, challenges and also the possible solutions. As a result, we are uniquely qualified to turn that experience into a more comprehensive and proactive effort to adapt to the inevitable future state of our coasts. The inspiration part comes easy given how strongly we all feel about protecting the places we love along our coastlines. [Read Full Interview]
When I read that I feel inspired. Surfrider is an awesome organization and it was an honor to have Dr. Chad Nelson on the show. He’s dedicated his life to helping save or oceans and lakes. I was taken with the how something as simple as using a reusable grocery bag can save the giant turtles! I love the Surfrider Foundation. By supporting organizations like Surfriders and advocating for the environment, renewable resources and solar energy we’re helping save the worlds resources.
We have enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed. Please share, education is the key to change.
Namaste,
Chris
Show Summary
The show opened with an overview of the Surfrider Foundation and a short description of the campaigns led by more than 84 chapters, 30 high school and college clubs, and more than 250,000 supporters, volunteers and activists around the country. The problem of plastics in our oceans and the effect it has on wildlife was discussed and the offshore oil drilling proposals.
Both opened the show sending props to Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson for their actions at the competition. Both expressed their admiration for their courage and action.
Nelson shared how plastic is killing wildlife and harming our beaches and oceans. He went on to share the impact of plastic bags and the thinking that inspired the Reusable, Surfrider Turtle Bag. When you use this bag your helping save turtles! The big sea turtles (think Finding Nemo) mistake the bags for jelly fish, eat them -and die. The $8 Reusable, Surfrider Turtle Bag has a col graphic of a turtle and will be a conversation starter and help you educate others about Surfriders and the harm being done to our oceans and beaches by the use of plastic bags
Nelson went on to share about the oil drilling off our southeast coast. For decades our coasts were protected from new offshore oil drilling. However, in 2008, President Bush and Congress lifted the federal moratorium on new offshore drilling making our nation’s ocean and coastlines vulnerable to the expansion of oil and gas development.
Even after the catastrophic effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and now, the recent spill in Santa Barbara, California, the federal government is planning to open up the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean to new offshore oil drilling in their next five-year drilling plan.
Dr Nelson shared how Surfriders began 35 years ago when a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot. Since that time in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Today, they have more than 80 chapters, high school and college clubs, and more than 250,000 supporters, volunteers and activists around the country. Chad also shared how shared how Surfriders is about the volunteers and all the ways people can get involved at Surfrider.org, regardless of where they live.
Surfrider Foundation Links
Hashtags
- #Surfrider #SurfriderFoundation #ChadNelson
