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March Madness with Surfrider Charleston

March Madness with Surfrider Charleston

Thirsty Thursday Gathering of Like minded Locals

Thursday March 19, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
Tradesman Brewing
1639 Tatum St, James Island

Join us f0r a brew and learn what you can do with Surfrider Charleston!

What can you expect?

A casual opportunity to learn more about current issues facing our Lowcountry, including offshore drilling, and how you can help, plus hear about our fantastic upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

What not to expect?

Powerpoints (blah), Men/women in suits, Doom and gloom, attendance won’t be taken (we promise).

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Upcoming March Events

Matt Costa Acoustic Rock Series benefiting Surfrider Charleston
Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 3 p.m.
Half-moon Outfitters
South Windermere Plaza

Free beer provided by Palmetto Brewery, great live music from singer-songwriter Matt Costa and a good time to be had by all!
*Be sure to stop by our table at the G.Love show that night*

matt costa

Have questions? Too bad. Just kidding! Email us at chair@charleston.surfrider.org

Speak Out Against Offshore Drilling in South Carolina

Surfrider_Oil

 

Which image above appeals to you most? Dirty energy and dependence on oil, or more environmentally friendly energy options such as solar power? If you are like us, you choose the latter.

Now you have the opportunity to have your voices heard. The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released its draft proposal for offshore drilling along the Atlantic coast, including in waters off of South Carolina. A public comment period is open until March 30th, giving you an opportunity to tell BOEM that S.C. opposes offshore drilling and should be excluded from the plan.

You can submit comments against offshore drilling along the South Carolina Coast by simply clicking this link: http://boemoceaninfo.com

Here are the top 5 reasons offshore drilling is a bad idea for South Carolina:

  1. The risk isn’t worth the reward: Current estimates for reserves off of the S.C. coast is equal to about a six day supply of oil and gas at current US consumption rates. Six days worth of oil and gas isn’t worth the risk to our coastal quality of life and detrimental impact on our natural resources.
  2. Currently the state’s marine fisheries produce more than a billion dollars annually in economic value, and on top of that outdoor recreation from coastal tourism generates more than $7 billion in economic activity annually. If offshore drilling were to happen– our state’s coastline would be littered with oil and gas infrastructure, a clear conflict with the existing economic and environmental advantages.
  3. A major spill, similar to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster can impact thousands of miles of coastline, devastate local economies, and wreak havoc on the marine and coastal environment. Any drilling in South Carolina represents a threat to the coast and lowcountry.
  4. The impact of seismic testing on marine mammals, fish, and other sea life and the surrounding ecosystem is also of serious concern.
  5. NOAA has ranked the south Atlantic planning area (which we are located in) as having the highest relative sensitivity to spilled oil along the East Coast. BOEM should remove South Carolina and neighboring states from the proposed five-year plan.

You can submit comments against offshore drilling along the South Carolina Coast by simply clicking this link: http://boemoceaninfo.com

For more information visit www.ThinkEnergySC.com.

Please feel free to email us at chair@charleston.surfrider.org with any questions or comments.

You can also have your voice heard by visitng the BOEM meeting in Charleston March 11, 2015 at 3 p.m. More details below:

BOEM Charleston Meeting

Charleston Screening of “The Great Invisible” March 9, 2015 at 6 p.m., American Theater

Join Charleston Surfrider, the Coastal Conservation League, Natural Investments, and Don’t Drill SC for a screening of The Great Invisible on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the American Theater, 446 King Street, Charleston. Witness the impacts of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster on Gulf Coast Communities. Local experts and elected officials will be on hand to deliver comments and answer questions.

 

SYNOPSIS

On April 20, 2010, communities throughout the Gulf Coast of the United States were devastated by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, a state-of-the-art, offshore oil-drilling rig operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico. The blast killed 11 of the rig’s 126 crewmembers and injured many more, setting off a fireball that could be seen 35 miles away. After two days ablaze, the Deepwater Horizon sank, causing the largest offshore oil spill in American history. The spill flowed unabated for almost three months, dumping hundreds of millions of gallons of oil in the ocean, shutting down the local fishing industry, polluting the fragile ecosystem and raising serious questions about the safety of continued offshore drilling.

In the thought-provoking new documentary The Great Invisible, Peabody Award-winning documentarian Margaret Brown travels to small towns and major cities in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas to explore the fallout of the disaster on the people of the region. Eyewitnesses reconstruct the spill and its aftermath in their own words, creating a vivid picture of the deadly accident and its consequences. Brown treats her subjects with respect and sensitivity as they provide first-hand accounts of the tragedy from the moment of the explosion to its still unfolding repercussions on the region and its residents.

Interweaving personal stories with insight from industry insiders and news footage of the disaster and its aftermath, Brown creates an intimate and emotional look at the many people still haunted by the Deepwater Horizon explosion long after the story has faded from the front page. The first comprehensive overview of the incident and its aftermath, The Great Invisible brings a new and unique perspective to the ongoing tension between the haves and the have-nots, exploring the crisis through the eyes of oil-industry executives, survivors, and local residents who are left to pick up the pieces while the world moves on.

 

 

 

Save the dates: Beach sweeps, surf movie nights and lots of fun ahead!

Save the dates!  Our spring calendar is filling in and we have tons of different ways you can help the Charleston Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation in keeping our beaches, marshes and waterways clean.  You can learn more about all our upcoming activities at our March 19th chapter meeting at Tradesman Brewing company.  Here’s what’s coming up as the warm weather nears and the fun starts up:

Saturday, February 21st: Avondale Surf and Ale Bash
8:30pm, Mellow Mushroom Avondale

Saturday, March 7th: River Cleanup with Senator Marlon Kimpson
10am-12pm, 5th and Dunneman, Downtown

Monday, March 9th: “The Great Invisible” Screening
TBA, American Theater, Downtown

Wednesday, March 11th: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) public meeting
3-7pm, Wyndham Garden Mt Pleasant
Stand up against new drilling off our coast.

Thursday, March 19th: Chapter Meeting
6:30pm, Tradesman Brewing Company, James Island

Other upcoming events for April include storm drain marker installation on Sullivan’s Island, the Clean Marine Event and a Marsh Kayak Sweep on Folly Beach. Stay tuned for more details!

Surfrider

Next Meeting March 19, 2015

Join us for the next Charleston Surfrider chapter meeting on March 19, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., Tradesman Brewing on James Island. We will talk about offshore drilling, our Rise Above Plastics campaign for 2015 as well as events slated for the next few months. First pint is free! (21+ for the beer of course). Thanks, Tradesman! If you have questions feel free to email us at chair@charleston.surfrider.org. Cheers!

Fundraiser: Surf Movie Night November 17

Carolina Surf Brand and McKevlin’s Surf Shop presents Surf Movie Night at the American Theater. We are pleased to announce a second showing of the local surf flick Two Feet and Classy which will be shown along with Steve Cleveland’s film Paradigm Shift.

Click HERE for tickets.

Join us for 2 great films, a surfboard raffle, t-shirt toss and a great night at the American Theater.

Monday, November 17th at the American Theater:
5:30 Show (Doors open at 5pm)
7:30 Show (Doors open at 7pm)

After each showing join us for an after party next door at Fish! Light snacks will be provided.

Two feet and Classy poster

Going Green for the Deep Blue this Labor Day Weekend

 

Labor day weekend is here, a great time to get out and enjoy our beautiful Lowcountry.  More people are out and about in the natural environment, with them comes an increase in litter.  Here are a few simple steps you can take to keep Mother Nature trash free this Labor day!

1. Leave no trace:  If you bring any food or drink items to the beach, be sure to pack it in and pack it out.  Bring a few extra bags with you for trash and recycling and simply dump them in the bins at the beach access areas.  Extra bags means you can also pick-up any trash left behind by other beach-goers.

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2. Carpool:  Grab a few friends and drive together to your destination, whether it be tubing down the amazing Edisto River, or heading downtown.  The more the merrier!

3. Use real  glasses, plates and silverware:  Instead of opting for plastic cups, plastic silverware and paper plates (many are coated in plastic and can’t be recycled!) pull out your regular dishes and class-up that backyard BBQ! This means less trash at your get together, and your guests will think you are fancy, surely a win win! (Contact us if you would like to purchase one of our awesome reusable pint cups! chair@charleston.surfrider.org)

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4. Serve green food: The Lowcountry is known for it’s bountiful fresh seafood and farm fresh produce, food which is sure to make it to your plate at some point this weekend.  When it does, be sure that it’s sustainable and local.  To see what is in season click here.  It’s all about Fish for the Future!

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5. Grill green: Use propane, natural gas, wood or natural charcoal to grill out this weekend.  Avoid non-natural charcoal and lighter fluid, the chemicals in those products are pollutants and may emit volatile organic compounds which can be dangerous to humans and the environment.

Most of all, have fun this Labor Day weekend and take in all that our lovely Lowcountry has to offer!

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THANK YOU! Successful International Surfing Day Sweep and Party

It was a perfect Folly Beach evening for our International Surfing Day Beach Sweep and Party this past Friday night.  More than 30 volunteers came out to sweep the beach and roadway in front of 2nd street and East Arctic Avenue, picking up loads of trash.  The volunteers found many random items of trash but mostly plastics and cigarette butts.  After the sweep, everyone headed over to Chico Feo, owned by Hank Weed, where the after-party was taking place.  The party had amazing bluegrass music by Grassputin headed by Charlie Stonesypher, and Stone Brewing Company’s local rep, Jason Selby, generously donated Stone’s IPA and Arrogant Bastard for Surfrider supporters to enjoy.  Freebies were given away, music was enjoyed, the beer flowed, the food was amazing, and everyone had a great time.  We even raised more than $200 that night, with all proceeds going directly back into supporting our programs.

If you missed out on the sweep and party but want to get involved, don’t fret!  Click here to become a Surfrider member, and click here for our Facebook page where we post the latest happenings and where you can get in contact with us. Oh and if you have a few extra bucks you want to send our way, click here to donate.  Thanks in advance!

 

International Surfing Day Beach Sweep and Party

ISD_Flyer_Final

Join the Charleston Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for the International Day of Surfing beach sweep and celebration on June 20th. On that day, beachgoers and surf enthusiasts from around the world will come together to celebrate the Surfrider Foundation’s 10-Year Anniversary of International Surfing Day (#ISD14). The nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network, invites the public to save the date and take the day off work to join the fun!

Locally, we are celebrating International Day of Surfing with a beach sweep and celebration. Join us at 6:30 p.m. at 2nd Street and East Arctic Avenue for the sweep which will last approximately an hour, we will provide bags and gloves. Then head over to Chico Feo (122 East Ashley Avenue) for a celebratory party with free beer from Stone Brewing Company, live music, International Day of Surfing giveaways, and more!
A BIG thanks to Chico Feo and Stone Brewing Company for sponsoring the event and to Grassputin for the live bluegrass jams! We look forward to seeing you out there!