SAS Pleased As European Commission Takes UK To European Court Of Justice Over CSO’s
It is time to step up and clean the beach
SAS are pleased to hear the European Commission (EC) has decided to take the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice over non-compliance with EU environment legislation. SAS has spent the summer highlighting the inadequacies of the UK’s sewerage system, specifically with Combine Sewage and Stormwater Overflow drains (CSOs), culminating in the hard-hitting Panorama program “Britain’s Dirty Beaches”. The EC is concerned that the urban waste water collecting systems and treatment facilities in London and Whitburn in North East England and have deemed them “inadequate and a threat to human health.”
SAS have highlighted time and again concerns over the short-term pollution impacts CSOs have on our coastline, and stressed the potential impacts to water users and especially waveriders who are more at risk as they immerse and ingest more than the average bather. Some of the health risks associated with using sewage polluted waters include Ecoli, Hepatitis A, Gastro Enteritis and much more.
Our rivers, seas, bathing waters and surf spots are suffering from short-term pollution incidents from CSOs. The sewerage system is being over powered by the volume of water after periods of rain. There are solutions that can take the pressure off the sewerage system without relying on CSOs or resulting in sewage backing up in our homes. They include improvements in the efficiency of the sewerage system and/or an increase in capacity at sewage treatment works. Local planners need to embrace and promote Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) that slowly release surface rainwater runoff. And we can all use water more responsibly, taking small steps like turning the tap off whilst brushing our teeth, which will in effect increase capacity at sewage treatment works reducing the risk of overflow.
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “More attention needs to be paid to upgrading collecting systems to ensure full compliance with EU legislation on waste water treatment. Such investment will bring enormous benefits in terms of improving the quality of the environment.”
SAS Campaign Manager Andy Cummins says: “The EC are echoing SAS’s concerns over the frequency CSOs are used is discharge raw sewage and rain water rather than treating it in a sewage plant. This can be a serious threat to human health.”
San Diego’s Rob Machado, one of the most stylish surfers alive, discusses last summer’s Indonesian sojourn and his new movie chronicling his experiences abroad.
You were drifting around Indonesia on a motor scooter most of last summer; tell us about your Indo experience cruising around Indo.
I prefer to call it a motorcycle. Motor scooter makes it sound like a Vespa or something. I actually bought a Honda CB 100. I cruised around filming for my flick. I spent about six months living…sort of based out of Bali. I ventured out to the outer islands from Sumba to Lombok to Java…spent a bit of time in Java. There are a ridiculous amount of waves there that you can find if you really want to find them.
You sort of did the unconventional surf trip, in that you veered off the beaten path. You hung out with the local people in, as you mentioned, rather remote regions. I see that you helped the local communities out over there too.
As the trip went on I sort of realized that to really get away you have to venture way out. My bike started breaking down, and I used public transport and got into some cool funky places and I did a lot of camping, and I removed myself from my normal routine and it was good.
Your movie is called, tentatively, THE DRIFTER. With whom are you working on this film project? Is this a Taylor Steele production?
Yeah, Taylor and I came up with it, and Hurley is backing it and gave me the opportunity to basically disappear in Indo for six months. I pretty much fell off the face of the earth and chased great waves around for six months.
Undoubtedly, you scored some great waves and some great tubes. Photos have already trickled into the pages of surf magazines and on websites. We’ve seen some insane barrels from your trip. The notion that time stands still in the tube, the old surfing cliché, do you think there is any truth to that?
Wow, that’s pretty deep right there. For me, it’s about not thinking. I like the idea of actually being on a wave…I think that’s the only time that I’m actually not thinking. That’s the magic of surfing for me. There aren’t too many things that you do in life where your brain shuts off and you acting on what you are feeling and you’re not consciously making decisions.
Seems like the free-surfing vibe fits you perfectly. But watching you surf in events, your level of performance surfing is higher than it’s ever been. Do you still enjoy competitive surfing?
Yeah. Occasionally. It’s still fun, and I like watching those guys. That’s where the best surfing in the world is happening. If you watch those guys: Mick and Joel and Kelly and Andy, and now Dane and Jordy, The stuff that’s going on is pretty radical, so it is fun to go in there and mix it up with those guys. It’s hard because those guys are on tour together all the time and constantly pushing each other. When you are not around that level of surfing all the time it is hard to maintain and stay at that level. I try and hang with those guys as much as I can; it is inspiring to see those guys in person that’s for sure.
So the guys at Cardiff Reef aren’t inspiring you too much then?
(Laughs) Oh, you know, not quite the same level. But those guys at Cardiff are cool.
You mentioned Kelly, and I’m wondering, earlier in the year, Slater played in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and hit some great golf shots. Especially on number 17, the par 3, it’s 200-plus yards, he hit it into a strong 20-knot head wind. Kelly put his tee shot 8-feet from the hole and birdied. Being an avid golfer yourself and a friend of Kelly’s, did you see that shot?
No I didn’t see this year’s event. That’s cool. That’s heavy. Serious stuff.
The movie is THE DRIFTER. Where are you at with that?
We are elbow deep in the editing room right now, so we are looking at a summer time release, we hope.
Are you involved with the music on the movie?
Oh yeah, I’m involved, and it’s pretty exciting. We just had Warner Brothers music come on board so we’ll be adding some of their acts to the flick. I recorded some music. We recorded some music in Indo. We are throwing everything we can into the mixing bowl and see how it goes.
Rob, thanks for the time today. Can’t wait to see the movie.
Thanks for calling, and thanks for the inspiration at Cardiff (laughs).
DEE WHY, New South Wales (Sunday, October 4, 2009) – Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, won the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic this afternoon over reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, in stormy three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) conditions at Dee Why in an action packed Final, marking back-to-back wins for the hungry Brazilian after claiming the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.Gilmore jumped out to an early lead in the sea-saw battle for the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic title, but Lima fought back throughout the heat, collecting a 7.77 and eventually securing the win with an 8.83 for a lengthy forehand barrel to post the highest heat total of the event, an impressive 16.60 out of 20, en route to her first victory at the event after three consecutive Final appearances.
“I can’t believe it,” Lima said. “I’ve been in the Final in this event three times and I finally won. I was feeling really confident. The waves here today were like the waves in Brazil and I’m always surfing in these conditions. The final was really good. Steph (Gilmore) got some good waves too and I was able to get two good ones.”
The back-to-back ASP Women’s World Tour wins secured by the hungry Brazilian have significantly tightened the ratings for this year’s ASP Women’s World Title and although Gilmore still holds on to the ratings lead, Lima is following closely in the No. 2 position.
“I’m definitely looking at the title, but it’s too early,” Lima said “There are still four contests left this year, so there is more work for everyone, but I feel so much more confident after my first win at Bells.”
Gilmore was in devastating form throughout the entire Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, blasting some of the event’s top scores with a committed forehand attack on the steep Dee Why right-handers, but was unable to top Lima in the Final.
“To come back after such a long break and still make the Final, I’m pretty happy with that,” Gilmore said. “Silvana (Lima) beat me at Bells and her confidence is through the roof at the moment, so my challenge is to step it up another level. I did it in the Semifinals, but maybe I peaked too early.”
Gilmore, who fell to Lima in the Final at the last stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour, knows claiming this year’s ASP Women’s World Title will be no easy task and is preparing for the next four stops scheduled on the 2009 calendar.
“It’s definitely game on,” Gilmore said. “There are four events left and everyone is really fired up and off to Portugal, Peru and Hawaii, so I can’t think of a better way to finish off the tour.”
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, was also on fire throughout the entire event, topping 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, en route to her third place finish, but could not find a solid score in her Semifinal heat against eventual Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic winner, Lima.
“I couldn’t really find a rhythm in that last heat,” Mulanovich said. “I couldn’t land a turn, but it’s alright. I guess I was a bit nervous and the waves didn’t come my way, but it’s the same conditions for everyone. I’ll just look at where things went wrong and use that for next time.”
Mulanovich, who was the 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, has now notched back-to-back third place results, leaving her in third overall on the ratings, but as a former champion, the Peruvian natural-footer knows she’ll need to win events this year if she is to claim another ASP Women’s World title.
“Silvana got me at Bells too,” Mulanovich said. “It’s the same result. A third-place is a good result and I need to work a little more on the mental side of things, but I know that, so that’s what I’m going to do. A third is good, but you need to win events to win the title. I’m still towards the top of the ratings and I’m just going to go from there.”
Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, was a standout performer throughout the event’s entirety, ousting an international field of competitors including Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, on the way to her Semifinals berth. The talented Hawaiian struggled to find a solid score in her battle against Gilmore, bowing out of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic with a third place finish.
“I just wasn’t in rhythm out there and I couldn’t find anything,” Bartels said. “It’s tough out there, but I’m stoked that I made the Semifinals, it’s a good result, but I just wanted to surf well, I wanted to put on a good performance and I don’t feel like I did that, but that’s how it goes.”
The next stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Rip Curl Search in Peniche, Portugal, which holds a waiting period from October 26 through 30, 2009.
Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Final: 1- Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.60
2- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.67
Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Semifinals Results: Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.87
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA)10.60 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5.40
Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Quarterfinals Results: Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.35 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.97
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.54 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.80
Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.57 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.86 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.10
The moments after a sports hall roof collapsed at karate practice in Padang
Almost 3,000 people are still trapped under rubble following Wednesday’s powerful earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, officials say.
Massive quake: A member of an Indonesian military rescue team walks through a collapsed building in Padang (Reuters: Singgalang-Muhammad Fitrah)
More than 1,000 people are known to have died and the chances of finding survivors are growing slimmer.
Rescue teams from several countries are heading to the Indonesian city of Padang in a last push to save lives.
Some were focused on a hotel where as many as eight people may still be alive, and where noises were heard.
As night fell, rescuers said they were close to a room where a seminar was being held when the quake struck.
Voices were heard from under the rubble earlier, and a newly-arrived Swiss rescue team said it had picked up frantic knocking sounds using sophisticated audio equipment.
AT THE SCENE
Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Padang Darkness has fallen for the third time since the earthquake struck and once again powerful floodlights are trained on what remains of a large hotel.Twisted wreckage of cars and rubble are still piled high here and the rescuers say they now may be close to a room where it’s known a seminar was taking place on Wednesday evening. Several people are thought to be trapped inside that room and the rumour here tonight is that miraculously even at this late stage some people may have survived and there is a long queue of ambulances here waiting just in case. Shattered Padang tries to cope but an AFP reporter also described a stench hanging over the hotel, as bodies there began to decompose in the equatorial heat.
At least one survivor, a young woman, was pulled from under a collapsed school earlier in the day.
The rescue of Ratna Kurnia Sari on Friday was a boost to emergency workers who were enduring tough conditions as they scrambled to reach survivors in Padang.
At least one other young woman was reported to be trapped close to where the first rescue took place.
Although rescue efforts focused on Padang, aid workers and reporters said that in rural areas thousands more buildings had been destroyed and whole villages flattened.
“From the aerial assessments carried out yesterday, the feedback is, yes Padang city and environs are bad, but once you go outside into the surrounding rural areas, the situation is very seriously grave,” said International Red Cross coordinator Christine South, quoted by AFP news agency.
There was still no information for some areas including Mentawai Island, 57km from the coast, she added.
An AP reporter said parts of Pariaman district, to the north of Padang, had virtually no buildings left standing and had received no outside help.
Need for machinery
US President Barack Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Jakarta, called his Indonesian counterpart to offer condolences and help with the relief effort, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari has appealed for more foreign aid to help the rescue effort.
MAJOR INDONESIAN QUAKES
26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone
28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra
27 May 2006: Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,000
17 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people
30 Sept 2009: 7.6 magnitude quake near Sumatran city of Padang, thousands feared dead
1 Oct 2009: Second of two quakes near Padang, magnitude 6.8 – no damage or casualties reported
SurfAid has a Padang Earthquake Relief Appeal. People can donate through our website. We are in Emergency Response mode and currently assessing the coastal areas south of Padang. We are buying tents, tarpaulins, food, water, medical and sanitation su…pplies in Medan to ship down. We have five Indonesian staff still unaccounted for in Padang. Any support much appreciated. Cheers www.surfaidinternational.org
Through the collaborative efforts of VERB TV, 9:Fish Surfboards , and PEAKSandBARRELS.com the Surfboard Recycling Project was established to raise awareness for Surf-Aid International & Save The S.D. Fire Pits. This partnership is proud to announce an innovative fundraiser at this year’s Vavi National Kickball Championship at NTC Park in Point Loma on August 15th.
The Surfboard Recycling Project will be raffling off select prizes donated by local businesses and used surfboards donated by local surfers. Prizes will include the limited edition 9:Fish Surf-Aid Surfboard (6’2”) featuring the artwork of renown surf artist Jay Alders, gift cards from local shops like Muir Surf, free subscriptions to Surfshot’s digital Magazine, used surfboards and much more.
* All are welcome to donate or participate in the raffle!
* Please give back and assist the initiative by donating a surfboard.
Surfboards can be donated 7 days a week. Please email verb@verbnetwork.tv to make arrangements for pick up or drop off. You may bring your board to raffle at the event as well.
Jay Alders Art Board
The Surfboard Recycling project would like to thank Jay Alders for graciously donating his artwork to help the cause and Vavi Sport & Social Club for hosting this amazing event on August 15th at NTC Park in Point Loma, 8am- 5pm.
“A few years ago, energy industry executives who wanted to build natural gas plants in the New York region came up with a way around the perennial wall of neighborhood opposition to their plans. Place the projects in the open sea, far from troublesome neighborhood councils and community boards,”saysJim Rutenberg of the NY Times.
Surfers, Fisherman, boaters and most other beach dwellers are concerned and utterly upset about the possibility of a large scale gas station just out past the breakers. Surfrider foundation has been one of the loudest leaders regarding this new project.
Some of the arguments opposing project “Insanity Island” are:
Gas / Oil Spills
Increased pollution
Target location for a terrorist
Increased traffic through waterways
If you love our ocean please support Surfrider and the many other people who are fighting for ocean rights.
“A few years ago, energy industry executives who wanted to build natural gas plants in the New York region came up with a way around the perennial wall of neighborhood opposition to their plans. Place the projects in the open sea, far from troublesome neighborhood councils and community boards,”saysJim Rutenberg of the NY Times.
Surfers, Fisherman, boaters and most other beach dwellers are concerned and utterly upset about the possibility of a large scale gas station just out past the breakers. Surfrider foundation has been one of the loudest leaders regarding this new project.
Some of the arguments opposing project “Insanity Island” are:
Gas / Oil Spills
Increased pollution
Target location for a terrorist
Increased traffic through waterways
If you love our ocean please support Surfrider and the many other people who are fighting for ocean rights.
