1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Do you ever feel like ocean action is happening somewhere else? You sign the petition, maybe donate, but you're not really part of the work. Lilly Woodbury knows that feeling, and she found her way in by walking into a Surfrider meeting in Tofino in 2016. Lilly is the campaigns and storytelling director at Surfrider Foundation Canada. In this episode she tells Andrew how a small volunteer chapter helped Tofino and Ucluelet ban plastic straws, bags, cutlery and foam containers, and how Tofino became the first municipality in Canada to ban single-use plastic water bottles. Ten years in, she says the local beaches are so clean the chapter no longer runs cleanups there. You'll hear why Surfrider works with businesses instead of against them, why blaming and shaming individuals backfires, and why people come for the impact but stay for the community. Lilly also explains how Surfrider Canada became its own international affiliate in 2022, how local bans build pressure for provincial, federal and global action on plastics, and exactly what it takes to start a chapter or student club where you live. No surfboard required. Links mentioned in this episode Surfrider Foundation Canada: https://canada.surfrider.org Start a chapter or club: https://canada.surfrider.org/get-involved Take action and email your MP: https://www.canada.surfrider.org/take-action Surfrider Pacific Rim victories: https://pacificrim.surfrider.org/victories District of Tofino: Canada's first plastic water bottle ban: https://tofino.ca/tofino-makes-history-on-earth-day-as-canadas-first-municipality-to-ban-single-use-plastic-water-bottles/ Andrew's episode with Chad Nelsen, Surfrider Foundation CEO: https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/surfrider-40-years-of-celebrating-community-and-coastal-conservation/ Andrew's episodes on the sea turtle straw video with Nathan Robinson: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3847721 Surfrider Foundation Canada socials Instagram: @surfrider_canada X: @SurfriderCanada Takeaways You don't have to watch ocean action from the sidelines; local chapters let you do the work alongside your community Surfrider meets businesses where they are, works with suppliers on alternatives, and promotes early adopters until others want in Reusables come first; where that's not possible, locally compostable fibre beats rigid bioplastics Guilt-based messaging turns people off; solutions and shared identity keep them engaged Local bans prove what works, then become the case for provincial, national and global action The goal of a cleanup is to make cleanups unnecessary Starting a chapter takes a committed group of five to nine people, some seed funding, and a relationship with the local Indigenous nation from day one How To Protect The Ocean https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43168188/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/43168188