Badger's Tip of the Week - Paddle For The Planet

This week's tip is about getting involved!

According to the Blast Paddler's website:

• Each year, three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world’s oceans as the weight of fish caught. (www.marinebio.org)
• 32% of the world’s fisheries are overexploited, depleted or recovering, which threatens the health, economy, and livelihoods of communities all over the world.
• The global fishing fleet is estimated to be 250% larger than needed to catch what the ocean can sustainably produce. (www.marinebio.org)
• Every year tens of millions of sharks die a slow death because of finning. Finning is the inhumane practice of hacking off the shark’s fins and throwing its still living body back into the sea. The sharks either starve to death, are eaten alive by other fish, or drown (if they are not in constant movement their gills cannot extract oxygen from the water). Shark fins are being “harvested” in ever greater numbers to feed the growing demand for shark fin soup, an Asian “delicacy”. (www.stopsharkfinning.net)

So... what can we do about it?!!

Well... we can PADDLE FOR THE PLANET!!!

Again, according to the Blast Paddler's website:

"Paddle For The Planet 2011 ( PFTP ) is a global effort to to raise awareness about the terrible things that are happening in the Ocean we use daily.


Our common goal is to hold a world wide seires of “relay” style paddle events through whicl all paddlers participate in and become part of a global effort increase awareness of what’s going on in our oceans and want to create an opportunity to make a difference. We want to allow all paddlers the opportunity to help, and by doing so, help bring about change, by merely doing what we love to do – paddle. Paddle for the Planet’s aim is to support Marine conservation, and as the campaign grows over the ensuing years, we endeavor to support all kinds of Marine Conservation.


For the first couple of years we are going focus our efforts on an initial campaign to raise funds for a marine reserve in Raja Ampat, Indonesia and keep it protected. Each year we want to grow this idea and see the project branch out further and further, as more paddlers get involved keeping more and more waters protected. You can help make a difference.


How does it all work, and why is it on the 5th of June:


June 5th is World Environment Day, so there there is no more fitting date for us to hold Paddle For The Planet.


We want paddlers paddling for the planet in Every Time Zone on that day! Ideally they will paddle between 5km to 10km ( so they are on the water for around an hour ).


Even just one or two people paddling together in the same area as a group is sufficient!


We really need your help to make this a success, and to get this WORLD WIDE paddle happening."

Digger does his part for the cause.
He really "digs" the earth!!!

To get started, become a fan (or "Like") the Paddle for the Planet page on Facebook, download and print the Paddle for the Planet logo here:  Paddle For The Planet Printable Logo Take your picture with the printed out logo and upload it to Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/Paddlefortheplanet ... then help to spread the word and remember to get out and paddle on Sunday! And don't forget to take lots of pictures to share with the paddling world!!!


Note: If you will be in Muskoka area, Badger Paddles will be hosting a Paddle For The Planet get together on Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Buck Lake/Illfracombe Beach on Ravenscliffe Road, Huntsville Ontario, Canada.  Nothing too official. All you need is your boat, paddle and proper gear to participate.  We sure hope to see you there!!! And the first dozen paddlers to show will be rewarded with some free Badger SWAG!!! Email us for details and/or directions.