Want to get exclusive tracks from Jack Johnson, Ben Howard & Gabrielle Aplin? #SIGNFORIT. Want to be in with the chance of winning one of Kelly Slater's personal surfboards? #SIGNFORIT.
#SIGNFORIT is designed to reward supporters of SAS's Protect Our Waves (POW) petition – www.protectourwaves.org.uk. Surfers Against Sewage has been inspired by the huge numbers of campaigners already signing the petition, joining them in calling for better protection for UK waves, oceans and beaches. The charity wanted to create a new, unique way of thanking campaigners and celebrating this growing movement to protect surf spots and beaches.
As part of SAS's new #SIGNFORIT initiative, Brit Award winning artist Ben Howard has generously donated his amazing track 'Oats in the Water', which you can download today* for the small price of one signature. Throughout September, SAS will be recognising the value of supporters signing the Protect Our Waves petition with four different rewards including exclusive tracks from Jack Johnson, Ben Howard and Gabrielle Aplin and the chance to win a surfboard from Kelly Slater, the world's greatest ever surfer.
Ben Howard says: "I've been a Surfers Against Sewage supporter for years and was delighted to donate one of my tracks for the #SIGNFORIT initiative. Music and surfing have always gone hand in hand, so rewarding SAS campaigners is a fantastic way to motivate even more support and help better protect UK surf spots for future generations. I've surfed all over the UK and have seen these environmental problems first-hand, so tackling the issues is very close to my heart."
Gabrielle Aplin says: "I'm delighted to be involved with the #SIGNFORIT campaign, which is a great way for SAS to say a huge thank you to the thousands of campaigners getting behind their calls for better protection for fabulous beaches right around the UK. I hope that we can motivate many thousands more people to support SAS through this brilliant new rewards promotion!"
The POW petition has achieved close to 50,000 signatories to date and will be delivered to 10 Downing Street in October 2013. The petition calls for greater protection of UK surf spots, specifically in relation to marine litter, sewage discharges and coastal developments threatening the very fabric of these unique, well-loved and valuable coastal assets. Over the past twenty years, surfing has gone from a fringe sport with little mainstream recognition to a sport with huge numbers of regular participants who rely upon finite numbers of surf spots, which need better protection.
Surfers Against Sewage has been at the forefront of campaigning on behalf of the UK surfing and water sports community for many years and believes that waves and surf spots deserve to be seen as part of UK heritage and should be afforded greater recognition and protection through political debate and legislation. SAS is working hard to raise the public awareness of these natural resources, the environmental, physical and geological factors that create waves, how they are integral to coastal ecosystems and can help support thriving, sustainable and economically successful coastal communities around the UK. The Protect Our Waves petition is helping SAS communicate this to the general public and to politicians representing coastal communities.