Mad love to everyone reading
-j.

Of course you are entitled to your antagonistic opinion and I respect that (no matter how scary it is), and I don’t pretend to be any sort of angel, shit – I have as many vices as the next person – but I feel that you FAILED to see the point of my post. It was NOT meant to ‘single out’ the surf or climbing industries – in fact many of my best friends work in these industries and I know they feel the same way I do and are working hard to find alternatives – but I had no intent to bring down what’s wrong, more accurately I wanted to tell an interesting story about a company that we can learn a lesson from and raise the issue of what is right. I wanted to simply give HONORABLE MENTION to a few amazing people who are making POSITIVE CHANGES in their field. Thats all!

I thought these guys are a great influence because they are shedding light on the matters we are facing as a global economy and they are finding creative and adaptive ways to be more in sync with their surroundings, what is so bad about this? I believe that small pebbles can create giant ripples and I was only trying to share an informative tale. Baby steps lead to giant leaps. Maybe I’m all alone on this? But I hope not.

Honestly Joel, your comment worries me slightly, because it has more pessimistic references than optimistic ones. If feels as though basically you’re telling me the world is “impossible” to change, that it is what it is and we should just sit back and accept it. Well, that’s fine then – I’ll shut my mouth, I promise. I’ll start being “fair” and I won’t say anything more. We are all just going to die anyway, so we may as well just give up and roll with it. Let us keep pumping out toxic materials, let us keep consuming at ungodly rates because there is no hope anyway. Great perspective. Let us write depressing blogs about that too on our synthetic keyboards, let us spread the word about how we can’t fix shit, or make changes and the whole world is doomed.

Personally, I think Tom Wegeners story is very inspirational, he represents fun, peace and sustainability (see his website) I’m sorry if you don’t agree and I’m sorry for trying to share the light and his positive vision. I have a dream that one day we can buy products that we know the contents inside (and waste) WILL bio-degrade safely and our children’s children can play from Rivers to Oceans, and run from Valley bottom to Mountain top without compromising their natural health. But it’s just a silly dream, it’s probably impossible.

There is so much we can do as individuals to help easing the burden ous society puts on the environment. People don’t realise that if they actually pitch in, they will make a difference.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

you’re definitely right sonnie, our toxic hobbies can always be cleaned up. tom wegener and grain are inspirations to surfers, and anyone interested in lowering their impact on nature.

JD. ha ha, yes, well, I’ve been thinking about trying to do something like this for a long time, I can’t help it, I just see the way some people interpret the world and I want to emulate that, the way Tom Wegener has, or the way Yvon Chouinard started patagonia and black diamond by forging pitons behind a tin shed, Prana, Joe Rockheads climbing gym, I look at most of my mentors and they all started from scratch, building products they love, working hard with the sun on their backs. I like change, and I like to see how other people are making a difference in the world, it’s a very exciting time. I’ll keep you posted. Life is good. Thanks for the note. Spread the love.

Love the blog btw, keep it up!