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Line in the sand: No future for fossil fuel sponsors in surf lifesaving

Posted on November 20, 2021 by admin

In the other parts of our website you can read about why climate change is a threat to surf lifesavers, our clubrooms and beachgoers. There are now two petitions on the same topic!

SIGN THE GETUP PETITION HERE or SIGN THE “Free the Nippers” PETITION HERE

Surf Lifesaving has one of the most respected and iconic brands in Australia – because it is an amazing movement of legends. We must be careful who we lend our brand to, as some sponsors will use our iconic reputation to try to improve their (less iconic) reputation. If we lend our brand to fossil fuel companies or other companies that drive climate change, we are shooting ourselves in the foot: as they become more successful, our movement incurs greater risk of harm from climate change.

That is why we are taking a stand: companies which continue to advocate for fossil fuel project expansion should not benefit from the support of surf lifesavers.

Click above to sign our petition for no more fossil fuelling of our nippers

This is not to say the people who work in those companies are bad people or that the companies must close down immediately: just that SLS should not be encouraging their endeavours as they threaten our long term success as a movement. Using our child members (Nippers) as billboards for fossil fuel companies is particularly hard to tolerate. Our Nippers will be the ones who have to fundraise to rebuild our clubrooms, face extreme weather and all the other challenges of climate change. The nippers do not get to choose the impact of climate change when they are adults – we are making those decisions for that generation now.

Perhaps our activity will help some of our fossil fuel focussed sponsors to re-evaluate their strategic activity and choose a sustainable future – one we would be proud to support.

The majority of Australians support a ban on fossil fuel sponsorship in sports, this is no longer controversial.

You can read the issues with Woodside’s Scarborough Gas plans on this flyer, or this report by the Australia Institute.

Media Associated with petition

Our media activity in early 2023 caused quite a stir and wider debate about the ethics of using children to promote fossil fuels. There were 141 media mentions across Australia. Some highlights

Opinion piece in WA Today, You wouldn’t put a cigarette company logo on your child’s uniform, so why is Woodside OK? This was syndicated to fairfax papers across Australia
Interview on ABC 720 Perth mornings
Interview with 6PR, where there was some interesting banter about whether sustain surf members have BBQs…. (not sure they understood the issues at play)
Article on Sky News
Panel discussion on Sunrise, Channel 7 where they concluded that Woodside should take the logo off Nippers!

Greenpeace has now commenced a petition called “Free the Nippers” you can add your voice here

The Guardian – “Nippers Parents speak out against Woodside sponsorship deal”

ABC Perth – Woodside Sponsorship divides community

The Guardian – Fossil Fuel Interests in community organisations

If you are keen for SLSWA to be more careful in which sponsors they lend our iconic brand to – please consider giving them feedback via signing our petition and Greenpeace’s petition

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  • Line in the sand: No future for fossil fuel sponsors in surf lifesaving
  • Socials: Contact and collaborate with us

Sustain.Surf

1 week 1 day ago

E Class Outboards we like the look of your turbo jet electric outboard on the back of an old IRB. Let's get it made 'lifesaver

World first electric turbo jet outboard

6kW with greater speeds than 6kW regular electric. 12 knots with one up.

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Sustain.Surf

1 week 1 day ago

Great to see the The Climate Council ramping up pressure on Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving WA to remove fossil fuel sponsorship

Call Time on Fossil Fuel Sponsorships | Climate Council

From flooded festivals, to concerts cancelled by bushfire threats and unsafe heat disrupting play at the tennis, footy and more, climate change is wreaking havoc on the activities and events we love. Meanwhile, polluting fossil fuel giants are using these events to buy community goodwill and distrac...

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Sustain.Surf

2 weeks 6 days ago

The Guardian has a great article on the issues with Fossil fuel sponsorship of #woodsidenippers. Let’s do the right thing by our kids and find

‘Walking billboard’ for Woodside: parents want end to fossil fuel company sponsorship of WA Nippers

New campaign supported by Greenpeace urges Surf Life Saving WA to scrap $5m naming rights deal

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 18 hours ago

2 years ago we started having the public discussion about Nippers being used as billboards for fossil fuel proliferation, after behind the scenes conversations were

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 18 hours ago

It’s going to be a hot summer on the beach. Check out some of the health risks for outside sports at sustain.surf/health-impacts-of-climate-change/

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 1 day ago

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 2 days ago

Ahead of the upcoming season it's time to see how your club is set up to deal with the risks and opportunities that climate change

Surf Club Sustainability & Adaptation Checklist - Sustain Surf

Why should clubs act? All surf clubs need to consider urgent action on climate change as it effects the health of members, changes surf conditions and puts club infrastructure at risk. Many club constitutions will demand this or will reflect SLSA’s constitutional objectives which include: Y) ensur...

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 2 weeks ago

How we deal with climate change will affect our beaches, infrastructure and communities.

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 3 weeks ago

Kick the habit. Fossil fuels need to be rapidly wound back for community safety & health. Using sport to promote companies who continue to expand

Pressure mounts on Dockers to give Woodside sponsorship the heave ho

High-profile West Australian organisations have left fossil fuel partnerships recently. Now fans are questioning whether Freo will kick its Woodside habit.

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 3 weeks ago

unsealed4x4.com.au/electric-converted-landcruiser-attempts-to-drive-under-darwin-harbour-7-kilometres-in-length-and-up-to-30-metres-deep/ If they can manage an EV underwater, 30m deep, then I reckon we shouldn't have too much trouble waterproofing an electric IRB ...

Electric converted LandCruiser attempts to drive under Darwin Harbour - 7 kilometres in length, and up to 30 metres deep!

Engineering an old Toyota LandCruiser to drive for seven kilometres under Darwin Harbour. At depths of up to 30 metres.

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