A Surfers’ Charter of Responsibilities

Abstract

The idea is to draw up a Charter of Responsibilities of Surfers for Sustainable Societies based on the actions, proposals, and reflections of the several networked surfers’ communities spread along the Brazilian coast. The network, the Alliance of Surfers, proposes to organize partnerships to follow up and articulate the surfer community’s thinking and actions (through the media, the industry, civil society, professionals, etc.) in view of building sustainable societies.

The proposal puts the “human responsibilities” concept at the core of the debates on the surfers’ role in contemporary society as it faces the challenge of responding and adapting to global environmental changes. It also underscores the idea that the local level is the most appropriate for developing strategies and taking concrete action to weigh on policy making in order to avoid social and environmental conflicts. According to the leader of Ecosurfi, João Malavolta, civil society can no longer consider acting independently from policy makers and without a commitment to protect people, the community, and life. Neither can it continue to think that “everyone doing their bit” is enough.

“Individual attitudes are important for the resolution of the environmental crisis we are experiencing, and personal choices are fundamental,” explained Malavolta. “We cannot neglect the collective perspective, however, which is what marks and induces people’s behavior.” In this context, he concluded, “surfing promotes and expresses a healthy lifestyle and gives a positive image, but the real nature of surfing is being spoiled by an exaggerated incentive to consume.”

Proposals from Ubatuba

The Ubatuba seminar brought together the different surfing sectors for discussion. Participants included surf-board manufacturers, representatives of the municipality and of the CETESB, local NGOs, and amateur and professional surfers, among whom the champions of the Super Surf and the current professional champion from São Paulo, Saulo Júnior, the former champions of WQS, Tadeu Pereira and Narciso Oliveira, both also professional surfing champions from São Paulo, and also the surfers’ ambassador from Ubatuba, Zecão.

See surfsustentavel.blogspot.com for further details (in Portuguese - Brazil).


Início A Carta Histórico e características Textos da Carta A Cross-cultural and Multilingual Process Que é novo? Atividades Atividades regionais Intercultural Research Group Atividades globales Temas fortes Militares e responsabilidade Mulheres e responsabilidade Empresas e responsabilidade Meio ambiente e responsabilidade Culturas e responsabilidade Governança, Direitos humanos, e responsabilidade Educação e responsabilidade Cultura de responsabilidade Art and responsibility Intercultural, diálogo e plurilinguismo Finança e responsabilidade Economia y responsabilidade Reflexões ... sobre o conceito de responsabilidade ... sobre a Carta das Responsabilidades Humanas Ferramentas para ação Audio & Video Cards, flyers... Interactive Documents Métodos Facilitar debates e oficinas construir uma rede Informar, educar Construir um processo de difusão Vínculos Quem somos? O Comitê Internacional de facilitação da Carta Encontro bienal dos membros do Comitê internacional da Carta Sobre este site
	EN ES FR PT outras línguas
Iniciativas "Aliança dos Surfistas" propõe catalizar parcerias pela sustentabilidade Carta das Responsabilidades para o Enfrentamento das Mudanças Ambientais Globais Conversas de rua: história, metodologia, prática Governança e Responsabilidades Juventude, Meio Ambiente e Responsabilidade No Programa de Educação Nacional para as escolas públicas Para uma Carta de Responsabilidades dos Surfistas Um vídeo sobre a Carta em duas edições	Início Atividades Atividades regionais América Latina Brasil Iniciativas Publicado em 23 de janeiro de 2010 Traduções disponíveis em: Português do Brasil (original) . français . Español . A Surfers’ Charter of Responsibilities Temas fortes ligados: Meio ambiente e responsabilidade . Temas largos ligados: Esporte . Community responsibility . Youth .
	Abstract The idea is to draw up a Charter of Responsibilities of Surfers for Sustainable Societies based on the actions, proposals, and reflections of the several networked surfers’ communities spread along the Brazilian coast. The network, the Alliance of Surfers, proposes to organize partnerships to follow up and articulate the surfer community’s thinking and actions (through the media, the industry, civil society, professionals, etc.) in view of building sustainable societies. The proposal puts the “human responsibilities” concept at the core of the debates on the surfers’ role in contemporary society as it faces the challenge of responding and adapting to global environmental changes. It also underscores the idea that the local level is the most appropriate for developing strategies and taking concrete action to weigh on policy making in order to avoid social and environmental conflicts. According to the leader of Ecosurfi, João Malavolta, civil society can no longer consider acting independently from policy makers and without a commitment to protect people, the community, and life. Neither can it continue to think that “everyone doing their bit” is enough. “Individual attitudes are important for the resolution of the environmental crisis we are experiencing, and personal choices are fundamental,” explained Malavolta. “We cannot neglect the collective perspective, however, which is what marks and induces people’s behavior.” In this context, he concluded, “surfing promotes and expresses a healthy lifestyle and gives a positive image, but the real nature of surfing is being spoiled by an exaggerated incentive to consume.” Proposals from Ubatuba The Ubatuba seminar brought together the different surfing sectors for discussion. Participants included surf-board manufacturers, representatives of the municipality and of the CETESB, local NGOs, and amateur and professional surfers, among whom the champions of the Super Surf and the current professional champion from São Paulo, Saulo Júnior, the former champions of WQS, Tadeu Pereira and Narciso Oliveira, both also professional surfing champions from São Paulo, and also the surfers’ ambassador from Ubatuba, Zecão. See surfsustentavel.blogspot.com for further details (in Portuguese - Brazil).