Paul McCartney teams with Ky Hurst and Pacha Light for Surfers For Climate
Legendary musician Paul McCartney has teamed up with surf ironman champion Ky Hurst and Gold Coast pro surfer Pacha Light for a cause close to their hearts.
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FROM legendary musician Paul McCartney in Liverpool to surf ironman champion Ky Hurst on the Gold Coast, people have come together for a campaign shining a light on a global issue.
The Beatle has penned a song for climate change organisation Surfers For Climate, with award-winning surfing filmmaker and ambassador of the organisation Jack McCoy providing a video for the piece.
The world exclusive music video called Wine Dark Open Sea will premiere on Wednesday at 7pm on Epicentre.tv and can be viewed for a $5 donation.
“I’m thrilled to support Surfers For Climate. Their work is something that really appeals to me as we all have a responsibility to do our bit and this is a great way to bring people together with a shared passion for the seas and oceans from all around the world for positive climate action,” McCartney said.
“I love the video that my friend and surf filmmaker, Jack McCoy, has created for this.
The striking footage of pro longboarder, Belinda Baggs, and her dance on water is a powerful reminder of how incredible our oceans are and that they need our help to protect them and preserve their wonder for generations to come.”
Ironman and former Olympic swimmer Ky Hurst and Gold Coast pro surfer Pacha Light are both also ambassadors for Surfers For Climate and 19-year-old Light said the music video is incredible.
“The video raises funds for Surfrider Foundation Australia and Seed Mob, who Surfers For Climate ally with,” the young environmentalist said.
“These amazing initiatives are all grassroot movements that support our world and the next steps for our climate.
“Raising this awareness by uniting big celebrities has been an incredible experience for me and it shows it doesn’t matter what your background is, this topic is important.”
Surf Life Saving Australia Hall of Famer Hurst said he wants to be a role model for his kids and ensure the Gold Coast environment is enjoyable for them when they’re older.
“I definitely see differences on the Gold Coast. I’ve been here now almost 20 years and I’ve seen different shifts in how the tides are moving and the sandbanks are moving, and I think that comes back to climate change in some way,” he said.
“Surfers For Climate has been launched so we can come together and have ideas moving forward for climate change.
“It’s the simple things we can do as individuals. Riding my bike more and driving less, recycling and using less plastics.”
PARKO AND FANNING JOIN FIGHT FOR THE BIGHT
WORLD champion surfers Mick Fanning and Joel ‘Parko’ Parkinson joined boardriders and environmentalists at Currumbin Alley as part of national protests against plans to drill for oil off the Australian coast.
Norwegian petroleum company Equinor wants to establish an exploration well about 370km off the South Australian coastline in the Great Australian Bight.
The multinational’s controversial plan sparked a “Fight for the Bight” day of action across the country on Saturday, involving mass paddle-outs.
Surfrider Foundation Gold Coast Tweed joined Stop Adani Gold Coast at Currumbin as more than 60 protests were held nationwide, including at Byron Bay.
The crowd was more than 1000-strong, according to some estimates.
Parko said protesters wanted the Bight deemed a World Heritage site to protect it from oil exploration into the future.
“We’re down here to let our voice be heard around the nation,” he said.
“We want to stop this drilling in the Bight. We don’t want to have to fight this fight again. This is it.
“I don’t want my kids back down here in 10 years, 20 years doing the same thing.”
Surf writer Sean Doherty, representing various organisations, said the Bight was “too wild, too beautiful” and “it shouldn’t be drilled for fossil fuels”.
“The surf community and the coastal community (are) just coming out saying no to drilling in the Great Australian Bight,” he said.
“Collectively (we’re) just saying, mate, we need a change. We’re a big, smart country. We shouldn’t just be digging holes in Australia and selling it off.
“We’re way better than that. Our kids deserve better and we’re just trying to do it for some sort of liveable future.”
Wilderness Society South Australia director Peter Owen said protests included mock oil spills because “this is a reality if there is a spill”.
Equinor has hit back at the protests and said on it’s website: “We’re the Norwegian company you can trust to safely explore the Bight.”
“We will only carry out our planned operations if we can do them safely and with the approval of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, which is Australia’s independent regulator for offshore drilling,” the company states.
“We will take the time necessary to ensure our operations are safe for people, communities and the environment.”
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