THE DREAM IN ACTION

In an effort to support Blog Action Day’s Climate Change initiative I’d like to introduce you to the SurfriderFoundation.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. Being from San Diego I grew up with the Surfrider Foundation sponsoring events and surf contests that I competed in. It’s an awesome organization that is focus on the health of our beaches and oceans. Something that is important to me.

Surfrider Foundation’s unique membership includes ocean enthusiasts of all sorts: Surfers, bodysurfers, bodyboarders, windsurfers, swimmers, divers, beachcombers and ocean-loving families from all walks of life. If you’re interested in becoming a member, go to www.surfrider.org/join or call 1-800-743-SURF.

From the Surfrider site:

Volunteering for the Surfrider Foundation

Volunteerism is the life blood of the grassroots Surfrider Foundation USA with its 60+ volunteer-driven chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts. See our “Volunteering” Menu Book” for how to volunteer at a Surfrider Foundation Chapter. Go to our Surfrider Chapters page to find the closest chapter near you. At the chapter-level, there are all kinds of volunteer activities to do, from beach cleanups to water testing to educational presentations to writing newsletters to attending city council meetings to many other things.

At the Surfrider Foundation National Office in San Clemente, CA, summer internships are available. Also, volunteers are always needed. Call 949-492-8170 or email membership@surfrider.org about volunteer opportunities at the national office.

For my Blog Action Day post I decided to make a loan on Kiva.org. I’ve talked about Kiva.org a bit before. Kiva.org is an organization that facilitates micro-financing in (predominantly) 3rd world countries. Think of Kiva.org as a place that allows you to be a VC with only $100 bucks!

Kiva.org has a selection of entrepreneurs that you can choose to finance. I decided to finance Komlavi Kini who has been an auto mechanic for 3 years in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Komlavi is 39 years old, married, and the father of 3 children. With this first loan with FECECAV, he wishes to outfit his garage and buy work tools to better meet customer demand. Komlavi hopes  this opportunity will enable him to improve his living conditions. I will be able to follow up with my investment in Komlavi through Kiva.org. If you’d like to help Komlavi too just click here to go directly to his site! I definitely encourage you to take action to give back today whether you’re a blogger or not!

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day