Environment This page is a round-up of all the articles in SurfGirl on environmental issues. Check off what you've done and note what more you'd like to do to help keep our planet healthy! By Jacqueline Wild.

Eco friendly sanitary products
Everyone hates seeing disposable sanitary products washed up on our beaches and floating around in the sea but what’s the alternative? There are several different types of washable towel, and also an ingenious little bell shaped 'mooncup'. Check out these websites: www.teamlollipop.co.uk and www.mooncup.co.uk

Get graphic
Buying Fair Trade and organic clothing needn’t mean that you have to compromise on style. Equop (short for equal and opposite) describe themselves as “an ethical and design-led, fair trade, organic clothing company, a talent promoter, a resource for responsible trade and living and a breath of fresh air.” Phew!

Equop utilises consumer demand by only printing the most popular designs, which also means that there is less waste. Successful designers will receive 25% of the profits as well as a free t-shirt.

Five minutes to save the world
Ecotricity provides wind-generated power. It takes five minutes to switch your electricity supply and Ecotricity promise that they will match the price of your local supplier. For every new customer they will plant a tree, or if you join from the SAS’s website, then the SAS will receive a donation of £15.

Dolphin Update
Unfortunately the threat against dolphins has not diminished and the ban on UK pair trawling only 12 miles from shore has hardly had any affect. Greenpeace are campaigning to have all pair trawling banned within a range of 200 miles from shore. This includes fishermen from the EU as well as the UK. Get active and contact Ben Bradshaw, UK Fisheries Minister, and ask him to ban pair trawling within 200 miles from shore.

Eco holidays
If you want to help put something back into the environment and get a cheap holiday at the same time, then BTCV’s conservation holidays are a great opportunity. BTCV offers a range of destinations around the UK, with prices generally under £100 for a week. However, if your budget is flexible and you fancy some guaranteed sunshine, then you could be watching turtles in Thailand, or jetting of to some other beautiful location. Check out their website http://shop.btcv.org.uk

Travel expenses - Bio fuels
Unfortunately, using a car is essential for most surfers. The rise in petrol prices is largely due to politics and financial greed, since large amounts of money is creamed off fuel in terms of VAT by the government. Although the government has agreed to meet certain deadlines in terms of reducing emissions, the progress is frustratingly slow. If you have a vehicle that runs on diesel, then it is well worth looking into bio fuels, which use a mix of normal diesel and vegetable oil and is also more environmentally friendly. For more information visit www.bio-power.co.uk. You can also start car pooling and use webcams/friends to avoid wasted journeys.

Something fishy
The ocean contains up to half of the UK’s wildlife. The WWF are calling on the government to increase Marine Protected Areas and also Fishing Free Zones, to enable stocks to naturally replenish. Over fishing has become a serious issue. Try to vary the types of fish you eat to prevent stocks becoming depleted - Pollack and Saithe taste like Cod and make a good alternative. Buying locally is always a good idea and if you want to go one better, then you can always try your hand at some line fishing yourself.

Surf to save dolphins
This sponsored swim/surf took place in May 2004. Unfortunately not enough people took part so the WWF have cancelled it for 2005. However, there are lots of other ways you can support marine life – take a look at their website's marine section.

Stop the rustbuckets!
Don't wait for another oil tanker disaster before acting. Visit www.stoptherustbuckets.info to see how you can help stop knackered old single hulled tankers taking to the sea without being properly inspected.

Festival Fun
Simply buying a ticket for Glastonbury means you are supporting a host of good causes, including Water Aid, Oxfam, Christian Aid and their Make Poverty History campaign, Greenpeace and loads of others. If you want to get in for free, try volunteering for Greenpeace or another cause with a presence at the festival!

SAS
You should all be members, it's that simple! And if you want to go to the ball, it's members only. The Crystal themed ball takes place 12 September 2005. The cost is £15 for membership and £35 for a ticket. Check out the SAS website for more.