Lilly out in the surf, credit: @bryannabradleyphotography

#ProtectWhatYouLove … Lilly Woodbury wholly embodies this slogan as the Chapter Manager of Surfrider Pacific Rim. Her love for the ocean and the earth shone through as we discussed environmental activism, climate change communication and staying positive while working on these overwhelming topics.

Surfrider Pacific Rim is based out of Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. If you haven’t visited Tofino before, it is best described as a wonderland where you feel as if a mermaid might wave to you from the surf or that it wouldn’t be uncommon to run into fairies in the forest.

The mission of Surfrider, credit: Surfrider Pacific Rim Facebook Page

Tofino and Ucluelet fall into the Clayoquot Sound which is preserved as a UNESCO biosphere thanks to local First Nations communities and allies that protested the clear-cut logging of the area’s old-growth forests in the summer of 1993. Surfrider continues this trend of environmental stewardship with a focus on the ocean. Their inspiring achievements include the Districts of Tofino and Ucluelet’s ban on plastic straws and bags and supporting the passing of M-151, a national strategy to combat marine plastic pollution.

Broken Group Islands, credit: @lillywoodbury

Lilly leads Surfrider Pacific Rim at only 26 years old with the title of Chapter Manager but her responsibilities change from day to day as she manages campaigns, meets with stakeholders, presents publicly and gets her hands dirty in the sand leading shoreline cleanups. When asked how she achieved this position she describes an organic process of volunteering and searching for an organization that was ready to offer her opportunities: “In my heart I have a lot to give.”

While plastic pollution is at the forefront of Surfrider and many other environmental organizations today, that hasn’t always been the case. Lilly remembers that “When I was in university there was not one class on plastic pollution…I don’t even remember it being mentioned so I had no idea that I wanted to get into plastic pollution, I knew that I loved the ocean, loved surfing, loved the sea and I had that deep connection.”

Taken at a Surfrider Vancouver beach cleanup in Summer 2018, credit: @teghanacres

Just this past month, Lilly led a remote shoreline cleanup through the Broken Group Islands on Tseshaht First Nation territory. In just 8 days, volunteers collected 45,000 litres of debris which is equivalent to 14 cars worth of debris in volume.

While these trips are uplifting, Lilly mentions the heaviness of seeing so much pollution and knowing that there is so much more along the shorelines of the world. This got us talking about a newly discussed phenomenon that you might have heard described as eco-anxiety and climate grief. This is the term for the feelings of depression and hopelessness that can be experienced by those working through the uphill battle of environmental science and activism. I asked her how she manages these feelings as someone on the front lines:

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in 10 years, 20 years, it could all work out but it might not so it’s important to spend time connecting with earth energies and gleaning the planet’s wisdom. It’s also important just to enjoy the outdoors and the textured beauty of our local environments.”

We also discuss looking for inspiration and hope from the past:

“Think of all the really big environmental and social heroes, the Jane Goodalls, the Martin Luther Kings, the Rachel Carsons, where would we be today without them? They for sure had doubt and fear but they pushed through it because they realized that it was more important to do their work to protect and regenerate the planet.”

“I’ve thought countless times about how brave these heroes were, and if they can do that, then so can we. People might look back on our generation and say with immense gratitude ‘wow, those people dedicated their lives to turning this around and we’re here because of that.’”

She gives the advice to take breaks at times and to “fill your life with light hearted activities when you’re not doing this work. Laugh and enjoy those little moments; detach.”

As anyone tuned into climate change and environmental policy news will tell you, there is an overwhelming onslaught of discouraging and often heartbreaking stories. At the same time, this is a hopeful time where there is more action and media attention on the climate emergency than ever before. Lilly reminds me “to keep tabs on the positive things happening in the world because they’re occurring every day and in so many incredible ways we’ve come so impressively far.”

She enthusiastically recommends the books ‘The Optimistic Environmentalist: Progressing Toward a Greener Future’ by David R. Boyd and ‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer as places to start when looking for environmental hope and inspiration. Her own blog (lillywoodbury.com) also has a fantastic resources tab with a long list of books and films that in her words “can kickstart your environmental adventures and also add beauty and stoke to wherever you're at on your path”

Getting involved and taking action, whether it be attending a climate strike or volunteering for a beach cleanup, is one of the best ways to combat feelings of despair. It is essential for all of us to find ways, within our own means, to contribute to the healing of the planet through pushing for systematic change and making changes in our own day-to-day lives. To get involved with Surfrider you can visit their website pacificrim.surfrider.org or contact Lilly at lwoodbury@canada.surfrider.org. Stay tuned here for more discussions on optimism and environmental action with the inspiring people working to heal our planet.

From Eco-anxiety to Eco-optimism with Lilly Woodbury