Seize Change

Ahoy there! We are four friends (Kirsten Mathison, Nic Annau, Daniel Greenwood and Mathilde Gordon) who are inviting you to join us on an opportunity to Seize Change This summer, we are embarking on a 3 month sailing circumnavigation around Vancouver Island to raise awareness of marine debris. We are re-framing the face of adventure, and inspiring others to be stewards of the earth as they venture into the outdoors. We all love being out in nature, so why not give back whene...ver we can! We will depart Nanoose bay in a Catalina 27 and sail anticlockwise around the island, documenting our sailing experiences as we go. We will also be doing the trip SINGLE-USE PLASTIC-FREE. The trip will be done in three phases: 1. East Coast: Organising local clean-ups with groups and anyone who wants to join! Together we can keep our coastlines tidy this Summer 2. The whole time: Public presentations on marine debris and tips on minimising single use plastics, as well as workshops (such as beeswax wrap workshops and action-driven empowerment). We would love to hear from YOU so we can also learn from each other! We will present to at least 20 different venues before, during and after the trip. 3. West Coast: Conducting citizen science on marine debris (for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Vancouver Island University), as well as hopefully participating in pre-organised clean-ups with some of the awesome organisations who are doing incredible work (Clayoquot CleanUp, Surfrider Pacific Rim, Surfrider Vancouver Island, The Ocean Legacy Foundation, BC Marine Trails Network and Living Oceans Society) The issue of marine debris is being spoken about in the media all over the world, more than ever before, and entire countries are taking action. We feel it is important to keep the momentum going, and motivate others to be the change they want to see in the world. Our project is all primarily volunteer work, but if you feel as though you’d like to support us financially, please check out this link ---> https://chuffed.org/project/seize-change Your $$ will go towards resources for clean-ups, equipment for workshops and presentations and our time and effort to get the word out as far and wide as possible. We have budgeted for the trip to go ahead regardless, but any penny will be greatly appreciated! Most importantly, if you have the chance, please share this video far and wide and follow our page and Instagram, so we can encourage as many people as possible to Seize Change this Summer! www.seize-change.org [email protected]

Globally it is a problem, but everything starts locally do your part, make the world a better place We can’t keep blaming other countries for marine debris. Too often we hear people pointing the finger instead of stepping up and taking ownership of the issue. We are all responsible and our oceans are interconnected. The mountains of trash washing up on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island come from all over the world. Instead of blaming others for the pollutio...n, the residents, councils and school kids are taking action in their community. Check out this awesome project where they discuss the importance of data collection! #AMDI Tangaroa Blue Shire of Cocos Keeling Islands Christmas Island District High School Christmas Island Tourism Cocos Islands Cocos Islands Adventure Tours

Migaloo the white whale is on his way past Sydney right now! <3 Hopefully see you put there one day buddy.

Ahoy there! We are four friends (Kirsten Mathison, Nic Annau, Daniel Greenwood and Mathilde Gordon) who are inviting you to join us on an opportunity to Seize Change This summer, we are embarking on a 3 month sailing circumnavigation around Vancouver Island to raise awareness of marine debris. We are re-framing the face of adventure, and inspiring others to be stewards of the earth as they venture into the outdoors. We all love being out in nature, so why not give back whene...ver we can! We will depart Nanoose bay in a Catalina 27 and sail anticlockwise around the island, documenting our sailing experiences as we go. We will also be doing the trip SINGLE-USE PLASTIC-FREE. The trip will be done in three phases: 1. East Coast: Organising local clean-ups with groups and anyone who wants to join! Together we can keep our coastlines tidy this Summer 2. The whole time: Public presentations on marine debris and tips on minimising single use plastics, as well as workshops (such as beeswax wrap workshops and action-driven empowerment). We would love to hear from YOU so we can also learn from each other! We will present to at least 20 different venues before, during and after the trip. 3. West Coast: Conducting citizen science on marine debris (for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Vancouver Island University), as well as hopefully participating in pre-organised clean-ups with some of the awesome organisations who are doing incredible work (Clayoquot CleanUp, Surfrider Pacific Rim, Surfrider Vancouver Island, The Ocean Legacy Foundation, BC Marine Trails Network and Living Oceans Society) The issue of marine debris is being spoken about in the media all over the world, more than ever before, and entire countries are taking action. We feel it is important to keep the momentum going, and motivate others to be the change they want to see in the world. Our project is all primarily volunteer work, but if you feel as though you’d like to support us financially, please check out this link ---> https://chuffed.org/project/seize-change Your $$ will go towards resources for clean-ups, equipment for workshops and presentations and our time and effort to get the word out as far and wide as possible. We have budgeted for the trip to go ahead regardless, but any penny will be greatly appreciated! Most importantly, if you have the chance, please share this video far and wide and follow our page and Instagram, so we can encourage as many people as possible to Seize Change this Summer! www.seize-change.org [email protected]

Globally it is a problem, but everything starts locally do your part, make the world a better place We can’t keep blaming other countries for marine debris. Too often we hear people pointing the finger instead of stepping up and taking ownership of the issue. We are all responsible and our oceans are interconnected. The mountains of trash washing up on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island come from all over the world. Instead of blaming others for the pollutio...n, the residents, councils and school kids are taking action in their community. Check out this awesome project where they discuss the importance of data collection! #AMDI Tangaroa Blue Shire of Cocos Keeling Islands Christmas Island District High School Christmas Island Tourism Cocos Islands Cocos Islands Adventure Tours

Do you reckon you could beat Dan ? This is a campaign run by ReefClean to encourage fishers to know their knots so we can minimise recreational fishing litter on the Great Barrier Reef (and everywhere in the world!) The challenge is to tie an improved clinch knot as fast as you can and post a video on social media with the tag #KnowYourKnots . Dan pulls a couple of funny faces but eventually gets there. The music was added to mask the swearing... It might be easy to say "th...e best way to reduce fishing litter is to stop fishing," and we definitely feel we're you're coming from. However, when it comes to marine debris, we feel it's important to work WITH various industries, rather than against them. We can't expect fishers to suddenly stop fishing, but we can encourage good behaviour and a sense of stewardship. On a side not, people in Sydney DEFINITELY need to learn their knots cos we've almost filled an entire tackle box with other peoples' fishing gear we find on the beach! Check out www.reefclean.org/LookAfterYourTackle for more info on the campaign.

Migaloo the white whale is on his way past Sydney right now! <3 Hopefully see you put there one day buddy.

Do you reckon you could beat Dan ? This is a campaign run by ReefClean to encourage fishers to know their knots so we can minimise recreational fishing litter on the Great Barrier Reef (and everywhere in the world!) The challenge is to tie an improved clinch knot as fast as you can and post a video on social media with the tag #KnowYourKnots . Dan pulls a couple of funny faces but eventually gets there. The music was added to mask the swearing... It might be easy to say "th...e best way to reduce fishing litter is to stop fishing," and we definitely feel we're you're coming from. However, when it comes to marine debris, we feel it's important to work WITH various industries, rather than against them. We can't expect fishers to suddenly stop fishing, but we can encourage good behaviour and a sense of stewardship. On a side not, people in Sydney DEFINITELY need to learn their knots cos we've almost filled an entire tackle box with other peoples' fishing gear we find on the beach! Check out www.reefclean.org/LookAfterYourTackle for more info on the campaign.

Today is World Oceans Day! A day to reflect on the joys that the oceans bring to us, the fact that they literally provide us with the ability to exist on this earth, and the absolute importance of protecting them, for both our sake and (most importantly) for the sake of the incredible critters that depend on their health. . . This video was taken on our #circumnavigation of #VancouverIsland last year, when we conducted a multiday beach clean-up alongside the Rugged Coast Rese...arch Society and @BC Marine Trails Network . . When you first walk onto this beautiful beach, south of the Brooks Peninsula, it looks pristine! However, once you walk towards the high tide mark and into the fringing forest it inundated with #plastic #marinedebris from all over the world. . . This is sadly the case on many remote beaches all over the world, and because our oceans are interconnected, the trash comes from EVERYWHERE and we cannot point the finger as we are all responsible. . . Turn that sadness into ACTION! Attend beach clean-ups, reduce personal plastic consumption, lobby industry and local government and have these conversations with your friends and family. The oceans need you! . . Coast Salish territory See more

Today is World Oceans Day! A day to reflect on the joys that the oceans bring to us, the fact that they literally provide us with the ability to exist on this earth, and the absolute importance of protecting them, for both our sake and (most importantly) for the sake of the incredible critters that depend on their health. . . This video was taken on our #circumnavigation of #VancouverIsland last year, when we conducted a multiday beach clean-up alongside the Rugged Coast Rese...arch Society and @BC Marine Trails Network . . When you first walk onto this beautiful beach, south of the Brooks Peninsula, it looks pristine! However, once you walk towards the high tide mark and into the fringing forest it inundated with #plastic #marinedebris from all over the world. . . This is sadly the case on many remote beaches all over the world, and because our oceans are interconnected, the trash comes from EVERYWHERE and we cannot point the finger as we are all responsible. . . Turn that sadness into ACTION! Attend beach clean-ups, reduce personal plastic consumption, lobby industry and local government and have these conversations with your friends and family. The oceans need you! . . Coast Salish territory See more

Happy #worldturtleday ! The #greatbarrierreef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine #turtles ... One of the reasons we delved into #marinedebris awareness and a #plasticfree lifestyle is because we both volunteered at the @cairnsturtlerehab Centre (CTRC), a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to the #rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles At the centre, some turtles that came in were so sick from ingesting plastic, or injured from entanglement that they had to be put down. The lucky ones were cared for for months on end before their #release back into their home. In this photo you can see a beautiful #greenseaturtle having a rest in the coral beneath Mathilde Remember if you're in Australia and if you find a sick or injured turtle call 1300ANIMAL #protectwhatyoulove #volunteer #protectouroceans #turtles See more

Happy #worldturtleday ! The #greatbarrierreef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine #turtles ... One of the reasons we delved into #marinedebris awareness and a #plasticfree lifestyle is because we both volunteered at the @cairnsturtlerehab Centre (CTRC), a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to the #rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles At the centre, some turtles that came in were so sick from ingesting plastic, or injured from entanglement that they had to be put down. The lucky ones were cared for for months on end before their #release back into their home. In this photo you can see a beautiful #greenseaturtle having a rest in the coral beneath Mathilde Remember if you're in Australia and if you find a sick or injured turtle call 1300ANIMAL #protectwhatyoulove #volunteer #protectouroceans #turtles See more

Every few days this friendly Australian Fur Seal comes to visit our bay! We'll be working inside the boat and suddenly a little woosh of air, or the call of the seagulls, prompts us to stick our heads out. This morning Dan was halfway to shore when we got a visit! "Paddle Dan!" These sea puppies are HUGE! ... Wallumettagal territory #australianfurseal #furseal #marinemammals #closeencounter #seapuppies #fishing #sailinglife #australianwildlife #sealspotting #pinnipeds #pinnipedsofinstagram #plasticfree #protectwhatyoulove #exploresydney #halvorsenboats #orrca See more

Every few days this friendly Australian Fur Seal comes to visit our bay! We'll be working inside the boat and suddenly a little woosh of air, or the call of the seagulls, prompts us to stick our heads out. This morning Dan was halfway to shore when we got a visit! "Paddle Dan!" These sea puppies are HUGE! ... Wallumettagal territory #australianfurseal #furseal #marinemammals #closeencounter #seapuppies #fishing #sailinglife #australianwildlife #sealspotting #pinnipeds #pinnipedsofinstagram #plasticfree #protectwhatyoulove #exploresydney #halvorsenboats #orrca See more

Soakin' in some rays whilst scrubbing the decks, before whatever-that-is behind us arrives! This morning I (Mathilde) let out an exasperated sigh and said "I just feel like every weekend we're back to cleaning the #boat "... Dan reminded me that this is what other people do in their houses as well! I guess that's true... Fine... Back to work! ... #scrubthedecks #housecleaning #sailboats #sunbaking #sydneysailing #labouroflove @ Sydney, Australia See more

Wooden boats. A #lovehate relationship. It's a seemingly endless struggle of sanding, cleaning, oiling or varnishing... But it's so #rewarding and looks so beautiful when it's done! Definitely not complaining when we're able to work and have fun in the sunshine ... Thanks to our friend and boat owner @viv.fox for trusting us and allowing us to learn so many #skills on your almost 50 year old vessel! #halvorsenboats #halvorsen #woodwork #boatwork #learning #neverbored #sailing #seizechange #sydneysailing #womenwhosailaustralia #adventurewithpurpose @ Sydney, Australia See more

We'd like to say this was a picture perfect Saturday #brunch , but the reality is just before this moment, a deep-draft power boat left us with a nice unexpected wake that sent the almost-boiling pot of water flying into Mathilde's hand, and numerous other objects catapulting around the cabin Thankfully this delicious brekky was saved from a sad splattering onto the floor ... Boat life. One second it's bliss, the next it's chaos We've treated the burn and all is well again. #boatlife #plasticfree #brekky #firstaid #itstings #calmtochaos #sailing #seizechange @ Sydney, Australia See more

One of the most amazing aspects of living on a #boat is how often you get to look at the sky! . . . Sometimes it's easy when you're living in a house to forget to look outside all day, especially during these times when we're trapped indoors. .... . Here on the Charisma, so often we pop our head out of the hatch or go to get something from the cockpit and we are "accidentally" faced with an awesome #view like this but #sunset tonight. And we'll never get tired of sleeping under the stars in the V-birth . . So remember to look up folks! What beauty is just outside your window right now? . . #glorifiedcamping #lookup #outdoors #optoutside #stormy See more

*language warning* Today is the birthday of a wonderful and adventurous man whom I've had the privilege of spending my life with over these past few years (today also marks around-about our three year anniversary!) Thank you for your constant energy and enthusiasm. You always give so much more than you take and we are so lucky to have you on this earth! ... Thanks for always saying "why not?" We've been lucky enough to explore so many places and pushed ourselves to the limits, and one of those times was kind of caught on camera! This video was taken after our rounding of Cape Scott on our circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Many of our friends have probably heard this tale in person! We were through the thick of it when this was taken, but only moments before, our borrowed 27ft Catalina spent 45 minutes riding the face of waves that were a little too large for comfort (we estimate around 15ft, at least our terrified brains did.. ). First of all, as we reached the point of no return, you abandoned any ego you might have had the instant I shouted "GIVE ME THE TILLER, I NEED TO STEER!" and gallantly let me take control of our life support. Our engine fluctuated between deep gargling tones and high pitch wirrs as it was constantly drowned and then lurched into the air through the troughs and crests, propelling us forward as fast as a 9.9 Yamaha possibly could. What we thought was "ship shape" was thrown into turmoil. The oven opened up and vomited out our cookware, charts and numerous other posessions were thrown across the floor, you bailed out water from the engine bay and frantically tamed the pieces of our BBQ that had decided to self implode. I made birthing sounds and the wind and rain whipped at our faces. I watched in horror as the sheets of the foresail came out of their bag "why the f*$k didn't we stow that sail away!?" and trailed alongside the boat, threatening to foul the engine. Without any hesitation you clipped on to the jacklines, scrambled and slid to the bow of the boat and reigned them in. I watched as you repeatedly were LAUNCHED OFF the deck into the air when we reached the peak of a wave, held on by a tether and harness which you al

What's for #breakfast ? Unfortunately, if you were a little sea bird or fish , these #plastic nurdles would be on the menu! . Nurdles are the raw plastic bits (made from water and oil) that get melted down and turned into whatever we like... . As you can imagine, GAZILLIONS of these get manufactured and transported around the world to create the plastic items that our society depends on ... . Unfortunately, nurdle spillage into the #environment is still quite common, through accidental spillage or downright purposeful #pollution . Mathilde gets the lucky job of sifting through drain samples collected in Victoria. The microplastic will then be recorded in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database and used to report against impact of Operation Clean Sweep. . Check out the work @tangaroablue is doing with the project Operation Clean Sweep (link in bio) to prevent these suckers from entering our #oceans ! . . . #stopitatthesource #marinedebris #adventurewithpurpose #seizechange #science #stoppollution @ Sydney, Australia See more

A very cool position has opened, working alongside the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as a marine debris monitoring coordinator. Sharing for those interested and looking for work in that part of the world! "The successful applicant will support MDP staff in managing the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP), a citizen science initiative that engages NOAA partners and volunteers to survey and record the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines."

Happy Earth Day friends ! . . Remember to be kind to one another and the planet that sustains us .... . This is a perfect time to reflect on what we can do as individuals to tread a little lighter on this earth, because we are currently witnessing what happens when we push her a little too far! . . Amongst all this craziness maybe we can rediscover what it's like to slow down, smell the roses , grow some veggies, repurpuse what we have and spend quality time with each other. . . Boonwurrung country . . . #earthday2020 #bekind #kindnesspandemic #earth #slowdown #reflection