We Go to Washington, Bring Skateboards, Make History
by | Posted in ASEC Intiatives, ASEC Press, capital hill 2 Comments »ASEC Testifies Before Senate, Meets With Congressional Members on Global Warming
Washington, DC – June 5, 2007 – World class skateboarder Bob Burnquist became a part of American history as the first person to bring a skateboard into the U.S. Capitol building in its 214 year history. Burnquist, joined by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), was on his way to the Senate dining room for lunch with fellow members of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC). The ASEC crowd – consisting of ASEC Founder Frank Scura; former pro snowboarder Circe Wallace; X-Games winner Jen O’Brien; and Scott A. Murray, director of the ASEC / Toyota Bob Burnquist Global Cooling Challenge – was in Washington to support Tom Campion, ASEC member and founder of top retail chain Zumiez, who testified before the full Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. Campion was invited to discuss the impact of climate change on the winter sports industry and the importance of youth education to solving the problem.
“The Action Sports Environmental Coalition is proud to have had the opportunity to brief the Senate on our understanding of how climate change is affecting the outdoor industry,” Campion said. “As athletes, we’re outdoors everyday – in the air, the water, on the snow and under the sun. So we’re intimately aware of the changing conditions of this planet.”
With a focus on testimony from leaders in the outdoor recreation industry, the May 24 committee hearing was attended by several Senate Members, including Chairman Boxer, Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bernard Sanders (I-VT). Following the hearing, ASEC Members were invited to lunch as honored guests of Senator Boxer in the Senate Dining Room for further discussion of the issues. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) stopped by the lunch to express her support.
ASEC Executive Director Frank Scura said: “I believe this introduction to Capitol Hill was the beginning of long-overdue conversation that our industry should be having with the lawmakers of our nation. I am inspired by Tom’s testimony, and – even more importantly – I am filled with hope.”
Regarding his historical feat, Burnquist remarked: “Going to Washington, DC as a skateboarder and citizen was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had. I was proud to be able to bring awareness to what ASEC is doing and to be behind one of our own, Tom Campion. I was energized by the experience and I hope its not the last time that I get to support the cause by making a trip out to Capitol Hill – with or without my skateboard.”
January 30th, 2009 at 8:56 am
As a seller of many of these products in the surf and skate industry, we strongly support the green/organic products. However, there is a huge discrepancy in fair trade and a trade deficit with China, of which the majority of these products are made. When we purchase these goods we are supporting human rights abuse by the Chinese Government. The surf and skate industry should not be involved in this, and we should get production out of China, and more importantly, into America. N.O. Surf Shop is no longer purchasing goods made in China. This has narrowed down our choice of goods by nearly 80%. We may be the first surf and skate shop to do so, but we hope that others will follow in what we see as “common good” for humanity. And by so doing, we should focus on production in our own country or at least countries that are our allies.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I totally feel you on this and have the utmost respect for what you are doing, ASEC is working to do as much shift to domestic and positive labor centers as we can inspire. Please keep the info coming and even post style numbers and products that you discover to give people direction.