When you think of Jack Johnson and his music, you immediately get a good feeling of sun, sea and surfing. You’ll find his songs in every surf bar and on surf playlists – they simply make you relax and feel good.
Jack Johnson’s surfing career:
The singer-songwriter and film director knows exactly how to convey the feeling of the sea,waves and surfing, because he surfs himself. Growing up in Hawaii, he became familiar with the wonders of the ocean and the energy of the waves as a little boy. He stood on a surfboard for the first time at the age of 5 and could hardly be dragged off it. Surfing was Jack Johnson’s absolute priority as a teenager, and he signed a pro contract with the well-known surf brand Quiksilver even before finishing school.
At 17, Jack Johnson was the youngest competitor at the world-famous Pipe Trials surf event.
Shortly afterwards, Johnson was badly injured, which ended his pro career, and he could no longer take part in competitions. While recovering, he devoted himself to his guitar. He didn’t want to make surfing his career and set out on his path as a musical artist instead.
Jack Johnson as a film director:
Jack Johnson is also a talented (surf) film director and was involved in the well-known Woodshed films. Unlike usual, the films weren’t about big wave surfing; instead, with impressive footage and jazzy music, they showed everyday surfing and the life around it.
To save money, Jack Johnson produced his own songs for his films. Word of mouth quickly won over the surf scene with his music. In 2001, his first album “Brushfire Fairytales” was released. With the help of his success, he founded his own record label and set up his studio in Hawaii.
In 2010, his sixth studio album “To The Sea” was released.
Jack Johnson as an environmental activist:
It’s less well known in Germany that Jack Johnson is also an environmental activist. His fight is especially against plastic. In the video for his song “You Can’t Control It”, he shows how much rubbish washes up on a beach in Oahu. The shocking thing is that this amount of rubbish washes up within one hour in a radius of 90 metres. Now scale that up to the world’s coastlines. It’s enough to make you feel sick.
But Jack Johnson doesn’t just talk about protecting the environment. His label “Brushfire Records” and his tour crew are pioneers in organising green events. Jack Johnson and his wife have set up several foundations, including the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to promote environmental education and the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, which promote environmental awareness through art and music worldwide. Since 2001, he has raised more than 30 million USD through his activities and private donations. In 2015, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
All At Once
Since 2008, All At Once has been a social action network where you can do something positive for the world and the planet. You can connect with non-profit groups and join sustainable local food systems and plastic-free initiatives.
your actions*your voice*your choice
Support sustainable local food systems
Action: Support school gardens or community gardens, help plant greenery in your area.
Choice: Choose to buy seasonally and pick local and organic products.
Voice: Speak up together with other people about your vision of a local food system.
Support plastic-free initiatives
Action: Get informed and keep learning! Try to reduce plastic in your everyday life, at schools, at events or in business.
Choice: Choose a life with no or hardly any plastic. There are lots of plastic-free alternatives for your everyday life, kitchen and bathroom. You can also live much more eco-consciously on your surf holiday than it might seem at first glance.
Voice: Tell the people around you about smart plastic-free alternatives to disposable products (cotton buds, kitchen roll, etc.).
Jack Johnson’s 10 rules for less plastic:
But we can also do our part to protect the environment, for example by avoiding plastic. Avoiding plastic in everyday life isn’t that easy. That’s why Jack Johnson has drawn up 10 rules to help you avoid plastic in everyday life:
- No plastic bags – take cloth bags instead
- Only buy returnable or glass bottles – and actually return them
- You don’t need cling-film bags – just use glass or plastic containers
- Use reusable containers to carry food – e.g. for your packed lunch
- Buy less food packaged in plastic – e.g. loose peppers instead of pre-packed ones
- Bring your own containers and cups for takeaway or coffee to go
- Say no! to straws – drinks taste just as good without them
- Plastic-free parties – only serve things in reusable containers that don’t need plastic cutlery
- Use bars of soap instead of liquid soap in plastic containers
- Get active yourself – support organisations such as the Surfrider Foundation or 5gyres
You’ll find more tips on how to go without plastic in everyday life in our blog “Surfing and living without plastic waste“.
Remember: your motivation is what convinces others. When your friends see how easily, and with how few sacrifices, you can give something back to the environment, the first step is done. Many people just need a little nudge to change their everyday routines.
To find out how to get more informed, take part in volunteer events and make Jack Johnson and us proud, check out All At Once.