TEDxSantaCruz: Kyle Thiermann - Surfing For Change

Kyle Theirmann, 21, is a pro surfer with a passion to systemically effect change. Combining surfing great waves around the world with making a series of short films about current issues, Thiermann focuses on the power we have to create a better world through everyday actions that we take.

Through his Internet series, Surfing For Change, Kyle inspired viewers to move over 340 million dollars of lending power out of multi-national coal funding banks, and into local banks around the country. Kyle connects young people with the simple daily decisions they make that benefit their local economies and the world and leverages his exposure as a Pro Surfer to empower typically disengaged people to become part of the solution. Kyle was voted Best Inspiration in the Good Times News Awards and is the winner of the Peter Benchley Blue Vision Youth Award.

This TEDxSantaCruz talk is part of over 2 dozen surrounding our theme of "Engage!" This inaugural TEDxSantaCruz event was held June 11, 2011 at the Cabrillo College Music Recital Hall in Aptos, CA (Santa Cruz County). http://www.tedxsantacruz.org/

TEDx. x=independently organized TED event.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

• Category

  Education

[Michael Jackson]

I have 3 older sisters, an older brother, and a nephew. All 6 of us have at least 1 account with Bank of America and all 6 of us have a total of 10 accounts with Bank of America. Within a few days there will be ZERO BofA accounts in our family :)

I'm ashamed to say this but I used to have a stereotypical view of surfers before I watched Thiermann's TED talk. He didn't tell me a lot of things that I didn't already know but he really did an excellent job of putting everything in perspective. Thx.

[GOGREENEHARLEM]

What happened to the coal plant in Constitucion, Chile?



[Ian Robinson]

This is heroic stuff! I use Bank of America now. I'll be shifting that as soon as I get back into the USA.

[fjccommish]

Yeah, they exploit people by loaning money to create jobs and the very energy this poor speaker uses to power his laptop and his web site. He could deliver the message of direct loans from people if he learned to speak better, wore appropriate attire, and stopped with the anti-corporation baloney.

[SomethingSoOriginal]

Annoying voice.

[miellemovie]

Hello Youtube community! TRUE COLORS MURAL PROJECT is painting an awesome mural berkeley that will be highlighting Kyle Thiermann (as well as other figures dedicated to change) and expresses awareness about environmentalism and art! please check out our page on kickstarter com

we are currently fundraising $6000 with about $200 left to raise by April 4th. We are reaching out to our communities who are dedicated to change.... please give today!

[eXpOsInGtheDaRk]

You apparently missed the entire point. There are corporations that thrive on EXPLOITING people. Big banks, big oil, big pharma, big agriculture, etc, etc. Are you recommending that no one should travel around the world to expose the exploitation? Nah, lets just let those big corps just run rampant wherever they want. Good idea.

[Flavio Kowalsky]

The Steve Jobs of surfing.

[seahorst1]

public speaking is hard, but public speaking in half a springsuit is awsome!

[Chris Bryson]

You mean corporations like the one that made it possible for you to FLY down to Chile (because you didn't surf to there on a surfboard made by a corporation), and the corporations that made the equipment you are using to speak to a large crowd that otherwise your surfer-dude voice couldn't project to, and the corporations that want to give jobs to people in 3rd world countries? Those corporations? Yeah, screw them! Who needs innovation?

[tnoulas]

i would be very keen to see how this man has calculated his #Winning millions? considering the wealth of his family, it could take a single bank account transfer from his granddad's savings!

[texme]

Al Gore is a "trogan horse" tax merchant, if Al had said end patents and copyrights we would have a complete change in $ociety effecting humanity... but yes great job Kyle, peace.