Protect, preserve and heal environmental areas that we use for enjoyment, recreation and play

At Protecting Pleasure Grounds you will find an extensive overview of the worlds not-for-profit organizations that are focused on protecting and preserving the environments we use for enjoyment, recreation and play. Our site is interactive; users can add content, comment on and connect with organizations that make a difference in areas they find important.

I am fortunate to live in an amazing place, Southern California. I can do just about everything the outdoors has to offer. I get to surf, mountain bike, ride snow, motocross, kite surf, hike, climb and the list goes on.

Having been born and raised in Santa Monica and Venice Beach environmentalism was all around me. I observed the birth of The Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Bay, Earth Day and other organizations and efforts focused on improving, preserving, or at the least, slowing the destruction of our world as we know it. I was aware of these efforts but don't remember ever getting involved beyond talking about what was happening. I was young and focused on getting what I wanted and that was finding good waves.

Through work and pleasure, my travels have taken me to over 20 countries on 5 continents. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Indonesia, New Zealand, Tahiti, China, Taiwan, Korea, Italy and many other places I have seen environmental impacts much greater than we have here in the U.S. In Costa Rica I walked up a gorgeous tropical coastline littered with medical waste from a nearby hospital, perfect waves breaking across a river mouth so polluted we didn't dare paddle out for fear of catching malaria or whatever else might contaminate us. I've observed living conditions, water pollution and smells in China that have changed my way of viewing the world.

Now I am old(er) and still focused on getting what I want. That includes keeping our environments that are working and bringing back environments that have been destroyed. There are a lot of organizations and people that share our intention so we do not wish to create a new organization but aim to bring people and organizations together.

Let's continue to reach out and see what difference can be made not only here in the U.S. but with our neighbors and abroad. Your input has shaped what we have started and we need your support in making this tool stronger. Let us know what you think with any ideas for improvement.

Thank you for your support.
Tom Kabbash