Kia Ora
I have written a short article for local media and that has been sent along with a photo of Corn, Anah and their dog, all.. including Hermes, with dot painted faces.
When I first meet Bunna two years ago he told me of an Aboriginal prophesy that I would like to share with you. It is that when the white whale appears, this is the time that the whale and dolphin people will save the earth from the evil ones who wish to destroy it.
Well as many of you will know Bunna's Jiderah, the white whale, is here. He has been named Migaloo and travels each year along the eastern Australian coastline as the humpbacks make their annual migration journey from Antarctica to Harvey Bay in Queensland.
This is their birthing ground where they spend two to three months before making the journey back to
Antarctic waters.
When Migaloo is seen it always makes the newspapers and TV news and causes a lot of excitement, this year a white baby was also spotted.
Also, this year, Sea Shepherd's Antarctic campaign has been named Operation Migaloo, in his honor. We will have Migaloo tees for sale and if anyone is interested these can be ordered from the website www.seashepherd.org
4thewhales :)
Ashiya Austin
14 October 2007
Flight of the Humpback stage2+Dolphin protest in Japan
Hi Folks
Following are 2 Media release just in from Japan from local Byron Bay Surfers Dave Rastovich, Hanna 'Mermaid' Rastovich and Howie Cooke. Strong action in the heart of the beast to speak out against Japans killing of over 25,000 dolphins every year. To take action see http://www.savejapandolphins.org/takeAction.html and To see more photos and video see. http://media.seashepherd2.org/video.html#taiji_2007
You may know I've recently returned from 10 days filming and live internet streaming with the whales and dolphins in Hervey Bay for stage 1 of the Flight of the Humpback project and if Japanese whaling interests hacking of my site is any indication it was a great success.
I did about 28 live internet broadcasts and uploaded 4 edited clips from the catamaran. I plan to leave Brisbane around Nov 7th for Stage 2, sailing, networking and internet streaming on the 55 foot Pelican catamaran to Sydney arriving 9 days before the federal election. I plan to be doing HEAPS of media along the way promoting whale conservation and the various parties position on whaling. Currently Labor's position is far better for the 50 threatened Humpback whales than Howards. Labor said if elected they will take Japan to the international court of the seas and track Japans activities in Australian Antarctic waters with a navy ship.
If anyone wants to participate in this important campaign I need to raise $2500 for that trip by the 5th of Nov. People can join and donate to Save the Whales inc, at my website http://www.flightofthehumpback.org Talk to me about Tax deductible donations.
Im currently negotiating with Sea Shepherd and hope to join them on their upcoming trip to the Antarctic for stage 3. Tune into these trips and participate in the interactive live streaming shows.
Here are some email addresses of Japanese fisheries and Politicians. Tell them what you think about Japan killing 25000 dolphins and over 1000 whales every year.
jicc@embjapan.org, whaling-section@nm.maff.go.jp, webmaster@mofa.go.jp, webmail@meti.go.jp, MOE@env.go.jp, webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp, e0715001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp, nousei@pref.shizuoka.jp, gikai@city.ito.shizuoka.jp, ito@soitoshigyokyo.jf-net.ne.jp, koe@pref.shizuoka.jp
Local Byron Bay Pro Surfer Dave Rastovich and Howie Cooke involved in Dolphin Killing bay Ceremony /protest in Japan To see more photos and video see. http://media.seashepherd2.org/video.html#taiji_2007
Surfers Return To Taiji And Expose Pilot Whale Slaughter
~Sea Shepherd Media~ 29-10-07
Less than 24 hours after professional surfer and Sea Shepherd supporter Dave Rastovich led an international group of surfers, celebrities, and musicians on a peaceful paddle-out ceremony to honor the spirits of the over 25,000 dolphins killed each year in Japan, the fishermen in the tiny village of Taiji resumed the slaughter that had been delayed by the increased worldwide media attention drawn by the group's arrival in late October.
In response, this group, decided in solidarity to make a pre-dawn return to the killing cove to recreate the ceremony, albeit smaller, within a stone's throw of the captive pilot whales, paddling through waters stained red with blood.
"The reason we surfers were there was to share the water, stained red with blood, at eye-level, with our ocean kin awaiting their execution," said a dripping, visibly shaken Rastovich just after paddling in. "Despite the fishermen taking great pains to hide their acts of cruelty, we seized this as an opportunity to bring this travesty to the world's attention."
Area fishermen, who kill dolphins and whales for their meat, netted off the bay and constructed green tarps to shield the slaughter from prying eyes and front-line cetacean activists bent on shutting down the dolphin trade forever. When the surfers learned of over 30 pilot whales, including calves, being herded into the narrow rocky cove at Taiji, they did not hesitate to return despite the distinct possibility of violent resistance and police arrest.
Rastovich and his core team of surfers trailed by camera crews arrived at the infamous Taiji cove to paddle out to the captured pilot whales. After crossing the netted enclosure they quickly arrived alongside the whales who swam back and forth along the edge of the seaward net.
The six paddlers, including Rastovich, his wife Hannah, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere, Australian actress Isabel Lucas, author Peter Heller and professional surfer Karina Petroni, formed a traditional surfers' memorial circle sited between the whales and the blood-ridden shallows. Local fishermen converged almost immediately, harassing the paddlers with yelled threats and brandishing whirling propeller blades. At times, the irate fishermen, who yelled "Why are you here !", "Go Home!" while using a long wooden pole to intimidate the surfers.
"Even though the fishermen used force to try and break us up we held our peaceful circle," said model Hannah Rastovich.
With tensions escalating and the police sirens growing, the surfers quickly paddled back to shore where Hayden Panettiere fell to her knees overwhelmed by the carnage she and the group had just witnessed.
"I couldn't believe how red the water was," said Panettiere. "The whales were so scared. Hopefully their deaths won't be in vain."
After a long journey enroute to Osaka, 30 policemen readied with a paddy wagon stopped the three-van convoy at the border of the Wakayama prefecture. After checking passports and questioning the group intently, police waved the crew on their way.
Reflecting on the day's experience, a somber Isabel Lucas said, "The worst part is that whales are probably all dead by now. We couldn't save these whales but hopefully shining the light on their deaths will save others."