|
MINDS IN THE WATER
Rasta's campaign to
save the ocean
Dave Rastovich has stepped up his involvement in an international campaign to help save the ocean environment. Called Minds In the Water, the environmental group is making strong use of the internet and other media to make the world more aware of the danger the world's oceans and marine life are facing. A documentary is being made about the growing involvement of surfers, including high-profile professionals like Kelly Slater and Ozzie Wright. They have also started a Visual Petition site on the internet and the petition will be presented to nations at the International Whaling Conference in Chile late May 2008. Those who join have a chance to join Rasta and other surfers on an all expenses paid trip to Chile to personally present the petition.
In late October Rasta organised a group of surfers and actors to protest against the dolphin kill in the small southern Japanese town of Taiji. It is a gruesome form of "fishing" where the dolphins are herded into a small cove, aptly called the killing cove, which is then netted so they can't escape. They are then slaughtered.
While Rasta's group couldn't save any of the dolphins or pilot whales targeted in the 2007 kill, they did generate a lot of media attention around the world.
"The fishermen had captured 25 Pilot Whales and begun the slaughter process before sunrise," said Rasta. "A group of six surfers from the previous ceremony arrived at the killing cove at 7am to perform another paddle out circle. We managed to disrupt the fishermen's killing business for 25 minutes before we forced to return to shore due to escalated aggression from the fishermen who were reversing their boats towards us, lifting their outboard propellers as they got closer.”
Of course, the Japanese whaling fleet is now in Antarctica where it plans to extend its killing to Humpback and Fin whales as well as Minke. Could be time to think twice before going skiing or snowboarding in Japan this year. It's also a good time to get behind the Minds Across the Water campaign.
For further information check out the following websites.
www.savejapandolphins.org
www.wdcs.org
www.seashepherd.org
www.surfersforcetaceans.com
www.mindsinthewater.com
|
 |
GUNNS PULP MILL THREAT TO TASMANIAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT
The election of the Rudd government has already resulted in a positive environmental move with the ratification of the Kyoto treaty on climate change. However one area where Labor's environmental credentials are being further scrutinised is through its approval of the Gunns pulp mill in the Tamar Valley in northwest Tasmania.
Malcolm Turnbull, the Howard government's Minister for the Environment had approved the pulp mill, but the issue was prominent during the election campaign and obviously a concern to people all over Australia. The majority of Tasmanians are against the pulp mill and made their feeling obvious when the Coaliton lost both its Tasmanian seats to Labor. There was also a swing to the Greens and they will mount a lot of pressure on new Environmental minister Peter Garrett.
The simple fact is the mill remains a threat to the local marine environment and is a major issue for Surfrider Australia.
The Surfrider website state the SFA position: "The scientific report commissioned by Minister Turnbull confirms what SFA has been saying since September 2006 regarding the inadequate and unrealistic hydrodynamic and sediment modelling undertaken by Gunns. By allowing Gunns to construct their $1.7 billion mill before the required scientific work is even complete, the government is playing a dangerous game with Tasmania's beaches, surf-breaks, and coastal environment.
The proposed Gunns Ltd pulp mill in the Tamar Valley will discharge over 23 GL ("Giga-litres" = billion litres) of process effluent per annum into Bass Strait, approximately 2.7 km off Five Mile Bluff.1 According to Gunns' own documents the discharged mill effluent will likely contain over 160 "chemicals of interest" including chloroacetic acids, resin acids, ammonia, metals, phenolics, benzene, hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, and highly toxic persistent organic pollutants such as dioxin.2"
Doesn't that sound like a pleasant chemical cocktail? No wonder the local fishing industry is one of the major opponents. Gunns don't have a track record as a responsible corporate player, and it's not surprising that few trust its findings.
For further details go to surfrider.org.au
|
