A 13 minute video of National Whale day at Byron is now available to what also on http://www.planetearthinternettv.com
Media release Sunday 15th June
100 people make a giant whale on National Whale day at Byron
Spokes person for Byron Whale action group and one of the organizers of National Whale day at Byron Dean Jefferys said " A meeting held on National Whale day at Byron decided to send a delegation to meet with MP Justine Elliot to demand she express our extreme disappointed with Labors current position on whale protection. Labor said they would take Japan to the international court of the Seas but after a recent trip to Japan The Foreign Minister Mr Smith betrayed that promise and said they would now put that plan on hold. This year Japan wants to kill 50 of the humpbacks that pass Byron's and W.A. shores. There are many things we can do to stop this barbaric act.So noticing that we cant rely on governments to bring about change I have just developed a web-site called http://www.myspace.com/whalingdontbuyit Here people can see and upload photograph of products from Whaling Nations to boycott. People and consumer power can win this one. With the future of the world's whales again in the balance when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meets on the 23rd June, this Day of Action acts is not just to protest against Japanese whaling, but as a call to the Rudd Government's to get serious on whale protection and to take legal action to bring Japanese scientific whaling to an end once and for all. Bunna Lawrie an Aboriginal Whale man sang the whales in and showing that they could hear and feel him and the group a whale came into the bay and stayed for the whole day just off shore.
Dean Jefferys has organized two 10 day retreats in Tonga where people can swim with the humpback whales. " As well as inviting anyone to come and deepen their connection with the whales by being in the water with them the idea is to also invite key people in the world who are making decisions about the whales future to get them in the water with the whales so they can be touched by whale energy. When I go to the IWC next week I will ask Peter Garret as well as some Japanese delegates to come to Tonga to swim with the whales."
Jefferys will be doing daily reports of proceeding at the IWC through his internet TV station called http://www.planetearthinternettv.com A 13 minute video of National Whale day at Byron is now available to watch on http://www.planetearthinternettv.com
National Whale Day. Saturday 14th June 2008
On 14 June 2008, the whole nation is invited to celebrate National Whale Day, to recognise Australia's love of whales and the marine environment. In Byron people are invited to participate in National Whale Day on Saturday 14th starting at 11-am at Little Watagoes to greet the whales then move to Byron Bay Peace Pole at 12 pm till the sunset ceremony. There will be music, choirs, talks and sand modelling. At 4 pm we will make the shape of a giant whale on the beach to send a message to the world and the up coming International Whaling Commission that the worlds oceans should be a sanctuary where all whales and dolphins should be able to swim free. This will be followed by a sunset ceremony and Prayer for the whales.
After that at 5-30 pm Dean Jefferys will be presenting 2 of his new whale films in the Byron Surf club. One film is of a recent protest at the Japanese Consulate in Brisbane and the Boycott Japanese products campaign, The other was filmed in 2007 called "Hervey Bay whale adventure" featuring Bunna Larwie and crew singing, chanting and playing with the whales close up.. There will also be food, drinks and more live music . $8 or donation. Dean Jefferys will be leaving for Chile next week to do stories at the up coming International Whaling Commission meeting for Bay FM and the Echo.
Jefferys said "This year Japan wants to kill 50 of the humpbacks that pass Byron's and W.A. shores. There are many things we can do to stop this barbaric act. The humpbacks are calling, its time to give a bit of energy back. I am very disappointed with Labors current position on whale protection. They said they would take Japan to the international court of the Seas but after a recent trip to Japan The Foreign Minister Mr Smith said they would put that plan on hold. So noticing that we cant rely on governments to bring about change I have just developed a web-site called http://www.myspace.com/whalingdontbuyit Here people can see and upload photograph of products from Whaling Nations to boycott. People and consumer power can win this one. With the future of the world's whales again in the balance when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meets on the 23rd June, this Day of Action acts is not just to protest against Japanese whaling, but as a call to the Rudd Government's to get serious on whale protection and to take legal action to bring Japanese scientific whaling to an end once and for all. "
NWD occurs simultaneously with the Humpback Whale Migration Icon Project which helps and encourages coastal councils and their communities along the eastern seaboard of Australia to celebrate the annual humpback whale migration by 'adopting' a known named whale as their local whale. This project will support the creation and unfurling of a large banner announcing the local adopted whale and greeting the whole migration. 2 years ago Byron Bay adopted "Yumbalehla" a large female humpback as their iconic whale.
Australians love whales. More than 1.5 million people go whale watching in our country each year injecting close to $300 million into the economy. Yet the mainstay of our whale watching industry, the humpback whale, may face Japanese whalers' harpoons at the end of this year as Japan is poised to expand its so-called 'scientific' whaling program in the Antarctic under the Jarpa 2 program
The Humpback Whale Migration Icon Project co-ordinator Howie Cooke said "The NWD is a platform for the whale watching industry and coastal communities to send a strong message to the Australian Government that Japan's 'scientific' whaling program is unacceptable and to urge the Australian Government to take legal action against Japan to put an end to whaling. Diplomacy has failed and more talk will not convince Japan to stop killing whales. At the end of 2008, and for the first time in 30 years, Japan wants to add 50 humpback whales to their menu. Time is running out to save the whales that swim past our shores. Despite a common belief, whales have not been saved. Despite a global moratorium on whaling, during the past 19 years more than 25,000 whales have been killed. "
There are now 58 community or council members of IFAW's Humpback Icon Project. Howie Cooke is currently in Chile with 3 other Byron locals participating in a surfing pilgrimage down the coast gathering energy and support when the 60th meeting of International Whale Commission takes place in Chile to discuss the fate of the world's whales.
This National Day of Action gatherings are occurring in over 20 locations across Australia and include New Zealand and Tonga.
NDA is an annual event supported by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) www.ifaw.org Surfers for Cetaceans http://www.surfersforcetaceans.com/sfc.html The Oceania Project http://www.oceania.org.au/ and WADWA (Whale and Dolphin Watch Australia), and whale watch operators around Australia as well as a large number of interested and concerned members of the community. Also see the following websites to help the whales.
http://www.myspace.com/whalingdontbuyit
http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com
http://www.flightofthehumpback.org/
under construction http://www.planetearthinternettv.com/
