Dave Rastovich arrives at Bondi Beach : photo Hilton Dawe

SURFERS STAND-UP TO WHALING

AS TRANSPARENTSEA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS INITIATIVE FINISHES AT BONDI

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 November, 2009 : - - Bondi Beach, NSW, Australia - The anti-whaling and environmental awareness campaign initiated by professional free-surfer and activist Dave Rastovich (Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUS) reached its exciting conclusion at Bondi Beach, Sydney today following an epic and testing 36 day voyage by sea which began at Byron Bay on October 1st.
 
Dubbed “Transparentsea” the campaign takes aim at the Australian Government’s lack of action on Japanese whaling activity in the Southern Ocean, as well as highlighting areas of environmental concern along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
 
Rastovich and his fellow campaigners, including surfer/artist Chris Del Moro (San Diego, CA, USA), musician Will Conner (Byron Bay, NSW, AUS), activist Howie Cooke (Byron Bay, NSW, AUS) and photographer Hilton Dawe (Byron Bay, NSW, AUS) were welcomed to shore by hundreds of well-wishers and supporters, having accrued nearly 800km at sea in their trimaran kayaks, as they traced the path of migrating humpback whales south.
 
Rastovich, who in 2005 co-founded the group “Surfers for Cetaceans” and was this year one of just 300 invitees to Al Gore’s “The Climate Project” Asia Pacific Summit in Melbourne, recounted the incredible personal interaction he and his team had experienced alongside whales during their journey and encouraged the Australian public and all-like minded people to pressure Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett to uphold their pre-election promises.
 
“Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett told the Australian people they would enforce and uphold international laws that would prevent the Japanese from targeting whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. To date they have not acted on these promises,” said Rastovich.

Supporters for the arrival of Rasta : photo Hilton Dawe

 
“We’re here as representatives of the global surfing community and all people who are passionate about saving these amazing mammals, and we’re asking Rudd and Garrett to act now and do what they said they were going to do.”
 
“Everyone we’ve encountered during our trip, in every coastal town and at every beach, has been shocked to learn the Government is not acting on this issue,” said Rastovich.
 
During their frequent stops down the coast, the Transparentsea team in conjunction with Surfrider Foundation and Tangaroa Blue also initiated beach-cleanups with all the rubbish collected, tabulated and added to the National Marine Debris database.
 
“This journey has given us first-hand experience, undeniable proof, that our beaches may look good from far, but they are far from good. We visited beaches that did not have a single human footprint yet they’re covered with plastic and other forms of garbage that damage ecosystems and enter the food chain where it stays forever,” Rastovich added.
 
Rastovich asked that anyone who cared about the whaling issue to send a message to their local council or addressed direct to Peter Garrett and Kevin Rudd, to prompt the government into action.
 
A petition has been established at transparentseavoyage.com
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/australia-keep-your-word-stop-japanese-whaling-in-the-southern-ocean-whale-sanctuary#at

The Marine Debris Initiative is ongoing, and anyone can volunteer as a participant.

Trannsparentsea crew : photo Hilton Dawe

About Transparentsea:
The primary intention of the Transparentsea journey is to draw attention to the plight of the migrating whales that ultimately are destined for the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by Japanese whaling fleets.
In addition, the Transparentsea team will record and highlight other areas of environmental concern including the effects of the commercial fishing industry on marine mammals and fish stocks; run-off issues to do with agricultural, domestic and industrial human activities; the state of rivers and estuaries; and where necessary they will also initiate beach clean-ups.
 
The Transparentsea voyage has been made possible thanks the support of Billabong, Surfers for Cetaceans, Surfrider Foundation, Go Pro Water Proof Cameras and Fast Lane Sailing (CA, USA).

Friends of:
www.SurfersForCetaceans.com 
www.seashepherd.org
www.surfrider.org.au 
www.oceancare.org.au 
www.RemoveSharkNets.com 
www.SaveJapanDolphins.org 
www.TheCoveMovie.com 
 
Dave Rastovich:
Dave Rastovich is a former World Junior surfing champion and world-renowned free-surfer. In 2005 “Rasta” co-founded the “Surfers for Cetaceans” movement. In July 2009 Rasta was granted one of just 300 invitations to attend former US Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Project - Asia-Pacific Summit. www.billabong.com/au/team-rider/surf/17/rasta
 
Chris Del Moro:
Chris has had “an excited butterfly-type feeling” about this test of endurance and surf trip of a lifetime! The Californian artist and free-surfer is co-director of the Surfers for Cetaceans organisation and traveled with Rasta to Chile (2008) and Portugal (2009) to attend the IWC (International Whaling Convention). www.collecticlife.com

Will Conner:
Will has just finished his 3rd album “You Make Me Sing” due to release early 2010 featuring guests JJ Grey from MOFRO and G. Love. Having accepting Rasta’s invitation, Will stated: “I am offering help in the form of musical entertainment, and I am now the proud owner of a yellow Ukulele and plan on annoying everyone including the whales for 36 days straight!” www.willconner.com  

Hilton Dawe:
Hilton is regarded among the world’s best water photographers. His forte’ is professional surfing and his numerous trips around the globe have taken him to all the major professional events and to the farthest, most exotic locale’s. When the big sets of Hawaii’s Pipeline catch him out, he takes a breath, swims to the bottom, and holds on to the reef to escape the ocean’s wrath.

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