Our Backyard Summer 2014 Summer 2014

2S0u14mmer

Issue 2 A MESSAGE FROM PETE BETHUNE Summer 2014 Page 3 About Earthrace BACKYARD BITESWe raise funds for marine conser- A round-up of news from Earthracevation projects that help protect and the world of marinemarine habitats and wildlife. We conservation.use direct action and education Pages 4-7to make change happen. Everyoneat Earthrace is a volunteer and all WHALE TALESmoney raised goes directly towards Japan loses whaling case in theour work around the world. International Court of Justice, and Earthrace creates Blue Murder inContact Earthrace London for World-wide Anti-whaling [email protected] Pages 8-9Mailing address: CAPTIVITY KILLSLower Holditch Farm, How the world is waking up toNr Axminster, Devon, stop the cetacean captivity business.EX13 7AX, United Kingdom And how we joined the rest of worldwww.earthraceconservation.org to help #EmptytheTanks.www.facebook.com/Earthrace Pages 10-12www.twitter.com/Earthrace MUSIC TO OUR EARS Earthrace Argentina is drumming up support with supergroup, Jaura, and Joss Stone finds her sealegs in New Zealand with Pete. Page 13 Cover photo: WHALE FEST 2014Cape fur seal by Andrew Ashton 10,000 visitors went to this whale and dolphin event –and we were there! Page 14 Please support Earthrace www.justgiving.com/earthraceconservation2

This time last year I was totally daunted. We were about to head off to Costa Rica with a million bucks on the line, and withthe heady goal of make an epic TV series about conservation.Never could we have guessed how things would turn out for ’The Operatives’! So many challenges—drama,s failures, heart-ache. Equally though, we kicked some ass, and what emerged is a really compelling TV series that we hope will set a bench-mark for issue-based television.The best thing for me is the variety of issues. We tackled shark finning, illegal fishing in Marine Protected Areas, Iilegal goldmining in National Parks, turtle poaching and seal clubbing.We finished editing a couple weeks ago. It airs in New Zealand shortly, and will roll out around the world over the next 12months. There were so many other highlights from this last year. Whalefest in UK was outstanding. It is emerging as an important event in the conservation calendar. It is one of the rare occasions where scientists, activists, NGOs, and tourism operators with an interest in cetaceans all gather together and hatch cunning plans. I was also vey lucky to get to The Hague for the historic court case and ver- dict over Japanese whaling in Antarctica. In many ways it was like a closure on the whaling issue for me . “Me and the crew from I continue to be humbled by the number of people of all ages and back- Earthrace UK (and the grounds that decide to do something amazing for the oceans through volun-legendary Ingrid Visser) at teering their time and expertise with Earthrace. Whale Fest 2014” In particular, to the incredible individuals that look after all the different Earthrace groups around the world—thank you for all you do! Hanging out at Southlands School, NZ “Kids ask the trickiest questions!”3

What happens when you mix a crack unit of former Special Forces and military personnel, the coolest high techtactical equipment in the world and a passion to protect our environment? It’s James Bond meets Captain Planet– or as they like to be called, The Operatives. countries, has a number of marine protected areas (MPA’s) around the coastline. Illegal fishing is like a plague for this small country, which is sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.The goal of The Operatives, an offshoot of Earthrace, is to Much of the work over the three month period focused oncapture and prosecute poachers and environmental criminals the MPA’s, and they spent many days and nights observingand expose their atrocities to the world. and filming fishing activities around them.The team has already completed a three month mission in Footage obtained byCosta Rica which involved catching illegal fishing boats in Earthrace from Sealegsmarine protected areas, gold mining, shark finning, and sea and from on board sus-turtle protection. pected lllegal fishing ves- sels was passed to rele- Even with high tech vant authorities. Pete will tools including return to Costa Rica soon drones, Paramotor, to meet with them and rebreathers and the present further evidence Sealegs amphibian, that will allow more prosecutions. Costa Rica pushed the elite team to their Partners against crime The Operatives worked closely limits with many people during the mission, in particular the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Oceans of Costa RicaAll the action was filmed and the footage has now been (MINAE), and Pretoma, a Costa Rican non-profit thatedited into a nine episode reality series for television which focuses on marine conservation and research working towill air first in New Zealand later this year. protect ocean resources and promote sustainable fishing policies in Costa Rica and Central America.Costa Rica, which in many respects, has an enviableenvironmental record compared with neighbouring We'd like to congratulate them on the amazing job that both organisations do under often difficult and dangerous circumstances, and thank them for their invaluable assistance. Find out more about their work at MINAE: and PRETOMA:JOIN US IN COSTA RICA SAVING TURTLES THIS SUMMERCome and volunteer in beautiful Costa Rica this summer as we return towork with local turtle conservation groups, build a sea turtle hatchery andhelp keep the egg poachers at bayThere’s a turtle war going on in Costa Rica. Every year, four of the world’s sevenspecies of marine turtles arrive here to nest. Illegal egg harvesting remains aconstant threat to these species, all of which are endangered. There has been an escalation in conflicts between poachers and conservationists and more pro- tection and support for local groups is needed urgently. The last time The Operatives were in Costa Rica, the team rescued every turtle nest they found, carefully transferring the eggs into a secure hatchery that they’d built. In one of the most emotional scenes from the TV series, these hardened commandos were finally able to release freshly hatched baby turtles into the ocean. We’re giving you the opportunity to join an Earthrace team as we go back to Costa Rica once again from August until October this year. Contact [email protected] for more details and an application form.4

The letter was prepared by Harpseals. Signatories to it represent between them millions of people concerned about the survival, welfare and rights of seals. The letter referenced scientificA group of 24 scientists, seal studies showing that seals are critical toexperts and conservationists from marine ecosystems; that the populationall over the world including of Cape fur seals has not risenEarthrace wrote to leaders of the significantly since the moratorium in Extinction Soup A great movie withSouth African government asking really strong messages, amazing 'voices'it to maintain its two decade old South Africa began; and that the state of from experts to shark lovers, and anmoratorium on killing Cape fur fish stocks depends on actions from theseals and to consider being the government in addressing over-fishing emotional back story that's affecting onfirst African nation to introduce a and in setting fishing quotas that many different levels. So proud to haveban on trade in seal products. account for multi-species interactions. Earthrace on the credits as one of the We are still pushing for a response from Executive Producers and all credit to: the Government. Stefanie Brendl and the rest of team.!Earthrace Conservation is part of a global animal coalition was only last year thatformed by Bob Irwin (father of conservationist, Steve Aborigines and Tor-Irwin). res Strait islanders in Queensland wereThe coalition was formed to put pressure on the Australian included within Aus-Government to change the Native Title Act and stop the tralian animal crueltylegal hunting of some of Australia’s not only vulnerableand endangered but also iconic species. laws.Over 50 species listed by Australia's own Environment A 12-month ‘graceProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC period’ before theAct) as endangered and vulnerable are being legally huntedin unsustainable numbers often using very cruel methods. new rules will be en- Dugong, sea turtle and many other forced means that a vulnerable Australian species can still be Dan Green, from Earthrace huge variety and hunted legally under the Native Title Act. Conservation UK which number of vulnerable Increasingly, poachers seeking profits are organised a protest outside also using fast boats, guns and modern the Australian Embassy in and endangered spe- technologies, killing indiscriminately. London, said: “If nothing is cies will continue to done now to stop it, iconic Australian species like du- be abused. gong, sea turtle, koala, dingo, rock wallabies and Seen regularly by observers are sea turtles being cut open many others are at risk of and fins removed while still alive, and dugongs drowning extinction.” by being towed tail-first behind boats, or being left on land In addition to the issue of to die slowly and in pain. hunting about which Earthrace and the rest of the More from Earthrace Time to Act on the Act and from the coalition are so concerned, it Bob Irwin Animal Coalition.5 Petition: Save Australia's Endangered Dugongs and Sea Turtles

WHAT DOES THE OCEAN MEAN TO YOU?To help encourage a growing network of children and The Earthrace Junior Activists Club was started in 2008young people from around the world that care about pre-serving and protecting the oceans, he is launching a com- while Earthrace was racing around the world. It’s run bypetition for Earthrace Junior Activists to help him find a Earthrace volunteers Alison Banks, Natalie Borghardt andnew generation of writers and journalists. new Junior Activist Captain, 16 year old Zach Affolter.Anyone up to the age of 18 can submit an There are now well over 1,200 young membersessay or short story (no more than 500 who all share a passion to help protect thewords) based on ‘what the oceans mean toyou’. There are some amazing prizes in- oceans and marine life.cluding a model remote control replica ofthe Earthrace boat. There are four age categories for the ocean writing challenge: Under 10; 10-12 years, 13-15Pete, himself the author of two best-selling years; and 16-18 years.books including ‘Whale Warrior’ about his time in Antarc-tica and Japan, said, “I can tell from the many letters, As well as the mainemails and messages that I receive from children andyoung people all over the world that they are as concerned prize of the Earthraceabout the state of the oceans as I am. remote control boat, there are “I hope this challenge will encourage many more more prizes of a remote control young people to really think about what the shark, signed copies of Pete’s oceans mean to them and to take actions to help book ‘Whale Warrior’, Junior Ac- protect them. tivist t-shirts, caps, bumper stick- “Their words will inspire ers, signed posters, plushothers of all ages to follow their lead and begin to under-stand how important marine life and the environment are Maui’s dolphin toys, wristbandsfor all us, whether we live near the ocean or not”. and heaps of other cool stuff up for grabs. Entries will be judged by Pete himself and they should be sent by email to [email protected] by the closing date of 31 August 2014. All entries must include the name of the author, age, email address and mailing address. All winners will be notified no more than one month after the closing date. Winning entries will be posted on the Earthrace Junior Activist facebook page and be published in a future issue of ‘Our Backyard’.A ground-breaking bill that would prohibit the display of orcas in California, stop wild captures inUS waters, end captive breeding programmes, and force places like Sea World and Six Flags toretire their whales to sea pens ,has begun its journey through the US Congress.The Orca Welfare and Safety Act (AB2140) was drafted by Assemblyman, Richard Bloom, andsupported by 38 US Congressmen. Since it was first announced, the California Assembly, Water,Parks and Wildlife Committee have agreed to send the bill to interim study to obtain more infor-mation on the science associated with captive orcas. It’s expected that the bill will now be re-visited in the mid-2015 sessions.According to the Earth Island Institute, “The future of AB 2140 and orca captivity in California will be determined by how strongly thepublic insists that the bill be implemented”. The bill exempts the holding of orcas for rescue or research purposes, but mandates reha-bilitation and return to the wild where possible and using best available science. Violations of the bill’s provisions, if it becomes law, willresult in fines of up to US$100,000 and up to six months in a county jail.In other parts of the US, things are not going well for marine parks either. South Carolina already has a law prohibiting the public displayof whales and dolphins (est. 1992), while Maui County, Hawaii, passed a similar measure in 2002. Senator Greg Ball, (NY) introduced abill that seeks to prohibit the confinement of killer whales in aquariums and ‘sea parks’ for any reason, whilst in late February 2014, theCity of Malibu, California issued a formal proclamation acknowledging the intelligent and emotional lives of whales and dolphins, andtheir right to freedom and safe passage in the worlds’ oceans.You can help, wherever you are, by adding your name to this petition set up by Jean-Michel Cousteau, President, Ocean Futures Society.6

MR STUPID AND THE LAST 55 MAUI’S DOLPHINSAfter a spectacularly stupid public comment from Simon Bridges, New Zealand Minis-ter for Energy, and Resources (following a spectacularly stupid decision to allow oilexploration within the critically endangered Maui’s dolphins habitat), 400 protestorsturned up at his house to show their disapproval.The protest was attended by Pete and organised by Tamati Coffey, former televisionhost and presenter turned politician. And the stupid comment…”I think primarilyonce you go from exploration right through to production, you're not jeopardising thewildlife”. Nuff said! Islands as well as people like Ady Gil and Ric and Helen O’Barry.Not long after Russia invaded the Ukraine, another Pete recently did an interview for The Faroe Islandsinvasion force arrived on the Faroe Islands, 200 miles off Podcast which has got plenty of people talking on and offthe coast of Scotland, with uniforms, fleets of boats and the Faroe Islands.4 x 4’s and a bad attitude. He said, “I don't agree with the grind. I don't think it belongs in this day in age. But I also don't believe we should attack the Faroese people as being savages.” A report from the Podcast director after Pete’s interview revealed that, “For a typical show, about 10% of downloads come from the Faroe Islands. For Pete’s interview, it was more than 50%”. Listen to the interview, and make up your own minds. You can now hear Part 2 of the interview as well. Here are some useful links to other articles and perspectives for anyone that wants to know more: Perspective on Faroe Islands from Pascale Kirchen, a Swiss national who has visited the Faroes several times.We don’t doubt the passion of the individuals -which we Article by Faroese national Eyðstein Poulsen.share - for stopping the killing of pilot whales and othercetaceans. However, we are very concerned that this Read the whole of A Better Approach, by Runi Nielsen,group’s approach will be detrimental to the progress that Earthrace Faroe Islands on page 15 of this issue.continues to be made by other, more diplomaticapproaches including those adopted by Earthrace Faroe More from Earthrace about the grind in the Faroe Islands7

Pete Bethune, Earthrace Conserva- of Russia and Korea which had the deci- “Japan argued the court had no jurisdic-tion, applauded the International sion favored Japan had been expected to tion to decide what legitimate researchcourt verdict on Japanese whaling. introduce research whaling programs of was, and that Japan could choose itsIn March 2014, the International Court their own”. research programs as it liked. They also presented some of their research find-of Justice in The Hague found in favor Bethune had his boat, the Ady Gil, de-of Australia and New Zealand in the stroyed when it was run over by a Japa- ings, although none but the most one- eyed would accept them as being valuedcourt case against Japan’s so-called Re- nese security vessel in Antarctica in by the Scientific-community”.search Whaling in Antarctica. January 2010. He then spent five months in a maximum-security prison in The verdict is binding for all three coun-Pete Bethune, who was at the court for Japan after he illegally boarded the ves- tries and cannot be appealed. Japan hasthe original case in June 2013 and today sel that had nearly taken the lives ofto hear the verdict, said, “I am abso- himself and his crew.lutely thrilled. Today will go down inhistory as a great day for whales, for This period saw such intense public out-conservation and for justice.” cry over research whaling, that the Aus- tralian government announced it was taking Japan to the International Court of Justice. Bethune remembers the day when he heard the news in prison. “I went down to meet my lawyer, and the little choice now but to cease their whal- first thing she said to me was Australia had taken the court action against Japan ing program in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. over whaling. I burst into tears. I was optimistic that any decent judicial sys- Bethune spoke to several senior Japa- tem would find against Japan, and to nese delegates after the verdict was an- finally see it become a reality is amaz- nounced and says they indicated that ing.” while they were very disappointed with the outcome, they would abide by theHe said, “The verdict makes Japan’s Bethune always felt that Japan’s case ruling and not go back to Antarctica.Research Whaling program, which has was weak. “They used a loophole in thekilled many thousands of whales in the original IWC regulations that allowed According to Bethune, the one draw-name of science, illegal. It also halts any for nations to conduct their own re- back with the court case is it only ad-likely copycat programs from the likes search-whaling program”, he said. dressed Japan’s scientific whaling pro-8

gram in Antarctica. The verdict hasnow made this illegal, but it still leavesJapan free to continue with researchwhaling in the Northern Pacific.Bethune said, “I have no idea why Aus-tralia and New Zealand left the North-ern Pacific out of their case. If the re-search program in Antarctica is illegal,then by definition so is the program inthe Northern Pacific but it will requireanother court action to make this illegalalso.”Bethune now feels that his actions backin 2010 were not in vain and hopes thatin some small way what happened tohim contributed to today’s verdict.“I lost my boat, spent five months inprison for peacefully protesting againstwhat has now been confirmed as illegalactivities, and was paraded around inJapan as a dangerous criminal whichwas difficult to take at the time. If allthat was even a small part of the meansto this happy ending, then I’m bloodyhappy to have gone through it all.”Commercial Whaling A protest march against whaling took “Young people aren’t entering the in-http://iwc.int/commercial place in London with stops including dustry, and fewer people even withinThe International Whaling Commission is the Norwegian, Icelandic and Japanese the whaling nations – only around 5%responsible for setting catch limits for commercialwhaling. It does this by adjusting the numerical Embassies. It was part of a worldwide in Iceland for example – are eatinglimits as laid out in the Schedule to the anti-whaling initiative which saw whale meat especially now that there isInternational Convention for the Regulation ofWhaling (1946). protests in over xx countries including widespread knowledge around its toxic- Tokyo, the United States, France and ity and contamination from methyl mer-In 1982 the IWC decided that there should be a Ireland. cury”.pause in commercial whaling on all stocks from the1985/1986 season onwards. This pause is often Despite the IWC moratorium, three Before the moratorium, the whalingreferred to as the commercial whaling moratorium, countries continue in the whaling industry wiped out some species ofand it is still in place today. The paragraph in theSchedule to the International Convention for the industry. whale altogether and decimated otherRegulation of Whaling that establishes the morato- species and populations, some of whichrium can be seen here. Iceland and Norway openly whale it is believed have yet to recover. commercially, while Japan still maintainsPresent Commercial Whaling it is carrying out ‘scientific’ whaling. IWC estimates of minke whale popula-Norway and Iceland take whales commercially at Between them, quotas of up to 2,786 tions in some areas like the Southernpresent, either under objection to the moratoriumdecision or under reservation to it. These countries minke, fin and humpback whales could Hemisphere for example, haven’t beenestablish their own catch limits but must provide be targeted in the next year. produced since 1985. Yet Norway, Ice-information on those catches and associated scientific Earthrace Conservation UK which or- land and Japan insist their whaling op-data to the Commission. The Russian Federation ganised the march, said, “It is increas- erations are sustainable.has also registered an objection to the moratoriumdecision but does not exercise it. The moratorium is ingly difficult to understand why these As Earthrace UK see it, “The pointbinding on all other members of the IWC. three countries persist with this uneco- about whaling is that there is no point –Norway takes North Atlantic common minke nomic, indefensible and universally un- no money, no future, no respect. How-whales within its Exclusive Economic Zone, and popular business. ever, based on guesswork that whaleIceland takes North Atlantic common minkewhales and also North Atlantic fin whales, again “The only countries trading whale meat populations are healthy and increasing,within its Exclusive Economic Zone. are Iceland, Norway and Japan. Even we may even see other countries decid- they don’t particularly want each others’ ing to break the IWC moratorium in the Find out more about product with Japan using Iceland’s future. So we won’t end our protests commercial whaling whale meat imports in dog food! until whaling is stopped for good.”9

CAPTIVITYThere are only three reasons for keeping marine mammals in captivity. Rescue. Rehabilitation. Release.STA Travel, which provides travel to 2.5 million studentsand young people each year, has stopped trips to SeaWorldin Orlando and San Diego (as well as tours taking inelephant rides and the Tiger Temple in Thailand).Continuing fallout from the death of a Sea World trainer sawthe Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)in the US stop all trainer interactions with killer whales inshows.A survey carried out by Responsible Travel reveals that 86%of tourists no longer want to watch killer whales anddolphins performing tricks in captivity.Trace Adkins, Pat Benatar, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride,Heart and the Beach Boys are just some of the famous actsthat pulled out of gigs at Sea World after pressure on socialnetworks.An independent activist and sound recordist, Martyn Stew-art, went undercover at The Mirage Las Vegas recently. Hehas released footage of diseased dolphins forced to performin 100o heat. His footage also contains audio of the trainers’commentaries and replies to Martyn’s questions that provekeeping cetaceans in captivity doesn’t educate the public orthe people that work with them! earthraceconservation.org/captivityMany countries don’t legally require marine parks to record how freemorgan.org orcanetwork.orgmany cetaceans they hold, how many die, nor how they die. keikotheuntoldstory.comHowever, in the US, among the causes of death listed in the MarineMammal Inventory Reports required to be submitted to the blackfishmovie.com thecovemovie.comNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are: marineconnection.orgPneumonia, hepatitis, lungworms, kidney infections, septicaemia, theorcaproject.wordpress.com deathatseaworld.comanaphylaxis, gastroenteritis, aortic rupture, drowning, uterine haem-orrhage, candidiasis (oral or vaginal thrush), cerebral haemorrhage, saddestdolphins.comnephritis, animal attack, ‘trauma’, pancreatitis, nephritis, asphyxiation,pulmonary oedema, hepatic necrosis, and cardiac tamponade. orkacoalitie.nlAnd every marine park will continue to tell you that they really care savejapandolphins.orgabout cetaceans!10

KILLS Over 5,500 cetaceans have died in captivity since records began. There are still an estimated 2,200 captive dolphins, 51 orcas and nearly 200 beluga whales being kept for use as entertainment for profit.There is still a highly lucrative trade in wild caught marine mammals for display and for captive breeding programmes.In the last year alone, as well as over 1,700 dolphins killed in the dolphin drives, over 400 were captured in Taiji, Japan tobe trained for a life in captivity. They are being sold on the open market to marine parks in places like Egypt, China, Thai-land, Korea, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Taiwan, the Philippines, Iran and Turkey.18 wild caught beluga whales are still being held in Russia awaiting possible transport into the USA after an application forimport by the GeorgiaAquarium, Sea World andthe Shedd and MysticAquariums.Russian hunters have alsorecently captured sevenwild orcas – the first for tenyears. Most are reported tobe destined for Russian orChinese marine parks.World records—broke one in 2008, took oneaway in 2014!The same year Earthrace became a world record holder,Guinness World Records also recognised Delphinus Xcaretin Mexico as having achieved the most dolphins born in ayear in a single facility.The marine park claimed 11 survived that year, proudly pro-claiming “the survival rate in captivity is around 60% and even lessin freedom”.Over a year ago, Earthrace contacted Guinness disputing Despite Earthrace actually being a legitimate world recordXcaret’s claim on the world record on animal welfare and holder, to date we’ve been unable to confirm that Guinnessaccuracy grounds are prepared to act any further in forcing Xcaret to stop using false information to promote ticket sales.Finally, after almost 12 months, Guinness World Recordsconfirmed that it had officially rescinded Xcaret’s record You can help us keep the pressure up by sending anholder status. However, the facility continues to advertise email to Guinness.itself as a world record holder on its website and in pressmaterials.Don’t buy a ticket to a marine mammal show, or to swim with dolphins or other marine mammals in captivityIf you want to see whales and dolphins, see them in the wild with a reputable company that follows the rulesWatch The Cove; Blackfish; Keiko, the untold story; and read Death at SeaWorldLook out for events, protests, petitions and other actions that you can get involved in. Remember, just becauseyou may not have captive cetaceans on your doorstep, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.11

Empty the Tanks, Sea World San Diego Earthrace’s own Ally Banks Earthrace UK at Sea World San Diego Empty the Tanks London Empty the Tanks Buenos Aires 12

Superstar songbird Joss Stone threaten them on the mainland.somehow managed to find time inher whistle stop trip to New Zea- They planted Rewa Rewa, Totara and several Kahikatea, aland earlier this year as part of her species of tree that can grow to over 60m high. Kahikateaworld tour, to visit an island in the were largely wiped out from the area in the 19th century afterWaikato river where she planted being exploited to make butter boxes.trees with Pete and fellow musician,Tiki Taane, that will offer a safe On the mainland, possums and other predators compete forhaven to native birds. the same habitat and food as birds; they also disturb nesting birds, and eat their eggs and chicks. Few possums, cats, dogsShe was helping a project designed and rats can reach the island so it offers birds a much saferto protect birds from possums, cats, Joss, who travelled over to the island in a white Sealegs am-rats and other predators that phibious boat, said “It’s great to be able to work with Earthrace on this; the birds have so many threats so to have a sanctuary on the island is fantastic. I’d love to come back when my trees have grown a bit to see how they’ve made a difference.” The tree planting project on the island was started by Taupiri local, John Charteris, who encourages schools, groups and individuals to become in- volved in creating habitats that will al- low native birds to thrive. The fastest growing Earthrace group in the world is in Argentina. Under the leadership of Fernando Labaronnie, it goes from strength to strength. And we think we’ve worked out his secret. He’s combined a crazy love of music with his passion for the oceans and that rocks! Fernando and his team are seen at many festivals and gigs in and around Buenos Aires, and have signed up some of South America’s biggest bands to support Earthrace including Jauria, Telepod with Mauro Ruda, Smitten and many others. Follow the music with EarthraceArgen- tina on facebook.13

WhaleFest is the world’s biggest event of its kind - a not-for-profit festival that reminds every one of us just why we love whales, dolphinsand ocean life so much. It’s huge fun and thousands of people come from all over the world to take part.In 2014, it took place in Brighton, UK over two days in March. And we were there, sharing space with the amazing Daryl Farmer of Rowing4 Reefs together with his incredible boat, Bojangles.Daryl was preparing for a huge challenge—to row single-handed from California to Hawaii. More people have walked on the moon thanhave made that trip! He was doing it to raise money for Earthrace and for the Peter Andre Foundation for Kidney Cancer. You’ll have towait for the next issue of OUR BACKYARD to find out what happened though!Around 10,000 people of all ages visited Whale Fest this year, among them a raft of celebrities including Virginia McKenna, ex-Sea Worldtrainer Samantha Berg, Steve Backshaw, Dr Ingrid Visser, Rob Pilley from the BBC’s 'Spy in the Pod' and of course, our own Pete Bethune.The weekend started with an orca ‘release’ representing ‘Morgan’ who is currently held in captivity in Loro Parque, Tenerife and has beenat the centre of a series of court cases as part of the Free Morgan campaign.Virginia McKenna Steve Backshaw Samantha Berg We brought all 5,500 crosses in our art installation, ‘Captivity Kills’, to Whale Fest14

Runi Nielsen is passionate about research and great caution in taking wholeending the grinds, but as a pods of whales. What does this mean forFaroese himself, he understands their total gene pool? What other threatsonly too well the negative impact are impacting on these animals?that direct verbal and written Do the mercury and other polutants makeattacks on individuals involved in the whales sick, and to what extent? Doesthe grinds - and very often, is effect their ability to reproduce? Theseaggressive attacks on the entire are all questions that could and should beFaroese population - can have. answered using non-lethal research meth- ods.The following advice from Runi is These three points are all valid arguments and the more they are used, the morea 'must read' for any non-Faroese headway we can all make towards endingenvironmentalists. the grinds.The best advice I can give is to engage inone-to-one, respectful private messaging A n t i - s o c i a l n e t w o r k i n g The Faroe Islands has a population ofwith the Faroese. Be respectful and listen, Social networking, although often a 50,000 individuals. Be aware that it is byand I guarantee they will also listen to you powerful and positive element in the no means the entire nation that takes partwhen you bring up your concerns. activists' toolbox, can all too often have an in grinds. The numbers of those that do opposite and negative effect when posts are in the hundreds, not in the thousands.The cuteness factor and the non-human are clouded with anger and frustration. There is a growing movement against thepersons argument doesn't fly in the The public displays of hate-filled emotions grinds within the Faroese people so toFaroes. It will close ears and close doors, will do nothing to open the minds of attack the entire population is dangerouslyas will aggressive insults, vitriol, whalers in the Faroese to the possibility of counter-productive.obscenities and threats of retaliatory the grinds coming to an end.violence. Stick to the correct facts, by all means say Whilst you might feel better after an you don't agree with what happens thereInstead, use these three points, which the explosion of grief on facebook at the news but say it politely without personal attacks,Faroese whalers respect: of another grind, in reality the ranks of the and most importantly, understand and Faroese whalers will close and anything know that while change is coming, it will1. The whalemeat and blubber is heavily you have to say will fall on deaf ears.contaminated with Methyl Mercury, PCB's come from the Faroese peopleand POP's. Use the recommendation by People that write factually incorrect com- themselves.Faroese Food Authorities and the findings ments or articles, use wrongly captionedof the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Pál and out-of-date photographs, or postWeihe and Executive Doctor Høgni photographs showing children participat-Debes Joensen. ing in grinds to deliberately whip up a frenzy of anti-Faroese fervor, as well as2. The killing method is tangent to animal those who promote unrealistic (usuallycruelty, since you can't always secure fund-raising) campaigns aimed at stoppingperfect killing conditions within the the grinds, are doing the whales noelements of nature. There are also favours whatsoever.concerns about too large pods being killedon beaches with lesser capacity. Sharing and promoting things like these through social networks also simply adds3. Insufficient knowledge about the to the notion amongst the pro-grind lobbysituation of the population of the North that there is no effective opposition inAtlantic Long Finned Pilot Whale calls for place.15

Earthrace operates in Argentina, Australia, Africa, the Faroe Islands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom andthe United States.We’d like to thank all our volunteers and the many other organisations working around the world helping toprotect and conserve our oceans and marine life.If you would like to support the work we do, please consider making a donation. Your money will go directlytowards our campaigns. You can donate in any currency through Just Giving (www.justgiving.com/earthraceconservation) or through [email protected] is a registered non profit charity (EIN 461361707) .We are currently working in the following areas: Legal and illegal hunting of marine species like seals, endangered sea turtles and dugong, whaling and shark finning Captivity of whales and dolphins Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Increasing protection of endangered species such as New Zealand’s Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins Preservation of habitats including stopping indiscriminate oil exploration around New Zealand and AustraliaIf you’d like to help by volunteering, let us know about a campaign you would like us to help with, or just havesome questions about our work (or perish the thought,unsubscribe from us!), please contact [email protected]