COLLECTIC LIFE

Thursday, August 11, 2011

***Spent a few days in London for the premier of Mind in The Water documentary film, missed the riots bye a week. Really rainy, cold and not my cup of tea. Like the camden markets however and bought some crucial new reggae vinyl....

IWC ARTICLE

Most IWC meetings start off with collective hope from energetic NGO’s from around the globe but unfortunately this energy is strategically silenced within delegations IWC proceedings, allowing pro whalers the ability to go about their barbaric treatment towards our ocean kin. But this years IWC 63 in Jersey Island, UK has been the most activated testament to grassroots protesting for animal rights I’ve experienced. Surfers For Cetaceans have been blessed to work alongside the recently formed NGO ‘Women For Whales’ who have created a passionate and well-organized International Whale Celebration.

The first three days were spent largely amongst the local surf crew, where we held a paddle out to commemorate our lost sea kin. As usual there has been plenty of painting projects, music, film festival days, mixing with other NGO’s like Sea Shepherd and Whales Alive to help strategize for maximum effectiveness to stop whaling and a buzzing week-long protest during the IWC meetings.

Attending these meetings brings forth a wide variety of emotions when facing people who continue to do unthinkable actions to planet Ocean. I swung between anger towards the delegates, frustration with the defunct IWC and as always love for the Earth’s most evolved creature. It’s one thing to watch the horrible acts on video, but facing these men eye to eye is enough to bring your blood to boil. The protests held were charged with primordial chanting, music and the ability to tell these international criminals how we felt about their disgraceful actions.

The good thing about the IWC is that it allows us to address the likes of Kristjan Loftsson, operator of the brutal Icelandic whaling station, the Japanese delegation or the spineless Dan Goodman, Canadian citizen paid by ICR (Japanese whaling front) to act as a puppet propaganda goose. With this said protesting is just one element to maintaining a multi faceted opposition line for universal whale freedom.

According to Daven Joseph of St Vincent and Grenadine he is a man who speaks the honorable truth, believes in sustainability and thinks we are all brothers, but for one reason or another our relationship began with him yelling he would %&**$# my women, as I relied “ you’ve already done that to our relatives in the sea” he turned and screamed that he would than $%*&@ my mother and grandmother!” When he returned an hour later I got straight into his face ready to take a punch for the cause but instead got him into a good 20 minute Q and A amidst a heated group, where he stumbled between his sustainable beliefs and how it was time for his people to exploit this world.

Later in the week Japan stalled the commission for the last few days of proceedings when they threatened to pull out of the IWC alongside the Caribbean block they bribe (which secures pro whaling votes at IWC’s), and once again with the typical sleight of hand swept the issues of transparency, cash bribes, prostitution and corruption off the table. It must also be noted that even in the face of an environmental/social catastrophe, Japan has proclaimed that they will be sending another Antarctic whaling fleet to the Southern Oceans. If this wasn’t enough bad news, rumors have it that the whaling industry might be garnishing more governmental assistance from money allocated to helping rebuild the infrastructure of Japanese culture. At this point in the game the proceedings are laughable and it seems apparent that NGO’s must reexamine the way we organize and interact within this governmental body. It must be stated that the UK has spearheaded the issue of incipient corruption within the IWC and is setting a great example for positive environmental protection.

Surfers For Cetaceans key goal is to keep surfers updated with the status of current whaling issues and various issues that our seas our facing. The recently finished feature documentary “Minds In The Water”, a story following Dave Rastovich during his transformation from surfer to activist is a great tool to help spread the message internationally. Following on from a much-needed day of surfing, the UK premiere in Jersey was a great example of this, as it brought out a great variety of youth, family and local surfers. The next morning a fresh little swell filled in and we were able to spend a good part of the day riding with the locals.

Over the course of the week our collective voice was heard through the BBC, iTV and various international media outlets. These actions reassured why we gather in these obscure locations. Without continued international resistance, the pro whalers would do as they please, and would efficiently wipe out the 20 million year old bloodline of the most impressive creatures on planet Earth. I’m left feeling motivated for action, to learning more and to making our group’s efforts as effective as possible.

If your asking what can you do, for starters go Vegetarian, organize a beach clean up, research, write your local/national government, pull together a paddle out and surfers circle with word up to the press, use your given talents to spread the message in your community or write us with ideas and always lead with your heart.

A few good resources below…

www.s4cglobal.org

www.womenforwhales.org

www.ifaw.org

www.whalesalive.au

www.seashepherd.org

www.savejapandolphins.org

www.theblackfish.org

JERSEY SURF

**After a busy week of activism, the sea gave us a treat to play with.. This is that after surf stoke..

***Great group of people gathered to commemorate the lost kin from the seas. A beautiful moment

***Back side wind span, on the little avocado

**Just aim for the lighthouse...

***Early morning spinner

***Got my hands on a great Elevator... Thanks Gordon

***Think this id the latest noseride of my life, somewhere around 10 pm.... Awe yes and the island has the 2nd largest tidal flow at 44 feet vertically, radical

Big thanks to Dave Ferguesson for the great vibes and pictures..

EUROPE 2011 -IWC JERSEY ISLAND ENGLAND (RECAP)

***Turbulent sky's above Las Vegas

--- Last time I checked in I was on a bender, moved all my trinkets and collectibles into storage... Packed a few clothes, art supplies, 3 beautiful sleds and hit he road with my lovely lady. The rest of this post are highlights of the adventures through the European life and all part of the journey that inspires creativity.

Wishing you all love and light 111

***A motor bike, sky light and a few hundred flashes, good way to spend 16 hours in Paris on route to Jersey.

*** Came straight into the 1st annual international whale celebration, had a beautiful paddle out with local crew and than a great day of painting. Howie and Ines busy at work.

**Local great Gordon, putting his brilliant quiver of Bing's to a parking lot show. Great surfer, farmer and bloke.

***What a great year for NGO's to make some noise. From day one to the end we held the line, protesting, singing our protest songs, passing on information and activating the local community. By the end of day one the police were on our side and supported us in some naughty behavior directed at international whale killers.

***Power of the people.

**Rick Jones is a monster music maker, Howie was he catalyst of our songs and inspiration and I was really happy to have a drum donated for the cause... Whale freedom, no killing, no capture.

I JUST FIRED MYSELF, DRANK A SMOOTHIE AND RE-HIRED MYSELF...THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

MAGIC

EUROPE HERE WE COME

On my way to Europe to celebrate the whales..

Hang with the family in England

Surf, Art, Sleep and Eat magic

Wander through France, than Spain and finally find my way with my lovely into Indonesia.

Feeling blesses.

If your around, give a shout. Lets dance

111

p.s - Bing Copeland, Matt/Marg Calvani are coming along, good times

Here's the schedule

http://bingsurf.com/blog/2011/07/06/summer-2011-bing-goes-to-europe/

DAY TO DAY

Through sickness and health
Wealth and bottom feeding
Love and Hate
We strive onwards towards the hills
Satchel filled with hope
lungs breathe possibility into infinity
Life twists, life turns while the heart stirs
Blood pumps, legs jive, mind creates
magic swirls and all in due time
hold fate atop the alter
and pray for love and light

Blessings 111

Las Vegas Airport, July, 2011

PERSONAL FAVORITE

***We all know Hilton Dawe is a magic man, that's the only thing that explains how he captured this moment. Frozen liquid love 111

Monday, June 27, 2011

CELEBRATING LEROY

***Great South Bay gathering for a legend

***Hap Jacobs speaking on behalf of the man.

WAVE FACE

***Did a screen shot the other day of Dorian's bomb and saw this incredible face gifting him with the balance to thread the needle.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

NEW SOUND SPIRALS

THIS KID IS MAGIC

INTERNATIONAL WHALE CELEBRATION 2011

***Howie Cooke, Justin Krumb and I will be there on behalf of S4C. Love to meet some new crew and help with this amazing festival concept. We will be doing our best to get information out to Surfers internationally.

AS YOU WISH

I WONDER

I wonder what will become of the sacred spaces
I wonder what paths will be carved upon her crust
I wonder where spirit will divide into beauty
I wonder what collective resignation still pulses
I wonder where all the love has gone
I wonder what is next

111

INTRODUCING SPIRIT BEAR

****The Kermode bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), also known as a "spirit bear" (particularly to the Indian tribes of Alaska), is a subspecies of the American Black Bear living in the central and north coast of British Columbia, Canada.^[1] It is noted for about 1/10 of their population having white or cream-coloured coats. This colour morph is due to a recessive allele common in the population. They are not albinos^[1] and not any more related to polar bears or the "blonde" brown bears of Alaska's "ABC Islands" than other members of their species.

TIGER TEMPLE

****Taktshang, also called the Tiger’s Nest monastery is in the middle of the Bhutanese mountains, several hours outside of Paro (the only city with an airport). Taktshang is the most famous of monasteries in Bhutan. It hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley. A place of pilgrimage for Buddhists.