Kia Kaha , Kia Toa
Be strong , be a warrior .
My Backyard From the Chapters
Junior Activists Partners
Getting involved Issue 1 l My Backyard
Seal shame
Africa
The previous year saw the first successful Earthrace mission carried out , to protest against the Namibian seal ‘ cull ’. In 2012 , the team continued efforts to help stop the annual slaughter of 90,000 seal pups and 6,000 bulls around Cape Cross and Wolfe Bay by submitting documentation and video footage about this on-going atrocity , and by meeting personally with the Ombudsman , John Waters , who was officially tasked with investigating the way in which the ‘ cull ’ is carried out .
The resulting report was a huge disappointment to Earthrace and all the other groups committed to seeing an end to the killing . Although Waters put forward recommendations that killing methods used should be improved upon , he had little else to say likely to change the status quo . To date , none of these recommendations have been acted upon , and we will continue to pressure those who carry out and condone the cull .
Clean up crews
The Africa team will be getting down and dirty on the beaches around the coast , hoping to work alongside mega-crew , Durban Beach Clean Up , who organise monthly clean ups . Apparently , our Durban-based crew , Eleanor and Larry , collect at least a dustbin bag full of plastic every time they go there already so more hands are always needed !
SHARK NET SCANDAL
Spanning South Africa ’ s KwaZulu Natal coastline are a total of 17 shark nets , each 305 metres in length .
Placed there years ago to protect the long gone whaling industry , the nets now pose a threat not only to sharks – many of which are now endangered – but also to sea turtles , humpback whales , dolphins and other marine life . Earthrace will be actively campaigning to see these nets removed in 2013 .
Pirates raping African seas
Shut it down Ushaka Marine World is the only remaining place keeping captive dolphins for profit in South Africa . Sharks are also on display almost inside one of the restaurants – apparently it ’ s fun to eat whilst watching something that could eat you !
Illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing ( IUU fishing ) is destroying life in Africa ’ s oceans as well as the lives of millions of people dependant on the legal fishing industry . Our team recently worked really hard alongside other groups to try and stop uShaka from holding a massive New Year ’ s Eve bash only
Over 50 % of fish are caught illegally in Africa . One industrial vessel 250 metres from the dolphin tank that risked the health of the dolphins and sharks . catches as many fish as a thousand local fishermen , whilst taking out many other sea creatures that get captured in the driftnets , long lines and trawlers . They ’ ll be doing everything and more to ensure that never happens again , and with all our teams , will be passionately advocating to see
These guys don ’ t care about unsustainable fishing activities or the an end to captivity for all marine mammals around the world . fact that they ’ re stealing from one of the world ’ s most vulnerable countries . Often heavily armed , they force local fishermen away from their own waters with threats of violence . Expect some hard-hitting
Contact Earthrace Africa : action from Earthrace as we take on the pirate poachers this year . eleanor @ earthrace . net or amanda @ earthrace . net
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