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SOS: SAVE OUR SHARKS |
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By Culturekiosque Staff CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, 29 NOVEMBER 2008 - South African surfers have teamed up with marine scientists to launch a campaign for the conservation of sharks. The Wavescapes Surf Film Festival and Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) aim to educate audiences about the global plight of our oceans and its sharks, which are being killed at the rate of 100 million a year. Global head of the Foundation, Chris Clarke, said that the synergy was important "to create awareness for sharks and help pass on tips to reduce the risk of accidental encounters with the animals. We fear what we do not understand!" Festival director Steve Pike said that a perceived irony about surfers coming out in support of their "traditional nemesis" was based on misinformed views. "Yes, surfers are at the frontline of the ocean. We aim to prove that healthy shark populations benefit surfers, and are not a threat."
Wavescapes, which runs from November 26 to December 14 in Cape Town, includes an outdoor screening on Clifton Fourth Beach on Friday 5 December. Surfboards decorated by top artists will be auctioned by comedian Mark Sampson to raise funds for the Shark Spotters and NSRI. The surfboards, on display at the VEO Gallery in de Waterkant from 26 November to 3 December, will be shown alongside the award-winning imagery of sharks by marine biologist Tom Peschak. Several large-format, signed photographs will be auctioned with the surfboards.
Rethink the Shark campaign Head of the shark centre, Lesley Rochat said: "Sharks are nature's outcasts, they are feared and loathed, largely due to misperceptions, yet only one person in the world was killed by a shark last year. By Wavescape embracing our Rethink the Shark campaign we are confident that together we can make a difference."
Scientists from the NGO have pioneered research on white sharks in False Bay and on tiger sharks in KwaZulu Natal. They are also responsible for satellite tagging and releasing ragged tooth sharks from the Two Oceans Aquarium as part of the SOSF M-SEA Programme. There is also a Save Our Seas Shark World exhibit at Iziko Museum, and a number of exhibits at the aquarium. Wavescapes will screen the film Zulu Surf Riders, the story of the Mqade brothers from Umzumbe on KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The arty documentary Thread features the sand art of Jim Denevan, who uses the beach at low tide as a giant canvas for vast patterns. Sea Fever is a film about surfing in Ireland, including the giant waves of Aill n Searrach (Aileens).
"One of my favourites is Sliding Liberia, a beautifully made film about surfing in Liberia. We also have Out There, a call to surfers to protect our coastline, and a one-off screening of the Shaun Tomson film Busting Down the Door , among others," Pike said. The festival will screen the feature documentary Sharkwater and a short called Shark Angels, featuring Alison Kock, a SOSF white shark researcher. Wavescapes Events
Wavescapes Surf Film Festival 2008
5 December
Wavescapes Surf Film Festival 2008
7 -10 December
Wavescapes Surf Film Festival 2008
11 -14 December
Wavescapes Charity Surfboard Art Exhibition and
Auction
26 November - 3 December For more information, go to www.wavescape.co.za or www.saveourseas.com or call (27) 082 360 52 31. Related Culturekiosque Archives Hyperion Nuclear Batteries: Clean Power from Underground 2008: Year of the Rat, Leap Year...and Now, Year of the Frog? Penguins to Get Protection Under Endangered Species
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