Best Documentary Tonight on More4 10pm

You may well have heard of a film rippling the surface a few months ago in the run up to and after the Oscars. It won an Oscar for Best Documentary after numerous other awards and with very good reason. It is an awesome film that leaves no stone uncovered in it's investigation into the exploitation of cetaceans around the world. For me the film goes far deeper than these issues, it left me ultimately with a euphoric feeling to see like minded individuals coming together to try and make people sit up, look and think further.



The Documentary is on More4 Tonight at 10pm

http://www.thecovemovie.com/

Plastiki Sailing Expedition

The Plastiki is a unique, one-of-a-kind 60-foot (20m) catamaran made out of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles and other recycled PET plastic and waste products. The craft was built using cradle to cradle design philosophies and features many renewable energy systems, including solar panels, wind and trailing propeller turbines, and bicycle generators.

On March 20, 2010, the sailing vessel set off from San Francisco, California with a six-man crew, including David de Rothschild, to sail across the Pacific Ocean. The expedition plans to make landfall in Sydney, Australia after visiting several sites of ecological importance or which are susceptible to environmental issues caused by global warming, for instance the current sea level rise,ocean acidification and marine pollution.

The crew is skippered by prominent British ocean sailor Jo Royle, and will carry up to six artists, adventurers and scientists at any one stage of the journey. The crew from San Francisco to Sydney consists of Co-skipper David Thompson, expedition diver Olav Heyerdahl, filmmakers Max Jourdan and Vern Moen, and expedition leader David de Rothschild.

To support the Adventure check out the website at http://www.theplastiki.com/trackplastiki/

Glassy Summer's Day

Already hot from the morning sun and gradually getting hotter, we were gasping to get into the water, waves or not. Just to make sure though the rash vests were donned to give ourselves a good toasting before a refreshing plunge into the sea.  

An all day session with some great little clean waves was enjoyed and very much appreciated.

AWESOME

Radar Hill, Vancouver Island, BC, April 2010

Four Clans, Tsimshian

The Tsimshian (English pronunciation: Sim-She-an) are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. The Skeena River is the second largest river entirely in BC. The river and its basin sustain a wide variety of fish, wildlife, vegetation and communities native to the area. For hundreds of years these communities have lived comfortably within the resources of the river.

Like all Northwest Coastal peoples, they thrived on the abundant sea life, especially salmon as they swam up river to spawn each year.

The Tsimshian consists of four clans;

- Laxsgiik ( Eagle Clan)
- Gispwudwada (Killerwhale Clan)
- Ganhada (Raven Clan)
- Laxgibuu ( Wolf Clan)

Tofino Time

At the end of the track on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island lies the small town of Tofino.

A very laid back town set in a stunningly beautiful and wild environment of steep mountains rising from seas rich with life, inlets, dotted islands, huge redwood cedar tress crammed up to the shoreline and all lit up by a constant changing light show as weather sweeps in off the Pacific. For us we were blessed with sunny days and wild seas. Early morning beach walks (surf checks) were invigorating and at times wild as ocean born storms swept passed the exposed coastline.

The local people obviously have the same passion for this land as we were enjoying and developing during our stay, and this shows in their manner and work. There were many small businesses in the town selling and exhibiting a wide range of local products, crafts and art. Rather than the usual cheap tat you find in many 'giftshops' there were many items of interest, including hand carved traditional cedar wood boxes and local clothing designs, artwork and t-shirts courtesy of Project Monster Studios.

These two images (left) are paintings done by Julie Robinson, and are some of my favorites from her collection that we viewed at Project Monster. If your not popping to Tofino anytime soon then check out her work at http://www.projectmonster.ca/

The image below is titled 'Surfers Delight' and has been created by the Canadian artist Roy Henry Vickers.

Descended from three northwest coast First Nations, Roy studied traditional First Nations art and design at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art in Hazelton, and over the years being heavily influenced by Vancouver Island and specifically the area of Tofino he developed his distinctive style. Too see more of his work check out http://www.royhenryvickers.com

 

Take it Easy and Thanks Tofino.