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Changing
Colours Movement ~ SAVE
Photographer
Peter Carrette
Greg
Tingle, Bunna Lawris, Chad Kendrick and Marco Yellin
Bunna
Lawris, Dominic Way Kanak and Mayor Cr Ingrid Strewe
Gyton
Grantley and Greg Tingle
(Photo
Credit: Patricia Feijoo)
Changing Colours Movement - review by Rae Threnoworth
Sunday
11:45am Before:
Sitting
at one of the 'reserved' tables in the North Bondi
RSL club I feel surprisingly energised after a 3-hour
drive down from Newcastle this morning. Missioning
it down the coast on this Sunday morning on my own
after working late at the pub last night, and fluking
it through toll bridges and tunnels on my first adventure
to the 'big smoke' of Sydney, I realise that people
will do so much more in the name of a good cause.
When people are passionate enough about a topic, they
attract people of a similar attitude and outlook,
it's because of this that "The Changing Colours
Movement" are a success.
As
I sit here organizing my camera equipment and fiddling
with my pen, people are casually but quickly moving
about making the finishing touches to the Benefit
Concert being held here today. There is a cruisy and
united vibe about the place and no body seems to be
stressing or panicking about the expected crowds arriving
in the next couple of hours, not to mention the media
expected to arrive for the press conference being
held in twenty minutes. The crew are organized and
focused – the specific intention of saving the
whales is evident and all about are people flashing
whale tales arm symbols as often as their smiles as
a sign of unity, dedication and good humour.
Today's
activities coincide a week long International Whaling
Commission Meeting being held in Chile as of Monday,
to raise awareness and money and help to bring about
peace in our waters and to bring a final, necessary
ban on whaling of any kind. It's been 22 years since
Commercial whaling was subjected to a moratorium by
the International Whaling Commission, although this
is hotly contested by a small number of countries.
The ban on commercial whaling was agreed by the IWC
in 1982, finally implemented four years later although
there are two IWC members who still continue to kill
whales - Japan for what it calls "scientific
research", and Norway because it does not accept
the moratorium. Whaling and other threats have led
to at least five of the 13 great whales being listed
as endangered.
As
a group, we ask:
Isn't it time to consider a non-lethal form of scientific
research Japan?
The
Benefit concert has been organized under The Changing
Colours Movement, a movement brought together by a
local Sydney band Mojada. Marco, Chad, Wes, Neil and
Pat have recently taken some time off after a 3-month
adventure and recording of their album over in the
US. During this time the boys acknowledged the dire
need to shine colour and light on to the horrific
and pointless killings, which take place in our oceans,
and to encourage the community/world to stand up to
the Nations who refuse to take responsibility for
the declining numbers of whales and dolphins in our
oceans. This is what they endeavor to do today as
the first of many events in the name of ending the
slaughter of the people of the ocean.
"As
'The Changing Colours Movement' it is our passion
and goal to promote sensitive and thoughtful discussion,
and to bring general awareness to the issue of whaling
to our generation."
Monday
10:32pm After:
Looking
back over Sunday's events, not only have I connected
with some amazingly motivated and inspired people
but I have walked away feeling I have more knowledge
and motivation on the topic because of this. It's
comforting and endearing to know that there are people
who aren't so out of reach that share this passion
to rescue these giant beauties of the sea. They too
are awake, aware and can acknowledge the need for
people to unite and speak up to make these necessary
changes so that our children can share our love for
these ocean mammals.
The
day kicked off at 11am and despite the bitterly cold
wind whipping it's way along Bondi beach, media, celebrities
and people in the local community made the effort
to show their resilience to the world. To formalize
the day's events, a press conference was held outside
of North Bondi RSL club with celebrities the likes
of Hugh Jackman, Gyton Grantley from channel 9's Underbelly,
Bessie Bardot, Lauren Eagle (World Champ water skier
and Miss Teen Universe), Nicole Atherton (World Jnr.
Womens surf champ) Aaron Jefferies from McLeouds Daughters,
Star Wars star Leanna Walsman, and Bardot singer Belinda
Chappel showed up to help speak out on the Anti-whaling
cause.
Joined
by Australian band Mojada were special guests Waverly
Mayor Ingrid Strewe, Deputy Mayor Dominic WYkanak,
CEO of Greenpeace Steve Shalhorn, And CEO of IFAW
Erica who voiced their knowledge and opinions to open
the publics' eyes on some very real and very important
facts which pro-whaling organizations are trying to
keep quiet.
Bunna
Lawrie, famous as lead singer in the band 'Coloured
Stone' many years before and the first Aboriginal
person to be awarded an Aria was also present through
out the length of the day. Bunna who is the songman
for his Mirning tribe performed a traditional Whale
calling ceremony. The whale has a special place for
Bunna and his people as the Southern Right whale is
their totem animal, (an entity that watches over their
tribe). The ceremony consisted of Bunna saying a prayer
for the whales in his native tongue, followed by singing
and dancing and calling the whales in. The spirits
of everyone were lifted in delight as Chad from Mojada
yelled "Whale!" and a couple of hundred
meters out of Bondi Beach, water spouts could be seen
coming from a couple of whales traveling up our coastline.
It
was evident the connection we have with these whales,
from our singing "Wiberu, Wiberu We Love you..
Wiberu We love you.." (Wiberu is Mirning's name
for the Humpback whale) and sending out our peaceful
united vibes of protection being rewarded by there
presence. I can't imagine a world without them, one
where we would have to explain to our children what
these magnificent creatures were and why they are
no longer part of our Earth. No sense can be made
from it… being the only reason for their extinction
would be man's greed for money and power. This greed
is unsustainable and inevitably will lead to not only
the wiping out of the whales, but an end to the income
that these ignorant few are making from them. There
is so much more to be learnt and if necessary, money
to be made, from the living and breathing whale industry.
After
the traditional and political aspects of the day on
the foreshore of Bondi had wrapped up, the real party
started. Kicking off the musical celebrations was
Gin Wigmore, a young Kiwi girl with the most unique
and energetic style I've seen in a long time.
Her
style has been described as something of a mash up
of Neil Young, Blondie and Macy Gray, You can check
out her stuff at http://www.myspace.com/ginwigmore
Following
Gin with everyone all the more happier and relaxed
thanks to Sol beer's contribution to the event was
the acoustic sounds of Melanie Horsnell.
Soon
enough, everyone was in the partying mood and the
music started to pump everyone up a bit more thanks
to an Aussie hiphop band Budspells (http://www.budspells.com),
the soulful sounds of Decklan Kelly. In between sets
Dj's Jimmy 2 xox, and TARAS dj's kept everyone dancing.
(http://www.myspace.com/themojada)
Volunteers on the day even stopped what they were
doing to come and celebrate with the boys who had
created this awesome event and mass awareness through
media and word of mouth to help the charities "Surfers
for Cetaceans" and the "Whaleman Foundation".
Judging by the crowd's reaction of dancing, jumping
and singing along, Mojada are a band to be reckoned
with. Afterwards, Mojada called special guest Bunna
up on to the stage for 5 songs including a great cover
of "Aint No Sunshine" by bill withers, which
he sang in his native Koori tongue. The energy in
the room was intense with a clear message of unity.
We're the new generation and although we like to party,
we aren't going to allow these slaughters to continue.
Ending
the night with a bang are local award winning Sydney
band who were recently reviewed by Drum Media as "the
tightest band in Sydney". Set to the stage with
their explosive energy, everyone let loose before
heading home to bed (or various after parties) ready
for the Monday morning which was soon approaching.
King
Farook's online profile can be seen http://www.myspace.com/kingfarook
It
had been the most successful day and "The Changing
Colours Movement" couldn't have asked for a smoother
execution of the first of many events to come in the
name of peace and protection of our waters, bringing
people together with focused intentions and harmonious
vibes. After putting this first event together in
only four weeks with such success, I can only imagine
the size and impact the next one will have thanks
to Mojada, Sol beer, the musicians, celebrities and
everyone who contributed on the day. It goes to show
that big things do happen when people come together
as one. Our voice grows louder and can reach this
message further and further.
Please
also visit www.myspace.com/thechangingcoloursmovement
to show your support and join the thousands of people
now speaking up.
Article
and Photography by Rae Threnoworth
Flickr online gallery - updated daily
Blue Element Photography Portfolio
Myspace Page
For
more information on the whaling issue, you can visit
Surfers for Cetaceans and Whaleman.org
Profiles
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and Marco from Mojada
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