CDM Works with Surfers for Cetaceans
Recent email from Matuse Family Member Chris Del Moro.
Been traveling with the Surfers for Cetaceans crew in Portugal for the annual ass backward IWC (international whaling commission) meetings. I flew into mainland Portugal area for a great surf/environment festival & surfing odyssey in the Peniche area. Super honored to have painted a 60 foot whale mural with fellow artist Howie Cooke overlooking one of the premier surf spots in the region. Such a great feeling to paint large outdoor murals and have the support of such an amazing group of local beach folk. On top of the painting and educating buzz, the waves were really fun as well.
After Leaving the mainland we hopped a flight into the island of Madeira. Located just off Morocco’s coast, it’s a Tahitian style collage of terraced architectural wonders sprawled to and fro. Our first day saw us surfing a slab right under a menacing cliff face that ended up dropping massive car sized chunks of stone, crushing a unoccupied home and crushing multiple cars.
Once the IWC meetings started, our crew of S4C members gathered from all angles of the sea. Dave Rastovich, Howie Cooke, Johnny Vasic, Justinn Krumb, Hilton Dawe and John Lawerson were hustling to keep up with a busy schedule. Our energy’s were focused on educational meetings with school groups, meetings with local fishermen, national parks service, gathering local surfers for protest, painting, and generally sharing our will to stop the killing/capture of whales and dolphins alike. With that said we have a lot of work ahead, Greenland has proposed to kill 10 humpbacks a year for the next 5 years for indigenous rights and crazy enough the US, Aus and NZ are backing it.
One of the high points of our efforts was working with the always radical Sea Shepherd Society to brainstorm our intentions for the next year of activism and conservation work.
After our time in Madeira the S4C team headed to the Azores island chain to highlight the positive economic effects whale tours have had on many ex-whaling communities. Our journeys within these secluded Atlantic playgrounds provided our group with the chance to swim with wild dolphins and be within boat’s length of 6 adult sperm whales protecting 1 playful calf. The power of experience was magical in so many ways and our time within the Baleia Atlantic tour was enjoyable.
If anyone wants to get involved or learn more make sure to watch Whale Wars on the Animal Planet, see the new film “The Cove” @ www.takepart.com/thecove or visit www.surfersforcetaceans.com
Big Thanks, Chris 111
For more info on S4C and to read up on Chris’s travels you can visit the S4C blog by CLICKING HERE. For more knowledge on Chris Del Moro and the rest of the Matuse Family, kindly CLICK HERE.
