World Oceans Day mascot - our 10m whale shark - is created!

On Saturday, May 29th construction of our life-size whale shark began. Our creative team, Lize van der Walt, Greg Tutt, Enkosi were an immense help - drawing the outline, welding the components together and providing many hours of entertainment throughout the creation process.

The whale shark will be unveiled during our World Oceans Day events on June 8th, when marine litter, collected by the 250 children participating in the Oceans of Life parade, will be placed inside the shark to illustrate alternative uses for rubbish and it's effects on marine life.

An endangered species, this whale shark will serve as a constant reminder of the effects of human activities on our World's oceans and the actions we can take to mitigate these.

We're looking for a catchy name for the our mascot, so email us any suggestions you might have.

Looking forward to seeing you on June 8th!

The SASC team

WORLD OCEANS DAY WISH LIST

SASC is celebrating World Oceans Day on June 8th 2010

We are planning to construct a life-size, 14 meter Whale Shark out of litter collected during our "Unity for Diversity Parade" on the day.
In order to construct our life-size Whale Shark, SASC is looking for the donations of the following materials.

Hardware:

• 7 x 2m squared hardboard
• Weather proof paint - blue and white
• Heavy-duty adhesive
• Paint brushes
• Clear varnish

Other:

• Mineral water and/or soft drinks
• A large blank page book for supporters to enter their pledges

Please remember that SASC is a non-profit organisation and therefore all donations are tax deductible.
Thank you for your support
Regards
The SASC Team

World Oceans Day: Unity for Ocean Diversity

On Tuesday, June 8th 2010, the World will celebrate World Oceans Day. Originally proposed as a concept by Canada at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, World Oceans Day was officially declared by the UN in 1999 and is now celebrated annually across the globe. On the first World Oceans Day, the Secretary General of the UN declared:

The first observance of World Oceans Day allows us to highlight the many ways in which oceans contribute to society. It is also an opportunity to recognize the considerable challenges we face in maintaining their capacity to regulate the global climate, supply essential ecosystem services and provide sustainable livelihoods and safe recreation... Indeed, human activities are taking a terrible toll on the world’s oceans and seas. Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution, especially from land-based sources. Increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification caused by climate change pose a further threat to marine life, coastal and island communities and national economies... The theme of World Oceans Day... emphasizes our individual and collective duty to protect the marine environment and carefully manage its resources. Safe, healthy and productive seas and oceans are integral to human well-being, economic security and sustainable development.

World Oceans Day gives us all the opportunity to celebrate and honour our Blue Planet. This year’s theme, Oceans of Life, celebrates the incredible diversity found from the shallows to the depths of these magnificent ecosystems.

To honour our Oceans on this day and highlight conservation issues, SASC proposes to join with our partners and friends here in Hermanus – uniting as one for the sake of diversity.

Some of the activities on the day will include:
1. A beach cleanup at Grotto Beach, where all participants dress in their best marine creature costume to illustrate the diversity of ocean life;

2. Unity for Ocean Diversity walk: with collected litter, costumed participants walk from Grotto to the Old Harbour and create a life-size litter collage of an endangered whale shark;

3. Prominent guest speakers will highlight conservation issues and actions;

4. Screening of ocean related films

5. A community-wide pledge to take action and conserve our oceans;

6. Best-dressed prizes, etc.

However, to undertake our Unity for Ocean Diversity project, we require significant assistance through the donation of funds, materials and prizes. Those who are interested in participating or assisting in any way will be recognised through various media, including the SASC website, local television and news.

All donations, however small or grand, are tax deductible – and don’t forget how great you will feel knowing you have contributed to ocean conservation!!

To get involved, contact Tamzyn (tamzyn@sharkconservancy.org) or Meag (meag@sharkconservancy.org) for more info.

The SASC Team