“It hurts so good.” – John Cougar Mellencamp
The satisfaction and empowerment you get from doing something good can be a real buzz. To use your talents to try and affect change in the smallest way can bring about a sense that one really does belong.
About eight years ago the opportunity presented itself to work with professional surfer and budding activist Dave Rastovich on a project that (although I didn’t know it at the time) would change the direction of my filmmaking career. We began the process of making a documentary called “Minds In The Water” about Rasta’s desire to use his surfing celebrity to call attention to the issues facing cetaceans and their environment. Lofty goal, right? Weren’t the whales saved in 1986 by a moratorium on commercial whaling? As we know, governments have a way of getting around these types of roadblocks through creative thinking. That ‘86 moratorium slowed the slaughter but did not include enforcement or the protections for small cetaceans around the world, which meant that dolphins and porpoises were fair game to be hunted for their meat. Bummer.
Rasta, living in one of the most peaceful, conscious, and caring corners of the world (Byron Bay, Australia, aka “The Gathering Place”) was front and center to witness how humans and cetaceans have been living in coexistence for many years. How an old whaling town transformed into a whale loving tourist destination and succeeded provided a great model. In contrast, Dave became aware that the Japanese town of Taiji, kills thousands of dolphins and small whales to sell the meat to local supermarkets every year. The slaughter is brutal and none of the pod is spared in the killing. That means the males , females and even babies do not escape death. Only one percent of the Japanese population consumes whale and dolphin meat, and most of the younger generation is just now learning this type of thing is happening. Meaning the slaughter is almost entirely unnecessary.
Once Rasta’s intentions became clear to me, it was a no brainer to lend my talents to the task of calling attention to this. Being a lifelong surfer myself I can’t count the number of times I’ve shared my local lineup with dolphins and the joy and connection that has brought.
Great, so let’s do this. Go out, and make a movie about it!
Eight years and several maxed out credit cards later the mammoth project is now complete and available to the public. Awareness about this issue has increased globally, and the killing drives have also diminished. But they still exist. That hurts… Yet I remind myself constantly about why we got into this. Why we didn’t give up when there wasn’t an easy path. As ocean minded people it’s our responsibility to be the stewards of the sea and to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. It’s our turn to use our minds in the water to be the light. That’s why the buzz is so good when you give. That’s why it hurts so good.
Learn more about Minds in the Water or purchase a copy of the film here.
