Protect Australia’s Ocean for Good - Speakers – Films – Live Music

News from Patagonia: Next week, the ‘Protect Australia's Ocean for Good’ tour kicks off along Australia’s east coast. This series of free public events seeks to bring together coastal communities to take action to protect our marine ecosystems.

Hosted by surfer and Patagonia Global Sport Activist Dave Rastovich, the evenings will feature conversations with ocean-loving friends – co-founder of Surfers for Climate Belinda Baggs, climate activist Tishiko King, Dr Simon Bradshaw from the Climate Council, Mirring Elder and Fight for the Bight leader Uncle Bunna Lawrie, and Yarran Couzens Bundle a Gunditjmara woman with a long connection to Koontapool, the Southern Right Whale.

Screenings will include a special premiere of ‘Kin’, by Lauren L. Hill and Andrew Buckley, which features Lauren, Dave Rastovich, and their family.

Filmed on Lord Howe Island, this new short film celebrates just what can be gained through marine protection. In addition to ‘In the Family of Things’ introduced by filmmaker Nathan Oldfield, and Ramón Navaro’s ‘Corazón Salado’ from Patagonia’s new Marine Life series.

To round out the night, singer/songwriter Emily Wurramara will play an unmissable live set.

 * Wednesday, November 8th, 6:30-9pm, The Capitol, Naarm / Melbourne, VIC 

* Thursday, November 9th, 6:30-9pm, Harbord Hotel, Guringai Country, Freshwater, NSW

* Sunday, November 12th, 4-6:30pm, Byron Bay Community Centre, 69 Jonson Street, Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay NSW

These evenings will be followed by selected conversation and screenings in-store, as well as festival events throughout November and early 2024, including:

* Thursday, November 16th, 6:30-9pm, Patagonia Burleigh Heads, 15 James Street, Bundjalung Country, Burleigh Heads, QLD

* Friday, November 17th, 6:30-9pm, Patagonia Torquay, 116 Surf Coast Highway, Wadawurrung Country, Torquay, Vic

(*additional locations to be added www.patagonia.com.au/oceanevents)

“In 2012 Australia was a leader in ocean conservation, with 3,000,000-square-kilometres of marine protected areas. In 2018, the Australian government cut the protection of around 1,000,000-square-kilometres, opening huge areas to extractive industries,” said Dave Rastovich. “As a life-long water person, who has followed surf seasons around the world, I have gained a first-hand experiential education while surfing, diving, and sailing in waters plundered by industrial fishing fleets and poisoned by our industrial and domestic agricultural and aquaculture practices. I have felt the loneliness of waters without animals and shores without seabirds.”

“Our planet is at breaking-point and the ocean is a vital lifeline. If we can protect significant areas and let Mother Nature do her thing, all waters can flourish – bringing life, upholding climate solutions, and allowing communities to prosper,” added Belinda Baggs. “Celebrating the sea with mates is always a great time, especially when there's purpose. Across the globe amazing groups of like-minded ocean lovers are undertaking projects to protect and preserve marine life and habitats. Come along to learn more about just what is possible when we all work together.” 

Lauren Hill echoed that invitation: “We now know the ocean’s critical role in sustaining life – including our own wellbeing. Our ancestors probably knew this intuitively, and now we have the science to drive home the inexorable ways in which our lives – the air we breathe, the water we drink, our food, the planet’s climate and chemistry, our sense of place and belonging – are entwined with the ocean, no matter where we live… The work of protecting our ocean playgrounds is personal, but we also need it to be communal, and political. To have big oceanic impact, we need strong legislation that can be managed across large swaths of ocean. These events are a way to joyfully gather in a unified voice to both celebrate the ocean, and get clear on how best to move the dial forward on protecting Australia’s precious ocean for good.” 

 Join the movement

 RSVP to a free event