This whole dolphin killing thing has bothered me ever since I saw this youtube video (prepare your stomach). After the many stories I have heard about dolphins saving surfers, I think we owe it to them not to kill them.

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PRESSURE will mount on Broome to dump its Japanese sister city, Taiji, after the Australian premiere of the new documentary The Cove.

American Louie Psihoyos’s film reveals undercover footage from the Japanese port of the systematic annual capture and slaughter of thousands of dolphins for sale and consumption.

“It’s like an Auschwitz for dolphins,” said Psihoyos, in Australia for the documentary’s Sydney Film Festival premiere.

“A lot of people who work in this industry feel it’s going to put the nail in the coffin of the dolphin hunting industry,” said the photographer for National Geographic and director of the Oceanic Preservation Society.

“There’s no way it can keep going on, not just because of the inhumanity to animals but because of the inhumanity to man. People don’t realise these dolphins they’re eating are toxic.”

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Davenport, Ca — Save The Waves Coalition and Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival are proud to announce that Keeping Coast, the latest documentary film by Save The Waves, has received the Dumosa Award for Best Short Film at the Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival.

The festival screened the film and presented the award this past weekend in downtown Encinitas, California at the historic La Paloma Theatre. “We love the engaging message of Keeping Coast,” announced festival jury chair Elizabeth Taylor who presented the award in a ceremony on Friday night, “and we are excited to reward its inspiring environmental message to protect our coastlines.”

Writer of the film and Save The Waves environmental director Josh Berry was present at the awards ceremony in Encinitas to accept the award on behalf of his friend and film director Angel Marin, and for Save The Waves Coalition. “I’m stoked we won – when you see the film you will understand why, but for now just remember my mantra: film as activism,” said Josh Berry, “and many thanks to the festival for producing such a great event to raise environmental awareness at the local community level.”

Keeping Coast is a 15-minute documentary film about Save The Waves Coalition’s community activist work in Chile and its efforts in co-founding Chile’s first Waterkeeper Alliance program, the Maule Itata Coastkeeper. The film chronicles local efforts against a proposed coal plant and other development issues presently threatening a pristine stretch of coastal waters in rural South America.

The film premiered at Adventure Film Festival in Chile in March of 2009, and will be screening at other festivals in coming months, including: World Oceans Day Film Festival this week in San Francisco; Surfilm Festibal in San Sebastián, Spain; the Wild and Scenic Film Festival Tour; and others to be announced soon.

Film trailer, screening information and synopsis can be viewed at keepingcoast.blogspot.com

About Save The Waves Coalition: Save The Waves is an environmental coalition dedicated to preserving the world’s surf spots and their surrounding environments. The organization’s goal is to preserve and protect surfing locations around the planet and to educate the public about their value. Save The Waves works to prevent coastal development from entering the surf zone. Save The Waves is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. savethewaves.org

About Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival: The Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival aims to collect the most innovative and inspiring films regarding environmental issues, nature and the ocean.  The CCEFF mission is to use film to inspire positive action on behalf of the environment and encourage stewardship of the planet: cottonwoodfilm.com

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Andrew Kidman chose six of his favorite surfing filmmakers to create short films that were inspired by the sea. The filmmakers include Albert Falzon (Morning Of The Earth), Jon Frank (Litmus), Monty Webber, Michelle Lockwood (Kids) and American underground surf filmmakers Patrick Trefz (Thread) and Richard Kenvin (Hydrodynamica). Kidman also provides four special cuts of his own.

The filmmakers created their short films to music selected by Aaron Curnow from some of the greatest independent contemporary artists; Smog, Sufjan Stevens, Mogwai, My Morning Jacket, Dirty Three, Holly Throsby, Vetiver, Bonnie Prince Billy , The Brown Birds From Windy Hill and Machine Translations.

The quality of songs by these recording artists combined with the infinite beauty of the sea is something breathtaking, to say the least. Add to this the unique style of each filmmaker, their stories brought to life with these wonderful songs, and the result is at times emotional, sometimes harrowing, often funny and heartfelt, but always incredibly thoughtful.

The viewer is left stunned by the vastness of the ocean and the depth of emotion in the music. Says Kidman: “One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a filmmaker is the process of bringing scenes, emotions and stories to life with music. It’s kind of a filmmakers dream to have access to great music and the freedom to make whatever you want without the constraints of trying to make a full length feature or editors wreaking havoc with your work.

This is what I was thinking about when Aaron Curnow and I first had a conversation about this project. I thought something special could come from just letting the filmmakers make what ever they wanted. I hope the project has kept a pure line and that these original thoughts transcend in the viewing”

Last Hope is a film for anyone with a love for the ocean. With the film’s collage approach, mixed with the quiet musical stylings, it presents a side of the life that is often forgotten in these modern times.

Initially the Last Hope DVD is being released with a bonus CD of the films soundtrack. Plus a 24 page booklet with thoughts, interviews and images from the filmmakers in some damn fancy one off packaging.

Andrew Kidman is taking the film on the road this July and his band Brown Birds From Windy Hill will be providing a live score for the film at each show. Special guests (including Machine Translations) will also be appearing along the way.

Tickets for all shows available from oztix.com.au (unless otherwise stated) from tomorrow.

‘Last Hope’ JULY TOUR

• July 2nd Noosa Bowls, Noosa Heads
• July 3rd Old Museum, Brisbane
• July 4th Byron Community Centre, Byron
• July 10th Neverland Bar, Coolangatta
• July 12th Mullumbimby RSL, Mullumbimby
• July 16th Waverly Bowling Club, Bondi
• July 17th Palm Beach RSL, Palm Beach
• July 18th Manly Boat Shed, Manly
• July 19th Heritage Hotel, Wollongong (Tickets from venue)
• July 20th Brass Monkey, Cronulla (Tickets from venue)
• July 21st Royal Exchange, Newcastle

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