Note : Japan is a wonderful country full of wonderful people. It’s a shame that such a fantastic place has a misguided few who fail to understand fully what they are doing to our wonderful brothers and sisters from the sea.

Release date: 29-10-2007
Source: Dave Rastovich, Hayden Panettiere and Other Real-Life Heroes Make A Daring Pre-dawn Mission Back to Japanese Dolphin Killing Cove

TOKYO- Less than 24 hours after professional surfer Dave Rastovich led an international group of over 30 surfers, celebrities, and musicians on a peaceful paddle-out ceremony to honor the more than 25,000 dolphins killed each year in Japan, fishermen in the tiny village of Taiji resumed the slaughter that had been delayed by the increased worldwide media attention.

In response, the surfers decided in solidarity to make a pre-dawn return to the killing cove to recreate the ceremony, albeit with fewer people to evade detection. Rastovich and the others paddled within a stone’s throw of a pod of captive pilot whales and their calves that had been herded into the cove for early morning slaughter.

“The reason we surfers were there was to share the blood-stained waters at eye-level with our ocean kin awaiting their execution,” said a dripping, visibly shaken Rastovich just after paddling in. “Despite the fishermen taking great pains to hide their acts of cruelty, we seized an opportunity to bring this travesty to the world’s attention.”

Taiji-area fishermen, who kill dolphins and whales for their meat, netted off the bay and constructed green tarps to shield the slaughter from prying eyes and front-line cetacean activists bent on shutting down the dolphin trade forever. When the surfers learned of the imminent slaughter, they did not hesitate to return despite the distinct possibility of violent resistance and police arrest.

Rastovich and his core team of surfers trailed by camera crews arrived at the infamous Taiji cove to paddle out to the captured pilot whales. After entering the water they quickly arrived alongside the whales who swam back and forth along the edge of the seaward net.

The six paddlers, including Rastovich, his wife mermaid model Hannah Fraser, Heroes TV star Hayden Panettiere, Australian actress Isabel Lucas, author Peter Heller and professional surfer Karina Petroni, formed a traditional surfers’ memorial circle situated between the whales and the blood-ridden shallows.

Local fishermen converged almost immediately, harassing the paddlers with yelled threats and advancing on them with whirling propeller blades. The irate fishermen, who yelled “Why are you here? Go Home!” then used a long wooden pole to attack and intimidate the surfers.

“Even though the fishermen used force to try and break us up we held our peaceful stance. The feeling in the circle was of incredible strength” said mermaid model Hannah Fraser.

With tensions escalating and the police sirens growing, the surfers quickly paddled back to shore where a distraught Hayden Panettiere fell to her knees sobbing, overwhelmed by the carnage she and the group had just witnessed.

“I couldn’t believe how red the water was,” said Panettiere. “The whales were so scared. Hopefully their deaths won’t be in vain.”

After hightailing it out of Taiji, 30 policemen readied with a paddy wagon stopped the three-van convoy at the border of the Wakayama prefecture. After politely checking passports and questioning the group intently, the police waved the crew on their way.

Rastovich expressed extreme sorrow, saying “With many nets and kill boats waiting beyond the cove, the fishermen’s intense desire to kill left no room for escape.”

Reflecting on the day’s experience, a somber Isabel Lucas expressed that the worst part was that the whales are probably all dead by now. “We couldn’t save these whales but hopefully shining the light on their deaths will save others.”

In few weeks, few days, you may come to see us in Mauritius. Before your arrival, we would like to ask you to share on one of our projects…

Extreme Sports Cafe has a policy of trying to engage itself in local development.

In 2005, the Clubs on the island sponsored the Morne school in donating a computer and a printer. This school hosts 150 pupils from 5 to 12 years old, 80% of the children are from very poor families.

This year, we would like to continue this by giving them school supplies..

You can also act for this effort if you can bring in your luggage some books, pencils, ..

Furthermore we are trying to help the La Gaulette Library with some French, English, German books for adults or children. If you have some ..

Thanks in advance for your help.

The Extreme Sports Cafe Team

Chers Windsurfers et Kitesurfers,

Votre sejour au Extreme Sports Cafe approche ,quelques semaines, quelques jours,. Avant votre arrivee, nous souhaitons vous faire partager nos projets.

En effet depuis l annee derniere, Extreme Sports Cafe de l Ile Maurice s investit dans le development local.

En 2005, Extreme Sports Cafe et partners a sponsorise l ecole du Morne en offrant un ordinateur et une imprimante. Cette ecole compte 150 eleves, ages de 5 a 12 ans, don’t 80% sont issus de familles tres modestes.

Cette annee, nous souhaitons a plus long terme etre partenaire de cette ecole en leur apportant des fournitures scolaires et extra scolaires.

Si vous le souhaitez , vous pouvez, vous aussi, devenir acteur de cette action solidaire en emmenant dans vos valises quelques cahiers, crayons, .. ( liste cidessous)

En parallele, nous sponsorisons la Bibliotheque de la Gaulette en leur offrant des livres destines aux adultes et aux enfants enfants en francais , anglais ou allemand.

Merci d avance pour votre contribution

L equipe du Extreme Sports Cafe