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Written by Tanner Holthe
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Friday, 09 October 2009 13:42 |
Stars and crew of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars and the award-winning documentary Sharkwater were in Calgary Oct. 7 for the annual For the Oceans fundraiser. The second annual gala was held at the Red and White Club and is the largest fundraiser in North America for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which is a non-profit, international marine wildlife conservation group and takes direct action on the high seas.
Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society at the annual For the Oceans fundraising gala. "I don’t represent people, I represent whales and sharks and sea turtles and fish," he said.
Photo: Tanner Holthe/Calgary Journal
The captain of the Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson took to the stage offering tales from his adventures protecting the oceans. “I don’t represent people, I represent whales and sharks and sea turtles and fish,” Watson said unapologetically. “They are our clients and we speak for them.”
Watson is both praised and criticized for his physical conservation techniques, which often include chasing poachers and damaging their ships.
Calgary native Shannon Mann of the Sea Shepherd was awarded crewmember of the year and was personally thanked by Watson onstage. Mann was formerly a software programmer in Calgary before leaving to do a short stint with Sea Shepherd.
“I intended to leave for one campaign and come back to my job in Calgary,” Mann said. “And that was three and a half years ago. I love it and I can’t stop.” The Canadian seal slaughter is something Mann said she feels is important to defend yet embarrassing to see happening in Canada.
“We got arrested in Sydney, N.S., for intervening in the seal slaughter,” Mann said. “I locked myself in the cabin and managed to radio Paul and let him know they were overtaking our boat and we were being arrested. They took our boat away and they still have it.”
Despite being more than 700 kilometers from the nearest ocean, the Calgary event managed to raise $48,000 last year.
“This is certainly the biggest Sea Shepherd fundraiser in Canada,” said Julie Pithers of head sponsor DIRTT Environmental Solutions.
The event included a silent auction, appetizers, cash bar, speeches from crew members and a performance by The Matthew Skoller Band.
“We hope we can raise at least $70,000,” said Pithers. |
