About Whale of a Time

The Whale of a Time Workshop is a creative and educational event where young and old are able to model whales and other endangered species out of clay, and at the same time learn about the environment, biodiversity and sustainability, whilst having a whale of a time!

The Whale of a Time Workshop won the London region of the Future Friendly Awards 2011, the NHS Community Wellbeing Competition 2010 and the Making a Big Difference Award 2010. Whale of a Time was nominated for the London Peace Awards 2010 and 2011 and the Archant London Environmental Awards 2009.

Mark Brownlow, BBC Producer of Ocean Giants commented, "Watching people of all ages enjoying making their favourite whale species.. It's things like this, which will really inspire people to get aware of the plight of whales and dolphins and do something about it so it's a fun way of engaging people and i think I'll have a go at it myself."

Ian Rowlands, Co-Founder Planet Whale, WhaleFest, Brighton & Hove, UK commented, "A big part of what's made this event so cool is having Whale of a Time here. The kids have loved it. It's been a huge buzz all around the stand all day. The best thing we ever did was have these guys come here. ...WhaleFest exceeded our imagination. There's something about whales that even inspires people with even no interest in the natural world. It's great having Whale of a Time here to add to that success."

Ros Croker, Programme Manager Mayor's Thames Festival, London, UK, "Whale of a Time were a great addition to this year's Thames Festival, providing a popular, creative and fun workshop for both children and parents."

Lucy Smith, Public Health Manager at NHS Lambeth, London, UK said: “As part of the Lambeth mental wellbeing programme and work to improve access to psychological therapies, we have funded these workshops with the aim of increasing awareness of ways in which people can actively improve their wellbeing."

Ruth Claricoates, Barking & Dagenham Community Park Ranger, commented, "Whale of a time has been the most popular event out of all of them (Barking & Dagenham Community Park events) in the whole year.”

Bhupesh Thapa, West Area Parks Manager, Environment & Regeneration Department, Islington Council, London, UK said, "We were so happy to have Whale of a Time at our event at Barnard Park. The kids loved the workshop, which was very professionally run. We look forward to having Whale of Time back in Islington and would highly recommend the workshop.

Anna Godsiff, Streatham and Stockwell Festival Manager, London UK said, "Whale of a Time is number one on my list for childrens' activities."

James Brooke, MD Sail, Power & Motor Show, Earl’s Court, London, UK said, "Thank you so much! You've made the show!"

View our website at www.whaleofatime.org

Thursday, 15 December 2011

15th December: Silent Protest Held in Support of Communities of Limpopo


Yesterday in central London a silent protest took place outside the General Meeting of Shareholders of Australian mining company, Coal of Africa Ltd (CoAL). The protest was held in solidarity with the communities of the Limpopo Province, South Africa, who face untold ecological, social and economic damage to their ancestral homes should the mine go ahead.

The CoAL project which will affect this region is known as the Makhado Project. It is in addition to one other mine owned by the company in Limpopo Province, known as Vele, and a further two in the neighbouring Mpumalanga province. Yesterday’s meeting preceded CoAL’s Conditional Placing of Shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange plc, which is set to take place today.

Liz Hosken, founding director of The Gaia Foundation took part in the protest: “We are here in support of the local communities and especially the Makadzhis- the guardians of the sacred sites and sacred lands of Venda in Limpopo Province. These are the spiritual leaders of the people whose responsibility it is to protect their ancestral homeland, which these coal-mining projects will destroy if they go ahead. The company haven’t even carried out proper studies, but the one thing that they have admitted is that the underground water will be finished within two years. So there isn’t even enough water for their own projects; let alone for life itself. If there is no water, there is no life. This is truly Ecocide.”

Earlier this week twelve civil society groups and community members from the Limpopo Province sent a letter to over fifty shareholders and potential investors of Coal of Africa (CoAL) demanding that they reconsider their plans to support the company - and specifically the Makhado Project.

The letter set out a number of grave concerns relating to CoAL’s handling of the Makhado project and their neighbouring Vele mine. These included a flawed public participation process; failure to provide adequate answers to questions raised by the community; no water licence; and an insufficient Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan.

The letter states: “We have a responsibility to our ancestors and to our children to stop the destruction of our ancestral lands. You would do the same if someone wanted to mine your home. Please think about that”.


Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact Rowan Phillimore at The Gaia Foundation on 0207 428 0054 or rowan@gaianet.org

or A.M. Mudau, Dzomo la Mupo, South Africa email: azwihangwisimosesm@yahoo.com or +27 79 412 2666

Watch a short film about yesterday’s protest and what the mine will mean to the communities of Limpopo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZG0Sc9NTRY&feature=youtu.be
Image: Silent protest outside CoAL’s General Meeting of Shareholders which took place in Central London yesterday (Wednesday 14th December). Copyright, The Gaia Foundation.

The letter which was sent to CoAL shareholders and investors earlier this week has been based on evidence and analysis drawn from a research report commissioned by an alliance of groups, to look into the impacts of coal mining. The report Mine Not – Waste Not: A preliminary critique of aspects of the CoAL Makhado Colliery Project EIA and EMP is available on the following websites: The Gaia Foundation http://www.gaiafoundation.org and London Mining Network www.londonminingnetwork.org.

Coal of Africa’s website states today that, ‘subject to obtaining shareholder approval to issue the Conditional Placing Shares, the Company will apply for admission of the Conditional Placing Shares to trading or quotation and listing of the Conditional Placing Shares on the AIM market of London Stock Exchange plc ("AIM") on 15 December 2011 and on the Main Board of JSE Limited ("JSE") on 20 December 2011. Accordingly, the anticipated settlement date for the Conditional Placing Shares on AIM is 15 December 2011’. www.coalofafrica.com
Posted by Whale of a Time at 18:57
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