About Earthrace

Pete Bethune on the Eco Tribe
"In recent times I’ve started to look at the conservation movement as tribalism. It gives people something bigger to belong to than just themselves. Humankind historically has been tribal but, recently, many societies have lost these familial connections. We’ve lost our natural tribes, being limited to small families instead, or in many cases not even that. So we look for other things to replace this. Following our local football team, national rugby team or some basketball franchise is one way we satisfy our tribal urge. The connections, though, are loose. We wouldn’t bleed our own blood, or at least hopefully not, for the sake of a football team.

"Conservation is uniting people in a similar way; however, the sense of belonging and contribution is much stronger. People are willing to sacrifice much more in support of their tribe. Further to this, their tribe is one of many sub-tribes making up the conservation movement in general. So all the conservation groups, including Earthrace, are all sub-tribes with converging values and ideals, and together we make up a very considerable tribe that is a growing and mobile force around the globe."

How ECO works
Earthrace Conservation is a powerful fusion of direct action, knowledge and expertise, education, and most importantly, passion, which we strongly believe will grow into one of the most effective marine conservation groups in the world.

The oceans cover over 70% of the earth’s surface – they are vast. The scale of the problems and issues being faced by marine mammals and the habitats they live in is equally immense.

Missions
In this, our first year, we are undertaking missions in connection with the continuing annual hunting and slaughter of cetaceans and other marine animals in various countries across the world. Legal hunting of sea turtles in the Caribbean, seal harvesting in Namibia, commercial whaling by countries such as Norway and Iceland, indigenous or aboriginal hunting in places like the Faroe Islands and Australia, and the preying on sharks for their fins are all areas of concern.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the prevalence of poaching as well as threats from by-catch, and the waste of fish through discards decimate marine life, habitats and local livelihoods around the globe. We will be looking closely at ways to minimise the immense damage all these practices inflict on our oceans.

Keeping marine animals in captivity is an outdated method of 'educating the public' given modern methods of teaching using modern technology, and the prevalence of high quality film of marine life that is widely available. The only reason for keeping marine animals away from their natural habitats should be on the premise of 'Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release' and for no other reason.

Chapters
There are new Earthrace Chapters opening in cities around the world where teams of volunteers are working on issues in their own backyards.

Supporting their activities, we’ll spread news of their campaigns further afield to wider audiences to help them achieve their local goals. The sharks and manatees of Florida; the critically endangered Maui’s dolphins of North Island New Zealand; dolphins drives in the Faroe Islands, and the seals of La Jolla in California are already on our agendas.

Kudos to all conservation groups
If existing organisations and groups think we can offer some fresh ideas, or work alongside them in support of an existing campaign to help them achieve their goals, then we are happy to help however we can.

Contact info@earthraceconservation.org