CONSERVATION WORK  

Photos by Ken Eaton, Lisa Harrison, Patricia Issertes, Tim Conibear, Terry Corr, Jenni Courtney, Steven Challinor and others.
 

GLOBAL WAVE CONFERENCE In Kommetjie I met Dr Tony Butt, big wave surfer and oceanography professor. Tony was planning an international conference with Surfrider Foundation Europe as well as many other surf conservation groups to discuss the protection of waves and surfbreaks. He invited me to talk at the conference in Biarritz, France and San Sebastian, Spain. October 25 and 24 2011 on the work I have been doing.

The conference was very successful in bringing people together from all over the world to discuss surf conservation issues and work together in tackling these issues. This was a great experience.

Global Wave Conference Presentation - Michael Carnegie
Connecting With Nature Through Surfing
 

My subject was Connecting with Nature Through Surfing. I spoke about the value of the natural world along our coastlines not only for surfers but for local communities and society as a whole. I talked about work I have  been doing with environmental education, marine wilderness ideas developed with the  Wilderness Foundation and progress with my art.

The presentation went well and I have received much encouragement. This has been very good progress in linking with international people through which to do conservation work in the surfing world. I am now  corresponding with people all over the world and through this network I hope to develop productive relationships with people overseas and in SA to help protect the coastline and establish marine reserves. The conference was attended by people working with surf conservation groups from France, Spain, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Portugal, Canary Islands, Azores, Mexico, Holland, Morocco and other places.   To see my presentation you can click the link above and you should see the Global Wave Conference website page with a copy of the presentation slides and the movie below. It may take a while to load up and then you can watch the movie and flip through the slides on the presentation.

PAINTINGS FOR WILDLIFE

I have done paintings to raise money and awareness for wildlife and plan to build on this as I progress. There is more info about this on the Paintings for Wildlife page.

MARINE WILDERNESS

After moving to Cape Town in 2008 I worked at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre as an educator where I helped develop an education and awareness programme. During this time I also worked with my brother to develop KELP (Kelp Environmental Learning Project) I developed an education programme for KELP and tied this in with the work I was doing at the Shark Centre as well as with ideas I had been developing with encouragement from the Wilderness Group using experiences in the outdoors and marine world to encourage a respect and love of nature.

 

We developed a successful education programme and have dealt with thousands of kids and others who have attended classes and outings over the past few years. While working for SOS  I began developing an education programme focusing on surfing and marine wilderness issues as this is where my main interest lies. I have been developing lessons that tie in with the surfing and lifesaving world. Part of the plan for this programme is to work with surfers etc to encourage people to take action in helping with environmental issues through clean-ups, education, finding soliutions, reporting useful info and opposing threats to the environment.

In Jan 2011 I left the Shark Centre and am now working independently to continue developing this education work and surfing environmental programme through other groups.

I have done Marine Wilderness outings with Eziko Museums, WESSA, SANParks, EarthChild and others. Plans are underway to develop training programmes with Eziko developing art projects linked to Marine Wilderness outings. I am also discussing plans for education work with WESSA , Two Oceans, AOCA and others.

Detailed reports of marine wilderness outings can be seen by following the links on the Education program page.

SURFING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

I have been working with Isiqalo and various people to develop an environmental education programme linked to surfing.

We have taken a number of children on surfing outings which include an environmental lesson. We have done a rock pool lessons at Dalebrook, an outing to Cape Point Reserve and Kelp painting on the Muizenberg beach. Progress has been good and we hope to build on this.

It is my ambition to take the education further to link with overseas tourists and international surf groups.

 

In June 2010 I worked with Glenn Bee to arrange a surf school in memory of Pierre Du Plessis.  This was successful and a step forward in my efforts to develop a respectable relationship with the surf world and to do environmental education with surfers.

There is more info on the Education programs page.

MUSIC AND STORIES

I also have been working on some music and hope soon to have some songs recorded well enough to promote the work I do. I am also busy preparing stories which should be illustrated in time.

If you are interested in doing an outing or lesson the full education programmes can be seen on the education program page.

There is more info about conservation work I have been involved with on the Conservation History and Marine Wilderness Pages.

If you would like to know more you are welcome to contact me. Thank you.