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Heroes In A Half Shell - Turtle Power!!
Do you love travel? Animals? Movies?
Did you grow up on David Suzuki, Captain Planet and The Ninja Turtles like me?
Do you think that sea turtles are the cutest, and want to help save them from EXTINCTION!?!?
Do you want to be a contribution to the planet on the oceans without having to leave your comfort zone?
Will you be a hero in a half shell, make a difference in the world, and help me save some endangered sea turtles?
Who Am I?
My name is Ashley, I am a world traveller, Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer, Priestess & Alchemy Initiate, Student of Journalism at NYU, Partner, Daughter, Mother of creation and well… general do-gooder based in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.
As a firm believer of the phrase “be the change you want to see in the world” I actively and intentionally go out in the world to not only witness its cultures and majesty; but to spread light and make a difference in my world and that around me. My goal is to be a shining example of how: by being a contribution to the world and showing that by actively and intentionally creating your reality, that you can not only lead a life beyond your wildest dreams but change the entire world in the process. One Step at a time, one contribution at a time, one word at a time.
For the past 7 years I’ve been working in the Vancouver film industry “Hollywood North”. My on-set training in 7 departments over the years, voracious appetite for screencraft books, as well as outside schooling in screenwriting, script supervising, camera movement, shots, angles and much much more has given me a pretty vast knowledge both in theory and action. Before the film strikes in North America these past 2 years, I was a production coordinator and have worked for Disney, Netflix, Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Lifetime, and everyone's guilty pleasure from Christmas movies to murder mysteries with Hallmark. Industry crippling strikes can either ruin a person or force you to follow your passions more feverishly, that's what I chose. Since the strikes I've been experimenting on my own making music videos for bands in my partners music production studio, making promotional videos for businesses on social media, making travel videos, and learning more hands on editing while having probably too much fun in the process.
I know I know, what does any of this have to do with the turtles? Let's hop into that now!
Lights, Turtles, ACTION!
Last August while photographing a women's priestess retreat in Upstate New York, I was doing some private shoots with the women on the break along a river bed and found a baby snapping turtle shell. At the time It was a perfect gift and turned out to be foreshadowing. A week after my return to Canada I got an email about vetted volunteer tourism, something I had always been interested in: Seeing the world, while making a difference in it. The first thing that popped up, while the shell sat on my desk beside me was Endangered sea turtle conservation in Bali.. I was immediately in. Upon my application they learned of my film skills and we agreed that I was going to attempt to film my very first documentary with them as well as create social media and promotional videos for them. So I immediately went to work, draining all the money I had remaining into filming equipment, proper lenses, additional education, and all of the many things required to go film a movie alone on the other side of the world. But seriously ENOUGH about me and my why. Let's talk about the turtles, where your donation money will go and how it is going to help.
Sea-naged, Endangered, Ninja Turtles.. Sing it with me..
According to the WWF, no not the wrestlers… the wildlife people. Nearly ALL species of sea turtle are now classified as endangered. With three of the seven remaining species being critically endangered. Sea Turtles are a staple to the ocean’s ecosystem. They are found worldwide, live long lives and migrate great distances playing a major role in their environments, They’ve even outlived the dinosaurs!
Unfortunately, no matter their long lives, all seven of the remaining species are threatened, endangered, or critically endangered. This leaves sea turtles in very distressing situations. Here is why the sea turtles are in danger and how, even from afar, you can help, because let’s face it we all know those useless paper straws aren’t helping anyone…
Why Should Sea Turtles Be Conserved?
More than just cute as all heck, These totally COWABUNGA Sea Turtles have existed on earth and played vital roles in maintaining the health of the world's oceans for more than 100 million years. These roles range from maintaining productive coral reef ecosystems, maintaining the health of seagrass beds to transporting essential nutrients from the oceans to beaches and coastal dunes worldwide. Turtles have major cultural significance and tourism value. Found mainly in subtropical waters, there are two species that have restricted ranges: Kemp's ridley found mainly in the gulf of Mexico and the flatback turtle around Papua New Guinea and northern Australia.
Why are Sea Turtles Endangered?
Sea Turtles Journey between land and sea swimming thousands of miles. They return to the same beaches they were born on to lay their eggs after decades of waiting. Laying hundreds of eggs at once yet only few will survive their first year of life. Beyond the significant natural challenges, they are also faced with multiple threats from humans such as commercial fishing bycatch, illegal trade, consumption, pollution, coastal development and climate change.
Let's break down the many factors leading to the rapid decline of our ocean guardians:
Pollution
Plastics, Discarded fishing gear, garbage, petroleum by products, poisons and other debris harm and kill sea turtles through ingestion and entanglement. Chemical pollutants weaken sea turtles immune systems, making them susceptible to disease. Plastic waste has become an increasingly alarming environmental issue with devastating consequences for marine life, Sea turtles stand out as particularly vulnerable to deadly plastic waste.
Climate Change
Climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, resulting in a loss of nesting beaches and causes other alterations to critical sea turtle habitat as well as basic oceanic processes. Warming sands due to climate change naturally impacts the natural gender ratios of hatchlings and can even prevent them from hatching at all. Lower sand temperatures produce male turtles while warmer temperatures produce female turtles. If the sand is too warm there will be less males in the future and increased likelihood of disease outbreaks for sea turtles. .
Predators to the Sea Turtle (other than Shredder and the foot clan of course)
Where predators are concerned , adult sea turtles only have to
watch out for certain sharks, like the tiger shark. Most predators
go straight for the hatchlings. Once hatched baby sea turtles made
the mad dash to the ocean from their nest. Let the predator games
begin!! Enter beach right: Seagulls, crabs, raccoons will snatch
them right up off the beach, then when they get to the water they
have to be quicker still as fish and crabs are already there waiting
for them. And we haven't even factored in the biggest most
dangerous predator of all: Us, Humans..
How do Humans Impact Sea Turtles?
Growing from hatchling to turtle is hard enough with only natural predators to worry about without adding the hazards and threats that we humans lay down on these majestic beings.
Direct Take:
Sea Turtles and their eggs are killed by people throughout the world for food, their shells and products such as oil and leather.
Coastal Development:
The coastal habitats of sea turtles are being destroyed and degraded by coastal development. Shoreline and seafloor alterations such as nesting beach degradation, seafloor dredging, vessel traffic, construction and alteration of vegetation are all destroying their seaside homes.
Fisheries:
Virtually worldwide sea turtles are affected by fisheries, especially loglines, gill nets, and trawls. The most severe of these impacts are entanglement death, habitat destruction and food web changes. As fishing activities continue to develop and expand, sea turtles are increasingly under threat.
Light Pollution:
Turtles follow the light when they are born. As they hatch they follow the sun, moon and starlight reflected in the ocean. But 100 million years ago they didn't have flashing cities, LEDs and fluorescent lighting. If the lights are behind them they go to the city instead of the sea. And unlike the ninja turtles they are too young for pizza and they can;t survive and easily become prey.
“HUMANS ARE THE DEMON SCUM OF THE EARTH. AVOID THEM. DON’T SAY HI. THEY LUST TO MURDER THAT WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THEM. TO INTERACT WITH THEM IS TO DIE.” – TMNT SQUAD
OMG! That’s Terrible, How Can I Help?
Even if you don't live in a coastal area there are ways that you can help sea turtles. A great start is the reduction of single use plastics. All waterways find their way to the ocean, so reduced plastic use means less plastics in the oceans. Use reusable shopping bags, water bottles, utensils, if you are going to the beach make sure to leave no trace and maybe even pick up some garbage you see there. Another way is by not releasing balloons, using biodegradable confetti, remember all those plastics and debris can end up in the belly of a sea turtle.
Other ways include educating yourself about sea turtles and their importance to the ecosystem. Donating your time or money to turtle friendly organisations, such as sea turtle rescues, and projects like this one. Let me tell you more about this project and our partner and how you can join in and partner with us to save the sea turtles.
Our Contribution To Sea Turtle Conservation
I am being a contribution via a 2 month volunteer tourism sea turtle conservation placement with ‘The Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Sanur, Indonesia’ As part of this project I am filming a documentary about the center and sea turtle conservation as a whole to raise awareness of what's happening to them and how this conservation center is working to save sea turtles from extinction.
About the Project
Millions of years ago, Turtles were already roaming and thriving in the oceans. At that time they had no fear of being caught in fishing nets, losing their nesting due to tourism infrastructure or the plundering of their nests for egg consumption. Today, this has led to a decrease of some turtle species and even to their extinction.
In 2006 the center opened on Serangan Island Bali, Indonesia, in order to give these beautiful creatures protection from the illegal trade and tourism and to get them back out into the ocean after recovering, the center also acts as a hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. Small or injured turtles are raised in salt water pools until they can finally be exposed back into the ocean again. The environmental organisation focuses on sea turtle conservation, rehabilitation and education to help raise awareness among the community through several projects with the locals around the center, national government and international visitors and volunteers.
Visiting the center is an educational experience for visiting schools, children, university students and tourists.
Where Will My Financial Contribution Go?
Money donated to this project is going to not only the filming and production costs of the documentary it will also go towards:
- Monitoring activities to document the status of hatchling turtles
- Assisting with turtle hatchings and providing necessary medications to injured turtles
- Assisting the conservation center to provide the food for the turtles and feeding the turtles which includes preparation of fish and hunting seaweed from the sea
- Supporting education programs
- Supporting the conservation agenda, turtle release events, group and school educational visits
- Cleaning turtle tanks and keeping a safe site for turtles, workers and visitors.
What You Get
Other than the ultimate satisfaction of being a contribution to the planet and saving sea turtles from extinction which is a gift in itself I have a few offers I wanted to extend as both thank you and incentive.
Business and Corporate Advertising Partners
If you donate under your business name I will issue advertising partnerships. Donations are only partially tax deductible, and that doesn't apply here as I am not a non profit company (YET) Advertising and marketing is a 100% write off for your business, tho so why not give those tax dollars to good use instead of to the government. I will be issuing advertising and marketing receipts to any doner that requests this.
Another level to this is any companies wanting to issue much larger contributions can have their companies logo or information added into the film and promotional materials, scale to be negotiated. This can look like: Being listed in the credits, Having episodes or reels presented by your company with a little business spotlight. Again these details can be negotiated on a per person basis.
Individual Contributors
Everyone who aids this project will be featured in the credits of the film. And as above any individual large sum contributors have the option to be credited in whatever manner you please.
There are also “adopt a turtle" programs where you can sponsor a turtle: you get to name them, get their picture and I will make a video reel for you of their release. I will have more details on this one when I arrive at the center.
Thank You For Your Consideration & Generosity
By the time I arrive in Indonesia to start this program we will have spent 6 months planning and undoing the paperwork to get me there plus on my own I have already spent countless thousands of dollars pretty much my entire savings to make this contribution and be of service in this manner. I am notorious for doing things alone and having a hard time asking for help out of fear of rejection amongst many other things. We will always be stronger and more powerful than any individual can be on their own, so please I ask that you take my hand and we each grab a fin and help our ocean brothers and sisters in saving the planet!
We have spent We are boldly asking that you partner with us in our diligent work to prevent harm to and help ensure a brighter future for all sea turtles so that they can perhaps continue living for millions of years more.
“I DO NOT WISH TO FIGHT. BUT CAST A STONE INTO THE LAKE, AND THE RIPPLES WILL RETURN TO YOU.”
– MASTER SPLINTER
Special Thanks To Victoria Digital Marketing for all the support in fulfilling a life of being of service and giving me the tools to Grow.
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