Urban Unrest

12 June 2006 | Opportunities | Ernesto Aguilar

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) today announced that contestants can continue to submit entries for the “Whale Remix Project” until August 30. The innovative music contest asks users to create their own songs using the sounds of the humpback whale in order to raise awareness about Japan’s illegal whale slaughter. Winners will be announced in September.“We’re extending the contest to give music and animal lovers more time to create great songs while the International Whaling Commission deliberates on whales’ future,” said Greg Wetstone, U.S. director for IFAW. “This contest connects people with the beautiful music of humpback whales and offers an opportunity to take action to protect whales against attack by Japan.”

The fate of the world’s whales will be decided at an important meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that begins next Friday, June 16 in St. Kitts. The commission will consider measures that could undo laws protecting whales and overturn a 20-year-old international ban on hunting them commercially. The hunting of humpback whales has been banned for more than four decades.

The Whale Remix Project can be found at www.stopwhaling.org where visitors can compose songs using the sounds of humpback whales and also urge President Bush to take stronger action against Japan’s illegal whale slaughter. Using a simple Flash tool with an interactive keyboard interface, visitors can mix together their favorite humpback whale songs or download humpback whale sounds to mix their own tracks offline. Humpback whales create complex and beautiful songs using rhymes and repetition.

A celebrity panel will judge the top ten songs selected by IFAW. The winner will receive a video iPod and have their song featured in upcoming public service announcements about the growing slaughter of whales around the world. Runners-up could win an iPod Nano or iPod Shuffle. Sample songs are available at www.stopwhaling.org/community.

The celebrity panel who will judge the top entries includes: Johanna Fateman of Le Tigre; Tom Dumont of No Doubt; Lisa Kekuala of The Bellrays; electronic music composer and producer BT; composer and producer Wayne Kramer (founding member of MC5); hip-hop artist and producer Head-Roc; Sid Barcelona of Thunderball; composer and producer Chris Vrenna (former member of Nine Inch Nails and touring drummer for Marilyn Manson); and Mike Ski of the A.K.A.s.

Since the international ban on whaling took effect in 1986, Japan has killed more than 25,000 whales under the guise of scientific research. Despite condemnation by the IWC, Japan has continued and even expanded its so-called scientific whaling. The Japanese whaling fleet has killed 863 whales from the protected waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary so far this year and was recently deployed to hunt more whales in northern waters. Japan has announced plans to increase the slaughter next year and include critically endangered fin whales and sperm whales and also, for the first time since the ban was imposed, endangered humpback whales.

Statements by Celebrity Judges:

“These whale sounds are the coolest samples I’ve heard in years, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone comes up with. Using whale samples to make music is a rad way for musicians and listeners to make a personal connection to these magnificent creatures.”

- Tom Dumont, No Doubt

“I am very proud to be a part of IFAW’s Whale Remix Project and I encourage beat-makers everywhere to make a track in support of this important campaign. Help raise awareness against the cruelty of whaling and make music that matters!”

- Johanna Fateman, Le Tigre

“It’s an honor for me to participate in the Whale Remix project. The slaughter of the whales must stop, and hopefully by creating new music based around whale songs, people will realize just how much these great creatures offer.”

- Chris Vrenna, composer, electronic and industrial music producer

“In the insatiable quest for convenience, comfort, and ‘progress,’ the human race often loses its’ sense of responsibility and clemency. The cruel and senseless situation with whaling in Japan is one of those cases and must be met full force with resistance and a call for change. Stopwhaling.org is in the face of that fight, and we in The A.K.A.s are proud to stand on the side of common sense, conservation, and compassion. Please join us.”

- Mike Ski / The A.K.A.s

“Life is Music. Every living creature is a composition unto itself and it’s being, and so it’s an honor to be able to interpret and offer my rendition of one of Life’s greatest masterpieces - The Whale.”

- Head-Roc, hip-hop artist and composer

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