“From Apathy to Action”: Rising Sea, Raising Hands
Posted in client stories hints of inspiration by on Jul 11 2011
The Maldives. A more perfect paradise cannot be found…or even imagined. Glistening, crystal-clear waters, a rich underwater eco-system, lush vegetation, spirited people…a seemingly abundant amount of resources with which to live and play. With an array of breaks that have lured the international surfing community for decades, it is precisely this water that is presenting a battle of the utmost proportions to this tiny island ocean nation located off the southern tip of India.
Rising sea levels threaten the country’s tourism-dependent economy and the very existence of the country; with an advancing sea also brings danger to food and water supply, not to mention political stability.
The Maldives is the world’s lowest country. Comprised of nearly 1,200 islands, 80 percent are one meter or less above sea level and its highest point stands at only 8 feet above sea level. The combined landmass of all the islands is 115 square miles (approximately twice the size of Washington, DC).
Global industrial growth, most of it very far away, has brought the Maldives to the frontline in the battle against global warming. The earth’s climate is being warmed by human activities, primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels for producing energy. Burning fossil fuel generates pollution in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, which stay present in the atmosphere and prevent the sun’s radiation from going back into space. This is what causes climate change and global warming.
Evacuations have already taken place on 16 islands across the Maldives as rising sea levels force residents from their homes. The country’s government is looking for land where the nation could move when there is no other way to avoid the rising water. What happens to the Maldives and its 400,000 inhabitants may foretell the future of coastal regions around the globe.
In 2009, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and Time magazine Hero of the Environment held an underwater cabinet meeting to draw attention to the dangers of rising sea levels threatening the Maldives. In the meeting, the president, vice president and the cabinet signed a declaration calling for concerted global action on climate change, a call to move from “apathy to action” in the President’s words.
What to do now? The UN climate panel predicts that, unless greenhouse emissions are curbed, sea levels could rise by 25 to 58 centimeters by the end of the century. The worldwide economic decline presents challenges to implementing green mandates, and the failure of events such as the Copenhagen summit show that countries are struggling to put their money where their mouths are. Action must be inspired- but how? Some say the answer now lies within the rise of the green economy: activism of the green elite; influx of funds by the private sector; individual commitment to change through conscious decisions making; and grassroots mobilization of individuals at the community level to persuade politicians to take further steps to halt global warming. What is clear is the ongoing importance of mobilization; the green A-listers must meet to exchange ideas and formulate strategies to lead the masses forward.
For fifteen years, Six Senses has been an effort leader in raising awareness to the dangers presented by carbon emissions, particularly as relevant to the tourism industry. Owners Sonu and Eva Shivdasani are passionately committed to their SLOW LIFE philosophy, which is a unique core purpose that highlights the importance of environmental, social and economic sustainable development in a corporate environment. Six Senses works at every level to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases through the implementation of energy efficient devices, increasing awareness among hosts and guests on energy conservation and by turning to renewable sources of energy.
Six Senses Carbon Offset Programme, with the assistance of Converging World, is designed to offset all guest flight carbon emissions in addition to all carbon emissions arising from Six Senses resort operations and host travel. The non-profit programme offsets carbon emissions by replacing coal fired power plants with Suzlon® wind turbines in south India. Funds generated from this sustainable green energy are used to implement various social and environmental projects.
This year, Six Senses hosts their third annual Six Senses SLOW LIFE Symposium at Soneva Fushi (which is aiming to be the Maldives’ first carbon neutral island). The main objective of the Eco Symposium is to bring together travel and tourism industry leaders and to inspire them to take on responsible business practices and adapt to climate change. The guest speaker panel will consist of industry consultants, environmentalists, international policy makers, and visionaries and will be lead by the President of the Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, who will deliver a keynote speech outlining the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2020 and the role of tourism in delivering that goal.
In addition, from this year forward, Six Senses Water/Wo/Men at Laamu offers an innovative, meaningful opportunity to play in the Indian Ocean among living water sports legends…while also playing a unique part to move our global community toward action in protecting and preserving our marine environments and providing safe drinking water to those in need.
Gatherings like the Six Senses SLOW LIFE Symposium and Water/Wo/Men are of extreme importance on both a local and global scale; boosting international awareness, addressing challenges through smart dialogue, mobilizing people with power, and creating synergy and strategy to move forward toward positive change. Spread the word and be a part of the action!
As President Nasheed recounted, “One woman who was being forced to leave her home told me: “What about the butterflies? What about the colours and the sounds? Where will they go?”
When the question is asked, what will the world answer?
Note: “Maldivians would not be the first population displaced by global warming. Bangladesh’s Bhola Island homes were swallowed in 1995 by rising sea levels. In 2005, the 1,600 residents of Papua New Guinea’s Carteret Islands began evacuation, as the advancing sea continued to destroy gardens, sink homes, and contaminate freshwater supplies. Also that year, 100 residents of Vanuatu’s island of Tegua had to be evacuated as their homes became permanently flooded. Other low-lying Pacific islands that could disappear in this century include those in Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Fiji.” Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Bright-Green/2008/1111/faced-with-rising-sea-levels-the-maldives-seek-new-homeland
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References for this post:
“The Maldives and Rising Sea Level” by Justin Hoffmann
“As environmentalists head for Cancun, the President pioneers a new type of eco-symposium.“ By Christena Appleyard
Faced with rising sea levels, the Maldives seek new homeland.” by Eoin O’Carroll
Six Senses website and collateral
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WATER/WO/MEN 2011, presented by Six Senses Resorts & Spas and in partnership with+H20, will unite the world’s greatest water sport icons together with marine and water conservationists in an event that raises funds and awareness for marine preservation, coral restoration and clean water and sanitation projects. Joining them from September 30- October 4th at the prestigious Six Senses Resort & Spa Laamu, Maldives will be musicians, artists, celebrities, guests and media for five days of water exhibitions, clinics, eco-activities, one-on-one teaching opportunities, conservation debates, movie screenings, delicious meals and festivities. Proceeds from guest stays will benefit Plant a Fish Foundation founded by Fabien Cousteau; Water Charity founded by Averill Strasser; and Blue Marine Foundation founded by Chris Gorell Barnes.
Six Senses is a world leader in creating enlightening and nourishing luxury travel experiences that rejuvenate and refresh, focusing on the delivery of all of the beauties of clean living and the slow life to a discerning, conscious and aware customer.
+H20 is a platform for water awareness that brings together a community of athletes, conservationists, non-profits and corporations to create purposeful solutions that facilitate positive change on a local to global scale. Leveraging the visibility of professional athletes combined with a mission for the greater good, +H20 was founded by windsurfers Levi Siver, Pascal Bronnimann, Jake Miller and Keith Teboul and is based on Maui, Hawaii. The +H20 network celebrates water sports and extends inspiration for clean living practices that are in support of health, wellness and environmental balance.
SLOW LIFE. It seems like a bit of an oxymoron in today’s world, doesn’t it? In a corporate environment…you must be dreaming! Well, the tides are turning and the visionaries at Six Senses are here to tell us all about it…and show us how to live it at the same time. Turning experience into inspiration, these leisure professionals have the magic touch.
Six Senses’ SLOW LIFE philosophy is a unique core purpose that highlights the importance of environmental, social and economic sustainable development in a corporate environment. This guiding principle supports a comprehensive method of management that focuses on the fusion of the human and guest experience, creating innovative and enlightening experiences that rejuvenate guests’ love of SLOW LIFE.
SLOW LIFE is an acronym that stands for:
SUSTAINABLE – LOCAL – ORGANIC – WHOLESOME
LEARNING – INSPIRING – FUN – EXPERIENCES
Sounds like a recipe for success to me. This philosophy is explored and communicated through every facet of the Six Senses resort experience- from the intricacies of the finer details of the beautiful eco-cabana palaces, to the local reef fish sustainably served up fresh nightly complemented by the organic produce from their luscious garden, to the gracious staff who go out of their way to educate, engage and enlighten to the wonders of island life and the importance of conservation.
“The values communicated in the SLOW LIFE commitment positions Six Senses as the leader in providing sustainable tourism options for consumers, suppliers and partners. From the use of building materials and finishes from sustainable and local sources wherever possible, to the quality and origin of the food that is offered, and to the innovative experiences that not only are fun, but also heighten guest’s knowledge.”
“Reduction of carbon footprints that result from transporting goods over long distances is a prime component of SLOW LIFE, as is the sourcing of prime produce from local communities. Chemical free organic options also result in more wholesome offerings and enhanced flavors. Keeping guests informed of these initiatives teaches them how to reflect the philosophy into their own lives, and how these intelligent alternatives benefits them individually, and our planet as a whole.”
As on vacation, as in life. Six Senses’ vision is to be trendsetting and innovative and continue to redefine a responsible leisure lifestyle. I would say they are doing an impressive job of achieving that vision. Based on these pictures, I bet you would too. On site in Laamu, continually blessed…
(*Credit to Six Senses website)
WATER/WO/MEN 2011, presented by Six Senses Resorts & Spas and in partnership with +H20, will unite the world’s greatest water sport icons together with marine and water conservationists in an event that raises funds and awareness for marine preservation, coral restoration and clean water and sanitation projects. Joining them from September 30- October 4th at the prestigious Six Senses Resort & Spa Laamu, Maldives will be musicians, artists, celebrities, guests and media for five days of water exhibitions, clinics, eco-activities, one-on-one teaching opportunities, conservation debates, movie screenings, delicious meals and festivities. Proceeds from guest stays will benefit Plant a Fish Foundation founded by Fabien Cousteau; Water Charity founded by Averill Strasser; and Blue Marine Foundation founded by Chris Gorell Barnes.
Six Senses is a world leader in creating enlightening and nourishing luxury travel experiences that rejuvenate and refresh, focusing on the delivery of all of the beauties of clean living and the slow life to a discerning, conscious and aware customer.
+H20 is a platform for water awareness that brings together a community of athletes, conservationists, non-profits and corporations to create purposeful solutions that facilitate positive change on a local to global scale. Leveraging the visibility of professional athletes combined with a mission for the greater good, +H20 was founded by windsurfers Levi Siver, Pascal Bronnimann, Jake Miller and Keith Teboul and is based on Maui, Hawaii. The +H20 network celebrates water sports and extends inspiration for clean living practices that are in support of health, wellness and environmental balance.
What is the sixth sense anyway? Surfers would say it is an instinctual knowing about when a swell is about to arise. I would say it’s what makes ordinary people become extraordinary human beings…an intuition that connects people and projects to create great things.
This sixth sense is on my mind. I have traveled halfway around the globe on behalf of +H2O for planning WATER/WO/MEN 2011, an event project for Six Senses Resort & Spa, Laamu, where we will be guaranteed to explore the intersection of surfers and the sixth sense. Set on the Olhuveli Island in the Laamu Atoll, in the south of the Maldives archipelago, I felt like I was following my sixth sense as I embarked on a journey to a distant land located just off the southern tip of India.
On my final leg of the twenty-four hour plane ride, I saw the movie “Soul Surfer” about Bethany Hamilton, the girl who lost her arm in a shark attack and continued to follow her dreams despite the challenging physical setback. In a line in the movie, her dad tells her to listen to her sixth sense, and to trust it. She finds the perfect wave.
Twenty hours later, I jump in a boat and head off into the Indian Ocean toward “yin yang” (the resident master wave off the coast of Six Senses Laamu) with a handful of experienced watermen and a video camera. We are looking for footage on the swell to share with +H20 and Six Senses fans. The guys scan the sets, and jump in. They paddle and search for the perfect wave. I dive into the surrounding mini swell, taking my first swim ever in the Indian Ocean. The ocean doesn’t give us the wave we are looking for, but we tried. We convene in the boat and as the team laughs about our thwarted attempt, we make plans to go tomorrow. We have all week, after all.
The point is, following your sixth sense means you go for it. It might not turn out the way you expected, but it will always turn out for the best. It’s not about planning. It’s not about making things happen. It’s about allowing them to happen. Six Senses as a resort epitomizes that connection to self; seeking the inner knowing that will never lead you astray. It’s about letting go, giving in and rising up (in soul terms). At their resorts, they want you to feel…feel all six senses through that deep conversation. It’s about coming home.
Whatever your definition, this sixth sense is something to be listened to, to be trusted. And we all have it, it is in there. You might choose to ignore it, but it will never go away. That’s the good news. How do you (re)connect with it? Go slow. Listen. Feel. Watch for the signs. Follow your path. And take all the help you can get.
I feel blessed every day that my work with Grace Delivers aligns me with people, projects and companies that inspire creative synergy and ride the wave of intuitive connecting to make positive things happen. Six Senses is a shining example of that, and I will be sharing my experiences from on location at Six Senses Laamu this week to share some inspiration with my readers. More soon!
WATER/WO/MEN 2011, presented by Six Senses Resorts & Spas and in partnership with +H20, will unite the world’s greatest water sport icons together with marine and water conservationists in an event that raises funds and awareness for marine preservation, coral restoration and clean water and sanitation projects. Joining them at the prestigious Six Senses Resort & Spa Laamu, Maldives will be musicians, artists, celebrities, guests and media for five days of water exhibitions, clinics, eco-activities, one-on-one teaching opportunities, conservation debates, movie screenings, delicious meals and festivities. Proceeds from guest stays will benefit Plant a Fish Foundation founded by Fabien Cousteau; Water Charity founded by Averill Strasser; and Blue Marine Foundation founded by Chris Gorell Barnes.
Six Senses is a world leader in creating enlightening and nourishing luxury travel experiences that rejuvenate and refresh, focusing on the delivery of all of the beauties of clean living and the slow life to a discerning, conscious and aware customer.
+H20 is a platform for water awareness that brings together a community of athletes, conservationists, non-profits and corporations to create purposeful solutions that facilitate positive change on a local to global scale. Leveraging the visibility of professional athletes combined with a mission for the greater good, +H20 was founded by windsurfers Levi Siver, Pascal Bronnimann, Jake Miller and Keith Teboul and is based on Maui, Hawaii. The +H20 network celebrates water sports and extends inspiration for clean living practices that are in support of health, wellness and environmental balance.
You know those stories you hear about people giving up everything to follow a dream, a calling? Perhaps you have one of those stories yourself. I have always been inspired by people who had the courage to go against the norms and “be the change.” They have served as role models and visionaries in my quest to make my own mark in this world.
My friend Brian did just that thing when he quit his job in 2009 looking to enjoy life to the max, traveled across the country and relocated to Hilo, Hawai’i. There, Brian continued to do what he loved (play and coach soccer)…but he was not done. So, he decided to go to Africa to coach for Coaches Across Continents. For two summers now, Brian has voyaged to various impoverished African countries, including Namibia and Botswana, to share aloha, his love for the sport of soccer and life skills to all who will listen. Countless children now have different lives because of the role that he has played in them and the knowledge that he has shared.
Brian and I first met as soccer players at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. I was two years behind him, but we had a few good years of camaraderie and parties before I had to bid him and his hunky teammates adieu to their pending college careers. He was always a bit of a renegade, even then. We did not stay in touch very well…would perhaps hear of each other every now and again (there might have been a Christmas hot tub party or two). But twelve years later, I took a right turn off the highway that my life had taken to move to Hawaii on a soul journey adventure. He heard about it, and we reconnected just before he started his own journey. Through the magic that is purpose, we are now teammates again…in the game of life.
One of Brian’s recent blog posts (getjealous.com) stopped me in my tracks. He (very eloquently I might add) described the benefits that he has received from being a changemaker. I would like to share his thoughts with you. I could not have said it any better myself! (Brian, if I did not know any better, I’d try to entice you back into a “real job”!)
“The best thing of all from this decision to abandon the conventional lifestyle is the new relationships to go along with all my existing ones. I have met hundreds of new friends who have their own ideas, views, and perceptions of the world. Their thoughts have influenced my own and convinced me that the world is a good place and that anywhere you go you can be safe, happy, and content. Relationships make the world go round. It is our interactions with people, not our accomplishments, that determine the value of a life.
The second best thing to come about from my leap of faith is the excitement in not knowing how it will all turn out. There is great anxiety in change. The known world is very comforting and routine has a way of putting us at ease. It is why changing jobs, homes, and relationships is very difficult. But having been through momentous change on a daily basis I can assure you that there is something very liberating that comes with new experiences. You see things from a different perspective, you hear varying ideas when you speak with new friends, and you have new stories to tell along with your old ones. All you need is faith in your abilities to land on your feet and the knowledge that the world is full of good people and kind souls who will look after you when you need it most.
Now somewhere along the way I have developed what I believe to be the secret of life. It really isn’t that difficult. All you need to do is to figure out what makes you happy and to pursue it with reckless abandonment. I highly encourage everyone to find out what makes you truly happy. It might be your family, traveling, working for charity, sports, a hobby, or all of the above. Now figure out how to make that a bigger part of your life. Strip away all the unnecessary elements of your life and focus on increasing your time pursuing what makes you happy. When you do that, your enjoyment of life will increase and your frustrations will decrease. It really is that simple.”
It’s the butterfly effect. One action, your actions, can make a difference. You can be the difference. You can see the difference. It’s all around you. It’s about change. And, it’s a choice.
In honor of Brian’s inspiration, this next vacation, join the team! Voluntourism is now a word. Check it out, I think you’ll find something that makes you happy. And, if you want to learn more about Coaches Across Continents and to support, send Brian Suskiewicz a message here. Aloha!
Maui Film Festival Ignites Again
Posted in events hints of inspiration messages from maui by on Jun 15 2011
I’ll set the scene for you. Stretched out on a beautiful landscaped green, as the sun sets over the Pacific horizon and the stars start to peek out, curled up on a blanket with someone you love….for a night of passion, action, love, drama, sadness, hope and more. Presented over the course of five days on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawai’i are a tableaux of enlightening, riveting, thought-provoking, inspiring (and let’s not forget funny) movies dressed to impress. The discerning Maui Film Festival brainiacs have searched for these cinematic gems high and low, evaluated and carefully selected…only the best for their festival attendees! When the screen goes dark, the local restaurants light up with glitz, glam and fabulous fashionista parties. There is no better event in the Pacific Islands than the Maui Film Festival.
I have had the honor and privilege for the past two years of being recruited to assist the PR and promotions team of the Maui Film Festival, led by the beautiful and effervescent Katie McMillan. As we sat in the press room today, cell phones abuzz, tickets flying around, communications dispersing around the world with the continued touches of buttons (thanks to social media director Sara Tekula with guest appearance by Peter Liu), it was hard to not get aTWITTERED up over all of the excitement.
So, without further ado, and based on nothing other than my personal inclinations toward cinema, I present the Grace Delivers picks of the 2011 Maui Film Festival. Be there, or be….unenlightened. (* Credit to Maui Film Festival website for film overviews.)
A DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE: WEDNESDAY JUNE 15th 8:00 PM CELESTIAL CINEMA
This is not a surf movie. It is an extremely detailed and informative study of the evolution of the surfboard and of surf culture, beginning and ending in Hawai‘i. It tells you everything you need and ought to know about the people and the innovations of the sport.
(Psst. This is a kick-ass surf movie loaded with vintage clips and voluptuous tubes shot from every angle including underneath. Check out the lethal mutant waves smashing against rocks in ice-cold Tasmania, surfers wiping out repeatedly in the dark-green, oily-looking monsters. Wow after wow.)
See trailer here.
BALI: LIFE IS AN OFFERING: THURSDAY JUNE 16th 10:00 PM CELESTIAL CINEMA
In Bali, anything involving death is a festivity, for death is a victory—a return to our home, from which we quickly springboard back into our next incarnation.
This film goes way beyond mere documentation. It reaches for a fusion between the island’s profound wisdom and the need of outsiders to find a role and a healing in this anciently innocent world. There’s a new culture being born here, the offspring of Balinese spirituality after having embraced the emotional hunger of who have come to this (we hope) enduring temple of humanity.
See trailer here.
HAPPY: FRIDAY JUNE 17th 6:30 PM CASTLE THEATRE
U.S. citizens have an “inalienable right” to be happy (says the Declaration of Independence), but they aren’t exactly exercising that right. On the list of happy countries, the U.S. with all its gas barbecue grills and smartphone apps is only number 25. In this film we meet a Kolkata rickshaw driver who’s happier than most residents of Beverly Hills. What’s up with that?
In your heart you know the answer, but for clarity’s sake you have this internationally searching and richly inspiring documentary. Created by the Academy Award-nominated director of Ghengis Blues with the enthusiastic backing of the director of Liar, Liar and Bruce Almighty, this film pursues every possible answer to mankind’s number-one emotional question (“What is happiness?”) by consulting everyone from happiness-studies scholars to the endemic “Bushmen” of the South African wilderness.
See trailer here.
THE VOICE OF XINGU: SATURDAY JUNE 18th 3:00 PM CASTLE THEATRE
People of conscience know that we should respect and preserve indigenous cultures and pristine ecosystems. But how many people actually put themselves on the front lines of the struggle and dedicate themselves to a specific people and place? Here’s one for sure—a lifeguard at Ho‘okipa State Park who recently traveled into the western wilderness of Brazil to demonstrate in support of the Xingu people. A proposed dam and hydroelectric power plant now threaten the lives and culture of these forest natives. This Maui man’s form of protest? A stand-up paddle run down the Xingu River and a film to document his efforts. Welcome to that film.
See trailer here.
TROUT FISHING AFGHANISTAN: SUNDAY JUNE 19th 1:00 PM CASTLE THEATRE
No one could possibly take a handycam on a fishing trip to remote Afghanistan and live to tell the tale, but one crusty ex-SEAL did just that, shot an opium cook-off, then gave the images to our Eric Gilliom. OMG.
While on a trout fishing expedition (yes, trout fishing…no joke) in Afghanistan in 2007, George, a retired Navy SEAL, is put into harm’s way when he captures the country’s largest opium harvest on film. Well into the US invasion of Afghanistan and at a time when Taliban insurgency has regained strength, George must disguise himself for safe passage while attempting to smuggle the footage out of the country.
Armed with only a translator, a heavily armored vehicle, and a handy-cam purchased from the airport gift shop, George disguises himself as a def-mute Turkish contractor and begins his journey. Landing in Kabul, George travels north to Feyzabad, and then off to “Ruby Valley” where he gains access to film Afghani opium drug operations. From harvest to cook-off, the opium is transformed into what is then sold on the streets as heroin.
This short documentary is considered by some to be an artistic metaphor of the stark difference between good and evil. Striking images of purity and beauty exude from the children and land of Ruby Valley; yet contrast so heavily with the permeating unjust co-existence of the war on terrorism, the war on freedom, and the war on drugs.
George gives us a relevant glimpse into what is just another day, and a way of life, for the Afghani people.
See trailer here.
OXBOW WALLS OF PERCEPTION: SUNDAY JUNE 19th 7:30 PM CELESTIAL CINEMA
(Ok, I am partial…kudos to some of the stars of this film…Grace Delivers client Levi Siver of +H20 and additional participating athletes Kai Lenny and Matt Meola in the upcoming +H20 and Six Senses Resort and Spa WATERMEN 2011 event in Laamu, Maldives September 30-October 4)
There is no wrong way to ride a wave.
Last year Matt Meola, born and raised in Ha’iku, shot from unknown surfer to one of the most recognized names in the sport when he won the Innersection “free surf” video contest. His aerial spins and his disregard for the usual Ho’okipa-style segregation of board surfing from wind surfing betokened a new spirit in the world of wave-riding and earned him a hunk of cash.
Matt is featured here along with six other new-breed watermen. Produced by Oxbow, a surfwear and surf-lifestyle company, this film gives evidence of a new spirit moving on the waters. It’s time to knock down certain “walls of perception” about the ever-changing world of surfing. Kai Lenny, for example, is current world champion at stand-up surfing. But he is quite willing to charge 40-plus-foot faces at Jaws, Pe’ahi. Just as all the other watermen featured in this amazing doc push the boundaries of their own talent in equally challenging waves with power, grace and style.
Shot on location in the Hawaiian Islands, France, Tahiti, Australia, and elsewhere, the film brings all the talents together in the Marshall Islands, a “magic playground” where these innovative athletes engage in every mode of wave-riding.
When you’re living life to the fullest, there’s not much of a line between what you dream and what you do when you get rolling in the morning. Proof of that: these up-close encounters with seven young, independent shoreline gymnasts.
See trailer here.
With such a variety of stellar masterpieces, you cannot go wrong. Check out the full schedule here, and see you at the movies!
PS….don’t forget the parties and special events! Tickets selling fast. See links below.
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Six Senses Resort & Spa and +H20 present WATERMEN, an event of epic proportions; a celebration of powerful watermen, powerful waves and powerful purpose.
September 30-October 4, Six Senses Resort & Spa Laamu, Maldives
From the sky down to the deepest depths….
Water Sports Icons + Conservationists + Celebrities + Stunning Resort + Fabulous Parties + Fundraising for Important Causes =
Vacation Not to be Forgotten!
It continues to amaze me….the synergy that arises when talented, smart, dedicated, passionate people all put their heads together to create something BIG.
Global, life changing, historical.
It has been an utmost honor to work with the founders of +H20 this year as they have launched into a mission-driven exploration of the sport that they love (windsurfing), the ocean that supports it and their desire to give back and truly make a difference with their actions and influence. Their goal? Uniting a global network of passionate water enthusiasts dedicated to clean water and clean living initiatives for communities around the world.
That drive to develop a communications platform, and explore who else was listening, led to Averill Strasser of Water Charity, which then led to Vincent Gillet of Six Senses Resort & Spa. We started to envision an event unlike anything that had ever been seen before…just what was possible? Water sports icons come together on a remote island in the middle of the Maldives, joined by ocean conservationists, marine biologists, filmmakers, activists, celebrity supporters (and most importantly Six Senses guests)…for four days of water fun and dialogue surrounding some of the most pressing marine preservation and water sanitation issues facing our world today.
+H20 principles define the event:
- Clean Sports: Water sports as energetically clean and green activities that are environmentally friendly and wellness balancing.
- Clean Water: Awareness and activism surrounding water issues locally and globally, addressing challenges surrounding pollution, sanitation and clean water access for those in need.
- Clean Ocean: Water is energy and energy sustains. Our oceans energize our entire delicate ecosystem and need to be protected and nourished.
- Clean Living: The importance of health, nutrition, wellness and environmental awareness to a happy and balanced society.
And it is done. From September 30- October 4th, +H2o is thrilled to be partnering with Six Senses, Water Charity, Blue Marine Foundation and Fabien Cousteau and Plant a Fish to present WATERMEN 2011. Please read the official press release below, and contact me with any questions at kristin@gracedelivers.com (808-205-4767).
Come ride the wave with us, we promise it will be an unforgettable experience! And did I mention…this is an inaugural event, so we envision this year laying the groundwork for a LEGACY EVENT that will continue to grow in outreach and power. Sounds like something you want to be involved with. Act fast, only 50 cabanas will be sold to lucky guests, and all monies raised will benefit charities.
Special thanks to Six Senses Resort & Spa for their unwavering commitment to giving back and making a difference in this world…a model of corporate social responsibility!
Follow us at http://positive-h2o.com/ and www.facebook.com/positiveH2O. Read the +H20 blog at: http://positive-h2o.com/team_blog/.
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Six Senses Laamu Hosts First Annual WATERMEN Event in Support of Global Water Conservation
Six Senses Bangkok – 26th April 2011: A recognized innovator in environmental sustainability, Six Senses Resorts & Spas will host Six Senses Watermen, the Maldives’ first gathering of water sports icons and the world’s leading water conservationists, September 30th to October 4th, 2011.
Watermen, from legendary surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers to divers and free divers will offer clinics to Six Senses Laamu guests while renowned musicians jam on the sandbanks. Conservationists will lead riveting dialogues and debates on the most pressing marine and drinking water issues facing our planet today while chefs keep everyone sustained with ethically sourced gourmet food, best enjoyed with biodynamic wines from Australia’s Margaret River.
Palm fringed and postcard perfect, the Maldives boasts an array of breaks that have lured international surfers for more than 35 years and a rich, kaleidoscopic underwater eco-system. Global industrial growth, most of it very far away, has brought the Maldives to the frontline in the battle against rising sea levels. What happens to the Maldives and its 400,000 inhabitants may foretell the future of coastal regions around the globe.
For fifteen years, Six Senses has led the effort to protect these precious 1,190 islands draped like a delicate necklace over the equator.
From this year forward, Six Senses Watermen offers an innovative, meaningful opportunity to play in the Indian Ocean among living legends while playing a unique part to move our global community, in the words of Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and Time magazine Hero of the Environment, “from apathy to action.”
This timely gathering will take place at the new Six Senses Laamu, the only resort in remote Laamu Atoll, 150 km north of the equator and famed for its ultrafine soft sand. The closest neighbours on Olhuveli Island are frolicking dolphins and a full Technicolor spectrum of tropical fish living along Laamu’s pristine coral reef.
Laamu’s ninety-seven responsibly luxurious villas sit back on the beach nestled among the lush indigenous vegetation or over the clear turquoise lagoon. Each offers complete privacy along with Six Senses signature creature comforts. Using local, sustainable materials allowed Six Senses to make only the lightest footprint on this otherwise untouched paradise.
Word has already spread around the world, luring passionate legends and world leaders in conservation to become Six Senses Watermen, including:
Pascal Bronnimann (SUI, +H2O long time pro wind surfer and Diamond Head Pro-Am winner)
Levi Siver (USA, +H2O windsurf wave riding champion and surfer)
Jake Miller (USA, +H2O windsurf wave riding and freestyle rider)
Keith Teboul (MAD, +H2O long time pro wind surfer)
Herbie Fletcher (USA, Longboard surfing legend and artist)
Chris Garrett (AUS, Gold Coast eco-surfer)
Archie Kalepa (USA, Legendary watermen, Hawaiian lifeguard captain)
Buzzy Kerbox (USA, World Cup surf winner, co-inventor of tow-in surfing with Laird Hamilton and longtime face of Ralph Lauren Polo Sport)
Kai Lenny (USA, Maui born 17 year old stand up paddling world champion and Naish protégé)
Takuji Masuda (JPN, Kamakura born longboarder and surf documentarian)
Bob McTavish (AUS, Australian surfer, storyteller and short board inventor)
Tripoli Patterson (USA, surf champion and New York gallerist)
Terry Simms (USA, 25 year surf pro and one of the finest surf coaches in the world)
Davey Blair (USA, Naish Team kite surfer)
Alex Caizergues (FRA, Kite surf speed world champion)
Shawn and Jesse Richman (USA, Kite surfing champion brothers)
Mark Shinn (GBR, 2 times Kite surfing World champion)
Duncan Zuur (NED, one of Europe’s most successful kite surfer and wake boarder)
Matt Meola (USA, Innersection Award Winner 2011, young surfing star)
Bernd Breymann (GER, Catamaran world champion)
Sara Campbell (GBR, Free diving world champion)
Fabien Cousteau (FRA, Third generation French ocean explorer, aquatic filmmaker and Founder of Plant A Fish)
Dr. Jacqueline Chan (USA, Co-founder of Water Charity)
Carl Gustaf Lundin (SUI, Director, Global Marine Programme, International Union for the Conservation of Nature)
Dr. Callum Roberts (GBR, Marine conversation biologist and oceanographer)
Jane Seymour (GBR, Actress and environmentalist)
Averill Strasser (USA, Founder of WaterCharity)
Charles Clover (GBR, Author, The End of the Line, documentary about overfishing)
Prahlad Kakkar (IND, Indian filmmaker, diver and Reef Watch Marine Conservation co-founder)
Shekhar Kapur (IND, Golden Globe winning Indian filmmaker of the forthcoming Paani exploring Mumbai’s shrinking water supply)
Jim Thebaut (USA, Documentary filmmaker of Running Dry and hydro-philanthropist)
Christo Edwards (AUS, Margaret River winemaker and surfer)
Mick Scott (AUS, Australian winemaker and waterman)
Jason Mraz (USA. International chart topping singer and surfer)
Sylvia Earle (USA, award-winning oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer)
Layne Beachley (AUS, first woman in history to gain 7 World Championships, six of them consecutive)
Danny Fuller (USA, professional surfer and photographer)
All these luminaries and more will gather at Six Senses Laamu for seven days in support of the following international charities:
Blue Marine Foundation (www.bluemarinefoundation.com), created by Chris Gorell Barnes, the producer of “The End of the Line”, the defining documentary about over-fishing. This recent initiative works to place 10% of the world’s oceans into secure marine reserves by 2020, beginning with Chagos Islands, an area rich in marine biodiversity, south of the Maldives. Watermen will help secure marine protected areas in the Maldives.
Plant A Fish (www.plantafish.org) is a hands-on marine education and restoration effort led by 3rd generation ocean explorer Fabian Cousteau to engage local communities around the globe through schools, businesses and government agencies to “re-plant” aquatic plants and animals in environmentally stressed areas.
Water Charity (www.watercharity.org), a top ranked non-profit that provides safe drinking water, effective sanitation and health education to those in need. Since 2008, Six Senses contributions and cooperation by banning the importation of plastic water bottles from our properties has given over 350,000 people access to safe drinking water.
When not in the water, Six Senses Watermen will host diverse and stimulating events including a marine restoration in the Maldives workshop with Fabien Cousteau, Chagos Islands marine conservation update by Blue Marine Foundation and debates among the marine biologists & water sports legends on our most pressing water issues and the challenges of raise global awareness. Outdoor activities like beach cleanups and coral reef restorations will balance out the intellectual while a mural painting workshop will engage the local community alongside our legendary Watermen. After dark, the lights will shine on our cinema under the stars, featuring groundbreaking environmental documentaries Running Dry, The End of the Line and more.
Packages for likeminded water enthusiasts to participate in this exciting, one-of-a-kind mind expanding gathering are available for four nights (US$6,000 for two people or US$4,400 single) and seven nights (US$9,900 for two people or US$ 7,400 single) including all breakfasts and dinners, the Barefoot Gala Dinner, a limited number of clinics or spa treatments and round trip seaplane transfer flights.
Proceeds from guests’ stays will be donated to Blue Marine Foundation, Plant A Fish and Water Charity and Six Senses Carbon Offset Programme will offset international flights to the Maldives.
For more information, contact Kristin Hettermann, +H20, at kristin@gracedelivers.com (808-205-4767) or Steve Keeney, Six Senses PR Director, steve@sixsenses.com.
