The Price Of A Cause? Japanese Mafia After Dave Rastovich
Many believe that one of the quickest ways to gauge the effect a person has when they take action for a cause they truly believe in, is by the efforts and lengths the opposing forces will go to in order to quell the uprising. If we use this theory to judge the effect that Dave Rastovich’s leading role in an effort to stop the slaughtering of thousands of dolphins each year in Japan has had against those who benefit most from the bloodshed, it’s becoming very clear that ‘Rasta’ must be doing something right.
Rastovich attracted headlines, admiration, and more importantly the awareness of not only the surfing community, but worldwide after he and conservationists including actresses Hayden Panetierre and Isabel Lucas traveled to the Japanese fishing village of Taiji last year to protest at its annual dolphin kill which brutally takes the lives of 25,000 porpoises and dolphins every year. In a moving ritual held in blood-soaked waters and under rainy skies, Rastovich formed the surfers in a circle over the calm waters of the small cove and asked each to say a small prayer of remembrance for their fellow wave-riders.
Having been so successful with the protest, powerful Japanese mobsters known as “Yazuka” have now launched a campaign of intimidation to force a media blackout on the commotion surrounding the country’s killing of dolphins. They have been visiting surf shops around the country looking for Rasta and threatening them financially if they show any signs of supporting or recognizing the cause that he has taken up. These companies have begun to feel the heat and Rasta knows it. “These are the goons from the fishing industry who are visiting surf stores intimidating people and threatening to punish them financially,” Rastovich said. “People are feeling it. They are washing their hands of us. They don’t feel safe”.
With another protest planned for October and threats of arrest and elevated action opposing it, it will be intriguing to see where this leads. Both sides show no signs of halting their efforts and as long as the slaughter continues it appears that Rastovich is willing to fight. It is this type of spirit that lead Billabong to recently name Rastovich the face of their “Be The Change You Want In The World” environmental campaign and it is this type of spirit that will hopefully put an end to the mindless slaughter of thousands upon thousands of these beautiful animals each year. Dave Rastovich, we salute you -
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Posted by Shaun on Thursday, February 14th, 2008 in Surfing.
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