A first-of-its-kind zero waste event to raise funding for the care of sea turtles took place at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town last week.
The One Blue Heart event was a blue carpet, zero-waste dinner, showcasing art, fashion and food in support of the Turtle Conservation Centre at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation (TOAF).
Previous lead singer of iconic South African band Freshly Ground, Zolani Mohale, performed at the dinner. Zandi Ndhlovu, the Black Mermaid free-diver was the MC, and guests were inspired by the words of Pulitzer Prize Winner, Dele Olojede.
Attendees were offered the opportunity to acquire unique and limited ocean-inspired artworks by Ardmore, Dylan McGarry and Robbie Rorich.
One&Only Chef Gianluca curated the menu while highlighting the importance of preventing food wastage.
“Whenever we waste food, we waste energy, water and more. We need to have more respect for food and the processes involved to harvest, transport and package it. Food connects us all in some way or another and to not proactively take part in them is to not accept responsibility. When we waste food, we waste life, our one greatest gift,” Gianluca said.
The curator of One Blue Heart, Gita Carroll of The Good Machine, said: “To conceptualise an evening of expression and exploration that would have a deep meaningful impact on earth has been a long-time vision of mine. One Blue Heart is so completely different, so wild, yet so gentle, so pure and simple, and unlike anything seen before in South Africa.”
Bob – the sea turtle success story
Bob, the endangered green sea turtle, who had been severely maimed, was recently released in the warm waters off the coast of Durban after more than eight years of rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Bob arrived at the Two Oceans Aquarium in 2015 with such severe injuries caused by plastic pollution that vets did not think he could survive. His injuries included a fractured shell and lacerations, which had led to septicaemia, which in turn, caused brain damage and blindness. His condition was exacerbated by plastic ingestion which caused digestive issues.
Introducing an environmental enrichment programme designed specifically for Bob, the team at TOAF fed and nurtured Bob until he slowly began to show signs of improvement.
Bob’s tale of hope, resilience and triumph captured the hearts and imagination of the country. Over 100 turtles come through the Centre each year. Many are released back into the ocean after receiving medical attention and other intervention therapy. A total of 71% of the turtles in the care of the Centre have ingested some form of plastic.
The number of turtles needing rehabilitation by the Two Oceans Aquarium is increasing every year. The costs are significant and the current facilities are too small. The team’s ultimate intention is to establish a world-class turtle hospital.
Since its inception, the Two Oceans Aquarium has rehabilitated and released more than 1 000 turtles, of which more than half have been under the care of the TOAF Turtle Conservation Centre in the last four years.
“The event called One Blue Heart highlighted how we think about our footprint on the planet,” said TOAF Executive Chairperson, Ann Lamont.
“We have a saying at the aquarium that goes ‘not on our watch’. Not on our watch will we continue to stand by and watch our ocean life be decimated by ignorance and neglect. The time is now for all of us to act, to protect our marine world and our future,” Lamont concluded.
