Remarkable People

The "Human Whale" Aerial Art Project Calls For Action in Response to the Escalating Threats to Whale Survival 

Its time to Save the whales Again!

Aerial artist and Save the Whales Again! Campaign advisor John Quigley had a vision, an extremely large vision, to produce whale art utilizing thousands of passionate people and photographing it from the air. 

The result, the migrating human whale project where images of the world's great whales including a blue, gray, humpback, and killer whale have been created by more than 7,ooo people worldwide in Baja Mexico, Los Angeles California, Victoria Canada, Anchorage Alaska, and Bondi Beach Australia.

The purpose - to raise public awareness to the ever increasing threats facing dolphins and whales and their ocean habitat from Global Warming, Toxic Pollution, Noise Pollution, Entanglement in Nets, Collision with Ships, and Increasing Whaling by Japan, Norway, and Iceland. Joining John to help make his vision a reality are the spokespersons of the Save the Whales Again! Campaign including Hayden Panettiere, Isabel Lucas, Esai Morales, Stephen Colletti, and Jansen Panettiere. 

The Human Whale Project kicked off last May in Loreto Mexico where over 1,500 school children formed a huge blue whale with the message SOS. Next it was on to Los Angeles California where over 3,ooo school children formed a gray whale carrying the same message. Then it was an orca, or killer whale, being formed by over 500 people in Victoria Canada followed by a huge humpback whale with the message "Defend" being formed at the opening of last year's meeting of the International Whaling Commission. Last December, just prior to the Australian elections, over 1,500 people formed the image of Sydney's adopted humpback whale on its infamous Bondi Beach with the message "SAVE". 

The purpose - to raise public awareness to the ever increasing threats facing dolphins and whales and their ocean habitat from Global Warming, Toxic Pollution, Noise Pollution, Entanglement in Nets, Collision with Ships, and Increasing Whaling by Japan, Norway, and Iceland. Joining John to help make his vision a reality are the spokespersons of the Save the Whales Again! Campaign including Hayden Panettiere, Isabel Lucas, Esai Morales, Stephen Colletti, and Jansen Panettiere. 

Up next, the Save the Whales Again! team will be heading to Santiago Chile for the June meeting of the International Whaling Commission where John's next vision will come to life. Stay tuned for updates!

What We Do

Working with more than 3,000 local partner organizations, we work with people living in poverty striving to exercise their human rights, assert their dignity as full citizens and take control of their lives.

We focus our efforts in these areas:

Development

We work with and through partners and communities on long-term programs to eradicate poverty and combat injustice.

Emergencies

We deliver immediate life-saving assistance to people affected by natural disasters or conflict, and help to build their resilience to future disasters.

Campaigning

We are part of a global movement for change. We raise public awareness of the causes of poverty and encourage ordinary people to take action for a fairer world.

Advocacy

We press decision-makers to change policies and practices that reinforce poverty and injustice.

Policy research

We can speak with authority as a result of thorough research and analysis, and the real experience of our partners in developing countries.

Oxfam’s commitment to human rights

We believe that respect for human rights will help lift people out of poverty and injustice, allow them to assert their dignity and guarantee sustainable development.

When we speak about having a rights-based approach, this is what we mean.

We believe that everyone should have the right to:

A livelihood

Oxfam works at many levels with partners and communities in support of their right to a decent living.

We argue for better working conditions and better protection of the natural resources on which poor communities depend. We campaign for fairer trade rules at the global level, and for better policies at the national level. We work with partners and communities to implement programs that lead to self-sustaining livelihoods, with a strong focus on women.

Basic services

Being healthy and educated is an essential step along the route out of poverty.

Yet millions of people have no access to health services, schooling or safe water. They are constantly at risk from illnesses that are easily prevented or treated, or are unable to read and write, which means exclusion from their society. We campaign for more and better aid, with a focus on basic services. At the program level, Oxfam provides health training and clean water supplies, as well as funding schools and teacher training.

Be safe from harm

War and natural disasters cause untold suffering for millions of people around the world and keep them locked in poverty.

In disasters, people are at greater risk of violence, disease and abuse. We save lives in emergencies by providing shelter, clean water and sanitation. And by working with local partners, we help communities to rebuild and to better prepare themselves for future disasters.

Be heard

People living in poverty often have little influence over decisions that affect their lives.

Oxfam supports partners and communities to understand their rights and to speak out about their needs and concerns. And, with others, we get people in power to listen and act.

Be treated as equal

People who are marginalized – because they are women, disabled or members of a religious or ethnic minority – are more likely to be poor.

We combat such discrimination, and work with these groups to ensure they have the means to enjoy equal access to jobs, essential services and influence.

What We Do

The Humour Foundation is a charity dedicated to promoting the health benefits of humour. International research has found there are physiological and psychological benefits of laughter. Doses of humour help relieve fear and stress and aid recovery. The whole hospital community benefits – patients, families and staff.

Laughter is the prescription to help patients cope with hospital. Clown Doctors parody the hospital routine. They lighten the serious side of the hospital, bringing support, fun and laughter. Clown Doctors can help distract children during treatment or help them forget for a moment that they are ill. There are more than 50 Clown Doctors nationwide who touch the lives of over 100,000 people in 20 hospitals and on outreach visits each year. They are professional performers, trained to work in the sensitive hospital setting. These services are provided to the hospitals at no charge.

Clown Doctors for Kids

Clown Doctors dose sick children with fun and laughter. Imagine being a child in hospital, away from the comfort of your home and all that is familiar, and feeling sad, anxious, frightened, lonely or in pain. This is where Clown Doctors can help. They treat children in hospital with medicine of a different kind…..doses of fun and laughter! 

"The Clown Doctors have become shooting stars in my life. I can count on the Clown doctors to be a pager away when I need some cheering up. Thank you for your smiles, your jokes, your fun. No words could ever describe what you have done for me!"
-Brooke

Many kids in hospital face a hard time. Clown Doctors address the psycho-social needs of the child in hospital in a unique way. By parodying the hospital routine, the Clown Doctors help children feel less traumatised by medical procedures. Oversize medical equipment, “red-nose’ transplants, ‘cat’ scans, humour checks and funny bone examinations are all part of the fun. By exaggerating intimidating jargon and procedures to extremes, fear and anxiety are reduced.

Clown Doctors work in partnership with health professionals. They divert children during painful procedures, help calm distressed children in emergency, and encourage children in physiotherapy, or just brighten their day. 

‘Clown rounds’ are conducted through all wards including intensive care, burns, oncology and emergency.  Children can forget their illness for a moment and return to a world of fantasy and play. It is hard to keep a sad face when the Clown Doctors come in!   It is not only laughter that is important. A smile, or a glimmer in the eye, are also special moments.

“Fun and laughter are important…and contribute to well-being and early recovery”
Prof Robertson, Chief of Paediatrics Woman’s & Children’s Hospital Adelaide

Clown Doctors lighten the serious side of the hospital and the whole hospital community benefits – patients, families and staff. Families have a tough time too. Their lives are disrupted.  Parents need to be strong for their child, they may have to relocate for the duration of their child’s illness, the family might be separated, and siblings can feel neglected. Clown Doctors can help families share fun and laughter.

“How much you all helped me pull through the terrible situation of my daughter’s car accident. She was seriously burnt and at times I was in the depths of despair, until you guys would show up. I just couldn’t help myself, you were so hilarious, your efforts pulled me up from the surface where I could breathe again. The difference you make is indescribable.”
- Margot

The Foundation has 55 professional Clown Doctors working in all the major children’s hospitals around the country. They are highly skilled professional performers trained by the Humour Foundation to work in the sensitive hospital setting. The Foundation provides on-going support and opportunities for professional development. Clown Doctors work in partnership with health professionals.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is renowned for funding high quality research and supporting a generation of significant milestones in breast cancer knowledge.

There are two unique aspects to the funding of research by the NBCF:

1. We are the only community organisation that awards funds specifically for research across the continuum of breast cancer - from genetics to treatment, to support and palliative care 
2. We are national in our distribution. Funds are directed to the best research in Australia – it is neither limited by state boundaries nor institutional policies and has no vested interest other than ensuring we progress knowledge about breast cancer. 

In order to ensure integrity, accountability and transparency when awarding funds the NBCF uses a rigorous process of peer-review which considers:

• The quality of the research
• The ability of the research team to meet their objectives within the budget requested
• The contribution that this research will make to the body of knowledge about breast cancer.

The NBCF funds Doctoral Research Scholarships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Career Development Awards and Kathleen Cuningham Research Grants. Novel ideas and Clinical Fellowships under consideration.

Since its inception in October 1994, the NBCF has allocated more than $55 million to breast cancer research, embracing Doctoral Scholarships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Career Development Awards, Kathleen Cuningham Research Grants and Enabling Facilities (a tissue bank and cell bank) across Australia.

The NBCF has supported investigator-initiated research through a process of rigorous peer-review prior to disbursement of funds. The principle underpinning peer- review is that new knowledge - leading to improved prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer – arises from the support of excellent research.

A further strength of the NBCF’s research grants program is that funds have been awarded to investigate every aspect of breast cancer. While laboratory-based research will direct us to new therapies and ultimately the cause of breast cancer equally important is the investigation of improved treatments; ways to support women; their careers and families throughout the breast cancer experience, understanding risk factors for breast cancer and how to maximise the delivery of health services.

Sea Shepherd's Mission Statement

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. 

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

Dolphins

Sea Shepherd has been active in directly intervening where dolphins are threatened. In 1982, we negotiated an end to the dolphin slaughter of Iki Island, Japan. We sent crews to Taiji, Japan, in 2003 and 2004, and to the Solomon Islands.

Galapagos

In the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, Sea Shepherd is working with the National Marine Park service on anti-poaching enforcement and conservation programs.

Seals

Sea Shepherd has been fighting sealers since 1975, and over the course of a quarter of a century we have saved hundreds of thousands of seals from slaughter using many different and creative methods. Sea Shepherd's highly-publicized efforts have helped in creating awareness, which is the first step in enacting change. 

Sharks

On multi-faceted fronts, Sea Shepherd is waging an all-out battle to save sharks from the threat of decimation. Not only does Sea Shepherd work hard to raise awareness and care for this unpopular species, we also patrol marine protected areas, expose corruption/greed, and arrest the criminals who drive the multi-billion dollar shark-killing industry.

Whales

Sea Shepherd has been on the front lines for nearly three decades protecting whales from illegal whalers. From Japan to Iceland to Norway and elsewhere around the globe, Sea Shepherd's direct action crews defend whales from slaughter. 

About us

World Vision is Australia's largest charitable group. World Vision helps over 20 million people every year, thanks to the support of more than 400,000 Australians.

World Vision provides relief in emergency situations and works on long-term community development projects. Together, these address the causes of poverty and help people move towards self-sufficiency.

Issues

Across five continents and in over 60 countries, World Vision carries out development work to address the causes and consequences of global poverty.

In this section, you can discover the issues that contribute to poverty worldwide, and the actions World Vision takes to tackle them.

Our issues are:

• Transforming Lives and Child Sponsorship
• Climate Change
• Emergencies
• Food & Nutrition
• Human Trafficking & Slavery
• Improving Incomes
• Indigenous Australia
• Maternal and Child Health
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

World Vision is Australia's largest charitable group. World Vision helps over 20 million people every year, thanks to the support of more than 400,000 Australians.

World Vision provides relief in emergency situations and works on long-term community development projects. Together, these address the causes of poverty and help people move towards self-sufficiency.

Our Work

World Vision works around the world - and in Australia too - to transform the lives of disadvantaged and at-risk children and communities. From our broad-ranging Solutions, to our work with youth, corporate and faith-based groups, World Vision is committed to the alleviation of suffering, and an end to poverty everywhere.