Dr. Bronner’s presents the critically acclaimed Canadian documentary ‘Coextinction’ as part of the Sustainable Living Festival. After a mother orca carries her dead calf for 17 days, two filmmakers spring into action, joining Indigenous leaders and scientists making a final attempt to protect the last 73 Southern Resident orcas from extinction. A panel discussion facilitated by Maree Lowes will explore the broader themes following the screening.

Coextinction refers to the phenomena of the loss or decline of a host species resulting in the loss or endangerment of another species that depends on it. During this time of cascading disasters, Dr. Bronner’s wants to highlight the importance of First Nations sovereignty and custodianship when it comes to marine conservation and caring for animals, people, and planet.

SPEAKERS

Yaraan Bundle, Whale Dreaming Custodian, Creative Director/Coordinator of SOPEC (Southern Ocean Protection Embassy Collective)
Yaraan is a proud descendant of Gunditjmara, Western Kulin, Yuin, and Bidjara Nations. Alongside her work with SOPEC, a community ocean protection collective led by Local First Nations Whale Dreamers and Elders of the Gunditjmara Nation, she is a traditional cultural language teacher, dancer, firekeeper, storyteller, pyrographer, and an environmental and language activist. Yaraan advocates for the continuing of cultural knowledge and practices through workshops, camps, festivals, panel talks, presentations, and sharing circles in community and the broader public arena.

Damien Cole, National Campaign Director, Surfrider
Surfrider is a registered not-for-profit sea-roots organisation dedicated to the protection of Australia’s waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research, and education. Damien joined Surfrider as a key figure for coastal protection having run as an independent in the most recent Victorian state and federal elections. He spent much of 2019 leading the Fight for the Bight movement directing ‘Paddle Out’ events around Australia before working as ‘National Day of Action’ event Director.

Peter Markowiec, Education Coordinator, Melbourne Chapter of Sea Shepherd Australia
Peter joined Sea Shepherd in 2013 prior to Operation Relentless and is currently Education Coordinator for the Melbourne Chapter. He is also a long-serving professional firefighter and grew up with an affinity to salt water with many years of sailing, surfing, and diving strengthening his links to the ocean. He has seen many changes to the environment both as a patron of the ocean, taking part in conservation and science programs as a volunteer, and professionally as a firefighter involved in increasingly numerous and larger seasonal fires.

Panel host – Maree Lowes, Dr. Bronner’s Australia Ambassador, Actress, Producer & Changemaker
Parents will know Maree as ‘dirtgirl’, an eco-warrior for the next generation on TV in 128 countries around the world. But offscreen, she is a qualified and incisive Changemaker and storyteller with a BA in Psychology/Indigenous Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction co-certified by the United Nations, plus her Permaculture Design Certificate. As a facilitator for intersectional environmentalism, she has worked with many national and international culture-shaping brands and organisations. Being the first Ambassador to Dr. Bronner’s Australia, Maree continues her work as a deep-listening advocate for regenerative agriculture, climate action, disaster resilience, and first & foremost, First Nations justice.