On Wednesday July 26, we were delighted to welcome children from the Ahuri-Ao association of Papara for an educational program

In total, 55 children aged from 3 to 14 took part in a 𝖣𝖨𝖲𝖢𝖮𝖵𝖤𝖱𝖸 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖦𝖱𝖠𝖬 with :

– A time for 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔: “turtles and words” game, the epic story of a sea turtle, video on the life cycle of a sea turtle…

– A time to 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓

Māuruuru Ahuri-Ao for your visit!

Our doors will be open to Polynesian schools from the start of the new school year! For all educational program bookings, please contact us at education@temanaotemoana.org

“Our food system influences the choice of agricultural models and is therefore closely linked to the proper management of natural resources, to the fight against waste and to the conservation of our environment and biodiversity.”

Click here to read the open letter.

 Here an overwiew of their actions.

Thanks a lot to Moorea Coral Gardeners and thanks also to all those who get themselves involved in restoration of marine or terrestrial habitats that are houses of our so rich but unfortunately increasingly threatened biodiversity !

We joined the Plastic Free July challenge ! The principle ? Say no to single-use plastic, like plates, glasses, cutlery, bags, straws…
Are all these small objects worth remaining on Earth for several hundred years, threatening nature, all this for a few minutes of our comfort?

Join us in this challenge !

Those who were short of ideas on plastic alternatives (yet so many !!) joined us on Sunday, July 23th at Paofai park from 9pm for the big day Tia’i fenua : a zero waste day organized by the collective Nana sac plastique.

Everyone has had a lot of fun joining the various zero waste workshops, the shoreline clean-up and the big ma’a Tahiti that were organized. Of course, every visitor had to bring his/her own plate and glass !

Every year, around 7 000 students come with their classes to be taught about marine based themes (sea turtles, coral reefs, marine mammals…) through the educational programs elaborated by our foundation. Since 2004, we raised awareness of more than 70 000 persons mostly children during educational programs or events in favor or the oceans.

At 25 years old, she now joins Te mana o te moana’s team to help sea turtles conservation through research and outreach programs for the next 6 months.

Her coming was possible thanks to the support of the Air Tahiti Nui company and the GTMF (French Group for the sea turtles).

]]> https://www.temanaotemoana.org/en/winners-of-the-manareva-contest-a-polynesian-tale-in-space/ Sat, 23 Jul 2016 21:41:56 +0000 http://www.temanaotemoana.org/?p=11342 A few months ago, our non-profit organisation, in partnership with french astronaut Thomas Pesquet (from the European Space Agency (ESA)), initiated a Great tale production contest, from which the winning production will be brought into space. It will then be read from space so that the slogan, « from ocean to Space, let’s preserve our blue planet », can resonate on earth and into the whole universe.

Thanks to Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin and Pacsafe support, the organisation was able to undertake this project, which holds a message of hope towards sea turtles protection, these symbolic species in our polynesian waters.

In total, 14 tales were received : 13 from French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava and even Rurutu in the Marquesas Islands) and 1 from France –

A few weeks ago, the judging panel – composed of an artist, two environmental actors, a teacher, the Moorean educational district advisor, a representative of Moorea Maio municipality and members of the organisation – met to deliberate on the received productions. The panel selected the tale that will leave for space in November 2016 alongside with Thomas Pesquet, and will be read from aboard the ISS (International Space Station). Criterias included illustrations’ quality, polynesian cultural assets’ references, tale main aspect (magical, enchanting, etc), overall presentation, and also structure, grammar and spelling. After more than 3 hours of uninterrupted reading and discussions, it is « Le vœu de Mana » (“Mana’s wish”) which received unanimity. This tale was realized by a mother, Miriama and her daughter Papehau Seveno (11 years old), both originating from Moorea and living in Papetoai.

Miriama and her daugther Papehau wished to participate in the contest not only to better inform the readers on the necessity to protect sea turtles in Polynesia but also to expose and promote the richness of polynesian culture. Indeed, during her childhood, Papehau had participated many times in actions undertaken by the organisation, and had come with her class for educational programs.

Inspired by polynesian legends being passed down at all times by elders, they narrated Mana’s story, a polynesian young boy whose father Roimata, chief of a village, considered sea turtles’ meat a delicacy very much appreciated. Mana, who had ealier on befriended with a sea turtle, fights against his father to make him stop hurting this innocent species… but in vain… his father refuses…

One day, when Roimata was fishing, he brought back in his nets the largest sea turtle ever seen. He called his son to show it to him, but Mana was nowhere to be found. The chief of the village started spearing the poor sea turtle with all his strength… while the sea turtle was slowly dying, she started to turn into Mana’s body lifeless and blood-stained… Roimata realized he had just speared his own son, and fell on his knees crying and begging Mana to forgive him. He then promised in front of the entire village that if gods would give him back his son, he would never kill a sea turtle again. His tears, running down Mana’s body, healed up his injuries and brought him back to life. « To this day, and thanks to Mana, we never heard about sea turtle hunting again on the island ».

 << To read the tale Mana’s wish (only in French) :  Le voeu de Mana

This is how the work « Mana’s wish » was awarded « œuvre lauréate du concours ». Invited at the organisation, in the company of jury members, Papehau and Miriama received their prize : not only will their creation be read from space, but also, they will discover the mainland and the Cité des Sciences thanks to the airline company Air Tahiti Nui’s support, an organisation willing to protect, preserve and save living species composing the richness of our polynesian natural environment.

Thomas Pesquet will leave for a mission aboard the ISS in November 2016 – the exact day will be communicated at a later date. He will then come to Polynesia in 2017 to meet with the winners and share his experience as an astronaut with polynesian kids during interventions he will perfom with the organisation. He will also give a general public conference to which we will not miss to invite you.

We deeply acknowledge all our partners, who allowed us to initiate this wonderful project aiming to help sea turtle conservation, all those who participated in the production of tales and entities who allowed us to organise the award ceremony : Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin, Pacsafe, the Moorea Dolphin Center and the InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea

Congratulations one more time to the winners of the Gold Turtles : 

• In the Schools category : 1st :  Collège from Punaauia (since 2 years)  – 2nd :  Collège from Paopao, 3rd : Collège from Arue…
• In the Hôtels Category : 1st : The Brando (since its opening 2 years ago) – 2nd  : the Intercontinental Faa’a from Tahiti (since 2 years), 3rd  : the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort.
• In the Municipalities category :  Arue is the winner since 2 years, followed up by Punaauia and Mahina, 3 municipalities from the island of Tahiti.
• In the company category : Vini wins thanks to their rubbish treatments.

<< Click here to get moire information about the Golden Turtles from Fenua Ma.