<< Click here to read the article (only in French).

At the beginning of the school year 2012-2013, 11 000 educational booklet on cetaceans, named “ Tohora, humpback whale who are you?”  were distributed to the 9-11 years old school children. Added to that, educators provided animations during 2 hours into school, to explain the importance of protecting the marine mammals of the French Polynesia islands.

At least, 28 animations were realised”.  From now to the end of May, children have to create a special poem, history or legend base on cetaceans protection. The contest will be celebrated during the World Ocean Day, on June 10th (for this year).

<< More information about the contest (only French) : Règlement Concours Tohora

Cécile Gaspar, te mana o te moana’s President, received the national distinction of Chevalier de l’ordre du Mérite, monday 14th of May, in Papeete, at the Haut Commissariat’s residence.

This distinction was handed to her by the French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, and the Haut Commissaire Richard Didier. Jean-François Clervoy is also Patron of te mana o te moana.

Cécile Gaspar is a veterinarian, Doctor in marine ecology, and president of te mana o te moana which she founded in 2004. She received this honorific distinction for her commitment to the preservation of marine fauna and flora in French Polynesia.

Warmful congratulations from te mana o te moana’s team!

In the press:

La Dépêche 16 mai 2012

Les Nouvelles – samedi 19 mai 2012

Site Internet tahiti infos

http://www.domtomnews.com/v1/cecile-gaspar-decoree-de-la-medaille-de-ordre-national-du-merite/

During their stay in French Polynesia, Charles Duke and Jean-François Clervoy have spent some time visiting the Sea Turtles Clinic in Moorea. These unusual visitors created an occasion for an unusual event: the release of Costa Luna, a sea turtle who stayed 6 years at the Clinic.

May 12th, 2012: The conference “I walked on the moon”

The moonwalker Charles Duke and the French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, also Patron of te mana o te moana, proposed a public conference called “I walked on the moon”. This event was co-organised by te mana o te moana and the Lions Club of Papeete, in honnor of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 16 mission, to which Charles duke participated 40 years ago.

>> Read more about the conference “I walked on the Moon” and read the interview of Jean-François Clervoy

>> Read the interview of Charles Duke

>> Download the REVUE DE PRESSE (Internet et presse écrite) – Deux astronautes en visite à Tahiti

May 11th, 2012: Costa Luna returns to the ocean… at last!

Costa was found agonising on a beach, on Tahiti island, on the 7th of May 2006, aged almost 2, with an spear-gun arrow piercing her neck.

Today, she has reached 51,2kg and 78,5cm, and is able to live by herself back in the wild. It is a very special moment for te mana o te moana’s team, because Costa remained 6 whole years at the Sea Turtles Clinic. Amongst all sea turtles that have been released, Costa is the one who stayed the longest.

This return back to the ocean was supported by prestigious patrons, such as Charles Duke, former NASA astronaut who walked on the moon in 1972, who renamed her Costa Luna, and Miss Tahiti, Rauata Temauri.

The escort first visited the Sea Turtles Clinic, in order to help get Costa Luna ready for the release. Indeed, Costa Luna won’t leave us without news, because she will be equipped with a satellite tag which will send information on her position.

This satellite tagging program is supported by the Annenberg Foundation, the NOAA and Georges Balasz scientist, the Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Man and Nature, Tahiti Legends and the CNES throughout its educational program “Argonautica”.

After a short journey on boat to the western side of the Opunohu Bay, Costa Luna left the world of humans, forever we hope, to get back to hers.

>> Follow Costa Luna’s position with Argonautica

>> Read the story of COSTA LUNA

An exceptional conference has been organised on the Paul Gauguin cruising ship on May 10, with Charlie Duke, american astronaut and moonwlaker during Apollo 16, and Jean-François Clervoy, french astronaut and Patron of te mana o te moana.

The two astronauts were present in French Polynesia for a special conference organised by te mana o te moana.

The Conference Room of the cruising ship welcomed the two astronauts, accompanied by te mana o te moana’s team, who shared with the passengers memories and experience about spacial flights and Earth preservation.

>> Read more about our Conferences

On the 12th of May, Tahiti will host an exceptional encounter: meet with Charlie DUKE, an american astronaut who took part in the APOLLO 16 mission in April 1972. Jean-François CLERVOY, French atronaut and Patron of te mana o te moana, will also be present at this conference.

Co-organised by te mana o te maona and Papeete’s Lions Club, this conference is in honour of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission, during which Charlie Duke walked on the moon.

Throughout shared memories, photographies and videos, Charlie DUKE will tell us about his life as a pilot and an astronaut, during trainings and space flights.

Jean-François Clervoy, from the European Space Agency ESA, will translate into French with the utmost accuracy, and will also share with us the 15th anniversary of the space flight STS-84 in 1997 of the Atlantis space shuttle to the russian space station Mir.

At the end of the Conference, the two astronauts will answer the questions of the public and also sign their books.

Funds collected during this conference will go to various projects in favour of Polynesian youth (see press release below).

We thank the sponsors who support such an exceptionnal event in Tahiti: Radio 1, Air Tahiti Nui, Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, Paul Gauguin Cruise Ship and Air Tahiti.

The event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/411079412236091/

More informations: download the Press Release – Saturday 12 May 2012 – Duke Clervoy Conference.

Jean-François Aillet, a sculptor living in Normandy, France, has been working for several years on a very poetic art work: the Tides’ Solitaire (le Solitaire des Marées).

The idea is to collect 7000 samples of sand from all over the world, and gather them in an original collection, which the future generations will inherit. With these sands will also be created a unique diamond, mixing a few of each of these 7000 different types of sand, named “The Tides’ Solitaire”.

For more information about “The Tides’ Solitaire” (in French)

te mana o te moana heard about this project thanks to his patron, Jean-François Clervoy, and sent to the French artist several samples:
– two handfuls of white sand from Moorea
– two handfuls of black sand from Tahiti
– two handfuls of sand from Tetiaroa atoll. This sand plays a very important role. Indeed, Tetiaroa being an important nesting area for sea turtles, it is in this sand that the eggs remain during two months after being layed, until the newborn sea turtles rise out of the buried nest to reach the sea.
– two handfuls of sand from Fangatau, a remote atoll from the Tuamotu archipelago.

Listen to the radio interview “Allô la Planète” (in French), presenting the project with the participation of Jean-François Aillet, Jean-François Clervoy and Cécile Gaspar:

http://www.aillet.com/collecte/actualite/interviews.htm
http://www.aillet.com/presse/LeMouv_19032012/AllolaplaneteLEMOUV.mp3

You too can contribute to build the “Tides’ Solitaire”

Send two handfuls of sand from where you live, and add the picture of your sampling:

>>  more information (in French)…

April 16, 2011, is a big day for the sea turtle Atlantis: today, back to the ocean! And Jean-François Clervoy, patron of te mana o te moana, is the one to let her back in the water.

With support and participation from the Lions Club of Papeete, another release is imminent at the Sea Turtles’ Clinic. It is time for Atlantis to leave the Clinic, and to be freed by Jean-François Clervoy.

But first of all, Atlantis needs to be prepared. Jean-François carves on the shell an identification number (it does’nt hurt the turtle).

A short trip on the lagoon by Moorea’s island, and the big moment comes!

Jean-François swims a while with Atlantis, but the turtles quickly dives deeply in the blue…

Time is left to answer some questions for the media, and to hand to Jean-François his Citizen of the Ocean Passport. Everyone is back to the Clinic… except Atlantis!

Jean-François Clervoy is a French astronaut from ESA-European Space Agency (3 space flights), and Patron of te mana o te moana since june 2009.

She was help by the two godfathers of the association : Jean François Clervoy, astronaut for ESA and Jean Michel Cousteau, President of Ocean futures Society.
It was the opportunity for every participant to show the World Ocean Network identifying ambassadors to send a message through some artists, famous people and symbols in common to make a better visibility.
Jean Michel Cousteau and Philippe Vallette did express their wish for every participant to wear the famous woolly red hat from Cousteau Commandant on June 8th and on the 10th (brithday of JYC). Then, this fourth meeting had the main purpose to show again the part and the ambitions of World Ocean Network.If you would like to see the video news of the meeting and balance sheet of the workshops : click on
www.4emerencontreinternationalewon.com