We are led to think that many of our ambitions can be achieved with ease, through shortcuts or without effort. If this is scientifically false in everyday life, it is just as far from the truth if you think of a mission like defending, conserving and protecting the world.
So, how can we do this? One word: fighting.
Structure
“Fight For Conservation” is probably Music For The Planet‘s most epic piece. Starting from a very gentle and dreamy atmosphere, the introduction increases dynamically until the whole orchestra intones an opening that brings us to the main part. From this moment, about 28 seconds after the start, an energetic and epic part leads us to the main theme that begins at the second 52. At minute 01.16 the dynamic reach its peak until it “crumbles” falling back into the same environment as the initial introduction. Here peace seems to be regained and the listener is lulled into a reassuring atmosphere. Through a series of modulations, the orchestra returns with a second theme that suggests drama in a crescendo that suddenly plunges us into the same epic movement that preceded this section. Once the main theme is repeated, after the 4 fortissimo of the orchestra to which the choir has been added, everything ends with a strong deep blow sound.
Sound-stage: Going Epic
Ok, I’ll admit it: I let myself get carried away with epic soundscapes from time to time. The choice of which Virtual Orchestra libraries to use has been careful in terms of functionality: as for the rest of the album, the strings section has been assigned to 8dio All Adagio Strings Bundle but, speaking of epicity, the predominant instruments have been a synth sequencer, percussions (8dio Hybrid Tools Vol. 3 + The New Epic Taiko Ensemble), trombones (8dio CAGE Brass) and a full choir (8dio Requiem Professional + Lacrimosa Epic Choir). It was hard to fit the various high dynamics and quantity of frequencies, managing the spaces in the stereo panorama and giving the feeling of impact I was looking for. The result, however, still leaves me satisfied today.
Dive Into the Matter
Our Oceans and its inhabitants are dying from over-fishing and habitat decimation.
The concept of “marine conservation” is relatively new. It was only in the 1960s that it was generally acknowledged that major fish populations were in decline and ecosystems were dramatically deteriorating. Today, marine conservation is considered one of the greatest scientific problems on our planet. Ecosystems have changed irreversibly, ocean management is fragmented and oceans are managed independently of the terrestrial (land) environment.
Given that 71% of our planet is covered by water, the state of our waterways is now one of our most pressing issues.
Poachers plunder marine life sanctuaries with impunity, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing goes unchecked in the high seas far from the eyes of international authorities and public scrutiny. International laws and agreements exist to protect ocean wildlife and marine habitats, but they can be difficult to enforce because of lack of political will, insufficient economic resources, or transnational boundaries that blur jurisdiction.
Take Action: Sea Shpeherd
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Their 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. Sea Shepherd investigates and documents when laws to protect the world’s oceans and marine wildlife are not enforced. They use innovative, direct actions to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas marine sanctuaries and in countries’ sovereign waters through cooperative agreements with established law enforcement agencies.
Simon Ager
For several years, I have been monitoring Sea Shepherd’s initiatives and activities, supporting them with small donations. The images and videos that are publicly distributed document their incredible operations, often leaving them speechless and with great admiration. I recently got in touch with one of their official photographers, the award-winning artist Simon Ager.
A passion for nature and what lies beneath the waves, scuba diving around the world for some twenty years, also a dive instructor, it was a natural progression to step into the realm of ocean conservation from armchair warrior.
The last eight years have seen him on some seventeen marine based campaigns with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as an officer, ships manager and primarily as a diver and stills photographer, with images appearing in The NY Times, National Geographic NZ, Le Point Magazine, Laika and Bill-a-Bong stores.
More recently Simon was honored to be one of the first members of the Sea Legacy Collective whereby he will continue to use his work to hopefully inspire others to take a stand and protect the oceans.
I received his support for Music For The Planet giving me the consent to include in this article some of his photos documenting the work of Sea Shepherd.
Proudly, you can find them in the gallery below.
I warmly invite you to visit his website and to follow him on Instagram.
