STORY: Artists in Namibia use art to promote marine conservation
SHOOTING TIME: May 6-7, 2024
DATELINE: May 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:45
LOCATION: LUDERITZ, Namibia
CATEGORY: ART/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of artists painting on walls in the coastal town of Luderitz
2. various of artists by the sea
3. SOUNDBITE (English): PAULUS AMAKALI, Artist
4. various of artworks by local artists

STORYLINE:

In southern Namibia, artists are using the power of art to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of the African nation's marine life along the Atlantic Ocean.
   
The "Waves of Change" initiative seeks to draw attention to the significant threat that pollution poses within the Namibian Islands' Marine Protected Area (NIMPA).

Spanning 9,500 square kilometers, NIMPA is home to a rich marine biodiversity, supporting populations of seabirds, marine mammals and marine industries.

Despite being Africa's second-largest marine protected area, NIMPA faces challenges from pollution, climate change and under-resourced management.
   
To address these challenges, the Namibia Nature Foundation, a local non-governmental organization, launched the NIMPA Plus project in 2023 to support the government in promoting environmental protection.
   
The art initiative, which began in April of this year, involves 15 artists creating public artwork to make a statement. This includes painting murals at popular sites and other artistic activations in the coastal town of Luderitz.
   
Paulus Amakali, one of the local artists, believes in the power of art to convey messages to the public and drive social change. "The goal is to create art that communicates the problems of pollution, extinction and the need for environmental protection, helping both locals and visitors learn about these issues," he said.

SOUNDBITE (English): PAULUS AMAKALI, Artist
"The main point is like what you are seeing here is concerning the aquatic animals. So we must take care of our seabirds, sea animals. Because if we are not taking care of it, then the young generation will not know a lot of things. For example, we have the African penguin whose population is now going down. So we have to keep that one, to protect it."

Local leaders envision a far-reaching impact of the initiative, aiming to shift mindsets, transform the town's landscape and foster a sense of community.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Luderitz, Namibia.
(XHTV)