Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Here are a few I thought you might like to read…

had loads of emails come in – 99% very positive and excited, and the odd one a little unhappy, universally about the pig. See below. These are the pick of the bunch.

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Bula,

the first programme has just been aired on BBC1, and no doubt you will be recieving a great deal of enquiries because of this.

I have been to many of the Fijian islands and i know the people to be very genuine with big hearts. Combined with your ideas and intellect, you are setting an example for the world to follow, so whatever trails and tests you have to overcome, keep going.

This is really a letter of encouragement to continue your project no matter what happens, but the best words that can help you are all in the poem IF, so here it is.

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
’ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

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I watched your programme on TV last night – it was absolutely fantastic
and I think your project is a great example of a sustainable tourism
development. Its eco principles and economic development goals are
inspiring.

One disturbing thought did cross my mind however – and I feel compelled
to share it with you. With all this increased publicity and the
informal, unregulated nature of the internet – who is ensuring the most
vulnerable tribe members (the children that live on vorovoro) are being
protected?

If you haven’t already this is probably something you need to discuss
urgently with the island chief. Tourism Concern should be able to
provide some useful information.
http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=child-sex-tourism

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I watched your programme tonight and was impressed at
your place. I did an adventure myself years back
flying to Saudi Arabia to map marine habitats in the
Persian Gulf 1994-1999. Now I am sedentary stay at
home Dad but into fruit, veg and herb gardening in a
big way, and green living.

Here’s my advice to help you make the island grow the
right way.

Besides the land resources you have there – I already
saw the piece on the herb garden – there are two
others. The first is the sea. Snorkelling is of course
already being done but I am sure it is possible to
undertake self sufficient diving there. We had our own
air compressor in south west Saudi in 1998. Does such
an air cmpressor exist which might run on say biodisel
to fill air tanks to make eco-diving possible?

You might want to get conservation volunteer groups
like Coral Cay Conservation involved in fish counting
exercises.

You also have the sky. An expat friend of mine in
Saudi used to earn a living teaching astronomy to
people in the evenings after their safaris in
Zimbabwe.
Being southern hemisphere it must be amazing down
there, the Great and Lesser Magellanic Clouds must be
fabulous there – I have seen them in Kenya.

Anyway good luck with the whole idea. I’m impressed
that you got this far.

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I saw your interview on the Richard and Judy program
today and saw the pig being knifed in the neck whilst
still conscious. The pig was squealing in pain which
must have been excruciating.

As an active campaigner for animal welfare, I
understand that a lot of countries do have immoral
policies in relation to animal welfare. However, I am
emailing you to ask if part of your project is to
educate people that animals feel pain and suffering as
humans do.

I read on your website that you were concerned about
the sea turtles. However, a pig also has feelings and
deserves the same respect.

I am a vegan and do not believe in eating any animal
products.

I look forward to your reply.

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+ lots more congrats to the tribe, just you lot wait for the rest of the series….