Dreaming of whales

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A movie produced by John Lennon's son Julian is a compelling story about the plight of whales and those trying to save them.

Bunna Lawrie is a whale-dreamer who sings to the giants of the ocean.

"We have this gift in us where we can sing to the whales and they respond to us because they know our language," he said.

"Our ancestors have been there for centuries."

Bunna, from Adelaide's coastal Mirning tribe is travelling the world, taking his message to children and anyone who will listen.

"It's time to really come together and be as one and we can all be guardians as one as well as brothers and sisters and really take care of this planet," he said.

"Take care of our whales and dolphins and look after them and do the right thing."

This remarkable connection has been made into a motion picture, Whaledreamers.

Jack Thompson narrates the story of the Mirning people and how they sing to whales. It is a skill taught over hundreds of years.

Singer Julian Lennon got to know the Mirning people through his love of whales but everything changed when they gave him a white feather as a gift.

Thirty years ago, his dad John told him: "If anything ever happens to me, look for a white feather and you'll know I'm there looking out for you."

Many Australians have woken up to the plight of whales, disgusted by the incessant killing of them in the name of scientific research.

More recently, the tragic story of Colin the Whale attracted international attention after it became stuck in Sydney Harbour, searching for its mum.

Bunna travelled to Sydney and informed authorities Colin was indeed a female but he arrived too late to save the abandoned calf.

Now Whaledreamers is sounding the call that doing something can no longer be left to green groups.

"Nobody's trying to shove the problems down people's throats but it's something that everybody needs to be aware of," Julian said in the movie.

"One way or another we all try and pull together and do something about it."

In the firing line are governments for putting business over the environment.

Australia's nuclear testing in the 1950s at Maralinga has left the area uninhabitable and displaced two aboriginal tribes, including Bunna Lawrie's Mirning tribe.

Despite this, Whaledreamers gives a message of hope, that healing the environment will help mankind.

Related info
Whaledreamers has its international premiere in Sydney tonight.

Read more about the movie at www.whaledreamers.com.