Whales & Usrecorded webinar
By reimagining our connection to the ocean through the story of the whale, this webinar invites you to feel more deeply, think more expansively, and act more consciously in today’s world.
Hosted by
- How whales have come to symbolise ecological change and planetary interconnection
- The overlooked ways marine life is impacted by climate change and pollution
- The emotional and mythic power of whales across cultures
- What these creatures can teach us about interdependence, resilience, and care
Humans have long been captivated by whales. Across ancient cultures, these majestic beings appear in myths and stories, symbols of mystery, transformation, and the deep unknown. Their social behaviours are equally incredible, revealing a world shaped by sound, presence, and trust. And yet, we now find their bellies full of plastic—a stark reminder of how profoundly we are polluting the oceans. The whale continues to be a mirror, reflecting both our reverence and our recklessness.
In this webinar, we’re joined by acclaimed author and essayist Rebecca Giggs, whose groundbreaking book Fathoms: The World in the Whale dives deep into the ecological, philosophical, and emotional entanglements between humans and whales. Through her lyrical storytelling and sharp insight, Rebecca invites us to see whales not just as icons of conservation, but as beings whose lives ripple across science, myth, memory, and the climate crisis. Together, we’ll explore what whales can teach us about intimacy, extinction, and interconnectedness in an age of ecological precarity.
For the last century, the whale has stood as a symbol of our evolving relationship with the natural world. In the 1980s, as global movements rose up to end illegal whaling, the whale came to embody conservation itself. A gentle giant representing environmentalism and our collective care for the planet. Because of their size and migratory patterns, whales actually help enhance the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. Remarkably, they also act as living carbon sinks, storing CO₂ within their bodies.