About
Gossypium in Umbilico means literally “cotton on the belly button” in Latin, used here as a metaphor about the egocentric and self-centered approach that blogs normally have and which this one is no different. This small and minimalistic website (I tried not to include too many graphics and “loads”) is about my professional activities, thoughts and life in general.
My name is Francisco Gil Ferreira Figueiredo Gonçalves, but if that is too long for you, you can just call me Chico (abbreviation used for Francisco in Portugal).
In Sum; I’m a Biologist, Scientific Consultant, Campaigner, Surfer, Activist, Diver, Lifeguard, Jiu-Jitsu fighter, Photographer, Fire Juggler, Traveller, Proud Son and Humanist.
// Professional Résumé
// [download Curriculum Vitae - English]
// [download Curriculum Vitae - Português]
I was born in Torres Vedras (Portugal) on the 2nd of February 1983, after completing my studies at the secondary school of Lourinhã in 2002 I moved to the United Kingdom (Wales) where I took a degree in Biology @ the University of Glamorgan, completed in 2005.
I have a special interest in marine mammals, marine conservation, and sustainable use. I began being around Cetaceans during 2002 as a volunteer worker at the Cetacean Conservation Project from the Madeira archipelago, Portugal (2002 and 2003).
I developed a research program in partnership with M.E.E.R. e.V. a German NGO; after taken a course on ethology and assisted their field work. My work was focused on the effect of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the abundance and distribution of cetaceans off La Gomera (Canary Islands). It ended up being honours project (2003 and 2004).
During my degree I was able to publish an article on the Whale and Dolphin Magazine titled “IWC (International Whaling Commission), history and controversy”. It marked and solidified my interest for whaling and the affairs surrounding it (2004). Available under the publications section.
June 2004 was when I met for the first time people directly related with the whaling issue and some cornerstones (like Dr. Sidney J. Holt) of the movement to save whales. This happened at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Forum in Limerick.
On the year of my graduation I head off to the Azores to be the research assistant of Ricardo Antunes. The research was on Sperm Whale acoustic clans and their temporal and geographic Variation (2005), my main duties were to take Photo-IDs, Track whales via a directional hydrophone and logistics.
By the end of 2005 I went down to South America (Uruguay) where I helped developing a set methodological systems and databases for research for the Cetacean Conservation Organization – Uruguay. I was coordinating a project concerned on measuring and quantifying behaviour and also build a Photo-ID catalogue for the Marine Protected Area (MPA) off Rocha. I also gave a few presentations with the aim of raising awareness about the marine environment, its wonders and problems; I also work with media (both TV and Radio) (2006).
In South America I got further involved with my true passion; the International Whaling Commission (IWC). I was part of the team working with the Uruguayan government in order for it to rejoin the commission and vote in the so-called Buenos Aires bloc (conservation), this was done in cooperation with Greenpeace International through an activist named Milko Schvartzman, now a dear friend and “Guru”.
Returning to Europe around April (2006) I started working on the contemporary whaling debate and the IWC. Done in collaboration with people such as Dr. Sidney J. Holt, Leslie Busby (Third Millennium Foundation) and Melanie Salmon (Global Ocean). By June (2006) I attended my first IWC meeting (the 58th), supported by Global Ocean, as a Media Representative. I got (illegally) arrested after a Greenpeace action on the last day of the meeting, endured 38 hours at the local prison known as “Smack Down”, and without charges or a trial I was deported…
During the winter of 2007 I started working at several fronts, including securing the 2009 IWC meeting to Portugal, putting pressure on Denmark, Nicaragua and Japan, in between other Political related themes, always in cooperation with other NGO’s and individuals who have been extremely helpful. That time Greenpeace was running a program called I-GO that revealed to be a very powerful tool for engaging people around the word on actions at their homes and putting direct activism into their daily lives (shame they stopped it).
Still during 2007 I started working on Africa supported again by Global Ocean, this time, my mission was to try to get the island state of Sao Tome and Principe on west Africa not to support Japan at the IWC and on whaling related themes, which was accomplished thanks to the cooperation of different bodies of the civil society, media, and government.
Around this time I was also invited to be part of the PEW Whales Network of the PEW Environment Group, who also supported part of my work in Africa.
With this work I called the attention of IFAW. In September I had a meeting with the director of the IFAW Whale Program Patrick Ramage and in May 2008 I signed a contract until June 2009, as a consultant and campaigner.
I attended my second IWC meeting as a representative of IFAW, in Chile, June 2008.
After that my work was to build momentum for IFAW at the IWC 2009 that took place in Madeira, involving consulting and campaigning work as well as strategy building and implementing. My other duties were also engaging Portugal as a whole on the whaling issue, through NGOs, media, government and population in general.
I kept working in Africa with lusophone countries via the PEW Whales Commission, most notably in São Tomé and Príncipe, where for three years (2007-2009) I leaded a campaign that prevented the country from joining the IWC.
After my contract came to an end with IFAW, it didn’t get renewed (but I I’m still being contacted from time to time for advice and help with work on Portuguese grounds).
All the IWC campaign is in a stalemate, we (the environmental movement) cannot hold sway on the matter and we are limited to react to Japan’s moves on the issue, no binding proposals are approved, and t is drowned in negotiations and hypocrisy, and to be honest I’m getting a bit sick of it. Still I find it very interesting and the forces and articulations surrounding it still fascinate me!
During the IWC61 in Madeira (2009) I got the chance to watch a documentary called End of The Line based on the book by Charles Clover with the same name. This documentary detailed with alarming vivid reality the problem of over-fishing the potential catastrophic events that can be foreseen in future if we do not change our perspectives! Also, this was a very personal problem, so close to home. I’ve never seen a whale or a dolphin (only stranded dead animals) on the seas surrounding the place I live, but I’ve seen and lived the fisherman way of living since I can remember.
I’m still learning a lot about over-fishing, and ways we can act to solve the issue. And I hope I can have a contribute to the solution of this issue, at least here at home. Besides commercial fishing I’m also interested on other subjects, such as sharks, and ways to save the many threatened species.
Also, I’ve been working together with IFAW since February 2010 on the wildlife traffic issue, in Portugal and other parts of the globe.
For a detailed account of my professional credentials, experience and practices please download my Curriculum Vitae (CV) here (or in Portuguese if you prefer).
// Fatum Surfboards
Besides my work as a campaigner and Scientific Consultant to IFAW I also work at Fatum Surfboards. There I strated by being in charge of several things: the technical aspects of surfboards, such as fin plugs and leashes cups, the surfboard repair workshop, the inspecting and packing of surfboards to be shipped and delivered to clients, client assistance on the shop and factory maintenance. Nowadays I’m also responsible for the website update, it’s maintenance and development. From time to time I still like to get my mask on and fiddle with the foam dust.
Visit us at http://fatumsurfboards.com
// Disclaimer
The Gossypium in Umbilico website design, contents and development are full credited to Francisco G. Ferreira F. Gonçalves.
The content of the Gossypium in Umbilico site, including text, graphics, images, information obtained from licensors, and other material, provide information up-to-date about the author and his professional activities. The perspectives, findings, and ideas expressed are the ones of the author, and are not endorsed to any other entity.
The Author authorizes you to view or download a single copy of the material present on Gossypium in Umbilico solely for your personal, noncommercial use ONLY. Any use of the Content must carry the copyright notice as follows, and MUST be authorized by the author:
“© 2002-2010, Francisco Gonçalves. All rights reserved.”
The author makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, correctness, or timeliness of the content, software, text, graphics, links, or communications provided on or through the use of a website.