(1888PressRelease)
April 08, 2008 - The 75' Nagol Land Diving platform collapsed, carrying camera man to the ground. He had climbed the fragile platform to gain spectacular shots for a new documentary.
The entire tower collapsed to the ground, minutes after the rope the camera man was holding broke, even before the first performer had psyched himself into position, in preparation for his annual death defying leap.
It is one of the world's most spectacularly frightening religious ceremonies, on the island archepalego of Vanuatu. Pentecost island's the land dive has gained world wide recognition. It is the home and ancient birthplace of all extreme sport and is the pre-runner of modern bungee jumping. Though no bungee jump is quite like the one on Pentecost.
From the misty myths of time, legend has it (secret women’s business) that the first land diver was a woman. In a desperate bid to escape her husband's abuse she tied a vine to her ankle and dived off the top of a tree. She survived. Her husband, was not to be outdone by a woman. He instantly dived after her without the aid of a vine. He never survived the dive.
The legend became an ancient ceremony, celebrating the yam crop as it thrust its first green tips through the earth, in early April. At least one huge wooden tower is built at each of the southern villages of the island. The fragile looking towers reach up to 23m (75ft).
Each Saturday from April to June, is to be a jump day, this year. Men of all ages will line up to take the plunge. Unfortunately it could be the last thing they ever do on this earth. Trust they are all prayed up as well. Vanuatu is the second most Christian country in the world, next to the Solomon islands.
The locals believe the jump is necessary to guarantee the bounty of the yam harvest. The divers' back or shoulders must brush the tilled earth in order to make the ground fruitful. Theoretically all rocks have been removed from the area.
It has now also become a ceremony to show the men’s acceptance into manhood. What a potential death jump proves of manhood, however, is beyond our civilized minds’ comprehension. Bearing in mind, the jump is now taboo to women.
Each man psyches himself to plunge from the precarious looking platform, held only by two vines his friends have tied to his ankles. If there is too much moisture in the vines, the vines will stretch with fatal results. A participant died during a filming, when the Queen of England was present in 1974, because of an extremely dry season. The vines did not have enough elasticity – they tore instead of stretching.
When the diver is ready he raises his hands to the people below to stop their singing, dancing and whistling. Just before he jumps he yells out his most intimate thoughts, whatever they may be. These possible last words on earth, are not a confession as some would hope, but a full revelation of whatever is on his mind, including marital problems etc.
The diver claps his hands, crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward until he topples over the edge of the platform.
Male relatives rush forward to untie his feet and instantly stand him up. This might be in spite of the fact the land diver may not be quite ‘with it’. The crowd roars a shout of approval.
This year the platform collapsed before the first dive took place. Reasons: Maybe the holes for the posts weren’t dug deep enough into the ground to carry the weight. Maybe there weren’t enough supporting vines at the back to keep the tower upright. Maybe..... the speculation will go on for months around the village fires in the evening.
“What was the camera man doing climbing the tower for anyway?” the local Ni-Vanuatu people ask. "All the other camera men were working on the ground."
Tradition has its place, but this is the 21st century. Haven’t they heard of workplace safety? Short answer. NO! It has never been heard of in places like the outer islands of Vanuatu.
Education is not free either, as was promised in the Rights of the Child, as ratified by the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1989.
Many of the students form the outer islands will never have the opportunity to go to high school without outside assistance, though the males of Pentecost will annually make a death defying jump. These children will be left behind in the 21st century, with nothing but their traditional way of life.
Your donation to the charity, YouMe Support Foundation, with your chance to win your own private holiday home, plus 6 holiday units, (http://www.seachangelodge.com) will make a difference in these children’s lives and the lives of their village. Non-repayable education grants are the only hope for these children's future.
Ancient traditions will not be challenged, but the children of this Lesser Developed Country, have the right to be given the opportunity to fulfill their own dreams and ambitions, in accordance with the Rights of the Child, as ratified by the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1989.
