Marine Mammal Rights

(Image credit: Howie Cooke @ Surfers for Cetaceans)

Somethings amiss in peoples' DNA make-up when they take perverse pleasure in harassing marine life or wildlife.

In the news recently, a jet skier went out of his way to mess around with a pod of dolphins in Scotland.

Excerpt:

....a jet-skier ride into a family of dolphins and send them into a panic, a court has heard. The large group of around 20 animals became stressed when they were chased through the water by the jet-skier, diving under the water and returning to the surface only seconds later to breathe.

Thankfully there were witnesses and this case goes to court in a couple of weeks. I suggest that one of his punishments should be to be thrown into the water and another jet skier harasses him while he struggles to stay afloat and to breathe. Let him become disoriented, confused, and panicked.

Something else that gives further weight to the argument that dolphins should NOT be held in captivity anywhere for any reason: Dolphin Death at Curacao

It is nothing but selfishness and greed that would drive certain human beings to support this sort of thing. Once again, it brings me to ask: How would we feel if we were being held captive, in an unnatural environment, and expected to perform for an audience while the people running the place get rich off of us?

In other news, Senator likens Japanese whaling to Nazi experiments

Some people might find that to be an extreme statement and some might even take offense to it. But if you have ever seen a video or witnessed the cruel and inhumane manner in which our marine mammals are tortured and/or killed, you might be inclined then to agree.

We all share this planet. There is absolutely no reason why all species can not coexist with one another in harmony. Naive and idealistic? Perhaps, but wishing for peace on earth is a hope that most compassionate humans desire.

Which reminds me. I found this over at Surfers for Cetaceans.

...: Universal Declaration of Marine Mammal Rights :...

CHARTER ONE: CETACEANS (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises)

1. All whales,dolphins and porpoises are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.


2. Every whale, dolphin and porpoise is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind such as species, sex or other status.


3. Every whale, dolphin and porpoise has the right to life, liberty and security of person.


4. No whale, dolphin or porpoise shall be held in slavery or servitude, slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.


5. No whale, dolphin or porpoise shall be subjected to fortune or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.


6. No whale, dolphin or porpoise shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.


7. Every whale, dolphin and porpoise has the right to freedom of movement and residence in the sea and the right to return unhindered to it home territory.


8. Every whale, dolphin and porpoise has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.


9. Every cetacean has the right to a clean environment for the health and well-being of self and family and the right to the bounty of the ocean, ie food.


10. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

I'm on board with that :-)

Mahalo,

Dolphin