Special Idiots

(Artist credit: junefeier @ Deviant Art)

Yesterday was another dark day in Taiji, Japan.  25 striped dolphins were slaughtered mercilessly and without remorse.  While global awareness of this has increased at an amazing rate over the last few years, there are moments when I wonder if we'll ever see the end of this.  Not just in Taiji, but in the killing of pilot whales in Denmark, whaling in Japan, Norway, Iceland, etal, and other places too numerous to mention.

I recently learned about Diana Reiss, the author of The Dolphin in the Mirror and one of the founders of the website Act for Dolphins.  I've requested The Dolphin in the Mirror from my local library and based on what I've heard, it comes highly recommended among several of my dolphin friends.

I also found an article about her here:  Studying the Big-Brained Dolphin

I find it highly encouraging that more scientists are jumping on board in support of cetaceans and even supporting the notion that these mammals deserve human rights recognition. One such opinion piece I found is here:  Whales are People Too

Even some notable experts in Japan are speaking up more against whaling and one such example is this pdf pamphlet now available in English online that was published last June 2011.  You can find that here:  Research Whaling? 

One highly suspected culprit in why so many whales and dolphins around the world are stranding themselves lies in the military use of sonar.  Will suing the military make a difference?  I don't know.  But I'm heartened by the efforts of so many compassionate souls out there bringing this to every one's attention:  Groups Sue Over Navy Sonar Impacts on Marine Mammals

Another example of people coming together to speak up and to protect these mammals is A Voice of the Orcas.  This site was put together by a group of former Sea World trainers who are now making their voices heard on what really goes on at Sea World.  Please help spread the word on this.

Here's some good news!  As you know, Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has not only been active in helping to protect whales, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins, he's also been instrumental in making people aware of the harp seal cull up in Canada.  Many other organizations and people who've been involved in this deserve all the kudos and credit in the world as well.  It's been a battle that's raged for over 40 years.  According to this article by Paul Watson, it appears these slaughters are finally coming to an end.  You can read his commentary on this here:  The Canadian Seal Hunt is Dead! 

It takes a special class and level of idiocy to not give a shit about what you're doing when you're out on the water in a boat or on a jet ski.  Some people thought it would be a great deal of fun to terrorize a pod of dolphins (with babies) with their jet skis down in Hobart, Australia.   Their self proclaimed ignorance that they were bothering a pod of dolphins is no excuse.  Boating requires one to be mindful and watchful of where you're going and to be careful to not disturb the wildlife.  That's just common sense.

Here's an interesting site that has a page full of varying whale and dolphin links dating back a few years.  Dolphin and Whale News

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." ~ Ansel Adams ~

I'm Angry

(Artist credit:  Jim Warren)

Okay, so that break didn't last too long.  I can't shut up.

I have a rant I need to get out of my system. 

(1) I'm angry that BP still hasn't gotten a handle on this damn oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

(2)  I'm angry that BP, the Federal government, and various other so-called politicians and regulators and other people in positions of authority and/or power appear to be mostly standing around not knowing whether to scratch their watches or wind their butts.  

(3)  I'm angry that various wildlife, on the land and in the water, are getting sick, getting slicked, and getting killed.

(4)  I'm angry that it took President Obama over three weeks to act like he was doing something about this mess.  Even now, he's still not taking a strong enough stand on this.  I'd put him in the "scratching my watch, winding my butt" group of nincompoops on this matter.

(5)  I'm also angry at Obama for breaking his promise to not turn his back on issue of ending commercial whaling.   

(6)  I'm angry that Sea World is not yet out of business.  And I'm angry at the people who continue to buy their tickets, merchandise, etc. and don't seem to give a damn.  What part of captivity is cruel do folks not understand?

(7) I'm angry that despite the obvious environmental catastrophe in the Gulf, that certain people are still clamoring for more oil drilling.  I'll be bitchy for a second and put them in the category of folks who actually want Sarah Palin to be our next President of the United States. 

(8)  I'm angry that according to this poll (CNN Oil Spill Poll)  16% of the respondents state they do not feel they, or anyone they know, are now or will ever be directly impacted by the Deep Horizon Oil disaster.  What?!  I knew narcissism was alive and well, but this one takes the cake.

(9)  I'm angry that when the EPA demanded BP to stop using toxic dispersants, BP basically flipped 'em the middle finger and said "It's not as toxic as you think."    Right, 'cuz ya know, you KNEW you had a problem with the Deep Horizon rig BEFORE it blew up and caused this big hellish mess.  So therefore, we should kiss your ass and believe whatever you say?  Okay, I'm convinced :-P

(10)  I'm angry that if just three sperm whales die in the Gulf as a result of all this, we could be seeing the end of them.  They are already on the endangered species list.

(11)  I'm angry that we need sites like these:  Gulf Oil Spill Tracker and Live Cam of the OIl Spill

(12)  I'm angry that we need sites and petitions like Cetacean Rights when it should be a given that these mammals have the right to co-exist with us in harmony and without fear for their lives.  And I'm angry that not every single human being on this planet has signed it.

(13)  I'm angry that countries like Japan take no heed to warnings like "Pride cometh before the fall" with their arrogance, ignorance, and greed in continuing to murder whales and dolphins without remorse or conscious.

Some important links well worth your time:

Message From the Dolphins & Whales From the Gulf of Mexico

Time to Say Goodbye

World Cetacean Day

Artist credit:  Labrynith's Eye by Polygame

In honor of today being World Cetacean Day, today's post will simply be a tribute to these amazing sentient beings.

"Man has always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much .. the wheel, New York, wars and so on ... while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time.  But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man ... for precisely the same reason."  ~ Douglas Adams ~

"It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English - up to fifty words used in correct context - no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese." ~ Carl Sagan ~

"Listen to the voice of a dolphin and you shall learn the secret to mankind's survival:  Peace." ~ Mallory Watson ~

"Pushing through green waters ... symbol of joy ... you leap from the depths ... to touch the sky ... scattering spray ... like handfuls of jewels ... " ~ Horace Dobbs ~

"For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."  ~ Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician and Philosopher ~

"To the dolphin alone, nature has given that which the best philosophers seek: Friendship for no advantage. Though it has no need of help from any man, it is a genial friend to all and has helped mankind."  ~ Plutarch ~

"No aquarium, no tank in any marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea.  And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal."  ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau ~

"The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist.  For man it is to know that and to wonder at it." ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau ~

"The Cetecea hold an important lesson for us.  The lesson is not about whales and dolphins, but about ourselves.  There is at least moderately convincing evidence that there is another class of intelligent beings on Earth beside ourselves.  They have behaved benignly and in many cases affectionately towards us.  We have systematically slaughtered them.  Little reverence for life is evident in the whaling industry - underscoring a deep human failing...In warfare, man against man, it is common for each side to dehumanize the other so that there will be none of the natural misgivings that a human being has at slaughtering another ..."  ~ Carl Sagan ~


"When Earth is sick, the animals will begin to disappear.  When that happens the Warriors of the Rainbow will come to save them."  ~ Chief Seattle ~

"If you talk with the animals, they will talk with you.  And you will know each other.  If you do not talk to them, you will not know them.  And what you do not know, you will fear.  What one fears one destroys."  ~ Chief Dan George ~


Video:  John Denver's "Ancient Rhymes"



(Direct link to video:  Ancient Rhymes)

Lyrics to Ancient Rhymes:

Two days before the moon was round

You felt the urge of sun's light beams

The muffled world of dolphin sounds

Slipped down and back into your dreams

For nine full months that passed before

You learned of all of life's Ancient Rhymes

Then mother sensed a farther shore

And brought you forth into these times

So taste the air of your new world

And gently guide us to your mind

It knows the winds and sails unfurled

And holds to heart the dolphin kind

Welcome precious earth made child

We met you first in your father's songs

And mother's smile and waters wild

It's in this place you now belong

I know you know of all these things

And feel the faith of a dolphin's sigh

For you were born on silver wings

To taste the high blown crystal sky

So sing one day to all of us

The songs you learned in dolphin lair

Giving hope to life as all we must

And teach us how their grace to share

"So long and thanks for all the fish!" ~ Douglas Adams ~

Good Vibrations

(Artist credit:  Andrew Forrest)

(Today's post includes four videos, which may not come through if you are an email subscriber.  Please go directly to my blog if you wish to see these videos.  Thank you!)

Did you know that our vibrational energies have a positive or negative impact on water?  Please see this video:



Given that we are made up of primarily water .. and given our planet is 2/3's water ... it's amazing the power our energies have.  I wonder what would happen if we all harnessed that energy and put forth a collective vibrational message of, say, peace?  How about love? 


This Peace in the Water video states "It only takes a fraction of 1% of the population to tangibly shift the energy of a whole area."




Dolphin and Whale stories:

Dolphin Saviors

Divine Dolphin


This is a beautiful video of whales singing:



If you live away from the ocean and miss the powerful force and energy of the waves, this video is for you:

In Defense of Cetaceans

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

So what's up in this world lately?  Bear with me for a few while I do a rare mini-political rant today.

(1) The Catholic Church and the ongoing saga of child abuse.  Two words come to mind:  Ugh and ugh.  Personally, I'm no believer in organized religion and from my experience, have found most to be hypocritical organizations.  But I digress.   Pope Benedict is supposed to be a man of God and the go-to guy for moral authority :: cough cough ::   But as usual, these high holy men protect one another, hide their secrets, and preach to the world about what not to do.

Yes, this is a religion I am convinced the whole world should be following.... religiously.

Do I sound judgmental and self-righteous?  Ah well ... I guess I just have a thing for wealthy organizations that pretend to be the word of the almighty God, preach to people about gay rights, abortion, marriage, morality, etc etc, and take in millions and billions of dollars while raping children. Yes, I am aware I'm painting a very broad stroke here and not being too kind.  Most Catholics are not like this ... but I'm left to wonder if there's a link between organized religion and personal and sexual oppression/repression.

Religions, to me, are cults.  I believe in spirituality.  I do not believe in religion.

(2)  Health Reform.  Where does it say in our Constitution that the government has a say in our health care choices, let alone putting the IRS in charge to ensure our compliance?  I'll refrain from getting into a lengthy rant about this topic, but to all those who are arguing from a Republican vs Democrat standpoint - these parties are two sides of the same coin.  Hasn't anyone figured that out yet?

Perhaps my viewpoint is overblown .. but I see further tyranny in action and most people just accepting it.  The government is just getting bigger and bigger and more and more intrusive.  Will the day ever arrive when people will finally wake up and say "Enough!"

"When the government fears the people, there is liberty.  When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."

'Nuf said.

Want to be an armchair activist and proud of it?  If you are someone who cares about the fate of our planet's cetaceans (and I assume you are or you wouldn't be reading my blog :: grin :: ) go to this page and follow the suggestions on making your voice heard to the IWC in defense of the whales, dolphins, etal.  Email Action for Full IWC Ban on Whaling

Don't believe our ocean's inhabitants are endangered?  These 13 most endangered creatures start off the list convincingly:  Endangered Sea Creatures

More on the captivity debate:

Whales and Dolphins Do Not Belong in Tanks

Set the Killers Free

Pens and Pools: Prisons for Cetaceans

Some people argue that those who are speaking up against the captivity of whales, dolphins, etc. are hypocrites because not as much attention is given to say, cows, pigs, horses, etc.

If you wonder why there's so much attention given to the rights of cetaceans, I recommend this book by Thomas I. White: In Defense of Dolphins, The New Moral Frontier

I'm sick of certain countries like Japan and Denmark defending the killing of whales and/or dolphins by way of claiming it's their tradition or custom. 

Denmark's killing of dolphins doesn't get as much press attention as say the whale culling or dolphin slaughter in Japan or the harp seal killings in Canada.  But it's definitely worthy of our attention and attention absolutely must be paid.

Please see this article.  Please also be forewarned that it includes videos that are very graphic and quite upsetting:  Denmark's Cruel Slaughter of Dolphins

Canada has decided to give the green light for another season of seal murdering.  They have set an approved quota of 388,200 harp, grey, and hooded seals to meet their demise via the evil and cowardly method of clubbing.  Want to help give these seals a voice and let Canada know how you feel?  Please go here:  Seriously, Canada?

I have to say I'm confused by New Zealand.  On one hand, they support and endorse non-lethal whale research.  On the other hand, they are considering supporting a deal which would see the ban on commercial whaling overturned in return for Japan reducing its so-called "scientific" whaling.

I do not believe there should be a compromise in the murdering of sentient beings.  But maybe that's just me.

“Earth does not belong to man, Man belongs to the Earth.  This we know.  All things are connected like the blood which unites one family.  Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.  Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it.  Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” ~ Chief Seattle ~

Wanted: Whale Whisperers

(Artist credit:  Eva M Sakmar-Sullivan)

Congratulations to the city of New Orleans in claiming it's first ever Super Bowl championship :-)  That was honestly the first SB game in years I've actually enjoyed. 

Latest updates via Sea Shepherd:

Countering Japan's Ministry of Truth

Whalers Escorted out of the Whale Sanctuary by the SSCS Crew

In the Japan Times:  Watson to Whalers: We Will Never Surrender

Is Japan finally starting to give up on whaling in the Southern Ocean?  This article says yes:  Japan May Scale Back Antarctic Whaling

If Japan actually decides to do this and do their whaling closer to home, is there anyone out there that speaks whale?  Be nice to warn all the whales and dolphins to stay away from Japan ... far far away. 

Besides, this article should be enough to tell anyone, including whaling friendly countries like Japan and Norway, that killing our marine mammals is NOT sustainable:   Man Made Ways of Killing Dolphins

The Huffington Post had an interview with Paul Watson:  Bob Barker Rammed by Whalers

Please check out and support Blue Voice.  They are another terrific organization doing wonderful things to raise awareness and working overtime to protect our friends in the sea.

Another organization deserving of everyone's support:  Surfrider Foundation

Do you live in Florida? Are you against oil drilling off your coast?  Are you free this Saturday?  Be sure to check out Hands Across the Sand

Between the greed of the oil industry, the damaging sonar noise from the military, and the fishing industry leaving their nets, longlines, etc. in the water and causing many species to get trapped and to drown, is it any wonder they are dying off?  Is it any wonder so many are beaching themselves?  I see it as a cry for help.  They are sending a blunt message to each of us that this can not go on. I don't know about you, but I personally can not envision a world without whales, dolphins, manatees, etc.  Can you?   Do enough people care?

A Message From the Dolphins and the Whales 

The dolphins and the whales commit to serving humanity. 

We do so with great compassion.  

We serve you with the essence of our heart song;

Be the Peace
Love yourself as you love another
Give our Earth Mother your commitment to treasure her natural resources.
Develop safe sources of energy that give back to Earth what she has given.
Live your lives as heart centered, conscious, light filled seekers of the truth;
Love is the only answer

(Source:  Blue Dolphin Essences)

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Are Dolphins People Too?

Artist credit:  Bruce Harman

I think it's fair to say that if Sea Shepherd was not a household name before the Ady Gil was rammed, they are now. 

In my own search online to find interesting links to share here, I was overwhelmed by the number available.  This was just for news media related articles and does not include personal blogs.  Of course, many of the news related articles are basically saying the same thing, so the repetition is common not to mention a little mind numbing.

I read that in the first half hour after the video was put on YouTube showing the Ady Gil being hit, there were over 300,000 views.

Speaking of which, there is supposedly a film that backs the Ady Gil claims of being rammed deliberately by the Shonan Maru 2 ship.  You can check that out here:  Film Backs Ady Gil Claims

Did New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister  McCully give the green light to the Japan whalers to escalate the violence?  Sea Shepherd's Captain Watson says yes.

If you'd like to contact Mr. McCully, you can find that information at his Government web page.

For a different perspective on all of this, here's one writer's view: A Whale of a Time      Check out the comments after the article as well.  I usually find those to be as interesting, if not more so, than the article itself :-)

Whale Geek has also thrown her perspective into the ring and it's a really well written and articulate article:  Escalating Whale Wars

Let's move on to other things for now :-)

Here's an interesting question:  Should dolphins be treated as non human persons? 

Now this is fascinating:  Whale Shaped Floating Garden Cleans the World's Rivers

This Wednesday, Jan. 13th, is Wear Blue for Oceans day.  Just a friendly reminder :-)

That's it for today.  Short and sweet after my long rambling one last time!

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Basketball and Whales

Artist credit:  Howie Long

Brrrrr.  Dang cold out here.  No snow yet but it's a near certainty we'll have a white Christmas :-)

Watched the Laker game tonight on TV.  Despite being the champions, they are not on TV all that much in my area so when they are, it's a gift for me.  I'm sick of seeing the Cavaliers and the Pistons dominate the airwaves, no offense to the likes of Lebron James.

I was admiring the sellout crowd at the Staples Center and wishing it could be like that for the WNBA games.  Personally, I don't understand why the people who are fanatics about the men's basketball aren't supporting the women. So many people say it's not the same.  Well DUH.  Maybe the women can't dunk like the men do, but they play a pretty damn good game if people would just give them a chance.  Others say the women are boring.   You know what I say?  I say the media has done a great job of brainwashing society into viewing things a certain way.  

I enjoy watching both genders play and appreciate the differences and the talents both sides bring to the sports world.  If one is truly a basketball fan, then they ought to be a women's hoops fan too.  Just sayin'.

Check out the WNBA if you are so inclined.  Their season may be over for now, but they'll be back next May.  Until then, the women's college hoops are always a lot of fun to watch too.  

Japan, ever the hypocrites they love to be, filed a complaint with the Dutch government to disallow the Sea Shepherd to carry the Dutch flag.  You can read that here.

The good news: (Excerpt from the above linked article)

The Mainichi Daily News of Japan asked this question this weekend:With it's modus operandi becoming ever more violent in recent years, could the group bring about the end of whaling in Japan?

Their activities have caused catches in the past two years to drop to just 60-75 percent of expected figures, and this year Watson says he wants to get this figure down to at least half.

 Great articles:  Whales Save Seal from Orcas

Whales, Dolphins, and Good Will to all Cetaceans

Japan's new Consumer Affairs & Food Safety Minister, Ms.Fukushima has agreed to investigate the dolphin meat / mercury issue.  You can read up on it at Mercury Poisoning in Japan

Blog post about Sea Shepherd at the Ecorazzi.  Check out the comments after the article.  Paul Watson has posted there.  Whale Wars:  Why This Season Might Be the Most Dangerous Yet

On December 7th, the Steve Irwin will depart Australia and start hunting down the Japanese fleets.  I wish them God Speed.

Turns out that the mid-frequency range sonar sounds may NOT be causing harm or the beaching of whales and dolphins:  Whales Can't Even Hear Naval Sonar

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday :-)  Till next time ...

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Who Killed Flipper?

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

What's been happening with Sea Shepherd since my last update? I can summarize it in just a few sentences.

(1) Japan's Yushin Maru #2 got chased into some thick ice floes while running from the SS ship. Seems they were more afraid of SS than the ice. Which leads to #2 ...

(2) Yushin Maru #2 sustained propeller damage caused by the icebergs and had to limp to Indonesia, seeking repairs. It took them a little over two weeks to get there.

(3) While docked in Indonesia, they were refused service and repairs. The officials in Indonesia, after confirming with Australia and others that the Yushin Maru was, indeed, a whaling ship, told them to leave. Turns out Japan lied to Indonesia about who and what they were about.

== Go Indonesia! :: wild applause :: ==

(4) So the Yushin Maru limps away from Indonesian waters after being ordered to leave and Sea Shepherd had no idea for awhile where they were and what was going on .. until a few days ago. They find out that the Yushin Maru was repaired in another place unbeknowest to them and according to Greenpeace, is heading back to Japan.

(5) What's good about the YM having been down for the count for so long is that it's hindered further, the whale culling. What's also good is the fact that Indonesia took a stand against the whaling and Captain Watson is calling that a major political victory.

You can read about that here: Where in the World is the Yushin Maru?

Sea Shepherd was recently docked in Hobart to refuel and is now back out there pursuing the Japanese fleet.

It does appear, by Captain Watson's reports, that approximately a third of the quota Japan had hoped to achieve in their whale kills, will not be met. So that's very good news. Hopefully that number will only improve and we can see similiar, if not better, numbers as last year. Obviously the Sea Shepherds are doing a bang up job of distrupting this so-called "research" Japan continues to do.

Interesting article in yesterday's Washington Post discusses the criteria for rescuing animals. One of the stories has to do with a pod of dolphins that were stranded for awhile in New Jersey. If you recall, I wrote a little bit about this in a previous post.

In another related post, it seems that the dolphins that were stranded there, have died and some people are quite furious that nothing was done to herd them to warmer and safer waters.


In Mossel Bay, South Africa, there's a fight between environmentalists/marina mammal lovers and PetroSA. PetroSA has plans for a liquid gas mooring facility in this particular bay, which has, thus far, been one of the "last pristine marine areas."

Excerpt:

Noise and light pollution would affect the whales and dolphins that frequent the bay and also subject them to the risk of entanglement in underwater cables. A fire or explosion would have "catastrophic long-term consequences"

You can read the full article here: Cape Whales Face New Threat


So I hear it can and does get cold in Florida lol. How have the dolphins in the gulf coast off of Florida been faring? You can find out here: Bigger is Better


Maybe this kid will one day be President?

Excerpt of message she wrote in a letter to President Obama:

First of all, try to sometimes focus on other things rather than politics. For instance, marine mammals (whales, dolphins, penguins, etc.). They need more help than ever trying to survive in the ocean. You could get a team of people who really care and send them out to watch the whales, dolphins and penguins so hunters won't kill them. That would be extremely helpful to all the animals who need it. As for me, I would be happy as a little kid on their birthday (I love dolphins!).

She's got my vote :-)


Highly recommended reading: Who Killed Flipper?

Information on this documentary can be found here: The Cove

This is one film I'm definitely putting on my "must see" list.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Whalers = Arrogant Wankers

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

I think I may be having a relapse in my bronchitis :-( Was feeling all gung ho last evening but my roommate started getting sick about two or three days ago and now I feel like maybe whatever she had has been passed on to me too. :: sigh :: I don't feel downright awful, but it's been hitting more more in the last few hours. I decided that before I'm down again for the count, to put fingers to keyboard and get at least a New Year's message out :-)

The Sea Shepherd crew has been quite busy in the Southern Ocean. In their first week out, they caught up with the whalers and put them immediately on the run. That's pretty impressive - to catch up with them so quickly.

I do recall last year, Captain Watson had mentioned something about the possibility of bugging the Japanese whale ships in order to keep track of them. I wonder if he was able to accomplish that this year somehow? After all, that's one helluva big-assed ocean down there and it's akin to trying to find a needle in a haystack, right? Curious, huh.

To start out with, the Steve Irwin ran into some pretty serious storms and some pretty scary ice conditions. You can read about that here: Ice Conditions for the Sea Shepherd

Then on or about the day after Christmas, they ran into the whalers and proceeded to stink up the Japanese ship with rotten butter, methyl cellulose and indelible dye mixture. You can read about that clash here: Sea Shepherds have Whalers on the Run

The very next day, SS ran the whalers out of the Australian waters.

They've only been out there what now? A couple of weeks? They have certainly accomplished a lot in a short period of time.

Go Shepherds!

Captain Watson calls the whalers "A bunch of arrogant wankers." As usual, his outspoken and hold-no-bars commentary is an interesting read.

Did you know that Brazil has declared their entire 5,000 mile long coastline a "safe sanctuary for whales and dolphins?" :: wild applause ::

In other news, the United States Navy settles the sonar lawsuit that I've mentioned a few times here in the past. Both sides claim victory. I'm not so sure that if I were a whale or a dolphin, I'd be saying this is a victory. After all, the mid range sonar activity will still be continuing. Humans are a funny breed, don't you think? ;-)

For those who either live in Hawaii or visit it frequently and enjoy the marine mammals out there, you may be interested in these two books that were just published by Hawaiian authors: Preserving Paradise and The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles Dolphins, Whales, and Seals.

Elsewhere, out in the Philippines, a fisherman claims he was saved by a pod of dolphins and whales. Is it true? Some people are finding it unbelievable. I'll choose to believe it simply because there have been stories for years, all over the globe, about our marine friends actually helping people at sea.

Another, more extensive report on this incident can be found here: Dolphins Save Palawan Fisherman

In sports, the Los Angeles Lakers kicked Celtic butt on Christmas day, and that was a great gift for me LOL. Both teams are doing really well so far this season and it wouldn't surprise me if they meet in the Finals again. If they do, the Lakers will win. (They'd better!)

In football, my favorite pro team, the Miami Dolphins, went from losing their first few games this season to doing a complete turnaround and becoming only the 2nd team in NFL history to accomplish such a feat. Last year, if memory serves me, the Dolphins were 1-15. This year, they're 11-5 (or thereabouts.) They played the NY Jets this past weekend and after a see-saw game, won and will now face the Baltimore Ravens this weekend for the Wild Card playoffs.

I'm just happy the Dolphins are the champs of their AFC East division. Haven't had much to cheer about with this team in the last few years - so I'll take it. I still miss Dan Marino though :-)

Happy New Year everyone! Enjoy! Be safe and warm!

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Sea Shepherd Making a "Splash"

(Artist/Image credit: Howie Cooke)

I've been battling either the flu or a very bad chest cold :-( I am recovering though and doing much better than the past couple of days. I don't get sick often and usually when I do, I've been likely to get over it within a day or two ... but this time around it's really kicked my butt.

Seems yesterday (or was it the day before yesterday, Australia time?) the Sea Shepherd departed Brisbane for the Antarctica. Many of the crew from last season are back along with a number of new members as well.

Among the new members is actress Daryl Hannah. She's long been involved in environmentalism and is well known for roles in movies such as Splash and Roxanne.

You can read more in the latest update at Sea Shepherd.

In my opinion, Japan is hypocrisy personified. They have stated they will arrest anti-whaling activists if they interfere with their hunts this year.

For all their talk about killing whales for "research," Japan has resumed importing whale meat. Uh huh.

Interesting commentary here: Bad Deals for Whales

This part disturbs me a great deal:

The Japanese are working out an unsavoury deal with the outgoing George W Bush administration of the United States that might not only give them what they want, but also shed them of any need for Caribbean support.

If I was a whale or a dolphin, or any other marine mammal species, I would feel like there's a war being waged against my very survival. Between noise pollution and increased acidification, I'd wonder if my days on this planet were severely numbered. I'd also wonder if the majority of humanity really cared. Because if they did, there'd be a helluva lot more people standing up and fighting for my right to survive and my right to continue to live in this planets' oceans and to be a part of its' future.

Will this help?

The UN conference is considering a resolution that would require countries to mitigate noise pollution by mandating quieter engines and banning seismic surveys in areas where marine mammals are known to gather.

One can only hope. Because I, for one, would rather see a future of whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, turtles, manatees, etc. frolicking in our oceans than to see military ships, harpoons, and missiles, etc. waging battles against one another with our planet and humanity ultimately being the losers.


If you recall, earlier this year in mid February, I wrote a bit about Dolphins & Whales in 3D. It appears that this film has grossed over 10 million. Over 1.6 million tickets have been sold thus far and the film is continuing to make the rounds at theatres around the world. Read more here.

Be sure to check out their site at: Dolphins & Whales in 3D

Have a good weekend everyone!

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Whale Hunts About to Begin Again

In briefly continuing the spirit of my last post about Proposition 8 .... We've certainly come a long way in the past 48 years, haven't we?

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

Did you know that Greenpeace, just two weeks before the Japan whale hunt is slated to begin, has surrendered their fight out in the Southern Ocean?

Sea Shepherd's Captain Paul Watson said:

"As a Greenpeace co-founder, I am deeply offended that Greenpeace has been raising millions of dollars in the name of defending whales all year and now two weeks before the Japanese whaling fleet is scheduled to depart, they announce they will not be going," said Captain Paul Watson. "In my opinion they collected funds under false pretenses and now they have abandoned the whales. Shame on them."

You can read Sea Shepherd's version of this here: Greenpeace Surrenders


However, Greenpeace claims they are taking the fight directly to Japan this time.

Greenpeace also claims credit for one of Japan's ships, the Oriental Bluebird, being shut down by the Panamanian authorities. If you recall, the Oriental Bluebird was not only used to help the Japan fleets to refuel, they were also transporting whale meat - illegally. This particular ship was not authorized or licensed for this purpose.

Regardless, these two organizations, in my opinion, need to stop fighting each other and just keep on fighting the battle to save the whales. They may take different routes to achieve their results, but both have collectively accomplished a great deal in bringing the whale slaughter issue to greater awareness globally.

In other news, I'm saddened to report that the Supreme Court has little to no sympathy for the plight of our marine mammals and the effect that Navy sonar has on them.

"I thought the whole point of the armed forces was to hurt the environment," Associate Justice Stephen Breyer said, half-jokingly. "Of course they're going to do harm."

Kidding or not, I find this statement just appalling. It's comments like this that encourage the continuing raping and pillaging of our planet and it's sentient beings, without any regard to the consequences.

Till next time,

Dolphin

(Artist credit: Howie Cooke)

I had written a post a few days ago about the cow slaughter and abuse news that was in the headlines. However, I never got back to the draft and decided to just put it aside.

I will say that I saw the images on the news of cows being abused, kicked, electrocuted, and either not being fed or being way under fed. The images made me literally sick to my stomach.

I am not a vegetarian and some may say that makes me a hypocrite to speak up about animal rights, but I disagree. One can eat meat while also not condoning in any way, shape or form, any kind of abuse towards animals. Livestock can be killed humanely. And much livestock is raised for the very purpose to supply beef, ham, etc. for our country. But there is absolutely no reason to treat the animals with such disregard and with such horrific abuse.

There's a lot I'd like to cover today since I have not written a new post in a week.

On the whaling front, Sea Shepherd has once again succeeded in putting the Japanese whalers on the run. So for the past couple of days, no whales have been killed because of this pursuit. It is alleged that Sea Shepherd has a tracking bug on one of the fleets, and that is how they've been able to find them and put them on the run currently. The trawler that had been spying on Sea Shepherd before they returned to port to refuel, etc., is also back on Sea Shepherd's trail and supposedly keeping the whalers abreast of where Sea Shepherd is. Either way, what matters is that once again, no whales are being slaughtered while the Japanese fleets are on the run.

It's interesting to note that a couple weeks ago, if you recall, there was a so-called poll that indicated approximately 60% of Japan's citizens supported their country's whaling. However, a new poll recently indicates that 72% do NOT support the whaling and in fact, most are UNAWARE that their tax dollars are being used to subsidize these whalers.

Public opposition in Japan is definitely growing, despite what the politicians and corporate interests there will have the world otherwise believe.

In other news, mercury taint in dolphins is causing division in Japanese whaling town. These residents can boast all they want about being proud of their whaling and dolphin culling heritage, but personally, I call it karma.

Scott over at Dolphin Smile wrote a good post I think is worth your while to read: Why Japanese Slaughter Whales and Dolphins

Be sure to check out Sea Shepherd's website to keep updated on their continued pursuit of the Japanese whalers.

My updates here might become a little more spaced out. I'm a huge sports fan, especially basketball, and with March Madness quickly approaching, I will be tuning into a lot of great games. I mostly follow the women's college tournaments during this time of year and believe the games leading up to the Final Four are going to be very exciting to watch. I do not believe there is any clear cut favorite. Many have the potential to upset the higher ranking teams and I do not even personally give credence to the rankings, given the talent that is out there. I do predict that at least Tennessee and Rutgers will make it to the final rounds though. LSU has real potential to get pretty far, as well as Stanford and UC Berkeley.

Once the college games are over, I then get revved up for the Softball tournaments, WNBA season, and the NBA Playoffs. :: big grin :: My partner is infinitely patient with my undying love for all things basketball.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Bleak Future for our Oceans?

(Artist credit: Jean Luc Bozzoli)

From the various reading I've done today online, it would seem that the future of our oceans looks quite bleak.

Over 41% of our oceans are polluted and damaged or tainted by human activity. The only pristine places left are near the poles and with the ice caps melting, it appears it's only a matter of time before those places are affected negatively as well.

Excerpts:

Coastal areas are polluted by runoff. Oyster beds and fisheries are disappearing. Floating islands of trash the size of small states clutter what used to be open water. Birds and whales are struck by ships which leave a trail of oil and waste in their wakes.

While subsistence fishing has a limited impact on ocean ecologies, high-impact commercial fishing dumps millions of pounds of unwanted dead fish, birds and mammals back into the ocean. This has threatened many species of turtles, birds, whales, and dolphins with extinction.

Shipping traffic is the third largest culprit because there is simply so much of it.

"The fuel gets spilled, there's noise pollution which is disturbing to whales and such... which has a major affect on the ecosystem."

To compound this continuing problem, oil companies continue to seek permits to do oil drilling off the coasts. The latest application for an oil drilling permit is in the Gulf waters from Gulf Shores to the end of Dauphin Island here in the USA.

GX Technology Corp. is the company who has filed for an application to conduct seismic studies in this area using air guns. They seek to do more than 200,000 blasts of compressed air down to a depth of 31 miles.

Excerpt:

Scientists say sound waves from the air cannons can kill or damage whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other creatures, but said the technology is safer than some of the alternatives. The permit application states that "the proposed activity may affect listed endangered or threatened species, or their habitat."

While this is not the same kind of sonar technology used by the U.S. Navy, the impact is still felt by marine mammals. The company claims they will have oversight done and preventions in place to ensure minimal impact on the local marine wildlife.

Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better.

Scottish Dolphins in Britain are also at risk for similar oil and gas exploration off the coasts there. It appears very likely that the government will grant the licenses for this exploration to take place.

What happened to the EU taking a stand against the culling of whales? Shouldn't that also apply to dolphins and other endangered marine mammals?

Excerpt:

"Oil and gas exploration and development includes intense noise caused by very loud seismic exploration, the placement of rigs and associated pollution and drilling, and finally, in decades to come, the removal of the rigs when the supply is exhausted. Should one license be allowed, others will surely follow. This means increasing and ongoing disturbance for the dolphins. We do not want this precedent to be set."

She added: "These animals are already facing many threats, including pollution, coastal development, increased boat traffic, food shortage and illegal driftnet fishing. Oil and gas exploration within a habitat vital for their survival could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

The bottlenose dolphins of the Firth are a small, isolated and vulnerable group – there are only about 130 – which is why a special area of conservation (SAC) under the EU habitats directive was designated in 2005 to protect them in their core habitat. This offers very strong protection under European law.

Read more on this here: Scottish dolphins at risk

Japan's stance on killing whales is well known. "Scientific research" and "it's a culture thing" are the two most common defenses. They use the latter as an excuse to also continue killing thousands of dolphins annually.

Mercury findings in dolphins does not sway these people a bit.

In Taiji, it has been well publicized how the local fishermen hunt down, gather, and turn their waters blood red with their killing of the dolphins. These fishermen say "It's our culture to eat dolphins." But I once again must argue, if Japan is so proud of their culture in regards to killing and eating marine mammals, then why do they try to hide what they do? Seems contradictory to me.

CNN attempted to film the killing of these dolphins and the fishermen erected tarps to obstruct the filming.

Popular professional surfer, Dave Rastovich, was in the media spotlight last year when he and some other people, including some celebrities, tried to intervene with the dolphin culling in Taiji. Now it seems the Japanese Mafia are involved and are looking for and attempting to intimidate Dave Rastovich.

Wow. The mafia is involved? That's just amazing.

It's alleged that the Japanese Mafia have been visiting surf shops, spreading threats and intimidating people while searching for Mr. Rastovich.

And Japan tells us that we are too emotionally involved in this issue and that "diplomacy" must be the rule of the day. Ja right. Freakin' amazing balls these people have.

What the hell is it going to take for the people of this planet to start protecting itself? You can't say "Let's drill the hell out of our oceans" and at the same time, think you're going to be able to protect the marine mammals from being affected.

I shudder to think that the day is fast approaching when the only way we're going to be able to witness any marine mammals or wildlife left on the planet, are via the films, documentaries, and photographs of today.

The only good news I can end with at this time is that Sea Shepherd is back out at sea and once again, searching for the whalers. Will they succeed again? One can only hope.

Meanwhile, Captain Paul Watson hopes to have two ships out there next year in order to ensure there is always someone available to continue harassing and interfering with the whale culling.

"For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagoras, Greek mathematician and philospher

“The Cetacea hold an important lesson for us. The lesson is not about whales and dolphins, but about ourselves. There is at least moderately convincing evidence that there is another class of intelligent beings on Earth beside ourselves. They have behaved benignly and in many cases affectionately towards us. We have systematically slaughtered them. Little reverence for life is evident in the whaling industry - underscoring a deep human failing...In warfare, man against man, it is common for each side to dehumanize the other so that there will be none of the natural misgivings that a human being has at slaughtering another..."
Carl Sagan,