The Cove Will Not Be Silenced

(Artist credit:  Martin Herbert @ Spirit Visions)

There is a Cree Prophecy that says:

When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

Sadly, most people and most countries are not listening.  Greed and profit continues to rule many decisions such as the continuation of whale and/or dolphin slaughtering, the desire to build ever more oil rigs out in the oceans despite accidents and spills, and the stupidity of certain people who believe that building a dam in the Amazon  is actually a good thing despite being fully aware that the planet's climate is tied to the Amazon rain forest in a major way.

Someone enlighten me please.  If there is nothing left to rape of our Earth, what good will money then do?


Did you catch Oprah discussing The Cove on her show a couple days ago?  If you didn't, you can check it out here:  The Cove on Oprah

Speaking of The Cove, it's director Louie Psihoyos, is determined that the message from this film will not be silenced by Japan.    The Japanese government is "adamant that whaling and dolphin hunts must continue for research and cultural purposes. But most Japanese have never eaten whale or dolphin, and are shocked to see the slaughter."

It comes as no shock to most people that the Japanese government continues to lie, lie, and lie some more.  If they lie to their own citizens, how can they be trusted to uphold any compromise from the Int'l Whaling Commission in regards to currently reducing whale kills that will eventually lead to no killing.  And haven't they figured it out by now that arguing "tradition and culture" as excuses for their murdering ways is only insulting and enraging people more?

Someone needs to share that Cree Prophecy with Japan.  Exhausting resources and killing off mammals, fish, animals, etc. will eventually leave them with nothing.  Where will their "tradition and culture" be then?

Lest anyone think this is a Japan bashing thing I'm on, it's not.  This applies to us all .. including but not limited to:  Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Canada, USA, etc etc. 

By the way, if you are in Japan or know of someone from there, feel free to share this Cove Movie clip with them:  The Cove Japanese Short Version

Some celebrities have gotten on board to get the word out about The Cove.  Check out this Public Service Announcement:




Despite the recent oil rig accident / spill, the Obama Administration has not given any indication that they are changing their minds about proceeding with offshore oil drilling.  Sadly, it would seem that an oil spill along the lines of causing major economic and environmental distress is what is needed for certain people to wake up.  Until then, the usual bullshit rhetoric applies:  money talks.

See links here:

What Will It Take?

Obama Continues to Defend Offshore Oil Drilling

Regarding the IWC and the continuing talks over commercial whaling:

Could Lifting the Whaling Ban Save the Whales?

The current proposal has set forth certain numbers that limits whale kills.  The concern from environmental and activist groups though is what will happen after the ten years are up?

Here's my suggestion:  If you're going to go ahead with this proposal that puts limits on commercial whaling for a period of ten years, then ADD to the proposal that it will become IMMEDIATELY ILLEGAL to kill any more whales.  I would, of course, not want them to say "... pending further or amended agreements on commercial whaling."

If you're going to continue to kill these sentient beings, albeit in reduced numbers, for a decade.  Then that's it and that's all.  It STOPS after ten years.

I highly doubt the likes of Japan and Norway would go along with that.  The cynic in me is thinking they are just going to play this game for now to try to appease certain people and then as soon as you turn around, stab everyone in the back.

You can't make deals with murderers.  But that's just me I guess ...


Another article:  Whaling Plan Draws Anger from Green Groups

Excerpt:

"If an agreement is reached, this represents a great step forward in terms of the conservation of whales and the management of whaling," said IWC chairman Cristian Maquieira.

"For the first time since the adoption of the commercial whaling moratorium, we will have strict, enforceable limits on all whaling operations.

Who will actually enforce this and ensure that countries like Japan and Norway are not violating this so-called agreement? What makes you think that Japan, for example, will not fudge their reports to state they are not going over the agreed upon kill quota?   They've been lying their asses off for decades now, so why would they suddenly start being honest?  Give me a break ...

I don't see the Sea Shepherd organization going out of business any time soon.

Check out these sites:  Song of Home  and Spirit Mythos

:-)

Ocean Guardians

 

(Artist credit:  Jim Warren)

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all football fans :-)   Neither team is one of my favorites but for today, I'm rooting for the New Orleans Saints to win.  Let's go boys! 

Let's start with Sea Shepherd shall we?   

It's been a busy week for these folks.

Australia is contemplating a law that will make it illegal to spy on anti-whaling ships.  They consider it aiding or helping the whalers and they simply will not stand for that.

Links to related articles:

Aiding Whaling Could Soon be a Crime

Australian Govt Urged to Ban Spy Flights

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this.  While I like to see everything possible being done to stop the whale slaughter, I am unsure that making it a crime to tattle tell on anyone that is potentially "interfering" with the whaling is a noble thing.  If you're going to make that a law, then it should work both ways.  Otherwise, isn't that just a form a censorship or favoritism or any other sort of "ism?"   But I admit I don't know ALL the details here other than what is in the news so maybe I am missing part of the bigger picture here. 

Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd found the whaling ships and then more drama ensued.  The Bob Barker has been allegedly rammed by Yushin Maru 3.  

The video showing this collision from the perspective of the Bob Barker can be found here:

Video - Sea Shepherd

Apparently this collision occurred because the Sea Shepherd crew had been successful in blocking the slipway (where they drag the whales up into the ship to subsequently be cut up.)  Link:  Bob Barker Shuts Down Whaling

Now I've only found this one video of the collision so it only shows one perspective.  While I'm no fan of the whalers, I also believe that in a situation like this, it is important to be able to see other angles on this video to determine who is at fault for this ramming.  And I find it hard to make that determination just on this one video alone. 

I really abhor violence.  And it seems the violence out there on this issue is just getting worse.  But then diplomacy has not worked so far, and since I am not out there in the thick of all this, it's hard for me to really lend a whole lot of weight to my arguments on what can or should be done.  

What I feel the most bad about are the whales themselves.  People make the choices to do what they are doing, but the whales are just living their lives and trying not to get killed in the process.  Hence, my sympathies in situations like this tend to lie more with the marine mammals than the human mammals.

I only hope and pray that no one gets hurt or killed in what appears to be an ever escalating and tense battle of wills and wits in a very unforgiving and hostile environment.

I refuse to post the video of this slaughter on here as the paused picture alone was more than enough to me.  It brings to mind visions of the harp seal cull and the gutless cowards running and hovering over the helpless seals with a bat in their hands ready to beat the animals to a pulp.   What the hell is wrong with people to do stuff like this?

I don't have to see the video to be outraged.  But if you have the stomach for it, you can see the article and video here:  Teens Slaughter Dolphins in Denmark as a Rite of Passage

Did you know there are only about 100 Maui's Dolphins left?  Fishers Warned as Dolphin Fight Continues

Remember it's been said by the Japanese whalers that the whales are to be blamed for the lackluster fishing industry?  Ya know, because they're eating up all the fish!!

Some people really have a hard time owning up to their own responsibilities, wouldn't you say?  The fishing industry alone is killing off various marine species because of their nets, their laziness, and their greed.  Am I being too mean on this subject?   Fishing Industry Killing World's Toothed Whales, Dolphins

Another related:  Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises Suffer High Death-Rate as By-Catch in Fishing Nets

If you are on Facebook, please check out the Ocean Guardians page. 

A Facebook friend of mine is launching a new magazine soon.  Currently the name is Oceans Magazine.  Please check them out and give them your support.  If you are a photographer or a writer, you may be interested in checking out their submissions guidelines to see if you are qualified to contribute and be part of their team. :-)

Good links to check out:

EcoDelMar

MarineBio

Ocean Conservancy

Protect Planet Ocean

Love the Earth, love yourself.  The life you save, may be your own.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Whalers Getting More Violent?

(Artist credit: Daniel B. Holeman)

So Phil the Groundhog says we have six more weeks of winter. Blech. Phooey. :: blowing raspberry :: What does that silly little fur faced varmint know anyway :-P LOL I'm so over snow. Bring on spring ASAP please.

I was invited to be a guest blogger over at Paw Talk and they just put up my post today. They are a cool site focusing on animals and also include a forum. Please do check them out. You can find my post specifically here: Eye on the Dolphin

I have also been invited to possibly write a guest post on Reef Tank. This site focuses marine species and salt water aquariums. They are definitely worth your time. Very cool!

Guess the Japan Whalers are getting frustrated with Sea Shepherd's interference. They have now lowered themselves to launching concussion grenades, brass bolts, and chunks of lead at the Sea Shepherds. They've also threatened to use Long Range Acoustic Devices, which are military class weapons and can cause disorientation, vomiting, confusion, and sometimes temporary deafness.

The Sea Shepherds do not use anything that will physically harm anyone. They just throw acidic butter, etc that results in stinking up the ship and making it difficult for the whalers to do their work.

So it's really telling how far the Japanese whalers will go to protect their greediness and their desire to continue slaughtering innocent creatures.

You can read about this here: Battle for the Whales in the Ross Sea

At least, at the moment, no whales are being killed thanks to the Sea Shepherd's continuing presence out there. That also means the Japan ships are burning about 25 tons of fuel daily and losing even more money. Obviously it's the Sea Shepherd's goal to force Japan to whimper home with little to no profits again this year, as it happened last year and the year before.

Captain Paul Watson has another wordy yet passionate update here: Whalers Doing Crazy Joes


Did you know that Iceland has decided to resume whaling? They are going after the endangered Fin Whales and threatened Minke Whales. Iceland had not slaughtered any whales since 1986, when Sea Shepherd activists had sunk about half of the Iceland whaling fleet.

Apparently Iceland feels it has a license to resume killing whales given the turmoil their country is currently undergoing and the state of their economy. I guess it's okay to approve murder of people now too? What a lame excuse to resume whaling.

You can read about this here: Icelandic Criminal Whaling Resumes

Do boycotts make a difference? Personally, I don't know .. but I would imagine if enough people did stop buying certain things from certain countries, it would have an impact on that country's economy. Read about Sea Shepherd's boycott of Iceland here: Boycott Iceland

This brief article lists some of the Icelandic companies and their products: Buy Only Whale Safe Products

The United States, Australia and other anti-whaling nations had approached Japan with a compromise on whaling. In a nutshell, Japan rejected it. These countries fear Japan may withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission and then go brashly outside their rules to continue with more whaling, unabated.

Obviously Sea Shepherd won't have any of that and will continue to make life difficult for the whalers. I agree with Captain Watson's opinion that these anti-whaling nations really need to take a much stronger and more aggressive stand on this issue. Maybe I'm being silly, but offering compromises to murderers just seems .. ya know ... not right.

You can read about this here: Japan Rejects Appeasement Offer

Remember I mentioned in my previous post, about the movie The Cove? It won awards at this year's Sundance Festival as well. The direct website for this movie can be found here: The Cove Movie
I have also shared the trailer of this movie in another updated and separate post for today and will keep that up on top for awhile to continue attracting attention to the movie. So please be aware that new posts will show up under that movie trailer until I remove it.

I strongly encourage everyone to see this film when it is available in your area. As I also shared, this documentary focuses on the dolphin culling in Taiji, Japan. Please help spread the word on this very important film.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Japan Heads to Whale Sanctuary

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday :-) Mine was pretty quiet for the most part, other than some insanity involving horses my partner was taking care of over the weekend. They are racing thoroughbreds and decided to have some fun with us.

One came barreling up behind me while I was walking one horse to the barn and if I had been just one inch to the left, I would have gotten run over. Sheesh. Insane beasts lol

We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Saturday since my partner had her own family plans on Thursday, and Friday she had to work for a bit so it would have been too late to really start dinner. It was fun to cook it together although she did the cooking part. I have a tendency towards either burning things or blowing them up.

The only thing I'm good at in the kitchen is making coffee and bagels, and using a barbeque grill (unless that explodes too.)

Onto some news about our beloved marine mammals out there ....

This breaks my heart. 150 whales died off the Tasmanian coast. One of the theories is that it was due to echolocation.

We can prepare our military and continue to kill each other, but never mind that we're killing off our various and diversified species around the world. Priorities on this planet sure can suck.

You can read more about these pilot whales here: Whales Die Off Tasmanian Coast

I've been watching the Whale Wars on Animal Planet and find it utterly fascinating. It's almost like you're a fly on the wall on that ship and can witness up close, just how things are happening out there in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

I'm up to the episode where two of the crew boarded the Yushin Maru last season and were finally brought back to SS. I've got another episode on my DVR to catch up on.

I think there are only seven episodes airing so not many left. I do know the Animal Planet is filming the Sea Shepherd again this season.

So far, my opinion of Sea Shepherd has not changed, based on what I've been watching on the Whale Wars. I do have to say though, that I am sometimes ... :: searching for the right word :: ... amazed by how unswayingly passionate Paul Watson is in his pursuit of the Whalers, the things he says, and the actions he takes.

It's also interesting to witness tension at times amongst the crew and differing viewpoints, opinions, and judgments on what should or should not be done.

Still, they have my respect for what they do. They are the only organization taking this strong and consistent of a stand against the whaling .. and for that, they have my admiration and respect.

The Sea Shepherd site has several new updates.

As of November 17th, the Japanese whalers had embarked for the Whale Sanctuary to begin another season of unapologetic slaughter.

Has Australia finally taken a firm stand against whaling? You decide. Read it here: Australian Senate Wants Immediate Action on Whaling

The Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin ship will depart tomorrow, Dec. 3rd, from Brisbane for Antarctica. Since they'll be the only ship out there attempting to pursue, intercept, and hopefully intervene in the whaling, let's hope they meet with success. Should be a very interesting season to say the least.

There is worry off the New Jersey coast, that a pod of dolphins may stay too long and end up drowning if the waters freeze over and they can't come up for air. There is controversy over whether the government should let them be and let nature take it's course, or if humans should intervene and try to help herd the dolphins down to warmer waters.

You can read more about it here: Should they stay or go?

I recommend this article for your reading consideration: Butchered Dolphins, Oceanic Collapse

Finally, on a serious political note. I just finished reading Brigitte Gabriel's "They Must Be Stopped." I highly recommend it.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

I'm back - I think

(Artist credit: Kim & Kay Vaudin)

I apologize for being incognito here for a much longer length of time than I had originally planned. I had the best of intentions to resume this blog by Mid September. Alas, life got in the way and other things needed to be taken care of.

I'm ready and raring to go though. Are you?

We are coming up soon on this next season of Japan whale hunting. The Sea Shepherd Society will, once again, be out there in full force.

Meanwhile, I strongly encourage any of you that gets the Animal Planet network on your television, to set your DVR's to record the Whale Wars beginning this Friday, November 7th.

You can find the information on this serial documentary by going here -> Animal Planet's Whale Wars


Dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan has continued, despite alarming reports of mercury and other toxins in these mammals being sold for consumption to an unaware public.

You can read various reports and updates on this issue at Blue Voice.

Meanwhile, if you need some inspiration and a powerful incentive to renew your passion in helping to protect our marine mammals, then for your consideration I lead you to the Whale Dreamers.

This movie is now available on DVD. It can also be rented from Netflix (search for it as one word - whaledreamers) or bought from Amazon. (direct link to movie at Amazon here -> Whale Dreamers)


Check it out!

This will do for now. Thanks for everyone's notes, comments, and emails during my absence, wondering when I would be returning. It's very much appreciated! And thank you for continuing to be part of my journey here in helping to continue to raise awareness on our dolphin and whale friends.

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,

Celebrities as Spokespersons

(Artist Credit: Julia Watkins)

Are celebrities as spokespersons for various causes, good choices? Why do some people have a problem with celebrities speaking up about causes or issues they are passionate about?

This is something that's been on my mind today and I'm curious to hear from other people, their views on this.

Personally, I don't find it any different than you or I speaking up about an issue we are passionate about. And if someone is using their "celebrity status" to bring more awareness to a cause, I say more power to them.

I can understand it if someone famous speaks up about some issue, then turns around and talks, behaves, or otherwise contradicts what they were supporting or publicly speaking out on. However, it's been proven that in a number of cases, without the status of someone famous, an issue might otherwise have not been brought to the public limelight.

The more education we can spread about the causes and issues we feel are important, the better off it is, for both the cause and the people it may affect.

That's my belief anyway.

So when someone on Digg calls Hayden Panettiere an "airheaded celebrity" who is speaking up against the Japan whaling and their killing of dolphins, well it irritates me.

You don't have to like the celebrity, their movies, their shows, their books, etc .. but if you believe in the cause and you want more people to be aware of that cause, then I say kudos to the likes of Ms. Panettiere for taking the time to get involved and to help raise awareness.

Hayden Panettiere continues her attack on Japanese government

Hayden Still Saving the World


People like Magic Johnson, Arthur Ashe, Ryan White, and Rock Hudson put a face to the AIDS crisis. The likes of Judith Light, Garth Brooks, and Jennifer Beals have been outspoken in supporting equal rights and non-discrimination for the Gay Community. Folks like Pierce Brosnan, Matt Damon, and Ted Danson have brought a lot more awareness to preserving and protecting our oceans and marine life. There are many examples like these for many different causes.

I, for one, appreciate what they do, the time they put into their passions, the money they donate to help support these causes, and the heightened awareness they help spread.

It bugs me when some people feel the need to harp on certain celebrities about their causes and accuse them of either grandstanding or using their celebrity status for publicity. Now that may be the case sometimes, but I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt and appreciate the end result more.

Negative energy breeds darkness. Positive energy breeds lightness.

I don't know about you, but the latter sounds like a recipe in contributing towards a better future and a much better world.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Victory for Whales, Not So Much for the Dolphins

"The Labor Party of Australia has won the election and they have won by a landslide and this could be wonderful news for the whales of Antarctica."

More to this on Sea Shepherd

Have you ever been to Sea World and seen the dolphins? I haven't and always refused to go when friends would ask. Why? Because I have a problem with dolphins being in captivity. This is a very controversial issue in the marine wildlife world.

People love dolphins, but they often suffer a failure of empathy and imagination. They do not make the connection that to bring a dolphin into these preposterously unnatural circumstances requires that dolphins be ripped from their natural environment, kidnapped from their families and pod mates, held in nets, carried in trucks, hoisted into planes and flown to distant locations. Many die in the process. Those that survive are condemned to a life in a cement tank, listening to the interminable hum of the filtration system and the screams of the audience.

If you'd like to see more on this issue, please check out Dolphins in Captivity - The Harsh Truth

In Osaka, Japan:

As you enter the circular confines of this grotesque arcade you see a circular tank 5-foot deep circling a kind of stage area. It's a bit like a race course only smaller. Closer still you find there are two dolphins in this hallucinatory situation. They press close to the glass, desperate for something - contact? food? entertainment? I stand eye-to-eye with one of them. I cannot penetrate its mind and perhaps that is a good thing. The situation is conducive to madness.

Where did these dolphins come from and what was left behind?

The two dolphins at World Ranch were taken from Taiji. Most of their pod mates were butchered and left to bleed to death on the beach. The rest were shipped to aquaria and swim-with programs around the world.

Also check out: Aquarium Industry Spurs Dolphin Slaughters

Following is the link on a video expose Blue Voice did in Japan on this matter. Please be aware that parts of it are very graphic, documenting the slaughters and how these dolphins are captured, tortured, and killed.

Link to Video Expose

It makes me literally ill to my stomach that these people lack such compassion and support these actions. Even if someone is against dolphin slaughters, how can they then support these aquariums, knowing full well how these dolphins got and what they are being deprived of now.

Greed is the motivating factor obviously.

How would these people feel if they were herded in this manner, randomly selected for torture and slaughter, or picked to live in a small holding pool and be expected to "perform" for an audience?

Seriously. Round up these fishermen, keep 'em flopping about in the water struggling to either breathe or to be free. Hang 'em up in the air with threats to gut 'em open like they do the dolphins. Throw a couple of 'em into a small pool and throw them a fish now and then to eat. Then expect them to leap in and out of the water for a paying audience.

(Note that I am not advocating violence against these fishermen. I'm merely making a point that perhaps they need to be given a slight taste of their own medicine.)

Just sayin',

Dolphin

Sea Shepherd vs Greenpeace

There's a good article over at Sea Shepherd about animal rights activist, Allison Lance. The article discusses how she came to be an activist and her involvement with the Sea Shepherd organization.

One thing she said: "We go out and we find a long (hooked) line, it could be 100 miles (160 km) and (the net) catches everything: there's swordfish, there's marlin, there's albatross," she says. "And then sharks. Sharks are very important to our ecosystem and we are losing them at a great rate, just for shark fin soup. They take the shark, cut the fin off and throw the body back still alive. Imagine the pain."

How does this sort of cruelty serve a "scientific purpose," according to Japan?

Read more here: Making a difference

In further news on the whale hunt news of late, the good folks at Sea Shepherd have publicly spoken out about wanting to work in communion with the folks at Greenpeace. Both organizations have stated they are on their way out to the Antarctic waters to meet the Japan whaling fleets and to intervene on Japan's plans to kill more whales.

Sea Shepherd has never had a violent interaction with anyone on their issues. They believe in peaceful, non-violent means of intervening.

Greenpeace, on the other hand, has and continues to, unfortunately, be controversial in their methods.

Ultimately, I admire what both organizations are trying to do here and I pray for everyone's safety and that no one gets hurt, even the Japan whalers. And finally, I hope to God that there is minimal, if any, killing of any whales out there in the waters.

In other related Sea Shepherd news, the founder and President Paul Watson, wrote an interesting commentary yesterday about the Makah tribe, located at Cape Flattery, Washington.

Here is an excerpt:

And now five extremely inept members of the tribe, men who reportedly were considered the most competent and skilled modern whalers of their people have together displayed an exhibition of gross dishonor, unbelievable disrespect and colossal incompetence with their cruel and tragic murder of a defenseless gray whale.

Read more here: Five Incompetent Makah Make a Mockery of Traditional Whaling

One last thing I'd like to get responses on.

Is it possible for someone who is not a vegetarian, to be respected as an animal / wildlife rights activist? Why or why not?

Post your thoughts please. As long as there is no hate and no vulgar language, I will publish all comments.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Kamikaze Dolphins

There's a blame game happening in the story from about three weeks ago regarding 152 dolphins that washed up on Iran shores dead. First it was stated it was a mass suicide among the dolphins. Then the blame was shifted to the fishermen, who allegedly beat the dolphins to death with grappling irons after the dolphins got caught in their nets. Finally, the blame was then put on the United States Military for their use of spying surveillance equipment, which, to put it simply, mess with the sonar capabilities of dolphins and other marine mammals.

Excerpt from the article:

However, Mr Nezami blamed more sinister factors, telling Iranian journalists: "As these dolphins are not among the species normally found in the surrounding Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, probably the Americans - for tracking purposes - have brought them to carry out laboratory works in the Gulf region. This group of dolphins have not been able to tolerate the tests. The likely reason for these deaths is water pollution, the spreading of electro-magnetic waves by military ships or a kind of virus disease."

The explanation was dismissed by environmental experts after tissue examinations showed no sign of poisoning or pollution. The environmental protection agency found bruising on some corpses, arousing suspicion that the dolphins had suffered violent blows. It has formed an inquiry committee consisting of officials from the oil ministry, the state-run shipping organisation and Tehran University's veterinary medicine faculty.

Read more here: Suicide or Murder? Iran blames U.S. after 152 Dolphins die It's interesting to note that about 7 years ago, an article came out about how dolphins are trained to kill for the Soviets, and then were sold to Iran.

Excerpt from article:

The animals were trained to attack enemy frogmen with harpoons attached to their backs, or to drag them to the surface to be taken into captivity.

They could also undertake kamikaze strikes against enemy shipping carrying mines that would explode a ship on contact with its hull.

The dolphins could allegedly distinguish foreign and Soviet submarines by the sound of their propeller.

According to research by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, numerous ex-Soviet military dolphins have been sold to aquariums around the world.

Many have been kept in poor conditions on arrival, and others have died en route.

Kamikaze Dolphins

I find it rather hysterical that the USA had raised objections on the sale of these dolphins to Iran for these purposes. It's been well documented that the military has used these, and other mammals, for their own warmongering purposes.

Wikipedia has information on "Military Dolphins" and personally, I find it abhorrent that any country on this planet would do such a thing.

I know, I know ... people use dogs for the military, drug sniffing, search & rescue operations, etc. People use horses (or used to) in wars, etc etc.

Doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it. Utilizing animals to help humanity is one thing. Utilizing animals to help kill other people is quite another.

Send humans to be kamikazes. Seriously. If people are insane enough to go into war, then they're insane enough to blow themselves up all by themselves.

Last but not least, the US Navy was recently told to reduce sonar effects on marine life.

The Navy says, "With more nations, including China, acquiring quiet, hard-to-detect submarines, the Navy says training sailors in the use of high intensity sonar is a priority."

I disagree. Research on the effect of sonar on our marine life includes, but is not limited to, brain damage and bleeding in the brains and out the ears.

War is inhumane, no matter how you slice it. But if the nations of the world really feel the need to quietly blow each other up, then use human subjects. Once someone has bleeding out their ears happen, perhaps then they'll see just how inhumane these so-called military tests are.

Just sayin'

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Dolphin & Whale Culling

** Warning: What follows is a little graphic in its details as to how dolphins are being slaughtered in Japan. ** Excerpt from the Humane Society webpage:

What Is a Drive Fishery?

Fishermen take out several small motorized boats to locate a pod of bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, or false killer whales (and possibly such other species as pilot whales). Once the fishermen locate a pod, they begin herding the animals toward shore, using the noise of the boats' engines and the banging of pipes underwater. There are some reports that they also use underwater explosives.

The fishermen will then either drive the animals right onto the shore or trap them in a bay. Either way, shallow water is necessary, because fishermen slaughter the dolphins by getting into the water and moving through the pod, stabbing animals to death. The fishermen may set some live animals aside for marine parks and remove them from the water using slings or stretchers. Animals destined for slaughter may be hauled out onto land with cranes, often still alive. The cruelty is enormous.

Want to help? Speak out?

The Japanese media have covered this issue poorly or not at all. Contact media outlets in Japan and politely ask them to print stories about the controversy surrounding these hunts, or consider writing and submitting an op-ed to some of the primary Japanese newspapers including:

The Sankei
(opinion@sankei-net.co.jp)

The Nikkei
(webmaster@nikkei.co.jp)

Hokkaido shimbunsha
(info@hokkaido-np.co.jp)

Jiji Tsushin
(webmaster@jiji.com)

Kyodo Tsushin
(feedback@kyodo.co.jp)

These "drives" by Japanese fishermen have been going on for years. Global pressure on Japan continues but Japan continues, for the most part, to defy these protests. If this culling of dolphins and whales continues, these beautiful mammals that are vital to our marine ecosystem could become more endangered and even extinct.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, a world without all that which personifies nature and is a reflection on each of us, is a world devoid of soul.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Ancient Rhymes

Hayden Panettiere is wanted by the Japanese police for her involvement approximately three weeks ago in her attempt to save a pod of dolphins from certain slaughter.

Read more here: Hayden Panettiere wanted ...

Personally, I applaud her bravery and courage for getting involved, taking action, and speaking out.

In related news, still on the subject of Japan slaughtering dolphins, the following is an interview posted several months ago on Ric O'Barry and his activism on this very matter:

The Samurai Dolphin Man and the Japan Connection

This is an older article, but I feel it's important to share it. Makes me sick that there are humans on this planet who so coldly kill and torture other living beings and then turn around and joke about it.

Brazillian fishermen kill 83 dolphins then joke about it

This is a wonderful story about a dog and his special relationship with with a family of dolphins:

Dogs and Dolphins

Last, but certainly not least, last month a dolphin gave birth. Not such a rare event, right? Well capturing it on film is what is so rare. Check out the amazing photographs of this event:

A Dolphin Joins the World

It reminds me of a beautiful song that was performed by John Denver before he died. It's called Ancient Rhymes.

Two days before the moon was round
You felt the urge of suns light beams
The muffled world of dolphin sound
Slipped down and back into your dreams

For nine full months that passed before
You learned of all of lifes 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 earthmade child
We met you first in your fathers songs
And mothers smile and waters wild
Its in this place you now belong

I know you know of all these things
And feel the faith of a dolphins sigh
For you were born on silver wings
To taste the high blown crystal sky

To 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

I attempted to find a video online of this song, but have not had any luck yet. If anyone knows where it can be found, let me know. I've searched You Tube, but this song wasn't on there.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday and be safe :-)

Mahalo,

Dolphin