The Power of People

(Artist credit: CrystalsPanther @ Deviant Art)

Yesterday I mentioned that Amazon had been allowing for the sale of whale meat on their site.  Environmental Investigation Agency brought this to the public's attention and all hell broke loose.  Amazon's Facebook page was overwhelmed by hundreds of people posting on their wall in protest, among numerous other places and numerous other news reports.  The word spread like wildfire and it appears the power of the people has spoken and Amazon listened.

Amazon has yet to release an official statement saying anything.  But just hours after I found out about it myself and joined the chorus of other protesters on their Facebook page, all whale meat products were quietly removed from Amazon's site. 

Australia was the first to report this last night / this morning at:  Amazon Backs Down

If only activism was this easy in everything else :-) 

A few days ago, Norway announced it was resuming whaling and set a quota for this year at 1,286 minke whales.  I wonder if Sea Shepherd will head over to Norway next to try to cut into this quota?  One can only hope.

Ric O'Barry of Save Japan Dolphins needs your help.  Please check out his latest post here: Letter From Taiji Whale Museum.   Sign the petition and please take a moment to email WAZA and ask them to release these two dolphins in the world's smallest dolphin tank.

Hong Kong Airlines is profiting from the sale of Taiji dolphins by transporting them on their planes.  See here:  Misery of the Dolphins in Flying Coffins.  There is a petition urging Hong Kong Airlines to please stop this practice.   It's never been easier being an armchair activist - please take a few minutes and make your voice heard too.

If you are a PBS supporter / viewer, you may already know this, but in case you don't ... Nature is showing a special on whales and dolphins starting tonight called Ocean Giants.  There will be repeated airings at various times so be sure to check your local listings.

BP continues to profit enormously despite last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the people living in that area continue to suffer.  Gotta love how the oil companies get richer and make certain politicians richer while millions of folks are suffering needlessly because of their stupidity.

A lot of discussion is currently taking place about giving cetaceans equal rights and recognizing them as non-human persons with basic rights such as life, freedom, and well-being.   One article here:  Dolphins Deserve Rights

I have to take issue with this quote: 

“I sometimes wonder whether we’ve got our priorities mixed up when we treat animals and the environment with more respect than human beings,” Paul Schratz said. “There are billions of people around the world who deserve our attention.”

One of the problems I personally see with humanity is our ego and misplaced sense of superiority.  All life is interconnected on this planet.  All beings deserve respect and humane treatment. I find it highly hypocritical and anti-compassionate to think that humans rule the earth and are far more worthy of life and liberty than non-human species.  Why is it that way?  Because we say so? 

I'm reminded of this wise Native American saying: 

Honor the sacred.
Honor the Earth, our Mother.
Honor the Elders.
Honor all with whom we
share the Earth:-
Four-leggeds, two-leggeds,
winged ones,
Swimmers, crawlers,
plant and rock people.
Walk in balance and beauty.

~ Native American Elder ~

Far too many humans seem to know squat about living in harmony with nature and other species and treating all life with balance and respect.  It's no wonder our planet is so messed up.  It's not the mammals in the sea or the wildlife on the land that is causing all this misery, it's US!   Our oceans would be abundant with enough fish for everyone, both human and non, if we'd find that balance and use everything sustainably, humanely, and with respect.  We have the power people.  Please don't give up the fight.  

"If a group of beings from another planet were to land on Earth - beings who considered themselves as superior to you as you feel yourself to be to other animals - would you concede them the rights over you that you assume over other animals?"  ~Attributed to George Bernard Shaw