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

First They Came

(Artist credit:  BunnyBubble @ Deviant Art)

In yesterday's post I shared a link to an article that included a poll about the use of dolphins in the military.  When I first read that article a few days ago, the poll for and against the use of dolphins in this manner was pretty much split down the middle.

Now that number has risen dramatically to over 70% on the side of NOT using dolphins in this way.  Quite a turn around!

If you haven't seen that article yet or voted, here it is:  Dolphins Used to Detect Underwater Mines

In other news, Sea Shepherd is setting up a chapter of it's organization in Hervey Bay, Australia this June.  There appears to be a split in that community over whether or not to support the SSCS.

Many who have vocalized opposition have stated they disagree with SSCS's "violent" methods at sea against the Japan whalers. 

Read more here:  Split on Whaling Protest Group

Personally, I'm more inclined to support an organization like Sea Shepherd vs, for example, Greenpeace. Sea Shepherd, despite their controversial tactics, get results.  Greenpeace just appears, to me anyway, to blow a lot of hot air, spend a lot of donated money on campaigns and protests, but not much in the way of real hands on action.  That's just my impression anyway and I could be wrong.  However, I hear more about Sea Shepherds actual successful results in reducing the whale kill quota versus the publicity and media loving Greenpeace.  To be fair, Greenpeace does raise awareness.  But visible action just seems to be more apparent from Sea Shepherd.  

Japan has made it clear they dislike the SSCS.  Why?  Because the Sea Shepherds actually impede their progress and make the whalers' jobs much harder to kill off the whales.  

That is enough for me to be a Sea Shepherd supporter.

They've also been instrumental in the Faroe pilot whale slaughter, Canada's harp seal culls, and Taiji's dolphin slaughtering.  Ric O' Barry's organization Save Japan Dolphins is another shining example of activism in action by making their presence heavily felt not just in Japan on the dolphin slaughter, but around the world as well.

When I think of Sea Shepherd, I think of whales and harp seals.  When I think of Save Japan Dolphins, I think of dolphins.  Both are filled with passionate people who are out there doing something about these inhumane killings.

You know that famous quote by Martin Niem'Her?

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Let's alter that a little.

First they came for the whales, and I did not speak out because I was not a whale.  Then they came for the seals, and I did not speak out because I was not a seal.  Then they came for the dolphins, and I did not speak out because I was not a dolphin.  Then they came for everything else left in the sea, leading to a slow death for the entire world, and I wondered why there was nothing and no one left to speak up and do something about it. 

S.O.S.

This video says it all.





Please help spread this.  Please boycott marine parks such as Sea World, Marineland, etc.  The captivity industry is the reason why so many dolphins are murdered.   Dolphin trainers, in all their hypocrisy and amid the blood spilling in the waters, fuel these kills.

Humanity should be ashamed.

Even if all you do is share this video with others, you are lending a much needed voice to the dolphins.  They need our help.   You can also do much more.  Check out one of my previous posts:  What You Can Do.  

Mahalo.

What You Can Do

(Artist credit:  inuryoko / "The Cove")

There are a lot of ways to express one's passion for our cetacean friends and a lot of ways to spread the word and to help raise awareness.

More dolphins were killed in Taiji yesterday.  Most were killed, a few taken captive to be sold to a place holding them basically in a swimming pool enslaved for peoples' ignorant entertainment, and some were released - especially babies and juveniles who still needed guidance by their mothers and very possibly face the risk of death because of that.  :: letting out a deep breath at that long sentence ::

So what can you do if you're someone like me who can't afford to fly out to places like Taiji, the Faroe Island, or to join Sea Shepherd in the Southern Ocean?

You can attend protests in your area.  You can sign petitions and send emails to the country's embassies, Prime Ministers, etc.  You can also call them or send letters in the mail.  You can write about them on your blog, website, social networking site, or make it a topic of conversation with your friends at your next dinner party.

Again, it's not about politics.  It's about life.  I've said it before and I'll say it again now and repeatedly into the future:  without the whales and dolphins, a vital part of our ecosystem, our oceans, our balance, and our connective energies, we would not be alive.  Everything in nature is connected to us, and us to them.

Sure, things adapt .. things evolve.  But oftentimes, it is not for the better. 

Remember what Little Grandmother said in my previous post:

"These animals I can say with my own knowing are holding a vibration for us humans even in our darkest hour when us human beings have been the worst of our worst, they are the ones that have held their vibration to keep this planet OK.  And for anyone to think it is ok to kill a dolphin, a whale, or an elephant is killing every one of us and our planet."

Some email actions you can take regarding the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan:

THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER

 https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html  

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.env.go.jp%2Fen%2Fmoemail%2F&h=9fc7f

MAFF (ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries)

https://www.contact.maff.go.jp/maff/form/114e.html


TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/SUB/contact.htm
  
And be sure to check out this video and share it with as many people as you can:


Our Tribute



There are a lot of organizations and websites/blogs you can also support, such as Sea Shepherd, Save Japan Dolphins, Hope 4 Dolphins, Surfrider Foundation, Rekindling the Waters, A Teenage Activist, among many others worthy of your time, attention, and donations.

The fight may seem hopeless at times, but the tide is turning.  It's slow, but it is noticeable given the increasing numbers of people around the world joining in this fight.  No action is too small and no words are ever wasted in their defense.  We are each a drop in the ocean with the potential to create quite a wave.  Collectively and individually, we can and do make a difference.

Mahalo :-)

Gulf Oil Flow Stopped, But BS Still Flowing

(Artist credit:  Andy Serrano @ Deviant Art)

Obviously it is great news that the oil spill/leak in the Gulf of Mexico has been stopped. I have been reading various reports that seem to conflict with one another though as to where the oil has gone, how toxic the corexit dispersant has been/is, if the seafood is safe to eat, and why the number of animals/mammals killed seems so low given the millions of gallons that flowed into the gulf.


Is there a conspiracy behind everything?  Is BP and/or the government hiding certain information from the public?


Let's have a look, shall we?

BP has been back and forth on the issue of corexit or any other dispersant that was put into the gulf.  Information has been conflicting as to how safe/unsafe it is and whether or not the amount of dispersants used has had a detrimental effect on the wildlife and the people living and/or working down there.   Documents Indicate Heavy Use of Dispersants and Coast Guard Allows Toxic Chemical Use on Gulf Oil Spill

Where has the oil gone?  Some reports indicate natural bio degradation is at work.  Others credit the corexit dispersants for breaking down the oil. Further reports indicate oil has simply settled deeper into the water and is therefore less visible to the naked eye above water.  And still others credit various human beings around the planet sending out healing energies and prayers to the gulf to heal it.   Where Has the Oil Gone?   

How about the wildlife?

"Official reports indicate that the BP oil spill has resulted in the death of 4,100 birds, 670 turtles, 70 sea mammals and 1 snake, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service report.

The numbers are astonishingly low when compared to the official numbers after the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 which killed 200,000 birds, 3,000 sea mammals and 20 whales while this oil disaster pales in comparison to the Macondo BP oil spill."

Some are questioning whether or not BP is hiding the actual numbers of wildlife killed:

Death Gyre in the Gulf

BP Processes Dead Animals Out of Sight

Or one article to cover most of the above:  What BP and the Govt. Don't Want You to Know

Did you know that oil disasters are pretty common and frequent?    We may be slow to learn, but it's not too late to change our ways and get off our oil dependency, wouldn't you agree?  We'd certainly clean the planet's land, water, and air if we kick the habit.  Imagine that.  

To overstate the obvious, this disaster, and all other oil related disasters around the globe, are far from being over and/or dealt with.  And further disasters will continue to impact us in big and small ways unless or until we change this.  As long as there is a demand from people for oil, the oil conglomerates will continue to quench our thirst.  And our air, seas, lands, wildlife and humanity will continue to suffer for it.  At this point, I personally see the negatives of oil far outweighing the positives.

By the way, if you are a fan of the Whale Wars or The Cove movie, you might be interested in knowing the Animal Planet will begin airing a new show called Blood Dolphins, starting August 27th following the season finale of the Whale Wars.

And on August 29th, Animal Planet will be showing The Cove movie on its network. 

You can find more information at the Save Japan Dolphins blog.

Last but not least, Michelle Rodriguez (who had roles in Avatar and Lost) has currently stated she will be on Sea Shepherd's next campaign. 

Pressure on Japan

(Artist Credit:  unknown)

The pressure is getting more intense on Japan regarding their "scientific whale hunts" and dolphin drives.  Their defenses for killing these mammals are sounding more and more strident and empty hallowed.  Japan is feeling it but are they reeling from it yet?   Sea Shepherd continues to be the only organization out there that continues to put the pressure on Japan and also continues to cost the whalers millions of dollars annually.   Meanwhile, the rest of the world is catching on more and more to the weak defenses Japan keeps putting up for why they continue to kill whales in the name of science and to kill dolphins in Taiji.

If you haven't seen The Cove yet, please do.  It is now available in DVD and can be bought at places like Amazon and rented at Blockbuster, Netflix, etal.  

The pressure on Japan needs to continue and to get stronger.  Various reports out there about the high levels of mercury aren't going to go away.  The Cove has opened up a lot of peoples' eyes on this senseless and cruel slaughter and while the dolphin killers let up on it for awhile because of all the publicity, unfortunately they are right back out there and it's business as usual.   See:   Grotesque Business as Usual

If you care about this issue, please go to the following sites and learn more about what is going on out there and what you can do to help.

Take Part: The Cove

Save Japan Dolphins

Make no mistake, Japan is fully aware of the mercury levels that come from their citizens eating the whale and dolphin meat from their "catches."  See:   Taiji Mercury Levels Extremely High    And from the Save Japan Dolphins blog:  Ten Times Higher Mercury Levels

Back to the whalers, Sea Shepherd states they are planning to pursue attempted murder charges for the ramming of the Ady Gil.  The captain of the Ad Gil shares his crew's experience in this article:   Brush with Death

To go back to the liars that are Japan in regards to their defense on killing whales and dolphins, here are a couple of articles, one from Sea Shepherd and one from the science community, that debunk Japan's defense that continues to develop more holes than swiss cheese:  Bogus Science of the Japanese Whaling Fleet  and  Secret Science Cast Doubt on Japanese Whale Numbers

Interesting article:  The Impact of Animal Rights, Rescues and Shelters on Animal Law

If you live in or near Florida, USA, you might be interested in knowing about this:  Sonic Death: Blasting the Oceans in Pursuit of Oil   I find this absolutely frightening.  If you want to get involved and/or take action on this issue, see the Save our Shores! Florida website. 

We have choices.  We can continue to stand by, be silent, be apathetic, and be careless when it comes to our non-human friends and this very planet we all inhabit, or we can speak up and take action.  You can write letters to your representatives in your government, sign petitions, take part in local rallies, donate to the causes you are passionate about, help spread the word through a blog, your social networking site, word of mouth, etc etc etc.  There are no small actions.  Just by the power of the people deluging the Japanese Government, embassies, and their media, the pressure is rising on them.  Sooner or later, the dam WILL break.  Japan does not like bad publicity, especially on these issues.  And they know their defenses and excuses for these slaughters is no longer sounding true to more and more people.

The same goes for any country that supports these unnecessary slaughters.  And the same goes for the USA Government in their continued use of navy sonar and sonic gun blasts that obviously and painfully have a detrimental effect on our marine mammal friends.

Some examples of pressure being applied to governments to cease with activities that are harmful to the ocean species is:  U.S. Navy Sued Over Anti-Sub Training Range Where Rare Whales Calve

NOAA May Prohibit Navy Sonar Testing at Marine Mammal Hot Spots

Administration Agency Gives Supreme Court Poke in Eye on Military Tests Killing Whales

I've shared this before but it's worth repeating:  Seeing the Songs of Whales    

Whales are so popular now that they are starring in Super Bowl ads:  Why You're Going to Need a Pickup Truck to Save the Whales

Beluga Whales take an interest in Scuba Divers.  More photos here.

P.S.  If you are on Facebook, please do a search for The Cove and join the community there :-)

Till next time,

Dolphin

Happy Thanksgiving

Artist credit: Linda Thompson

Wishing everyone a safe, warm, and memorable Thanksgiving holiday :-)

Just a few things to share today ...

Check out Larry King today on CNN at 8:00 p.m. EST USA time. Ric O'Barry, of Save Japan Dolphins and The Cove Movie and Ben Stiller, actor, will be discussing the campaign to Save Japan Dolphins.

Speaking of The Cove Movie, it has made the short list of 15 films to be considered for an Oscar nomination! Yeah!

Here's an excerpt from the latest Save Japan Dolphins newsletter:

In September elections, the Japanese voted in a new political party to replace the long-reigning LDP, which had run Japan since the 1940’s.

It is unclear whether the new Japan PM and his party will stop the slaughter of dolphins and whales. They are said to be opposed to government subsidies, which certainly SHOULD put Japan’s whaling scheme on the chopping block! Millions of taxpayer yen are wasted each year on sending the whaling ships to Antarctica for phony “scientific” research whaling, as well as millions more in bribes to small nations in return for their voting for whaling at the International Whaling Commission meetings.

Finally, the new party is very interested in protecting the environment. The threat of mercury poisoning should therefore resonate with them.

Recently, at a press conference, reporter Boyd Harnell confronted the new Minister of Public Health, Mizuho Fukushima, with the dangers of mercury-contaminated dolphin meat. He presented her with copies of some of his pioneer articles for The Japan Times and several scientific reports, including several provided by our Save Japan Dolphins Coalition.

So we feel the time is right for Japan to finally end the slaughter of dolphins and whales, once and for all.

Once the people of Japan learn the truth about the dolphin slaughter through viewing The Cove and getting the scientific and educational information we provide, they will stop the slaughter – I am sure of it.

Check out the Save Japan Dolphins website and if you are interested in subscribing to their blog, they can be found at Save Japan Dolphins Blog.


Article: Government Silence Dooms Whales to Slaughter


This is very, very cool: Whale and Dolphin Song Art

Blog spotlight: Whale and Dolphin Talk


Mahalo,

Dolphin