A Day and a Life of a Captive Dolphin

Yesterday was a sad day once again in Taiji.......

 This was Jiyu a captive dolphin that was held in the Sea Pens at the Dolphins Base in Taiji......

Pic. By Heather Hill w/SJD

Pic. By Heather Hill w/SJD

This beautiful animal once was swimming free in the ocean, then he was ambushed along with his whole pod by a hand full of so called "fisherman" in Taiji.  He was herded in to a Cove where he was hand selected by dolphin trainers who claim they love Dolphins he was to spend a life in Captivity and to entertain people.  He most likely watched his whole family be brutally slaughtered....or he could of been from the Pod that was first taken into The Cove at the beginning of the season and they decided to only keep 1 dolphin and let the rest go. Either way it is still WRONG.

Please watch the following video and you will see how brutal the killings are of these very intelligent, feeling, loving animals.

After  a few weeks of people around the world calling and e-mailing the Dolphins Base asking them to please do something about this Dolphin. It is obvious from the pictures he was totally emaciated.  He was spy hopping all day with his eyes closed,  he was in complete distress.  He was in a pen with several other dolphins and you can see how small the pen is and you can see the other two dolphins jumping togeather, and Jiyu by himself he wanted nothing to do with the other dolphins....completely heartbreaking. 

 Here is a video made by one of the SJD team members...Please watch

As of yesterday it is believed that after the Dolphin trainers decided that Jiyu was not well, not going to make them any money by entertaining people and could not be sold because of his condition, he was killed......

RIP Jiyu....Forever Free Xx

I will say it again and again......PLEASE do NOT by tickets to Sea World, Georgia Aquarium, or any marine animal parks or swim with dolphin programs.....if you do you are directly contributing to this insanity.   

Examiner.com Article: Millions in Federal Taxpayer Funds Going to Mississippi "Dolphin Pimp"by Sandy McElhaney Woodbridge Animal Advocacy Examiner

I recently read an article a dear friend wrote about an "Ocean Expo" being built in Mississippi, with taxpayers money helping to fund it....Really???
I am including some exerpts from the article..."According to Citizens Against Government Waste, a whopping $16.5 billion went to congressional pet projects in 2010.  Leading the pack in discretionary spending is Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran.  In Fiscal Year 2010, Cochran earmarked 27 projects to the tune of $44,400,000.  Of that sum, $1,000,000 went to the Center for Marine Education and Research-Ocean Expo-Learning Center at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. "  To me the part that stands out in this article is that millions in federal taxpayers funds are going to Mississippi "Dolphin Pimp" Moby Solangi who is supporting this "State of the art" dolphinarirum marine park for the people of Mississippi.  "The $75 million Ocean Expo is the brain Child of Moby Solangi.  Richard O'Barry star of the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove characterized Solangi as a "Dolphin Pimp", Solango is one of the worlds biggest traffickers in captive dolphins, and his track record is a litany of violent dolphin captures and exploitation"
Here is the link to the story so you can read the whole thing and please do.
http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-washington-dc/millions-federal-taxpayer-funds-going-to-mississippi-dolphin-pimp
and here is a link to read more on what the Ocean Expo will be all about
http://gotoplaces.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/d%E2%80%99iberville%E2%80%99s-next-attraction-the-ocean-expo/
In my opinion, and I am sure many others...I can think of a million other ways our federal tax money should and could be spent.  We have starving children "Nearly one in four children live in households that struggle to put food on the table. That's 16.7 million children." http://www.bread.org/hunger/us/
We have a huge amount of homeless people in the US "approximately 700,000 to 2 million people in America spend their nights on the streets" http://www.buzzle.com/articles/homelessness-in-the-united-states.html
And of course the fact that I DO NOT BELIEVE IN CAPTIVITY and that is what our money is going to go towards...an "Ocean Expo" so the public can see captive marine life. We live on a planet that is mostly ocean, and if you have not been paying attention it is dying, it is in bad shape, and not to many people seem to care....We continually take & take from it.  And dump anything and everything in it.  Maybe some of our tax money should be going towards helping saving The Ocean !!!!  "If the Oceans Die, we Die", says Captain Paul Watson Sea Shepherd..

This is what captivity looks like...do you want your tax money to be spent towards a life of misery????

A Day for the Dolphins Of Taiji.....

September 1st was the first day of the Taiji, Japan's annual dolphin hunt and slaughter....on that day more then 50 events were planned around the world.  I was lucky enough to be the organizer for the San Francisco peaceful protest in frot of the Japanese Consulate.

About a week before the 1st I had the opportunity to go to my sons school to do a presentation on the Taiji Dolphin's plight.  With the help of my friend I was able to put together a wonderful Power Point presentation.  My son & I made a banner that said "Coarsegold Stands up for the Dolphins of Taiji".  All the kids k-8th signed the banner...

It was absolutely amazing to have the kids tell me how much they loved dolphins and that they could not believe people would kill them for food.  I also had the opportunity to tell some of the kids about captive dolphins, and that they should not go to Marine Parks.  Not go to swim with dolphins programs. Those are the main reasons why they have the hunt and slaughter in Taiji.

My son presented the banner to a consulate member during the protest and my friends daughters presented a petition with more then 5000 signatures asking the Japanese  government to STOP killing dolphins.

It was a great day, I was able to actually put into action my fight for the Dolphins of Taiji and not just be sit at my computer sending e-mails and making phone calls...I felt like I was with my family, apart of something BIG. Close to 100 people showed up to show some love to the Dolphins...I got to meet some of the friends who I have formed unique bonds with over the internet because of our shared passion for the dolphins, as well as so many other animal issues that are close to our hearts. 

 

As for Taiji? That day no dolphins were killed because of a typhoon. Ric O'barry of Save Japan Dolphins,  and so many other great people had a peaceful prayer ceremony as they stood witness at the infamous Taiji Cove.  It was a good day.

Benefit Screening of The Cove with Bob Weir, Ric O'Barry & Louie Psihoyos

I was so blessed to be able to attend the Benefit Screening of The Cove with Ric O'Barry and many more as special guests.  It was a wonderful night.

Ric O'Barry and me!

Here is a little information about the movie The cove for those of you who have not seen it....

"The Little Town with a Really Big Secret"

Each year from September to May over 20,000 dolphins are slaughtered in Taiji Japan. Fishermen drive them up by the hundreds using sound barriers to disorient the frantic dolphins and are driven into a "secret" cove.  Bottlenose dolphins, especially ones that look like Flipper, are pre-selected by trainers and sold for up to $200,000 to marine mammal parks around the world, where they will remain in captivity performing.  Living a life of loneliness and sadness. After the trainers have picked the ones that are pretty enough for a life of captivity the rest of the dolphins are inhumanely killed in what can only be described as a massacre. 
The slaughtered dolphins are later used for food, but the Japanese government has purposely  kept people from the dangers of eating them. Dolphin meat has high levels of mercury,  Adding to the lies much of the  meat the Japaneses  purchase is actually mislabeled and is toxic dolphin meat. While the Japanese government defends dolphin hunting as part of their cultural heritage, this tradition has serious health risks for the people of Japan.
The captive dolphin industry is the driving economic force behind the dolphin slaughter in Taiji. In the U.S. alone, dolphinariums represent an $8.4 billion industry, while a dead dolphin catch  $600. International law provides no protections against the killing of dolphins, and other slaughters occur in other places outside of Japan.

http://www.thecovemovie.com/

Well I was at the benefit I was able to meet some fellow activist friends who I have been in touch with about going to Taiji and document the slaughter of dolphins.....I am on the list to go with Save japan Dolphins...how exciting.  But is it really???  Of course knowing that my passion for this was actually going to become a reality is very cool.  

After that night I came home and told my family, ''I am going to Taiji....most likely in February.''  With some not so happy looks from my husband and family they all said "OK, what can we do to help you get there??"  So our fundraising ideas were in the making again.  

However, about a week ago I received several e-mails from fellow activist who have been in Taiji in the past.  These e-mails could not have been more heartfelt....they were basicly telling me not to go to Taiji.  That it is not safe there with all the radiation that is STILL leaking into the ocean, that it will be in the food I eat, the water I drink, the showers I take.  In everything....That radiation is "insidious" and being a mother and a wife I should not put my self at risk.  

In my heart I already knew this...but is seems to hit harder when you hear it from someone else who is not related to you, and is just telling like it is.

So after some tears, once again...I have decided that it is not in my best interest to go to Taiji this year.   This does not mean that my passion for what goes on there will end. I will just have to be pro-active here and do what I can to protest the annual slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, and  spread the word to anyone who will listen.  

I have been thinking where I can go instead and what I can do? Thinking and wondering...I want to be a part of something BIG.  I want to make a difference.

I have been researching other organizations that I could volunteer with for a few weeks, there are a lot of them.   Then my next thought was maybe I should volunteer with Sea Shepherd to to be a On Crew volunteer....I have the application in my hand. 

For those of you have generously donated to my trip to Japan...I will be more then happy to refund you your money...for those of you who do not want a refund, please know that your money will still go to my future trip or any campaign  or destination I may go in the next year...just not sure where yet.    I have a passion, and I want to be active in it...and I dont give up on my dreams.

xoxoxoxox

"It is long past time that all corrupt governments in the world are brought down, and it is long past time we said to the Gulf of Mexico, to the oceans, to the rivers, to the salmon, the shrimp, the dolphins, the forests, the prairies and the prairie dogs, the amphibians and reptiles and birds and everyone else who is being murdered by this culture: I will let nothing harm you. Nothing. I will protect you with my life."
Diane Wilson

Diary of an Eco-Outlaw: An Unreasonable Woman Breaks the Law for Mother Earth

Whats new.....

Since my Blog was to update people with my future trip to Taiji Japan, I thought I should let you know what I know about what is going on there since the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan and the nuclear crisis that is happening at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
I have been following the news reports and I know that there is a crisis going on there and it does not seem to be getting better. Since the beginning of April the workers at the Nuclear plant have been pumping more then 3 million gallons of the less contaminated water that officials say is up to 500 times the legal limit for radiation straight into the Pacific Ocean. I cant see how that could be a good thing for the people of Japan and definitely not for the marine life...
Environmental group Greenpeace warned marine life radiation levels are 50 times higher than official limits in the ocean off Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant. Despite what the authorities are claiming, radioactive hazards are not decreasing through dilution or dispersion of materials, but the radioactivity is instead accumulating in marine life. Most fish and shellfish sampled by Greenpeace were found to contain levels of radioactivity above legal limits for food contamination. This is just one of the multiple, chronic sources of radiation exposure to people living in the greater Fukushima area.
With already knowing that whale and dolphin meat is contaminated with mercury, and now possibly with radiation you would think the "fisherman" in Japan would not be going out to hunt for whales or dolphins, however that does not seem to be the case.
In May Scott West with Sea Shepherd and Brain Barnes with Save Japan Dolphin returned to Taiji and found that the evil little town was up to there usual dirty little secret. When returning to "The Cove" Scott and Brian found a pod of about 50 Pilot whales netted off into the killing cove the day before the other half of the pod were slaughtered.

The reaming pilot whales spent 2days swimming around in their families blood awaiting their fate, the "killers" came in the morning and slaughtered 10 more then for some reason they cut a hole in the net for the remaining whales, however they would not leave, over half of there family members (fathers, mothers, babies, the leaders) were brutally killed in front of their eyes they did not know what they were suppose to do. After 48hrs of the nets being cut and the whales still in The Cove the fisherman herded them out to sea, their lives for ever changed.
When I read about this is just breaks my heart for these amazing animals, and it makes me want to go go to Taiji that much more and help put an end to this. My family is very concerned about me going there with all that is going on. I understand their concerns and know that it is still some time away from when I want to go, so I have not canceled my plans just have them on hold. I will not put my self at risk of radiation poisoning because I do have a family and they come first. But my passion to help put and end to the dolphin and whale slaughter is such a part of my heart that I will not give up the fight. I Believe.....

I will be attending the Benefit Screening of The Cove with Bob Weir, Ric O'Barry & Louie Psihoyos

Time
Tuesday, June 21 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location
Rafael Film Center
1118 Fourth Street (Between A & B)
San Rafael, CA

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170347 



I am so excited to meet Ric O'Barry and so many other people that will be attending it should be a great night....Can't wait.

Memorial Day......

Today is Memorial Day and I thought it would be nice to do a post on the meaning of the day...

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

I know that my father, who is a Vietnam veteran, and my little brother go every Memorial Day and put flags on the graves of fallen soldiers in our local cemetery. I think that is such an awesome thing that they do together.
I think a lot of people use this 3 day weekend to BBQ with friends and are just happy to have Monday off. But if we really want to celebrate the meaning of the day maybe we should be celebrating the freedom that our soldiers fight for us to have everyday and celebrating the protection that they give us against countries that we are at war with....and giving thought to the men and women who have lost their lives in wars they didn't start.

As long as I can remember it seems like we have been at war with someone...and now since 2001 we have been fighting an on going war in Afghanistan and there does not seem to be any end in sight. We are losing men and women everyday. We are spending millions of dollars a day funding war, when we have millions of men women and children literally scrapping pennies together to try to make ends meet. It seems the longer the war goes on the worst things get for the economy.

I do not believe that War is the answer. It does not to seem have ever done any good, for anyone. I am not going to get into some big political speech because that is just not my thing....However I think that for things to get better for the American people we need to end the wars. So I will take today as a day to remember all the men and women who have given there lives for our country and to say a blessing for our country in the hopes that Peace will come to us in America and to all the people in other lands who suffer because of war.

“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.” Mahatma Gandhi

So much as gone on in the past few week where do I start.....?

As we all know, Japan was hit with a HUGE 9.0 earthquake, which brought on a Tsunami.. Some of my fellow activist friends were in Otsuchi, Japan documenting the Dall's Porpoise hunt when it all happened. More than 15,000 Dall's porpoises are being killed in this area every year, around 7000 a year in this particular city. To read about my friends experiences and to see what they saw from hill top in the town that was once Ostuchi. check this out....http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/sea-shepherd-news.html They were missing for over 40 hours and I was so grateful to read that all of them were safe, and now back in there own home towns.

(Sea Shepherd , Cove Guardians in Otsuchi, Japan)



A lot of people were saying that the earthquake and tsunami was a bit of karma, I do believe in karma (what comes around goes around), but I do not think just because a handful of fishermen go out and slaughter crustaceans every year they were hit with this complete devastation. I Believe this came from the hands of Mother Earth. Earthquakes, tsunami, floods, fires, have been happening all over the world.

(Sea Shepherd Otsuchi, Japan)


Mother Earth is mad! We are abusing her daily. Once we realize that she is much more powerful then we are, maybe, just maybe, we will wake up and start making those much needed changes for our Earth, and for us.


What is going on in Japan is devastating. Today it's in the news that radiation has been found in spinach and milk 90 miles from the nuclear plant. A lot of people are asking me if I still plan on going to Japan
in the fall.....the answer is YES!! I have a goal, and a passion, and unless it is completely unsafe for me to go, I'm going in November. I know that my trip will be a bit different now that this has happened

Since the earthquake there has been no one on the ground in Taiji to keep any eye on all the dolphins being held for captivity at the Dolphins Base. I pray that Misty and the other dolphins are doing ok.

I know all the dolphins that were in the holding pens in the harbor were killed due to the tsunami. The fisherman made sure that their fishing boats were OK, but they did nothing to make sure the holding pens were going to withstand the wave surges from the tsunami. It was reported that they had six surges, and six times the dolphins were slammed against the sharp rocky cliff.. Their cries were heard for hours, but no one came to set them free....and when it was over the fishermen collected their bodies and took them straight to the slaughter house....it makes me sick. Those few men really seem to have no heart what-so-ever.

I have started to make necklaces that represent my love for the ocean and all the creatures that live in it....I will be selling them on my blog in hopes of making money for my trip to Japan....I have posted some pictures of them, I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed creating them...

 

 

Free Forever

 

 

Happy Dolphins

 

Happy Dolphins...up Close $25

 

All prices include shipping...if you are interested in purchasing one you can e-mail at e_d_leethomas@yahoo.com I have not figured out all payment details yet. I all so have 2 more to put up, but between the wind, rain, snow, and the power going out this is all I had time for.

Please enjoy this most beautiful video
"Visual Prayer for Whales and Dolphins "

A Prayer For Lolita

“Compassion encircles the earth for all beings everywhere”
Unknown

Most people know the story of Lolita (first called Tokitae).

But let me give you the short story of this lonely whale.
Lolita was captured on August 8, 1970 in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island.

Lolita (first called Tokitae) was recorded to be about 14 feet long and 4-6 years old at capture, though witnesses say she was probably no more than 12 feet long and only 3-4 years old.
She was sent to the Miami Seaquarium in Florida, where she arrived September 24, 1970 to be a playmate for the young male orca named Hugo who had been captured in Puget Sound in February, 1968. Hugo was from Lolita's family.

Hugo was often aggressive or withdrawn, and finally died in 1980 of a brain aneurysm from ramming the walls of his tank. He was about 15 when he died. The six other young whales exported from Lolita's capture went to parks in Texas, Australia, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. All died within a few years.
Loilta is the oldest living whale in captivity, she has spent the past 39 years, performing reliably, entertaining visitors at the Miami Seaquarium with her power and grace .
It is believed that Lolitas mother, and some family members still pass threw where they were ripped from one another so many years ago.
She is an excellent candidate to be retired in a monitored sea-pen in preparation for rejoining her family in her home waters, but objections to her return by the park have so far prevented the move.
This past week all of Lolitas shows have been canceled for what the MSA says is for a toothache....whatever the truth may be, I want to say a prayer for Lolita....

"Forgive us, dear Lolita, for all that we have done to harm you. There is light in us and we send it out on this night to you, the ocean, the earth, and all the creatures that inhabit this planet. May this great force that is within us be strong enough to heal us. We are all one, the earth, the ocean, everything—every one"

Forever Free

 

Saturday morning I woke up to read that the dolphin hunting season seems to have ended early in Taiji this year. All tarps have been taken down in The Cove, and all banging pols have been removed form the hunting boats. It makes me so happy to know that the dolphin will be safe for now swimming fast far & deep forever free through Taiji.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if it stayed that way forever???

Now that the hunting season is over, I was thinking of what I would be able to share on my blog...What route I wanted to take with it. I have decided that I will, of course, continue to post about my efforts to get to Taiji this Fall...fund raising ideas are in the works.

I also thought I should share about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the effect it is having on the ocean and the marine mammals...I just read recently that more then 60 baby dolphins have washed up on sure in the Gulf...here is the link http://blog.al.com/live/2011/02/5_more_dead_dolphins_found_in.html
Our obsession with oil is killing the ocean.......we are all addicted...to oil, plastic..and jumping in our cars and going.

There is so much devastation going on to our ocean it is heartbreaking...I read on a blog that I follow about the US Gulf news: US Navy planned to massacre millions, 5-yr warfare 'testing' on our Oceans...here is the link for more info:
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Gulf news: US Navy planned to massacre millions, 5-yr warfare ’testing’ (video) - National Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examintay on one topicer.com/human-rights-in-national/us-navy-planned-to-massacre-millions-5-yr-warfare-testing-video#ixzz1F6rxMYhr

These are just 2 of so many things I want to share....With so much devastation happening daily to our environment, and to animals everywhere...it is hard to stay with one topic...

I am posting a happy video to celebrate the end of the dolphins slaughter season in Taiji.....I hope you enjoy...




I Believe!!!!

The future depends on what we do in the present. - Mahatma Gandhi

Yesterday 30 Stripped Dolphins lost their life in The Cove. They were once free to Swim Fast, Far & Deep forever Free...now they are no more. 

This all can end if we show are support for the Dolphins and give them a voice that is obviously not heard by the "Fisherman" of Taiji.

They do not care about how many they kill, or if they are mothers, babies...all are taken so the people of Taiji can eat there Mercury contaimianted meat.

My Heart is always heavy after hearing that Dolphins were brutally killed in Taiji.

I will be posting links later that will give you more information on how you can help...Thank you for your support.

Praying For a Good Day in Taiji today. 

One Person has the Power to make a CHANGE!!!!

Being Blessed

I just want to say that I feel so blessed to have support....it is a blessing.
Thank you my firends. It means more to me then you know.
Everytime you share my blog...it makes my heart smile.
I will say that I am still learning this whole "BLOG" thing. I am a very private person, so this is all new to me. I am still trying to figure out what I should & can share. But I am sure I will ge the hang of "Blogging".

A Friend sent this to me...enjoy!!!

My Journey to Where I am at Today....

I guess I should explain why I have started this blog....We all know about the Gulf of Mexico's Oil spill.  Well, when I found about it for some reason it felt very close to my heart.  I followed and stayed informed with what was going on there everyday. I started to be come friends with different groups around the world that were trying to help spread awareness of the devastation to the ocean, the wildlife, and and our environment as a whole...It truly broke my heart to see beautiful animals dying everyday from the oil leaking into the ocean for days...I cried many tears over it. 
One of the groups I joined was "Hands Across the Sand"...it was the first event that I participated in that was trying to make a difference for our oceans....Since then I have become friends with ocean & animal lovers around the world. My passion right now is for the Dolphins in Taiji Japan.  The movie "The Cove" has become my passion that being the main reason for my Blog.
I would say about 5 months ago I found out about this small town in Japan called Taiji. 
Eight months out of the year there are a handful of so called "fishermen" who are allowed by the Japaneses Government to go out and drive hunt dolphins for captivity and for their mercury contaminated meat, which they feed to the people of Taiji....Drive hunting is one of the most cruel and inhumane act of men upon this Beautiful, Intelligent, Magnificent animal.
My Goal for 2011 is to go to Taiji at the end of the year and be a Cove Guardian. I want to document these drive hunts and the capture and slaughter of the dolphins. I also want to make a trip to visit Mr. Ishii's Wild Dolphin & Whale Tours, Futo, Japan. This awesome man comes from a family of dolphin hunters and was himself a hunter too. He has now seen the beauty, and intelligence of dolphins....I have big dreams & I know they will become reality...
I want to Help put an End to the Slaughter of the dolphins of Taiji!!!

Hands Across the Sand Cayucos California