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