"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.