The Cove....

[RTime]

I don't know how many of you have heard of this movie yet:
http://www.thecovemovie.com (http://www.thecovemovie.com/).

I am on a mission to share this with as many people as I can. This is a documentary about the slaying of Dolphins in Japan.

I had the opportunity to meet one of the producers of this movie over the weekend (at another turtle release :)). He asked me to spread the word to as many people as possible to please go and see the movie and educate the public about what they are doing.
The movie is not being shown everywhere right now, and that is part of the reason to pass the word. The more people that go to see, the more exposure they will have.
There is also a petition going around that can be signed. I saw the link for the petition on facebook. If anyone is on facebook, you can get updates when you become a fan of The Cove.

I myself have not seen the movie yet, but we are planning on going tomorrow night. It is playing here locally until the 20th. I have had a couple of friends go and see it though...one of my friends said that if you cannot take gory, cover your eyes at the very end...:(!! And I say that because the media has been sensationalizing the gory part :rolleyes:!

I am posting this on the main forum because I did not think it was "idle, casual conversation", but a way to get an important message out. Mod's move it to wherever you think appropriate ;).

Thank for your time.
Joanne

[Blue Moon]

OH my gosh.... this is horrible and sad.. the film, its producers and a panel of people were here in Aspen this past week and had a conference on it... All I can say is we must be aware of our actions and become more conscious as a people or we will destroy ourselves and everything all with us!! thanks for sending the link.. hope people look and keep posting to get the awareness out.. Good job

[RTime]

Shae, thanks for that....there is a petition that can be signed that is not on facebook. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724210624

We did go and see the movie....in a word: Powerful!! The guy that directed/produced it lives in Colorado and is part of the Ocean Preservation Society. I have been following all of his updates on the website and even participated in the discussion on Facebook with him about the movie.

It will be out on DVD Dec. 1 for those that could not see it on the big screen.

On a side note, this past Sat morning I went out for a sunrise beachwalk....as I got down on the beach the sky was just beginning to get light; there was a pod of Dolphins feeding off the beach. Just jumping and swimming. It's not the first time that I have seen them, but it was just like a message to me to keep on getting the word out...:)!!

[RTime]

Some more info for you:


http://www.savejapandolphins.org/dolphincaptivity.php

[SamFamAustin]

My opinion is that we should concentrate on saving the ones we have here in the US, and not meddle in Japan's internal affairs. The Japanese have been eating dolphin and whale for centuries and while most of us hate the concept, we in the US are responsible for many, many dolphin and whale deaths.

I had posted a picture of a baby dolphin that was cut in half by a boat propeller here in our island area in South Texas, but better judgment lead me to pull the picture - it was way too emotional. The number of dolphins we kill in the US every year is astounding, including:


Vessel strikes, propeller injuries, and being struck by personal "jet ski" watercraft
Longline fishing and "by-catch" in tuna seine nets (active fishing)
Dolphin become tangled in old fishing gear such as fishing line and abandoned nets (passive fishing)
Pollution. pollution, and more pollution
Seismic testing, which literally blows up their eardrums and causes head injuries and strandings

At least we are trying to help save a few dolphin, onces that don't get chopped in half by irresponsible boats who feel compelled to zoom through the calving areas at full top speed. This one is named Mohawk, an apt name because he darn near got a lobotomy from one boat strike ... this time he is hopelessly tangled in IFGA tournament fishing line. I costs about $15,000 for us to get the Dolphin Stranding Network down here to our island, since federal permits and manpower (and a big boat with a net) is required. So far this year, we have lost about 5 baby dolphins due to stupid people. And that's in one of the smaller harbors of the US. Here's baby Mohawk:

[RTime]

Well, I guess the difference here is that in the US, Dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We are not hunting them, selling them and killing the rest for food. The people in Taijji are doing this secretly and they are killing their own human race because Dolphin are toxic. Loaded with mercury.

God knows we have our share of stupid boaters, polluters and people that just don't give a damm (way too many here in Florida). I pick up trash on the beach everytime I am out there.
You know the saying "think globally, act locally". Well, I pretty much live by that...and I think you do too Sam..but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't get involved in what goes on in other countries. Cause you know what?? The world is not that big of a place....and in the long run it will effect us. It's called saving the planet...by educating the public. No matter where you live.

Go and see the movie before you decide we should mind our own business.

And in the meantime, keep on saving the turtles, dolphins and whatever else over on your coast....I will be doing it here too!!!:)

off my soapbox now....:cool:

[PaBill]

So are these "calving" areas marked and posted, so when I boat 'irresponsibly', or do you want a Federal mandate that all vessels be jet(jaccussi)-driven and limited to 5MPH or less within 50 miles of the coastline? George C. Scott's dead, or maybe he could have got Pha and Bee to teach the others to stay away from recreational, fishing and commercial boating areas, and to sound at the approach of prop noise. Time for a group tree (dolphin) hug. :rolleyes:

[AbacoPeach]

I don't think a group hug would work. The smart alecks in the group would have something negative to say so it would just ruin the moment...

[floridaskater]

I just got this link ironically from an old photographer friend....must be a sign.

http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2009/08/17/photographer-louie-psihoyos-and-the-cove/

[trubahamian]

Well, I guess the difference here is that in the US, Dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We are not hunting them, selling them and killing the rest for food. The people in Taijji are doing this secretly and they are killing their own human race because Dolphin are toxic. Loaded with mercury.

God knows we have our share of stupid boaters, polluters and people that just don't give a damm (way too many here in Florida). I pick up trash on the beach everytime I am out there.
You know the saying "think globally, act locally". Well, I pretty much live by that...and I think you do too Sam..but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't get involved in what goes on in other countries. Cause you know what?? The world is not that big of a place....and in the long run it will effect us. It's called saving the planet...by educating the public. No matter where you live.

Go and see the movie before you decide we should mind our own business.

And in the meantime, keep on saving the turtles, dolphins and whatever else over on your coast....I will be doing it here too!!!:)

off my soapbox now....:cool:

If the dolphins are suffering from mercury poisoning should they recieve treatment or be euthanised? :confused: If picking up trash makes you feel better,that is a good thing,but this Earth will be here long after the last human heart beats.It will clean itself then reinvent life all over again.History repeats itself constantly ya know!:)

[SamFamAustin]

I think RTime was referring to Minamata Disease, a form of mercury poisoning from Japanese industries that came in during the 1950 to 1965 time period. It is still an issue today because those affected as babies are now in their 40s and 50s. I have no idea if the dolphins got Minimata Disease, which generally kills whoever gets it. The Japanese dolphin are probably not much different with respect to mercury concentrations than dolphins all over the world.

As to the annual round-up in Taiji, and preventing the slaughter of dolphin, I support such efforts but have to shake my head. The Japanese police will arrest anyone who attempts to stop their festival, an annual thing since the 1600s, and there heavy fines in addition to jail time of about a month. Have at it if you feel so compelled. To me it's like those crazy "Sea Shepard" sailors who try to ram whale hunting ships and commit Piracy on the High Seas, in the name of saving a critter.

I am not passing judgment and am only expressing my personal feelings. Often I detect a certain hubris where us Americans want to correct for the deficiencies of other places -- be it Abaco, Bahamas or Taiji, Japan. Yet at the same time, the US continues to plunder it's own resources, rape the sea, and cause a worldwide credit crisis. I don't know where we got the idea to become the world's nanny when we can't even take care of things in our own backyard. Let's face it, us Americans are known for bringing in large messes like Kermit's drill barge and Baker's Bay in the Abacos. 'We have met the enemy and he is us.'

My point here, is that foreigners don't like to be lectured by Americans that "this is the way things should or should not be." They see the hypocrisy and the deceit.

[trubahamian]

That is very,very deep Sammie,well put and how some folks do come across. I gern be keepin ma eye on u boy,it seems u are a sharp student of life and also a bit of a sage. ;)

[RTime]

If the dolphins are suffering from mercury poisoning should they recieve treatment or be euthanised?

"If picking up trash makes you feel better,that is a good thing,but this Earth will be here long after the last human heart beats."

It will clean itself then reinvent life all over again.History repeats itself constantly ya know!:)

:confused::confused:..or maybe they shouldn't be used as a food source??

Trash in the ocean impacts wildlife, humans and marine environment. Thousands of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds are injured or killed each year from items discarded into the ocean. So, yes I do feel better when I pick up that plastic bag or piece of net on the beach and throw it in the trash can...:(.

Amen to that....but I wonder how long it would take to bring it all back to pristine conditions and just who will win this race?? Or can we come a peaceful balance??? It just takes awareness.....:)