The Cove Slaughter resumes September 1, take action: participate, sign petition, send sample letter

Image | Countdown to the Cove, Facebook

Around the world, September signals the start of school…yellow school buses, children with new sneakers, lunch boxes and sharpened pencils…

In the small coastal town of Taiji, Japan, September signals the start of something sinister… The annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins.

For the first time ever, in 2010 -2011, Cove Guardian Activists from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Save Japan Dolphins were in Taiji every single day of the dolphin slaughter, which ran from September to March…yet the tragedy continues…

The activists witnessed day after day, week after week, month after month, as pods of dolphins were hunted and driven into the Cove by fishermen using high-tech gear. Terrified and exhausted, the dolphins were systematically and brutally bludgeoned to death. Dolphin calves swam in their mothers’ blood. By the end of the 2010-2011 “drive hunt” season, 850 dolphins were killed in the Cove. Another 171 were sold into captivity after witnessing the murder of their families.

Had they attempted to intervene, the Cove Guardians would have faced jail or deportation, neither of which would have benefitted the cause of raising awareness about the Taiji dolphin slaughter. Instead they harnessed the power of social media and reported the devastation in the Cove to activists all over the world in real time. In turn, these activists made thousands of calls, sent thousands of emails and faxes, and organized protests at Japanese Embassies across the world.

The presence of the Cove Guardians was felt – our voices were heard. The brutal killers of the Taiji Fisheries Union struggled to conceal their savagery behind blue tarps, but they were not successful. The world bore witness to the senseless killing of some of natures most beautiful and intelligent creatures.

Working with the Cove Guardians over a five day period in December, the facebook community Save Misty The Dolphin was able to help secure better captive conditions for a very sick dolphin named Misty, who had been left to die in a backyard pool. Suffering from a lung infection, Misty floated listlessly in blackened water until a non-stop calling campaign forced his captors at Dolphin Base Resort to move the animal to a clean pool and provide better veterinary care for him.

The killing resumes on September 1st!


RELATED | The Cove trailer, watch full-length here: The Cove Movie

Vodpod videos no longer available.

1. PARTICIPATE IN A PROTEST OUTSIDE YOUR JAPANESE EMBASSY SEPT. 1

We have created a separate facebook event: International Day of Protest for the Dolphins of Taiji. Please sign up for the event at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196605907054900

2. SIGN PETITION

Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan

3. SEND LETTER – WHOM TO CONTACT

US Friends, please use this email block to send your message (as of publishing, all emails work, but be prepared for bounce-backs):

cjak2@ak.net,
infocul@cgjbos.org,
ryoji@japancc.org,
jic@japancc.org,
jic@japancc.org,
bpowley@qwest.net,
cgjd-pr@qwest.net,
info@cgjhou.org,
jetcoord@cgjhou.org,
con1@cgjnashville.org,
con2@cgjnashville.org,
info@cgjnashville.org,
economic@cgjnashville.org,
political@cgjnashville.org,
reception@cgjnashville.org,
info@cgjmia.org,
culture@cgjmia.org,
koseki@cgjmia.org,
culture@cgjpdx.org,
visa@cgjpdx.org,
con-e@cgjsf.org,
japaninfo@cgjsf.org,
e0006001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
e0625001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
e0001003@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
zeimu@town.taiji.lg.jp,

Non-US Friends, please refer to the following link to determine your appropriate contacts; please also copy the last five email addresses and send as well:

http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html

e0006001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
e0625001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
e0001003@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp,
zeimu@town.taiji.lg.jp,

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Ambassadors, Consulates, Mayor, and Those Whom This Concerns:

I am shocked to learn of the malicious slaughter that continues to occur in Taiji, Japan. Each year, in a secluded and protected cove, thousands of porpoises, dolphins, whales, and their young, are brutally massacred in unpublished and concealed manners. Indeed, until a courageously dedicated group of activists secretively gained access to this yearly butchery, the world remained unknowing, with Japan’s own populace largely oblivious to the slaughter that stained its shores with the blood of innocent, sentient animals. After universal exposure, however, Taiji became the focus of campaigns to implore the discontinuation of such savagery. It comes with great disturbance that I write today, learning that the massacre continues, causing the butchery of whales and their calves along with dolphins and other innocent non-human animals.

Please allow me to elaborate. This massacre involves manipulating the animals’ destination by forcing them together and into a cove, an area from which they are unable to escape. Once imprisoned in the cove, they are viciously attacked, causing blatant torment and prolonged suffering. This “event” is promoted as a cultural tradition, a celebration of heritage and spirit, but mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of this hunt. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified as an expression of historical pride; indeed, condemning whales and dolphins, or any other animals, to a torturous “ceremony” is indefensible. Commemorating cultural history is admirable, yet subjecting innocent creatures to such primitive rituals only demonstrates Japan as a seemingly apathetic and unprincipled society, especially given the relative short time period this has been happening, since 1933, barely a dent in Japan’s long-standing and extensive history. Indeed, while this hunt is not justified traditionally, economically, or ecologically, establishing only materialistic greed as motive, it is additionally significant to illustrate these actions as evidence of arrogance, indifference, and a gross disrespect of international law. In fact, in a disturbing display of political manipulation, unscrupulous IWC appointees, taking advantage of previous administration decisions, are secretly involved in expanding, not limiting, Japan’s illegal whale trade, further damaging your reputation.

Furthermore, it is my understanding that, despite critical evidence establishing the toxicity of dolphin meat, and the subsequent discontinuation of allowing it in school meals, the Taiji mayor supports the sale of thousands of tons of dolphin meat; this meat is sold as “scientific whale” meat and its mercury content exceeds the Japanese threshold of what is legally allowed. You are no doubt familiar with the history of mercury toxicity in unsuspecting Japanese citizens, causing irreparable, life-long health damage as well as death. The inhumane treatment of animals extends to humans as well, and such egregious actions are unacceptable.

As such, I respectfully request that Japan immediately cease this indefensible hunt. Additionally, with the continual distribution and showing of the documentary “The Cove” and subsequent generated interest and shock, it is important to recognize that the global community will be intolerant of the depths of cruelty sanctioned by Japan, and it will continue to demand relief on behalf of our sentient friends. Animals, like humans, are capable of fear, love, pain, and suffering; humans have the obligation and the capacity for empathy, and we must utilize our gifts to protect them, not apathetically condemn them to potentially criminal and decidedly insufferable acts. Taiji’s disregard and exploitation of this vulnerable group of beings is unacceptable and the international witnesses will collectively voice censure of Taiji resulting in Japan’s sacrifice of vital tourism and commerce profits. Consequently it would be financially irresponsible and socially unethical for Japan to be associated with such a scorned city’s maligned ritual. Therefore, please act in a compassionate and respectful manner and command Taiji to stop this hunt against innocent animals.

I understand your time is limited and I want to thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.

NAME

The dream of the dolphin

The dream of the dolphin
Is to swim free
Unmolested by
Humanity

Karen Lyons Kalmenson