Japanese protesters against Dolphin Slaughter at Taiji

Dolphin slaughter

If you have watched “The Cove”, the Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary of 2009, then this story is the continuation  of the ongoing battle spearheaded by activist and dolphin trainer Ric  O’Barry (that’s the guy who held up the “Text Dolphin to 44144” sign upon receiving the Oscar on stage last year).

Reprinted below is another inspirational story coming out of Taiji from the activists as this noble cause picks up momentum. Do read on and if you want to contribute in any way, then you can visit their cause page by clicking on the link below.

• “The Cove” – Save Japan Dolphins

Japanese protesters at “The Cove”!
by Ric O’Barry on Jan 16, 2011

Japanese protesters at “The Cove”!

That’s what this whole campaign has been about, and last week it happened!

Ever since “The Cove” won the Oscar last year and we finally secured a Japanese distributor, a small, but very vocal group engaged in a massive campaign of misinformation and intimidation against us. They have tried to paint us as anti-Japanese, when nothing could be further from the truth. They showed up at the homes of our supporters. Their places of business. Even their elderly parents’ homes. With megaphones blaring, they spewed messages of hate and divisiveness.

Japanese women activists

Well, in spite of all of that, last week six brave Japanese women came forward anyway. They came to Taiji to say that they believe the dolphin slaughter should end. Our friend and Save Japan Dolphins supporter Leah Lemieux was there to meet the women and reports:

“what we had here were the modest seeds of gentle change, born of quiet courage and simple compassion. This may be the birth of true Japanese grassroots for the dolphins, without any bells and whistles. These determined women came from as far away as Osaka and even Tokyo to show with their presence, their determination to see the dolphin hunt end,” For more, click here: http://savejapandolphins.org/blog/post/some-good-news-a-demonstration-by-japanese-in-taiji-against-the-dolphin-sla

I have always believed that once people in Japan found out about “The Cove,” they would be the ones to shut it down. While there is still a great deal more to do, this gives me renewed hope that we’re on the right track.

“The Cove” DVD is set to be released next month in Japan. We will be doing everything in our power to make sure as many people as possible see it.

If you can, please donate.

If you live in Japan and can host a DVD house party or volunteer to distribute free copies of the film, please email us at: thecovejapan@gmail.com

Thanks,
Ric O’Barry
Campaign Director
Save Japan Dolphins, The Dolphin Project

~ero~