A brand-new killer-whale calf has made its first public appearance off the Victoria waterfront.
The birth is the fifth this year for the three endangered resident killer-whale pods and brings the total number of animals in the pods to 87.
"It's a baby boom," said Howard Garrett of Orca Network, a group that runs a whale-sighting network.
With gestation taking 17 months from the spring and summer mating season, calves are often born in the fall and winter, he said.
There were seven deaths last year in the summer-resident pods, sparking concerns about their survival, especially since some of the whales showed signs of malnutrition before they disappeared.
The lowest documented number of summer residents was 71 in 1973 and 1976, following years of shootings and captures. Thirty years later, in 1996, the animals were back up to a high of 97. Historically, the three pods had about 120 members.A brand-new killer-whale calf has made its first public appearance off the Victoria... more
If you watched last Wednesday's South Park you probably noticed Cartman's amazing performance of "Poker Face" in between all the dolphin and whale slaughtering. Here's a clip of his "Rock Band" rendition for those who missed it.
A town at the centre of a controversial dolphin slaughtering documentary could sue the film makers, local fisheries officials said Wednesday, as it premiered at a Tokyo film festival.
"The Cove", an award-winning film depicting the annual slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese coastal town of Taiji, has caused uproar in the town, with film makers accused of covertly shooting footage using divers and hidden cameras.
The Taiji fisheries cooperative, which strongly supports the dolphin hunt, has written a letter of protest to the organiser of the film festival, an official told AFP.
"We've heard that the film includes factual errors, and so we may take some sort of action, including legal steps, if we watch it and find problems," said the official, who declined to be named.
The movie had its Japan premiere Wednesday at the Tokyo International Film Festival before some 300 movie-goers and journalists.
Comments in a question-and-answer session varied from revulsion at the graphic scenes of the dolphin slaughter in a secluded cove to a spirited defence of Japanese traditions and fishing and food habits.
"Although it's a difficult issue as it involves fishermen's jobs, it's also difficult to argue that all Japanese traditions have to be maintained," Makoto Iwahashi, a 19-year-old student, told AFP after watching the film. "I think if we find something wrong in our tradition, we should correct it."
Killing dolphins is not prohibited by the International Whaling Commission's ban on commercial whaling, but Japan's Fisheries Agency restricts the practice by handing out annual quotas to several fishing towns.
This year, Taiji was allocated a quota of about 2,300 small cetaceans -- such as dolphins, whales and porpoises, said prefectural official Shimamura.
The film's director, Louie Psihoyos, said the film was not an attack on Japan and his team was negotiating with Japanese distributors over a possible deal for the film to be shown in Japanese film theatres.
"All the profits we will be able to make from this film will go to fishermen in Taiji -- if they agree to stop dolphin-hunting," he said.
The Taiji fisheries official said the town would keep hunting dolphins.A town at the centre of a controversial dolphin slaughtering documentary could sue the... more
But jellyfish don't have legs! For that reason, or possibly for fun or exercise, Dolphins have been spotted off the coast of Wales flipping them out of the water (at times up to six feet high) in what looks like an improvised game of football, with the poor jellies acting as the ball.But jellyfish don't have legs! For that reason, or possibly for fun or exercise,... more
http://www.savejapandolphins.org/covetrailer.php
This is a horrible thing to see, but the truth is, Japan breaks national laws with no regard.http://www.savejapandolphins.org/covetrailer.php
This is a horrible thing to see, but... more
15th October was the Global Handwashing day but I want to take the chance to bring to people's attention the alarming, dangers of TRICLOSAN.
Every day we wash our hands and use this harmful substance present in all kinds of antibacterial products.
Excerpt:
"Today, the market is dominated by antibacterial hand washes. They make reassuring claims like "kills 99.99999% of germs." Most of them contain a hazardous chemical called Triclosan."
Triclosan is DANGEROUS!
Here's one more excerpt:
"There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that the rampant use of antibacterial soaps not only doesn't make us any healthier, but in fact, may make us worse off. Dr. Stuart Levy is one of the leading researchers on the health effects of using antibacterials (see references 1 and 2 below), and he recommends against their widespread use. And don't forget the environmental effects that persistent and toxic chemicals like Triclosan have.
This is one example of how our current habits can be driven more by the false sense of security the marketing of these products gives us, rather than the real health benefits they deliver."
Two more articles I'd like to quote as well:
"Triclosan, widely used in soaps and toothpastes for its ability to kill bacteria, has been found to hasten the transformation of tadpoles into adult frogs. The new research, "published online September 29 in Aquatic Toxicology , is the first to show that triclosan can act as an endocrine disrupter at concentrations found in North American streams... More than 55% of streams examined in 2002 had a median concentration of 0.14 parts per billion (ppb) (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 2322–2329)". The concern is not just with aquatic life, due to triclosan’s structural similarity to thyroid hormones, which orchestrate growth and development in wildlife and humans." http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/cma-calls-for-triclosan-ban.php
"Triclosan is found in a huge number of products, including soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, laundry detergents, footwear, clothing, toys, facial tissues, adhesives, and pesticides. But you may not know you're even using triclosan because it's marketed under several names, including:
About three-quarters of Americans have detectable levels of triclosan in their urine, and people in their 30s and among the highest household income bracket tested for the highest levels of the bactericide. Urine detection isn't necessarily cause for concern--it simply means they body is filtering the product. But other studies show the chemical may not be as harmless as we once thought.
A study of 36 mothers found those who used toothpaste, deodorant or soap containing triclosan had higher levels of the chemical in their breast milk than mothers who did not use personal care products containing triclosan. (The study also analyzed triclosan levels in plasma and found they were higher than those in the milk.) Another study also showed that triclosan lowers body temperature and has a "nonspecific depressant effect on the central nervous system."
And it's not just potentially harmful for humans. Triclosan is highly toxic to some types of algae and Japanese medaka fish (in early life stage), and it bioaccumulates in fish. It also accelerates the rate at which tadpoles grow into frogs, and has been found in the blood of bottlenose dolphins." http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/overdosing-triclosan.html?campaign=daylife-article
I might not argue the use of it in hospitals but not in households.
Take action below and for goodness' sake just try to use simple old fashioned soap instead.15th October was the Global Handwashing day but I want to take the chance to bring to... more
Timothy Wyllie is a writer specialising in the study of "non-human intelligences" such as angels. He was born in London in 1940. He moved to America in the mid-sixties and now lives in the desert of New Mexico. He had a near death experience in 1973. Afterwards, he devoted himself to the study of "non-human intelligences" (such as angels, dolphins, and extraterrestrials) using visual art, music and writing as the three main means of communication.
After working as an architect in London, he collaborated in the formation of a spiritual community that came to be known as The Process. For the next 15 years he traveled widely throughout Europe, Canada, and America with the community before settling permanently in the USA in 1969. During this time he was the Art & Design Director of The Process Magazine.
His near death experience in 1973 convinced him of the continuity of life in other levels and dimensions introduced him to the concept of angels. He left The Process community in 1977, and started a small business in NYC, marketing the slide storage system he had devised 20 years earlier. The business was successful enough to allow him to focus on his interest in non-human intelligences,
The Helianx Propostition wriiten by Timothy is a wonderful story, compete with incredible hand drawn images, that aid in telling the tale, also he has recently competed a book Love Sex Fear Death, an eye opening ,inside look at life inside The Process Church.Timothy Wyllie is a writer specialising in the study of "non-human intelligences" such... more
SeaWorld and aquariums, implicated in the shocking new documentary about dolphin slaughter, "The Cove," strike back.SeaWorld and aquariums, implicated in the shocking new documentary about dolphin... more
In yet another reversal, the Tokyo International Film Festival will go forward with showing The Cove, the documentary that exposes the dolphin fishing in Taiji, Japan.
This comes after previous reports from the festival have stated that the doc wouldn't be shown since the Japanese government didn't want it exposed to the public.In yet another reversal, the Tokyo International Film Festival will go forward with... more
Bowing to international pressure, the Tokyo International Film Festival announced it will screen the controversial award-winning American documentary about the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, at the nine-day event in October.
The decision to screen "The Cove," which has already soured relations between Taiji and the town of Broome, its sister city in Australia, attracted attention following media reports that it had been rejected for what the film's director called a "hypocritical reason."
When organizers announced the lineup for the twenty second annual film festival, TIFF Chairman Tom Yoda singled out "The Cove," explaining the decision to include the documentary was made after the festival had reached an agreement with the movie's producers to take full responsibility should any problems arise from the screening.
UK Retailer Tesco's Linked to Slaughter
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Greenpeace are reported to have revealed that Tesco PLC, a large UK retailer has been linked to products from Japan's controversial hunting of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
EIA Cetacean Campaigns Manager, Clare Perry said: "C Two-Network are selling internationally protected species, and as such, are not only sustaining the market for these products in Japan, but are supporting Japan's refusal to abide by the international ban on commercial whaling."
Their investigations have allegedly exposed Japanese supermarket chain C Two-Network, a member of the Tesco Group, as selling fresh cetaceans products in 10 stores and canned products in 32 of its 78 stores. Tesco purchased more than 95% of the Japanese company in July 2003.
The products are sourced from the Kyokuyo and Nissui. These companies sell the meat from the hundreds of Bryde's, Minke and Sei whales that are killed each year in the name of science. According to staff working at the supermarkets, fresh meat from 'toothed whales', a generic term for dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, is also sold.
Richard Page, Greenpeace Ocean Campaigner said: "We are appealing to Tesco to use its ownership of C Two-Network to bring about an end to the sale of cetacean products in C Two-Network stores. Tesco's UK customers will be appalled to learn that Tesco is so closely linked to the sale of whale meat." http://www.squidoo.com/dolphinslaughterinjapanBowing to international pressure, the Tokyo International Film Festival announced it... more
A crew from the movie "The Cove" used hight tech camera's and spy gadgets to track elusive dolphin killers for a documentary.
The movie depicts a hunt in the waters off Taiji, Japan, where at least 2,000 dolphins are killed every year, with a few caught and sold to aquariums. The meat, containing toxic levels of mercury is sold to people, often passed off as whale meat. Dolphin killing receives less attention than whale hunts, but many scientists say their death is every bit as tragic.
Like other cetaceans, dolphins appear capable of such high-level cognition that in some ways they might be considered people. Their neurological systems of emotion and social communication are highly developed. Some researchers think their high-pitched vocalizations may contain aspects of language. They may even have names for each other.
Among the most vocal critics of dolphin hunting and capture is Ric O’Barry, who trained the animal stars of the TV show Flipper in the 1970s. It was O’Barry who convinced National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos to make a film about the killing in Taiji, from which only fragmented accounts of the hunt had previously emerged.
Though the town itself is adorned with statues of dolphins, and sidewalks are embedded with tiles containing their likenesses, the killing takes place in a carefully guarded cove. Technically it’s a national park, but even Japanese citizens can’t enter the park during hunting season.
“The cove is like a fortress. It’s protected on three sides by steep cliffs. To get in, you need to go through a natural tunnel system that’s protected by a dog and a sensor. Ric said you’d need a Navy SEAL team to get in there. I said that I didn’t know any Navy SEALs, but I did know Mandy-Ray Cruickshank,” said Psihoyos.
Cruickshank is one of the world’s top freedivers, able to dive 300 feet and come back up under her own power, capable of holding her breath for six minutes. She and freediver trainer Kirk Krack joined the team, swimming into the cove at night to install and retrieve cameras.
Read the full article to find out other ways they surveillanced the killers.A crew from the movie "The Cove" used hight tech camera's and spy gadgets to track... more
Film crew willing to risk arrest, police harassment and potentially much worse.
“The dolphin smile is nature’s greatest deception -- it creates the illusion they’re always happy,” says famed dolphin trainer-turned-activist Ric O’Berry in the introduction to “The Cove,” a documentary that focuses on the brutal dolphin capture and killings in Taiji, Japan.
The plastic revolution started in the 50s: this material spread around the world and has been used for a myriad of objects. Easy to work, economical and virtually indestructible. The plastic indeed continues to exist for hundreds of years, and thus becomes waste particularly polluting. In August, scientists have made the first real inspection of the Great Pacific Ocean garbage patch.The plastic revolution started in the 50s: this material spread around the world and... more
We were feeling the love for dolphins this week -- In honor of plans for The Cove to show at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October, check out some awesomely adorable dolphin images. Don't forget to vote on your favorite.We were feeling the love for dolphins this week -- In honor of plans for The Cove to... more
It looks like things are still going better this year than in years past for dolphins swimming near Taiji, Japan. The latest word is that earlier this week, 70 of the 100 dolphins gathered in a recent roundup were released. It looks like the pressure put on Taiji thanks to international exposure through the documentary The Cove and non-profits has been effective to a surprising extent. Meanwhile, Taiji fishermen and local officials work to defend their reputation.It looks like things are still going better this year than in years past for dolphins... more
J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has conducted extensive studies in animal cognition, says there is growing evidence that animals share functional parallels with human conscious metacognition -- that is, they may share human's ability to reflect upon, monitor or regulate their states of mind.J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has... more
September heralds the six-month dolphin-hunting season in Taiji, a small seaside town in Japan's southwestern Wakayama prefecture. And residents are sensing the attack on them has also begun.
The Cove — a U.S. documentary with the air of a spy thriller that has been called "advocacy filmmaking at its best" since its release on July 31 — depicts Taiji's centuries-old tradition of killing dolphins with an unflinching eye on the sometimes gruesome process.
The documentarians, led by photographer turned director Louie Psihoyos and dolphin trainer turned activist Richard O'Barry, have stirred both international outcry and acclaim at film festivals from Sundance to Seattle with their footage of the slaughter that takes place every year in a remote cove in Taiji.
Earlier this week, the town decided to release 70 of the roughly 100 dolphins from the previous week's catch. But Taiji fishermen aren't the only ones bowing to international pressure.
Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) chairman Tom Yoda announced on Sept. 16 that the festival will screen the film, after previously rejecting it for TIFF's official selection (the festival starts next month).
Having come under fire for initially rejecting the documentary, Yoda said the reasons for rejecting or accepting films aren't generally discussed, as the festival receives more than 700 entries each year.
No film festival has a moral obligation to accept a film, but TIFF's slogan of "Action! For Earth" raised more than a few eyebrows when the widely lauded eco-documentary didn't make the cut. In the end, Yoda said, the festival "decided to take The Cove due to international attention worldwide."
The Cove casts Taiji's dolphin hunt as one town's dirty secret...the reality, however, is that Japan culls about 20,000 dolphins across the nation every year. To those in Taiji and other areas where dolphin hunting is permitted, the global reaction to The Cove has a whiff of the enduringly contentious whaling debate (Japan has hunted whales in the name of "SCIENCE" for decades despite environmentalists' ire).
The new wave of criticism of dolphin hunting that has been spurred by the film has many fishermen and local bureaucrats rolling their eyes over what they interpret as a another bout of foreign outrage at a practice that is legal, regulated and culturally acceptable in Japan, where dolphin meat — like whale — is eaten in the regions where it's hunted.September heralds the six-month dolphin-hunting season in Taiji, a small seaside town... more
Richard O'Barry was waiting for this, knowing that the halt on this year's dolphin hunt was too good to be true, or last very long. Eight days later than usual, but still arriving, this year's seasonal dolphin killing has begun at Taiji with about 50 pilot whales and 100 bottlenose dolphins being driven into the cove this morning.Richard O'Barry was waiting for this, knowing that the halt on this year's dolphin... more
This week marked the opening of dolphin hunting season in Japan. During the six-month season, thousands of dolphins are corralled into narrow coves and captured for sale to aquariums or amusement parks. Those not captured are killed for meat. But this year, something different happened.
After Taiji's annual dolphin hunt was covertly filmed for a documentary, the little fishing village has suddenly found itself at the uncomfortable center of a media spotlight.
Police and fishermen in Taiji don't allow filming of the hunt, part of the villagers' everyday lives. But a team of activists and filmmakers went undercover to shoot the footage, telling their story in the 2009 documentary, The Cove.This week marked the opening of dolphin hunting season in Japan. During the six-month... more
Dolphins are secretly slaughtered each year in a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. The Japanese government covers it up. No one could get in. The Cove exposes an atrocity of unimaginable brutality to a beautiful creature scientists say could be smarter than us.
Barred access to the site, the film crew (which includes most notably the man who trained Flipper, Richard O’Barry) was forced to utilize covert military tactics and equipment, including thermal heat sensors and the help of two world-class free divers, to accomplish their mission.
Like other cetaceans, dolphins appear capable of such high-level cognition that in some ways they might be considered people.
“The cove is like a fortress. It’s protected on three sides by steep cliffs. To get in, you need to go through a natural tunnel system that’s protected by a dog and a sensor. Ric said you’d need a Navy SEAL team to get in there. I said that I didn’t know any Navy SEALs, but I did know Mandy-Ray Cruickshank,” said Psihoyos.Dolphins are secretly slaughtered each year in a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. The... more
![Dolphins "play football" with jellyfish [video] - video](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/900/474/59/e20379_60x45.jpg)
