The cove

[Ku'rända]

So anyways, I saw this movie called The Cove.  In case you haven't heard of it, it's an exposé on a Japanese port city's annual dolphin extermination.

The film highlights the fact that the number of dolphins killed in the dolphin hunting drive is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, and reports that 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year in the country's whaling industry. The migrating dolphins are herded into a hidden cove where they are netted and killed by means of spears and knives over the side of small fishing boat

The Cove - trailer (2009 Sundance Film Festival audience winner)

Damn humans >:E

[Toruk Makto]

  Au!  I think it's more like, "Ignorant, greedy humans". Although tradition and culture are immensely important, killing without need is wrong. If these people were subsistence hunting like indigenous peoples do around the world, that is one thing. But they aren't. Trying to hide their actions proves they aren't killing for "sport" or "honor". The Japanese are an honorable people, but there is no honor in what this small group is doing. It is just greed with blood lust thrown in for seasoning. And it is absolutely disgusting.

 As to the film, I have seen it and I should note that I have historically considered Ric O'Barry to be a borderline flake. He has decent intentions (most of the time), but his methods have been frequently counterproductive. This film makes up for some of that history. However, IMO he should stick to documentary activism like this and stop beating his head against the wall trying to defeat zoos and aquariums that keep dolphins and whales in captivity to promote the species' well-being and educate the general public.

 ta Markì

[Ku'rända]

Although tradition and culture are immensely important

Do you notice though, (and they show in the movie people from all the Major metropolitan areas) none of the Japanese people there know about this.  If their own countrymen don't know anything about this, then it's not a cultural tradition.

The word tradition is such a whitewash for being allowed to do something over and over.  I could say it's a 'tradition' for me to take my neighbours' porsche for a joyride every week

I have historically considered Ric O'Barry to be a borderline flake.

Well, all activists are somewhat granola, but that's what you need sometimes to get an issue out.  Do something totally weird to make folks aware (.......Though, Greenpeace could at least research what they're complaining about before making a mistake, like always :B)

[Toruk Makto]

I did not intend to identify what these people are doing as tradition and I apologize if it sounded so. I was trying to contrast what they are doing as NOT something that could be considered tradition or cultural identity.

[Ku'rända]

I did not intend to identify what these people are doing as tradition and I apologize if it sounded so. I was trying to contrast what they are doing as NOT something that could be considered tradition or cultural identity.

Aha, well either way, from the comments I see on youtube, they all say we're racist, don't believe in their tradition, blah blah.  "We've been doing this since 1940s!"

I mean seriously, It's not a tradition if your own people don't know about it.  I seriously doubt they (civilians) had high-powered marine ships in the numbers they use today.  They bloody used rowboats.

[Ku'rända]

Pardon the double-post

But just informing everyone, if you haven't seen the Cove, Animal planet is showing it Sunday at 9PM  http://animal.discovery.com/

So, seriously, folks, go check it out!

[Vawm tsamsiyu]

The tradition thing reminds me of a poster that say "just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid"
I don't buy the "it tradition that makes it ok" defense. Slavery used to be but that didn't make it ok

[Jonathan]

 
These poor dolphins... 

About traditions: I learned, that in Alaska the Inuits can kill walls (1 per year per village), because of their tradition, and the commercial wall hunters mustnt kill walls there.

[Ku'rända]

"just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid"

There's also the fact, that they didn't have motorboats back then to scare the dolphins into the cove!

[Ku'rända]

Now there's also the series on AP, called Blood Dolphins, which is sort of a follow-up series about the dolphin slaughter and how the documentary has affected (or hasn't) the hunting.

[Vawm tsamsiyu]

 Let's give the dolphins freakin' lasers atached to their heads that'll level the playing field the evil genius way

[Ku'rända]

So anyways,  Sept 1, the hunt started.

As of the 3rd, 10 dolphins were captured
As of today (4th)  9 dolphins are being held.  No dolphins have yet been killed, but a mass of 'tourists'  (foreign journalists and activists) are in the area covering the issue, which is scaring the local fishermen to delay the actual slaughter and capture.

The same thing happened in 2009 where it was delayed until the press left the town, in which the hunt resumed.

[Neyn'ite Te Tsahìk Txeptsyìp'ite]

I'd just like to stop by and tell you guys that the dolphin hunt was stopped on February 26th/28th (not sure) which is early for the hunt to stop. the reason it was halted early is because of the growing knowledge in Japan of the dolphin meat containing mercury.

I've known about this movie for a good while but never wanted to watch it, knowing what I was going to see. I finally did just a couple days ago and, though I cried harder than I ever have before during the slaughter scene, I'm glad I watched it.

www.takepart.com/thecove

I urge you all to view the below video; it'll be quite hard, it's a devastating scene, but it will make you more aware and hopefully make you want to do something about it.

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxVvlehmOIM&feature=fvwrel

[Kamean]

I urge you all to view the below video; it'll be quite hard, it's a devastating scene, but it will make you more aware and hopefully make you want to do something about it.

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxVvlehmOIM&feature=fvwrel

Fayvrrtep! Faysawtute!

[Neyn'ite Te Tsahìk Txeptsyìp'ite]

I urge you all to view the below video; it'll be quite hard, it's a devastating scene, but it will make you more aware and hopefully make you want to do something about it.

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxVvlehmOIM&feature=fvwrel

Fayvrrtep! Faysawtute!

OE OMUM. oe tsun ke spaw faysawtute.... tìsraw si oe nìftxavang... tse'a fì'u sti