Cetaceans Cetaceans By Martyn Steward: I was deported from Japan on the 14th of February 2014. My crime was taking photographs and recording video of the dolphin slaughter in Taiji and identifying people who mistreated animals.Recently, The Prime Minister of Japan stated that the dolphin slaughter and captivity program is their culture: The honest truth is I’m older than their culture. The dolphin trade started in 1969. I ask, if this is your so called culture, why would you stop me from filming it? You do not stop me filming your temples? As a citizen of the UK, I see many Japanese tourists take photographs of my culture but we never treat you as you treated me in your country. Wake up Japan and tell the truth. Music by Passenger “Let her go”. Greed – on personal and corporate levels – fuels the brutal and ecologically damaging Taiji dolphin drive hunts. There is no excuse for believing the Taiji dolphin slaughter is anything less than barbaric. Given scientific data that shows cetaceans are as intelligent as man and many times more socially aware, butchering them can be likened to butchering your own cousins. If this view appears radical to you, please learn more. One film segment of Blood Money belongs to The Cove! It is strongly suggested that you view this film and other documentaries. It is easy to dismiss the passionate words of those defending dolphins as overly emotional imagery until you learn the facts of the issue. The destructive impact to our ecology should be an element of this issue that will motivate support from all who have a desire to continue living on a planet that is capable of sustaining life. Learning what science tells us about dolphin intelligence and social awareness will demonstrate the truth of warnings that we are allowing the torture, murder, and enslavement of a sentient species that man should count as an equal counterpart to ourselves. I will never buy a ticket to see a captive whale or dolphin This is a FaceBook site that we’d all love to see receive billions of ‘likes’ – right? What a statement that would be! It’s very simple. It doesn’t put you in harm’s way. It’s a good first step and a significant one as well. Blue Voice BlueVoice.org is an ocean conservation organization founded in 2000 by Hardy Jones and Ted Danson. Its mission is to protect dolphins, save the whales, and other marine mammals and to raise popular awareness about toxic chemicals in the oceans. BlueVoice has fought to end the slaughter of dolphins in Japan and to expose the harmful levels of toxins in the marine environment, including mercury, PCBs, and persistent organic pollutants, and their impact on both marine mammals and humans. Most recently BlueVoice has uncovered massive hunting of dolphins in Peru and is working with local people to end this horrific practice. BLUEVOICE has produced numerous award-winning films for television, including THE DOLPHIN DEFENDER FOR PBS. Born Free The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, founded in 1984 by the actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, OBE, stars of the iconic film Born Free, and their son Will Travers OBE, the charity’s President. Born Free takes action worldwide to save lives, stop suffering, rescue individuals and protect species. MarineBio Since 1998, MarineBio has been a nonprofit volunteer marine conservation and science education group working online together to educate the world about ocean life, marine biology, marine conservation, and to provide a sea ethic that we should all attempt to follow. Orcas (formerly known as killer whales), Orcinus orca, are actually dolphins. They are the largest of the dolphin family (Family Delphinidae with about 32 species, including the dolphins, pygmy killer whales, Feresa attenuata, and false killer whales, Pseudorca crassiddens). Next to humans, orca are the most widely distributed mammal. Orca inhabit all oceans of the world but are most numerous in the Arctic, the Antarctic and areas in nutrient-rich cold water upwellings. They have been sighted along the shores of Washington, Oregon, California, Baja California, and along the eastern coast of the United States. Orca Network Orca Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization registered in Washington State, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. A community is emerging that is increasingly attuned to the orca population, that cares about and tries to understand the needs of the resident and transient orcas that inhabit the Salish Sea. Facebook World Cetacean Alliance WCA URGES PUBLIC TO PROTEST AGAINST BLOODY SLAUGHTER Marine parks fund annual Japanese massacre of thousands of dolphins and porpoises by paying $150,000 a time for young dolphins – 250 times the value of those killed for their meat. “The time has come to view captivity of whales and dolphins as a part of our history – not a tragic part of our future,” says Jean-Michel Cousteau, Honorary President of the World Cetacean Alliance. Members of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), including WhaleFest and Dolphin Connection Experience in the UK, are calling for a mass public protest against the slaughter of dolphins and porpoises that is about to start in Japan. From this September to next March, a dolphin drive hunt made famous by the film ‘The Cove’ will see thousands of dolphins and porpoises hunted or trapped by nets and then bloodily slaughtered, either by harpooning or by having a metal stake driven into their head. WCA members help specialists to document the cruelty of the drive, track the captive displays whose purchases motivate the fishermen involved, and support Japanese nationals who oppose the drives most effectively in ways appropriate to the culture. “The World Cetacean Alliance urges everybody who cares not only for the health and wellbeing of these animals, but also for the way in which humankind relates to nature, to take action over the massacre that is about to happen in Japan,” says Ian Rowlands of WhaleFest. “Lodge an objection with your local Japanese embassy or with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. And help to make sure the world’s marine parks also oppose the slaughter.” Whale & Dolphin Watch Whale & Dolphin Watch is a grass roots organization of people who love the sea. We are committed to bringingawareness to the public of the US Navy’s history ofkilling, maiming & harassing thousands of whales and dolphins through their underwater sonar sound programs. Our focus is to educate those who love cetaceans regarding this man made sound pollution that permeates the world’s oceans destroying our sea life. Although we honor all who serve in the United States Military and appreciate their service to the whole, we know there is a better way. Through embracing new technologies, solutions could be found that are not harmful to the sea life. Our commitment is to take action to stop or call attention to those that kill and pollute until new technology is embraced and in place to protect all sea life. There are currently a number of groups who work toward healthy oceans. Ours is one of them. The groups range from strictly political, to ones who recognize and are committed to the idea of healing the earth on all levels. We know that through collaboration and accessing the wisdom that is available we can create a natural and harmonious environment for all who live here. Save the Whales A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Educational Organization Our purpose is to educate children and adults about marine mammals, their environment and their preservation. Save the Whales was founded in 1977 when Maris Sidenstecker was 14 years old, and focuses on educating the public, especially children, about marine mammals and the fragile ocean environment. Save the Whales believes children, the future of the planet, need to be empowered and know that their actions can promote change. Education is the key to saving whales, oceans, and ourselves. Many people believe that whales have been protected by the 1986 worldwide ban on whaling. Don’t believe it. Killings, captures, bombings, and pollution continue to threaten these peaceful creatures. We invite you to become a member of Save The Whales, a widely- admired nonprofit organization that has been working tirelessly to protect marine life for over 25 years. Your membership enables Save the Whales to continue their valuable work to protect marine mammals. Free Morgan Foundation “We need to put Morgan back in the ocean. We need to get off our ass and campaign as far as we can, with as many people as we can, to convince the Judges…” Jean-Michel Cousteau 26 Sep 2012, Monterey Bay (Blue Ocean Conservation Summit & Film Festival) Morgan’s Story The story of Morgan the orca has captured the world with a sense of dismay and injustice. Despite a viable release plan put forward by over 30 experts, a Judge in the Netherlands ruled that Morgan should go to Loro Parque, a theme park in Tenerife. Morgan is a young female orca who was taken from the wild in June 2010. She was dramatically underweight but otherwise not ill. She was captured by an ‘abusement’ park who had a permit to rescue her on the condition she was released back to the ocean as soon as possible. This did not happen. Morgan was put ‘on show’ to the public within weeks of her ‘rescue’. It became clear that she was worth money to the park. Furthermore, given that she is the first wild-caught orca to come into captivity in 25 years, they know that she is vital to their breeding program. The Free Morgan Foundation was formed to get Morgan back to her family in Norway. Now she has been transported to another ‘abusement’ park, this one in Spain, called Loro Parque. There, she is bullied, attacked and harassed. She has to perform in shows and the adult male tries to mate with her, when she is still a pre-teen. Morgan’s chance is the upcoming court case for her freedom. Save Lolita There are several groups attempting to retire Lolita from her tank that violates Department of Agriculture size regulations at the Miami Seaquarium to a more humane existence. A plan has been proposed by the Orca Network to retire Lolita to a transitional ocean sanctuary in her native habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Learn how you can take action to Save Lolita and Fight for her Freedom. San Juan Orcas speaks out for Lolita Captive Cetaceans provides information on: Orcas Who died in Captivity Lolita the Orca Keiko the Orca Must-see educational film links Lists marine parks who buy from the Taiji drive hunts How You Can Help Reach them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/orcabeautifulbutsad. Bikers 4 Orcas Freedom “The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. The state of being unrestricted and able to move easily.” – English dictionary Ask any biker what he/she experiences when driving his/her motorcycle and the answer is most likely “freedom”. A breeze of wind on your skin, a wide world infront of you and the ability to go wherever you want. Bikers also experience this in a group, a club or a gathering. Like a pack of wolfs… or a pod of orcas. Looking at orcas makes you realise that us bikers are not really that different. We enjoy our “freedom” and understand others enjoy this too. In a lot of countries bikers greet eachother. A social way of letting the other know we understand what the other is experiencing. Orcas are also very social creatures. The live in a group (pod) and enjoy the freedom of the wild ocean. Orcas born in captivity probably don’t know it at all. Then there are the orcas born free and captured for the amusement of people. This site is about 2 of these captured orcas, Morgan and Lolita. Both born in the wild, both captured, both put on display and both lonely and lost. This site wants to help end the situation for these 2 beautifull creatures by connecting to the people that should know what it is like to feel free… bikers! By organizing protest rides all over the world as a massive protest to these animals being held. Handing out flyers at meeting points (like marine parks). And getting attention from other people around the world by just driving together in large pods. Got interested? Please explore the website for all the information you need. The Blackfish Find on Facebook The Black Fish is a fast growing movement of ordinary people working to end the illegal overfishing of our oceans. The Black Fish campaigns to end illegal and destructive fishing practices and safeguard a future for the plentiful species in our seas. The Blackfish Brigade Welcome to Blackfish Brigade! Your Voice Matters! Change Is Happening Because Of YOU! Keep The Pressure On! The Time For Change Is NOW! Help Empty The Tanks! Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Our wildlife campaign focuses on stopping the illegal and unsustainable killing of, and trade in, threatened species including elephants, rhinos, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Since 1984, EIA has been dedicated to protecting our world’s precious wildlife, using investigations to support policies and actions that protect threatened and endangered species and their products. WDC WDC believes that science and practical conservation research is a fundamental tool that enables the development of effective policy and conservation of whales and dolphins. Our approach includes striving for protection and critical conservation measures to be implemented at a population level as efforts can be hindered because of assumptions made at a species level. By taking the species-level-approach as opposed to the population-level-approach we risk extirpation of many distinct populations as their more vulnerable status is overlooked in favor of the status of the species. Whales and dolphins face a wide range of threats in a rapidly changing world. There are currently some 87 recognised species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in the world and the overarching aim of cetacean conservation is clearly to ensure their long-term viability. Many populations are known to be vulnerable or endangered. Several species are in critical or immediate danger of extinction and with the declaration of the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) as “functionally extinct” at the end of 2007, the previous claim that mankind has yet to cause the extinction of any whale or dolphin “species” is no longer true. The status of many more populations is not well enough known to enable confident assessments to be made about the population’s survival probability, and therefore the precautionary principle should always be applied to their conservation needs. Cetacean Society International CSI is an all-volunteer, non-profit conservation, education and research organization working on behalf of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and their marine environment. Founded locally as the Connecticut Cetacean Society in 1974, CSI took to the international scene in 1986 and emerged a global leader in cetacean advocacy, with contacts in over 20 countries today! Our Purpose Opposes rogue whaling and any attempts to overturn the ban on commercial whaling. Promotes whale watching as an economic alternative to whaling in developing nations. Represents cetaceans as an NGO at the IWC (International Whaling Commission) and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), and assists regional workshops and meetings. Supports research projects worldwide, especially in developing countries. Advocates for humane, non-lethal, non-invasive, ethical research standards. Facilitates a network of scientists, educators, activists, and resources. Protests the captive display of cetaceans, and the inevitably inhumane wild captures. Seeks legislative and public solutions to ship strike kills, entanglement and rogue hunting. Informs legislators and the public on marine pollution issues, habitat destruction and other threats. Fights sources of anthropogenic noise pollution including military sonar, seismic surveys/exploration and shipping vessels. Assists and supports the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and its partner rescue and disentanglement organizations around the world. Distributes educational materials for local and international use. Answers public and media concerns as advocates for whales, dolphins and porpoises.
