TAJII DOLPHIN DRIVE IS NOT TRADITON - It began in 1969!

[MoonRiver]

One of Japan’s foremost defenders of the dolphins, our colleague Sakae Hemmi of the Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, submitted a letter a few weeks ago to Dr. Gerald Dick, Executive Director of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which includes as a member the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), one of whose members is the Taiji Whale Museum, which brokers dolphins from the dolphin hunts around the world.

Dr. Dick responded to Elsa stating that WAZA would not take action against the hunts: “As you know, in some Japanese communities these drives have been part of the culture for centuries.” This same false claim is now being made to the media by the Japanese government.

“This claim of ‘Japanese tradition’ is nonsense,” stated Ric O’Barry, Director of Earth Island’s Dolphin Project. “The dolphin drive hunts, according to the town’s own written history, says a couple of drive hunts occurred in 1936 and 1944, but the current series of hunts only began in 1969.”

http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2014/01/20/taiji-dolphin-drives-started-in-1969-and-are-not-a-part-of-japanese-tradition/

[napkinz]

1. PLEASE SAVE THE JAPANESE DOLPHINS!!!

Last edited Tue Jan 21, 2014, 04:06 PM - Edit history (1)

http://savejapandolphins.org

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PLEASE-SAVE-THE-JAPANESE-DOLPHINS/122033837807467

[MoonRiver]

2. Just LIKED the page!

FOR THE WHALES AND DOLPHINS!

[napkinz]

3. Support Ambassador Caroline Kennedy And The Dolphins

January 21, 2014
by Mark Palmer

http://dolphinproject.org/blog/post/support-ambassador-caroline-kennedy-and-the-dolphins

Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute

Over a very hard weekend for the dolphins in Taiji, the new US Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, spoke out for the dolphins.

Ambassador Kennedy, in response to news reports that as many as 250 bottlenose dolphins were trapped in the Cove and waiting to be slaughtered, sent out a tweet: "Deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing.” She further added that the official position of the US government was to oppose the killing of dolphins.

The reaction from the Japanese government was unfortunately as expected. Mr. Yoshida Suga, the chief cabinet Secretary and a spokesman for the government, was asked about the US Ambassador’s opposition at a press conference.

"Dolphin fishing is a form of traditional fishing in our country," he replied. He then added ominously, "We will explain Japan's position to the American side."

Japan’s government explanations for their actions on whaling and killing dolphins are full of lies and bombast. They are not interested in discussing the issue, nor do they stick to traditional Japanese courtesy and diplomatic niceties.

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy needs to be supported in her position. The Japan government will obviously go over her head to protest to the Obama Administration and the US State Department. And there are factions in the Obama Administration who have been less than supportive of the U.S. position against Japan’s whaling.

As Jane Velez-Mitchell said on her program last night (which featured Ric O'Barry): “Right on, Caroline!”

http://www.hlntv.com/video/2014/01/20/dolphin-hunt-taiji-japan-cove

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Ric O’Barry and Earth Island’s Dolphin Project Team are seeking a meeting in Tokyo with Ambassador Kennedy and in December sent her materials including a copy of The Cove.

Send a message to the White House and to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging them to support Ambassador Kennedy and use their influence to end the Taiji dolphin hunts.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask/session/L3RpbWUvMTM5MDI4MjE1NS9zaWQvTFVUSDZWS2w%3D

You can send a message to the US Embassy in Japan thanking Ambassador Caroline Kennedy for opposing the Taiji dolphin drive hunts. You can encourage her to use her influence to help end the hunts.

http://japan2.usembassy.gov/e/info/tinfo-email.html

[MoonRiver]

4. Thank you for the links! I sent messages on each one!

FOR THE WHALES AND DOLPHINS!