"The Whalers Have Been Shut Down"

First of all I must say, that I do not hold the Japanese People responsible for this practice, but the Japanese Fisheries and the Whale Hunters are the offenders, and I am relieved and ecstatic the lives of whales this year, have been spared in this sanctuary from the whale hunters/poachers.

Per Captain Paul Watson, of the Sea Shepherd, "The Japanese Fisheries Agency is saying that the whale hunt (in the Southern Ocean) has been suspended due to the interventions of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society..."

The Sydney Morning Herald @ smh.com.au. reads in part: "The sudden departure has raised hopes Japan may be moving to end its widely opposed, 23-year-old "scientific research" program, which has killed about 10,000 Antarctic whales.... The whaling industry is also suffering at home in Japan, with revenue falling as whale meat sales plummet, and with key figures in the Fisheries Agency of Japan forced to apologize for running a black market in the meat."

The Japanese Whalers have been in a Whale Sanctuary in their annual hunt with the factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, and three harpoon vessels under the auspice of Research since the latter part of last year.  But killing and selling for profit is suspected as their main purpose there. Now that their hunt is suspended, many whales have been saved from the harpoons of the whalers by Sea Shepherd and Sea Shepherd alone, relentlessly chasing their fleets and driving them from the Antarctic Region.

Click on the link below for the full commentary by Captain Paul Watson here:
 The Whalers have Been Shut Down @ http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-110216-1.html

Here is a link as well to a news release & video by The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japan-believed-to-be-quitting-whaling-season-early-20110216-1aw0k.html

Nichole McLachlan's "No Dolphins and New Plans" Education of the Masses"

Excerpts in parentheses are From Nichole McLachlan's Blog "The Path To Protect" @ http://nicolemclachlan.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/no-dolphins-and-new-plans/. Nichole is a Cove Guardian currently stationed in Taiji Japan where Dolphin Slaughter & Capture is the Routine. She states she will be leaving the cove in a few weeks, but her passion is secure for the Dolphins, and she will continue to fight for their lives.  This is an excerpt taken from her latest blog post, February 13th, 2011.

"My biggest passion is for the oceans- for protecting the world’s marine life, and in particular the world’s cetaceans. My other passion is to help the youth of the world realize the importance of speaking up for what they believe in- to stand up and fight for their futures… My goal is to educate young people, in order for them to make informed decisions about how they live amid their surrounding environment."

Nichole believes mankind is on the path to self destruction and turn-around is imperative for the inhabitant's of this planet's survival. She further states here,

"If the businessmen and politicians of today won’t stop the madness that is occurring worldwide- the businessmen and women, politicians, scientists and environmentalists of tomorrow’s generation must take a stand a few decades early- and let those in positions of authority know that we will not sit by and watch our future be destroyed before our very own eyes…"

Nichole promises us that within a few weeks she will be offering plenty of ways on her blog, that people can get involved to stop this continuing path of destruction.  I believe that she is passionate about the health and welfare of the ocean, and will continue to fight for this cause as well as the cause for the earth in it's entirety.  One way she is doing this, is through her "Youth Project" that is now underway.  It is one that she will reach out to educate the youth in ways they can get involved with the change needed @ Taiji Japan, that will save the dolphins from man's grasp and death, and in helping save the ocean and it's inhabitants from human ignorance and pillage. 

This is the link to the Youth Project Posting on her blog:
http://nicolemclachlan.wordpress.com/youth-project/

Dolphin Rescues Beached Whales in New Zealand

Dolphin Helps Humans to Get Disoriented and Tired Mother Whale and Calf back out into deeper water to the sea. Click on link for more info & Utube video @ the "For the Love of Dolphins" Blog:

http://jackiebigford.blogspot.com/2011/02/dolphin-saves-whales-in-new-zealand.html?showComment=1297472381269#c7977406695281005352