"Song For the Ocean"

I just found a fantastic website with a positive thrust towards wellness and longevity for the Ocean .  It invites us all to take a step forward and sing along with Kirsten in her healing song for the Ocean.  I actually came across the song on facebook and was directed to the website ~ http://songfortheocean.com from there. 

"Song for the Ocean" and "Ethereal Matterial" on Facebook posted a poignant message for all the People of the World to take heed ... We must all take responsibility for the health of our Ocean and it's inhabitants. The song and video pretty much says it all so I am adding that link here at the bottom of this message. 

Kristen Calls out to Father Earth to hear the plea for healing and good welfare of the ocean and asks us to join in the song with our own well wishes for Mother Ocean.

She petitions us in her song, singing "This is the Song for the Ocean, Father Earth We are Calling Your Name.  We Know You are Taken For Granted But We Stand Here Committed to Change.  The Voices of the Children are Singing, Towards Tomorrows Horizon They Gaze,  Oh, This is the Song of the Ocean, Give Us Strength.."  ~ The message further unravels in a beautiful song she has written that is complimented by the ocean and ocean life in the background.
Please Listen and watch this Amazing Video for the Full Message:
Kristin is truly a Champion of the Seas!

Song for the Ocean
BY KRISTIN HOFFMANN  ~ My goal for the “Song for the Ocean” project is to get a minimum of 1 million people to join me in singing this song and together make this an official Anthem for the Ocean. As we sing, let’s hold the vision of a healthy planet, and make a commitment to the Earth and all it’s creatures, to be a part of positive change in whatever ways we can. You can sing this song on your own, in a group, a chorus, any way you can imagine. Videotape yourself or a group singing “Song for the Ocean” and upload your video to YouTube...I will add you to my favorites! I am going to keep a list of all people who sing on the song, so e-mail your names, and you can be one of the million voices! Also visit www.songfortheocean.com or http://www.youtube.com/user/SongForTheOcean

"For the Love of Dolphins"

Hello Ocean Friends.

I just found this poignant posting by JamieLynn2001 on the "Cyber Whale Warrior Blog" by Holise Cleveland titled   "For the Love of Dolphins" .   I recommend it to all.

I believe that is possible for one to gain insight into the captured dolphin's mind in "The Cove of Taiji" Japan, by seeing it through the mind of the dolphin, which is portrayed in the first half of this posting.   In the latter part of this blog post there is further explanation to the horrendous activity that takes place during the Taiji dolphin hunts.

Let it be also known that these hunts not only take a surplus of many dolphin lives, but also the lives of small whales that migrate through this region. (whales and dolphins are of the same family, but many people are unaware of this fact and think of them as separate)...  Unfortunately, one has not found a way to change their migratory courses, or been able to eliminate their dying days in the Cove by the hunters who kill them for dolphin meat and the sale of live dolphins for entertainment.

People are not allowed to intervene by Japanese Law.  They can only watch and record what takes place.  If they try to intervene, they are threatened with arrest.  Intervening may be as little as a reported "push"... Recently, and reportedly, one photographer activist was taken to jail for "intervening" in application of Japanese Law.  I have read that his trial date has been set for late January or February.  The dolphins are herded and taken in Japanese Waters, yet the dolphins are not Japanese.... They are mammals of the seas that travel through international waters.  They are loved by many, and hunted by few...  And generation after generation, by the many thousands, they continue to be deliberate targets of death and capture here in the Cove of Taiji.

And so with saddened heart, I fear the dolphins and whales, like so many other animals facing extinction today, will disappear via man's ignorance and greed in the not too distant future ~  if nothing is done to stop it.  And, I continue to pray in hope, that through written, video, and verbal expression to the world in continual public education and through public outcry, the Japanese will finally take responsibility themselves.  My hope is that they will then respond in a positive manner to halt this practice, changing a destructive path for the betterment of their own people, and in so doing, for the benefit of the world.

Here is that link again to the article:
"For the Love of Dolphins"

Thank you JamieLynn2001 for writing and posting this great article about the Dolphins of Taiji on the Cyber Whale Warrior Blog.  Your voice plays an important part of helping to create the necessary change for a better world for all of earth's inhabitants.  This is one small area of the earth, yet it plays an important role in all our existence.  The Ocean is a major & necessary part of our life, and the animals of the Seas all Play an Important Role in maintaining a Homeostatic Earth Environment.  We, the Human Race, are contaminating the ocean, and contaminating ourselves.  We continue to destroy and reap havoc on many, if not all life forms.   It is time for us to wake up and stop this insanity by taking an Active Role in correcting the wrongs that continue to be done in the name of progress and greed.   Human respect for the animals and their unique roles in life are a very real issue in maintaining and guaranteeing our own existence.

Empire State Building In Red in Support of Freedom & Life for Dolphins Hunted in the COVE

Bulletin: THE COVE team turns the Empire State Building Red! ... | causes.com - Mozilla Firefox http://ow.ly/7Y3VZ

"This weekend DolphinProject.org/Earth Island Institute's Ric O'Barry and THE COVE director Louie Psihoyos lit up the Empire State Building to raise awareness for THE COVE! The color red symbolizes the blood red waters of the cove in Taiji, Japan, where thousands of dolphins are brutally killed each year. Their meat, which contains toxic levels of mercury, is sold as food even though it's unfit for human consumption. Most people in Japan don't know this is happening."

Photos on Facebook of the Weekend Event of December 9th of Changing the Empire State Building's Colors to Red for Dolphin Awareness of the Killings and Captures in Taiji Japan, are Here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150616461939616.487616.120001599615&type=3

Read More Here:
http://dolphinproject.org/blog/post/empire-state-building-in-red-for-dolphins

Who Wants to Live Forever?

Excerpt: ... "This is an informational video to help bring the message out about conservation and features the Music of Queen. Erik Brush tells a poignient visual and musical story of the importance of getting involved. Also shares website info for www.erikbrush.com/ and www.seashepherd.org/

Set to the music and incomparable voice of legendary Queen singer and songwriter Freddy Mercury."

Erik Brush in his own words is a ..."wildlife artist turned conservation author and shark biologist.... fighting to protect sharks and the worlds oceans. I am a firm advocate of better education and positive solutions!"

"Fear in the Water" by Erik Brush

Fear in the water!

by Erik Brush on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 6:06pm (author, artist and conservationist)~ follow him @ http://www.erikbrush.com/ and on facebook

"The Ugliest of Monsters that you will ever find in our world is the darker side of the Human mind! - Self Quote."


I was swimming near a coral head in what seemed like a paradise on Earth. The warm waters of the reef fueling my body with energy and life and then there was a strange scent. I could feel fear filling me in a way that I could not explain. I looked around and then I saw them.

Two sharks lay on the bottom of the reef and crabs tugged and ate at the deformed bodies. I thought that they might have been born with deformities bit as I swam closer I saw that they were missing their fins. Only the upper tail fin remained and there were large gashes across their heads and necks where some great tooth or something sharp had bitten or cut the sharks.

A little farther more sharks lay on the bottom in the same or worse condition. It was terrible! I wondered if I knew these fish? Had I seen them in past encounters on the reef? I could not be sure. They seemed familiar to me and yet the scent and sight of death had shocked me and my focus was labored and I couldn't quite reason as well as I would have liked to on this gruesome day.

What kind of creature kills without eating what it kills? What kind of creature destroys life and discards it with such casual abandon? I couldn't understand this. I hunt to eat, not to maim or torment or discard what I take. That is not natural! It's just plain wrong and evil in its own right.

I left the area. It was too heartbreaking to stay and the death in the water may have pleased the crabs, but not me. It was a troubling sign. Looking around I could not see much life on the reef. The large fish were gone and the coral was dying. They say that this is due to acidification of the water which causes a condition known as coral bleaching. I wonder if they understand the link to sharks that is directly fueling this? I doubt it. They never mention sharks, whoever they are.

Swimming further I realize that I must cross a deeper expanse in order to find a better place to swim and study. Upon crossing the deep passage I could feel the flow of cooler water, but now there was a new scent wafting toward me. sounds screamed in a frequency that I can hear quite well and scents drifted to me of dying and dead marine life that seemed to vanish off into the distance for miles.

I came across the bodies of the dying or dead and had a feeling of dread replace the omni-present hunger that I felt. These creatures were all trapped. Floating at the same level with each other. There were dead turtles and dying tuna. A mahi and a few jacks. A barracuda, along with several dead and dying sharks. The caravan of weak or dead animals stretched for miles and miles.

It is strange to see this sight. But it is not the first time that the death line has suddenly been seen before me. I  suppose it is a popular trend with the strange beings who live above the water. In the old days the few remaining elders impart that the oceans were different. The water does not taste the same. The harvesters of all life were not so numerous. Not so greedy.

Today we live and swim in a waste or dying oceans. Our bodies filled with chemicals and trash. Our predators and enemies have become the predators and enemies of all life. Perhaps the skies above them have filled their bodies and minds with a sickness that makes them act so strange. We are all only targets and time is running out. It is becoming empty as fast as the oceans themselves.

It did not have to be this way. In fact it was never intended to be this way. For hundreds of millions of years nothing like these creatures has plagued the world with so much destruction and death. But the end will also bring about their end. In a way it is a comfort just knowing that they are too foolish to last. Too short sighted to understand how badly they have destroyed our world. But they will get it only when it is too late for themselves and for most of us.

So we watch and wait for nature to strike the last blow. It is inevitable. If you take more than you need, and decimate without allowing for other species to recover, then you destroy all chance for balance to continue. And when balance fails, then life fails. I do not know if my species will survive, but I know that some of my kind will escape the great destruction. That one day the parasite from the world above the water will perish and the denizens from beneath will recover. One day in the peaceful future there will be sharks once more thriving and ruling our oceans. And the evolutionary nightmare primates will not even be a memory among any of the survivors.

- Erik

Facebook LINK:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/erik-brush/fear-in-the-water/278832492129726

Examiner.com Article: Millions in Federal Taxpayer Funds Going to Mississippi "Dolphin Pimp"

by Sandy McElhaney

Woodbridge Animal Advocacy Examiner

I have included exerpts to this very informative article in the September 12, 2011 Washington DC Examiner News.  It seems obvious that there is a hemorrhagic misuse of federal funds going towards mismanagement of marine mammals in captivity and other pet projects.  ... "According to Citizens Against Government Waste, a whopping $16.5 billion went to Congressional pet projects in 2010" and  the startling highlight of this article is centered around Millions in Federal Taxpayer Funds Going to Mississippi "Dolphin Pimp" Moby Solangi who is supporting a “state of the art” dolphinarium for the citizens of Mississippi. ...  " 

In this article, it is noted and reported that "Leading the pack in discretionary spending is Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran.  In Fiscal Year 2010, Cochran earmarked 27 projects to the tune of $44,400,000.  Of that sum, $1,000,000 went to the Center for Marine Education and Research-Ocean Expo-Learning Center at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies."  The $75 million Ocean Expo is the brain child of Moby Solangi.  ... Richard O’Barry, star of the Academy award winning documentary, The Cove, has  characterized Solangi as a “Dolphin Pimp”.  Said O’Barry, “Solangi is one of the world's biggest traffickers in captive dolphins, and his track record is a litany of violent dolphin captures and exploitation. “ ....

It is my opinion and the opinion of many others from researching facts, that dolphins do not belong in captivity, and do not thrive in captivity.  I do not support a multi-million dollar industry in trafficking captive dolphins.  Do you?  Please read more from the article here:

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-washington-dc/millions-federal-taxpayer-funds-going-to-mississippi-dolphin-pimp

Sea World Tie to the Annual Taiji Dolphin Slaughter - "Fall From Freedom" Video

The following excerpt  is taken verbatim from the Seattle PI News August 29th, 2011

Author: Candace Calloway Whiting

Candace Calloway Whiting has studied and trained dolphins, seals, and orca whales. She is currently a volunteer at the Center for Whale Research at Friday Harbor.

"Narrated by Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H, Providence), "A Fall From Freedom" digs deep into the history of the captive dolphin and whale industry. Topics covered in the film include:

 -Sea World representatives secretly promoted the Japanese dolphin drives where thousands of animals are driven to shore and brutally killed, in order to provide their parks with replacement animals, says Dr. John Hall, former Sea World biologist.

-There is no educational value to having whales or dolphins in a captive environment, states former Sea World biologist Dr. John Hall and former Sea World killer whale trainer Dr. John Jett.

 -Contrary to the claims of many marine parks and aquariums, captive killer whales die far more frequently and at a far earlier age than they do in the wild, says Dr. Naomi Rose, biologist for Humane Society International.

 -Sea World has been involved in illegal and unethical actions to assure their parks are well stocked with killer whales, states former Sea World biologist Dr. John Hall.

 -The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums has worked tirelessly to reduce government oversight on the health and well-being of captive whales and dolphins, states Dr. Naomi Rose.

 -Sea World representatives have claimed that whales and dolphins are not highly intelligent, sophisticated, and social animals. Dr. Lori Marino, a leading expert on killer whale intelligence and social dynamics, asserts that their intelligence and social dependence is second only to humans.

 -Sea World and other marine parks claimed that the rehabilitation and release back to the wild of Keiko, star of the Free Willy movie, was a failure from the start. Dave Phillips of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation argues that the project was a rousing success, which proved that these animals can be taken from captivity, rehabilitated and returned to the wild."

http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2011/08/18/seaworld-is-tied-to-the-annual-taiji-dolphin-slaughter-in-this-provocative-film-watch-it-for-free-then-share-with-your-community/

Fall From Freedom Video:  http://vimeo.com/26041965
Fall From Freedom Trailer: http://vimeo.com/26041965

"Australian Dugongs In Peril"

9/22/11 Update on the Dugong and Sea Turtle Crisis in Australia: 

This is a recent video from "CollinwhocaresRiddell" on Facebook about the Dugong and Sea Turtle Crisis.  These important sea creatures are steadily and quickly reaching the point of extinction if man and the environmental elements continue to kill them at this alarming rate.  Although there is a limit on take for Australians, there is a loophole that is causing them harm... Unfortunately for them, the indigenous people of Australia are not under any ban for capture and kill quotas, and there is over-killing and cruelty enforced upon these helpless creatures by certain members of this group thereby pushing the animals towards endangerment and extinction.  Some of the Indigenous people have seen this peril and offer a moratorium.  But this is not law and is under their own intent.  Unfortunately, those in power do not seem to think this is even a problem so have not taken a stance to help by enforcing a moratorium.  So, Colin Riddell, Bob Irwin of Bob Irwin Wildlife Fund, and James Epong,  Dugong and Turtle Protection Officer, are calling on the people to help... They are asking ALL Australians to Support them on a Moratorium for Turtle and Dugong Hunting in Australia. 

Please see the video clip below for more info:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150320757434604

Colin Riddell and Bob Irwin's Save Australian Dugong and Sea Turtles Site:  http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/

Article by "The Independent Nature"

Famine threatens Australia's gentle sea cows

Extreme weather has destroyed the dugong's feeding grounds – just the latest menace facing this already endangered species

By Roger Maynard in Sydney

Sunday, 28 August 2011

"An underwater famine is posing the latest threat to one of Australia's most endangered marine species, the dugong, which lives entirely on sea grass. At least 100 have starved to death in recent months and many more are likely to follow in the absence of their only food source.... "In addition to climatic and industrial threats to the dugong population, indigenous fishermen have also been accused of endangering the species. Next month a television campaign will be launched by animal activists who believe Australia's Native Title laws are allowing the "uncontrolled" and "unmonitored slaughter" of dugongs and turtles. Australians For Animals has accused some aboriginal groups of "appalling cruelty".

Campaign organiser Colin Riddell says: "We have a confirmed report of a dugong calf being tied to the back of a boat, its cries bringing in the mother so they can both be killed. We have reports in our office of indigenous groups going out in motor boats with a GPS to find dugongs. Once found, they radio their mates and entire pods of dugongs are slaughtered."

Dugong hunting has been an accepted part of Australia's indigenous culture for thousands of years. Their ivory and bones are used in traditional crafts and their meat, which is said to be similar to high quality beef, is regarded as a delicacy. The Native Title Act allows dugongs to be caught by aborigines for personal, domestic or non-commercial needs, but, according to Mr Riddell, some are being sold for profit. He claims the meat sells for nearly £100 a kilo and is even being exported.

Now he is urging the government to call a moratorium on dugong hunting until population numbers are established. "I don't have a problem with Native Title hunting if it's done sustainably," he insists. "But let's just see how many are left."...  (click on link below for full article)

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/famine-threatens-australias-gentle-sea-cows-2345167.html

Colin Riddell and Bob Irwin's Save Australian Dugong and Sea Turtles Site:  http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/

"Petition & Pledge to Stop the Dolphin Slaughter In Taiji, Japan"

 If you love dolphins, and want to do something to stop the assault on their lives, please check out the following video and sign the petition to stop the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji Japan.

Together We Can End It : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyqJwjFb8Aw&feature=share
 via http://www.championsforcetaceans.com

Petition to Stop the Dolphin Slaughter, Taiji Japan

Sept 1st 2011-The International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji

 aka "Save Japan Dolphins Day"

September 1st is the start of the Dolphin Hunt in Taiji Japan. During the 2010-2011 drive hunt, the Taiji Fisheries Union killed 850 dolphins. An additional 171 were sold into captivity. These numbers are multiplied annually without stopping... In the past even more dolphins (and whales) were killed annually in Taiji and other Japanese port hunts.  This traditional slaughter has been happening every year for decades in Taiji Japan and right now there is absolutely no desire by the dolphin hunters to stop their targeted killing.

( The following press release was in advance of the actual event held on Sept 1st 2011)

Press Release for The Houston Site Event Held Outside the Japanese Consulate

I am the 2011 Houston Area Coordinator for the "International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji" also referred to as "Save Japan Dolphins Day".  We are one of many locations rallying together to call attention to this atrocity and bring it to a grinding halt.  This dolphin drive is driven by greed and public demand for the dolphin meat and entertainment.   Many people are not aware that the Inland Dolphin Shows are directly tied to this drive.  The sale of one dolphin to the Aquariums that are captured from Taiji or similar hunts is from $100,000 to $300,000 dollars.  The dolphin hunts are very bloody and pods of dolphins are forced into and annihilated in The Cove, while a few are chosen each time to be sold to live out their lives in captivity, performing for the masses. Dolphins are a very social loving group, and the death of an entire pod of parents, siblings, & babies weigh heavily on the few that remain alive to be trained & sold to the Dolphin and Whale Entertainment Aquarium Centers.  Many captured dolphins  live very short lives dying from stress and disease. Their confined living conditions are not conducive to life.   The general public is unaware of the huge turnover of dolphins for their entertainment.

A Houston educational and demonstrative Event will be held on Sept 1st  in front of the General Consulate of Japan at 909 Fannin Street to bring attention to the general public that Taiji Japan dolphin hunts and slaughter will begin this day, and continue on until March of next year.  It will continue Every Year unless we cause it to Stop.  Our message is simple:  JAPAN, LET THE DOLPHINS LIVE & BE FREE!!!

I am Inviting Anyone and Everyone that can, to come and participate in the educational demonstration here or any of the other places listed (a global map of participants is available @ http://www.savejapandolphins.org/).  This will be a peaceful protest and we ask that the Message at this gathering be Positive.  The Target of Focus is to be centered on education towards awareness and change in reference to the actual acts of condoning and killing of the dolphins, and not on the Japanese People .

There will be many things to look at at the Educational Table at the site of the Japanese Consulate, and there will also be a "Cove Guardian" here on site to explain her own experiences and the happenings at Taiji first hand.  We also plan to have gifts for donations to the Cause of "Save Japan Dolphins". The following location/schedule is for Houston, but this is a World Wide Event, and is happening at Japanese Embassies, & Consulates in quite a number of Ppaces.  If you cannot make it to the one in Houston, please note that there are other things you can do to support this Cause.  (see "More Info" Below)

Houston Location & Time:
909 Fannin Steet
Houston , Tx. 77010
Outside the Japanese Consulate
from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

For MORE INFO:

http://www.countdowntocove.com/ and "International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji" created by Save Misty the Dolphin
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196605907054900
https://www.facebook.com/Savemistythedolphin and
"The Cove" watch the free Cove documentary on line @ www.documentarywire.com
http://www.savejapandolphins.org/blog/post/celebrate-japan-dolphins-day
Houston Pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2039098937266.2104253.1238049312
Cheryl Gordon, Event Coordinator for Houston's Event: "International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji Japan" also referred to as "Save Japan Dolphins Day"

A SYNOPSIS OF THE SEPT 1ST INTERNATIONAL EVENT 
TO SAVE THE JAPAN DOLPHINS

I believe that the Sept 1st 2011 International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji Event was a Great Success!  The Houston Texas Event was my own group, but there were 40 + other dolphin activists in numerous cities participating in this world-wide protest to save the dolphins of Japan. 

Our group alone included 15 participants outside the Houston Japanese Consulate on Sept 1st, protesting the killing and sales of dolphins and whales in Taiji.  We gave away over 800 handouts of postcards and business cards regarding this event.  We had multiple contributions to the Save Japan Dolphins Fund. We gathered signatures for a Petition to Save Japan Dolphins.  We cultivated much interest and won many hearts for the dolphins... We held a peaceful demonstration, and I believe it was an informative and successful event.  We were proud to have a former Cove Guardian as a Speaker... As the Houston International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji, I am indebted to all who helped make this happen and be successful.

We were but one group of many collaborating to make this Cause known to the World in hopes of  getting more people to take a stance in saying NO and in stopping this senseless slaughter.  Some groups were perhaps of ten, and others were much larger...  Whatever the size, there are similar success stories of each participating activist group, reaching out to the public through different ways & means of approaching and telling the story ~ All around the World.  But words do not get the point across as well alone as with inclusion of visual so I am including the compilation event video to help to drive this point to where it must go, that is: The Peoples Hearts.

I believe this is an impressive and persuasive Youtube video production created by "Save Misty the Dolphin" for The International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji in colaboration with "Save Japan Dolphins" showing the multi-international participation in this Sept 1st event to save the Japan dolphins ~ click on the video below & then click on the supersize expanded version and sit back in your chair to see for yourself:

If You Want to Help Save the Dolphins I Recommend Joining Save Misty the Dolphin on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Savemistythedolphin 

and Check out the Website of Save Japan Dolphins @ 

http:www.//savejapandolphins.org

See you There!

"Who Do You Think You Are"

A Family Standing Up for What they Believe In, Gives Tribute to the Dolphins of Taiji in "Countdown for the Cove" on their Blog "Stand Up for What You Believe In"

See Also, the Video "Who Do You Think You Are" via Save Misty the Dolphin
http://youtu.be/HNW9_ut5ygo

Please Sign the "Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan" Petition

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »