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

The Taiji Dolphin Killing Drives and "Countdown to the Cove"

Sept 1st Marks the Beginning of the Dolphin Hunt Drives in the Cove of Taiji Japan.  It is not unusual for up to 20,000 dolphins and even some whales to lose their lives in these dolphin drives annually.  They are being killed for money... for their meat, and for providing entertainment to the demanding public who want to swim with the dolphins, and watch them do tricks for their own personal entertainment.

But the world is now taking notice, and the pressure is on to stop the killing from these drives, and the sales of selected dolphins for entertainment parks such as Sea World and other Ocean Aquariums.

"For the first time ever, in 2010 -2011, Cove Guardian Activists from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Save Japan Dolphins were in Taiji every single day of the dolphin slaughter, which ran from September to March...yet the tragedy continues..." (from Countdown to the Cove)

People are becoming aware of the dark side of this beautiful sea and fishing port called Taiji.   Here, the fishermen have chosen to hunt dolphins & whales (of the dolphin family), which is misleading, for dolphins are not fish but intelligent sentient ocean mammals.  Also of concern is danger from this practice through ingestion of the dolphin meat which has been found to often contain of a higher than acceptable level of mercury contamination.  This mercury presence is generally not publicized, and when spoken of, lightly put aside as not of concern by the Japanese.  Even the children of Taiji are said to be served this meat in their school menu.

But the word is out, with a jump start from "The Cove Movie" which you can watch for free here @  http://www.ovguide.com/movies_tv/the_cove.htm and concern is now escalating around the world.  The media has picked up the story and there is an increase in the publications and public interest regarding the deaths and captures of the dolphins in Taiji.  Perhaps you too are concerned now that you have become aware of the dolphin plight.  But, what can the average concerned citizen of the world do? 

You can help by spreading the truth, and "Join the protest via Facebook International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji @ "The Countdown to the Cove"

For more information on "Countdown to the Cove", and the Taiji Dolphins just follow this Web Link:

"Countdown to the Cove"

Marine Mammals in Captivity Short Video Clip via SealAngel

When Culture and Tradition Conflicts with Reason and Compassion

Some Negative Cultural and Traditional Acts:

Witch Hunts
Burning at the Stake
Slavery
Killing by Slow Death Such as Seal Clubbing & Shark Finning 
Deliberate Extermination of any Species
Torture Killing by a Captor Such as
Scalping, Setting the Wife on Fire or Stoning of an Accused
Ritualistic Killing and Sacrifice
Human Consumption of Conquered Victim e.g. Cannibalism
Selling a Family Member for Profit
Killing of Newborn for Population Control
Killing Outside of Necessity for Life/Survival Such as Seen with Majority of the Dolphin and Whale Hunts
Bull, Cock, Dog Fights, Bear Baiting
Or other Risk of Animal Life for "Entertainment"
Killing of or Experimenting on Animals in the Name of Science

And The List Goes On..... Some Specific and some General...

As an Intelligent Human Race We Must Allow Reason and Compassion to Prevail.
Some of these Horrendous Acts Have Been Seen as Inhumane and Abandoned.
Some Have Not. 
Just Because it is Culture, Religion or Tradition, Does Not Make it Right.

"Swimming with the Tamed Dolphins"

Is it For Our Own Enjoyment
That We Require the Dolphins and Whales to Interact in Play
In the Artificially Constructed Sea of their Captive Homes?
If We Love them and Perceive their Heartaches,
Then We Must Open their Watery Captive Gates to Free Them."

Cheryl E Gordon
© 3/17/10