Important Taiji Update
You may have been following what's been going on in Taiji.
Ric O'Barry was there last week, and the fishermen didn't start the dolphin drives. Then Ric O'Barry left on Wednesday, and they started rounding up dolphins and pilot whales.
We're very pleased to say that for this week, the dolphin slaughter has been suspended. Fishermen in Taiji will be selling the dolphins captured in this week's round up to aquariums and releasing the rest. However, pilot whales that were also captured will be killed for their meat. You can read the full press release here, and Ric O' Barry's update here.
Photograph copyright by Mark J. Palmer
It's a mixed success, but the important thing is that the outcry following The Cove (i.e. your support) is having a real impact in Taiji. So let's keep the pressure on them!
Keep writing letters, keep telling your friends about the movie-- it's more important now than ever. We can stop this as long as we keep fighting.
Please send a message to the Japanese Embassy, asking to stop the dolphin drive hunt and prohibit the sale of mercury-contaminated dolphin meat:
Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C.
Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869
Tel: (202) 238-6700
Fax: 202-328-2187
Hours: M-F 9:00-12:30 and 2:00-5:30
E-mail the Japanese Ambassador in D.C.: jicc@embjapan.org
You can also write to other Japanese Embassies and Consulates around the world.
Dolphins and Mercury
Thankfully, Japanese press continues to report on Taiji and The Cove.
But we've noticed that they don't talk about mercury enough.
The following quote from a Taiji resident was in an AFP news story today:
"I can never understand those Westerners' argument. They eat cattle, pigs and chicken. We eat dolphins and whales. That's it."
While many of us are concerned about the dolphin drives as an animal rights matter, the bigger problem is a public health issue. The dolphin meat being distributed throughout Japan contains toxic levels of mercury.
Help us get the mercury message out by including this when you talk about the film or write letters to officials.
Thank You!
A BIG thank you to everyone that has donated to OPS! Your contributions, big and small, have helped us get this far.
But remember, the fight isn't over.
Haven't donated yet, but would like to?
Visit our secure online donation site here.
THANK YOU!
|
