The Cove Debuts On Network Television
We are looking forward to the US television debut of The Cove. Animal Planet
will air the complete doc at 9 PM this Sunday. Additional screenings will follow. Planet Green also has scheduled The Cove.
This comes at an important time. September 1 marks the official start of the killing season in Taiji.
Ric's group, Save Japan Dolphins has plans for non violent gatherings in Japan.
Many people have asked what they can do over in Japan. We suggest connecting with Ric and his gang. And keep it cool.
This week, OSHA
(our Department of Labor's oversight arm) released its findings on the safety of employees at SeaWorld. Apart from several minor structural infractions, the big news is that OSHA cited SeaWorld for a hazardous environment leading to Dawn Brancheau's February death. As was widely reported, a 12,000 pound killer whale, Tilikum, pulled the 40-year-old trainer underwater.
OSHA termed the violation "Willful" and fined SeaWorld $70,000. Section 5(a)(1) of the 1970 Occupational Health and Safety Act states that workers are to have an environment "free from recognized hazards", yet Tilikum was "a killer whale with known aggressive tendencies."
The 12,000 pound marine mammal was captured at age 2 off the coast of Iceland in 1983. He killed a trainer who fell into his pool 19 years ago in Canada and in 1999 was found with the corpse of a man who had jumped a SeaWorld fence draped over his back.
This is not the sole instance of mishaps at dolphin parks. There is a dark history in the captive marine mammal world.
It seems that holding magnificent beings in concrete pens and forcing them to do demeaning tricks will eventiually cause problems.
Louie Psihoyos, who testified in Congress against SeaWorld earlier this year said,
"I’m heartened that OSHA fined SeaWorld with a willful violation of safety in the tragic death of an orca trainer. However, a $70,000 fine does not send a strong enough message to the captive dolphin industry about the inherent risks of confining marine mammals."
In contrast, OSHA recently fined the US Post Office $350,000 for having electrical hazards.
What's Next For OPS?
Director Louie Psihoyos is already in pre-production on his next film.
TheSinging Planet
Scientists predict that we may lose half of all species on Earth by the end of this century. Our oceans will be affected most
profoundly, losing five times more species than will be lost on land. OPS’s next documentary film, The Singing Planet, will focus on this mass extinction event, the sixth in Earth’s history, but the first caused by a single species: humans.
Pollution, habitat loss, overfishing, global climate change and ocean acidification all contribute to this catastrophic loss. These non-discriminating forces threaten extraordinary and irreplaceable species, from the microscopic plankton responsible for most of the oxygen we breathe, to the great singing humpback whales.
The Singing Planet will not deliver a doomsday message. Rather, through stunning 3D visuals and an enhanced auditory experience the film will engage audiences with passionate people that are already creating the change we urgently need, remind us why life on Earth is worth saving, and inspire us all to preserve the planet for future generations.
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