Getting Ready for the Holidays?

Many people getting ready for the holidays this time of year... looking for some ideas for gifts?

Well, you could donate in someone's name to a great cause, Save Japan Dolphins at Earth Island Institute.
Go ahead and click here to learn more about to donate. Just click on the "click here to donate" button. Easy!
ALL DONATED FUNDS GO TO EFFORTS TO STOP THE KILLING OF DOLPHINS AND WHALES.

What else could you give someone for the Holidays?
Well, I'm always trying to spread the word about "The Cove", so I highly suggest that to anyone. (adults and teenage only). Such an important message to spread.

(Here's me with my very LOVED copy of the film)

Lastly, for a great film showing our dolphin and whales in their natural home, a film has just come out by Disney that I truly enjoyed. This film is great for kids and adults alike, and there is also a great picture "coffee-table" like book that you can as well! This film is truly amazing, and shows our children the importance our oceans really have on the earth... and taking care of them and all sea animals. The film, is called "Oceans", by: Disneynature. Awesome.

So, there you have it. Three great gift ideas for the holidays...for all different age groups, for all different tastes. Some to learn just of the ocean, some to inform of the cove, and some to help stop what is happening to our dolphins and whales.

Enjoy your holidays with your loved ones!

Until next time......

Let your voice be heard. It's your voice. Use it.

President Obama just left for Asia, and is scheduled to be in Japan the 13th and 14th of November. His trip is planning to include a meeting with the new Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Prior to his trip, several organizations gathered together for a common cause, and drafted a letter to President Obama, stressing the importance of what is happening in Japan, and urging him to help us get the world out to Japan that the slaughter of dolphins and whales. President Obama's voice in this matter is very strong- and the facts that he can convey to the new Prime Minister of Japan.

The organizations that drafted the letter were:
Earth Island Institute
Animal Welfare Institute
World Society for the Protection of Animals
American Cetacean Society
Cetacean Society International
In Defense of Animals
Nantucket Marine Mammal Conservation Program
Orgami Whales Project
Peninsula Citizens for the Protection of Whales
The Whaleman Foundation/Save the Whales Again! Campaign

To read the letter, please click here, and go to the entry made on 11/5/10.

So, what can you do to help? YOU can contact President Obama and express your concern with what is going on in Japan. Write, email, call... do whatever you need to do.

To email President Obama, click here .

To write, the address is as follows:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

To call the White House, here are the numbers:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

To fax a letter, here is the number:
 FAX: 202-456-2461

And, to visit the White House website, go to:
www.whitehouse.gov

Let your voice be heard. It's your voice. Use it. 

Till next time....

Baby Dolphin Falls Out of Tank, Dies at Florida Marine Park.

 A baby dolphin died this past Sunday, at Gulf World Marine Park in the Panhandle area of Florida.
When reading the cause of death, I was shocked. However, we can add this to our reasons of why these animals should not be held in captivity.

The dolphin somehow FELL out of it's tank during the night, and passed away.
This is so sad, and makes me so angry.

I'm not sure on the dimensions of the housing accommodations for this little one, but he was apparently with his mother and 2 other baby dolphins and their mothers.

What made me even more upset? This is not the first time an animal has fallen from it's tank at this park. This just happens to be the first death.

Read more about the accident here.

Until next time....

Set Back in Taiji, Japan.

Rick O'Barry and his son Lincoln, are on ground in Taiji, Japan.
The plan was to have a PUBLIC discussion with the mayor of Taiji today, November 1, 2010- Mayor Kazutaka Sangen, along with local fishermen about the dolphin hunting that is taking place in Taiji. 

The meeting didn't go as planned... and O'Barry learned some disheartening news.

Needless to say, O'Barry is on his way now to where this whole mess began... The Cove.
Read about what happened, in O'Barry's blog, HERE.

Till next time... hopefully with better news...

I Just Love 'Em

Pure Love. That's All.

Till Next Time....

SeaWorld, San Diego: Part 1

SeaWorld: San Diego, California.

This past September, I had the chance to visit SeaWorld, San Diego. I have been waiting to post this blog for a while, because I wanted to gather my thoughts on what a moving experience this was.
I myself, had not been to a SeaWorld since the age of about 12, possibly earlier.... I know as a child, I had been to the one in Orlando, and the one that used to be open in Ohio. However, it had been YEARS. And, unlike many parks that hold sea life captive, SeaWorld is one of the only few where you can see Orcas.
First, I will speak on my experience with the Orcas. I refuse to attend shows, but I was amazed at the sheer mass of people that filed in the last 7 minutes or so before, as the show was about to begin. My only wonder was if the trainers were actually going to get in the tank with the whales, because the same week, OSHA had filed suit with SeaWorld in Orlando, and I knew their trainers were not allowed in the tank with the whales due to the whole ordeal. (The suit was filed I believe due to violations by SeaWorld, during the whole trainer death incident with Tilly the Orca earlier this year- but don't quote me on that.)
Anyway, before the show, I was taking note of how small the living conditions of these whales really is, both from the side through the gate and from above from a bridge that went over the entire tank, to the show area. Here are the pics looking through the gate:

In this pic, you can really see how small the holding tank is. Keep in mind, during this time, there were about 4 whales swimming in this tank. As seen in the next pic:

There was one whale, that I sat and stared at for a good 20 minutes. He (or she) just stayed in the same spot, floating, which gave me a lot of time to think about it, and it's small home.....
These pics may all look similar... but taken over the span of about a half hour... of the same whale. Poor thing.

You will notice his dorsal fin- the one on the top is bent over. This happens when whales are kept in captivity. I have heard that they "don't know why"... but I have my own theories... I think it's because they aren't given the chance to swim as fast and the distances they would in the ocean... and the fin then tends to droop over time. Who knows.

 Could sat here, and stared at this guy for days... my heart really went out to him. I just stared and stared... and I felt like he just stared back.

 Watching the crowd start to come in. Amazing how in a few short minutes, those stands will be about full. The whales have yet to be released at this point into the "show" pool.

 Watching the crowd... as you can see, they are filling the stands, and just walking around me in the tunnel. I'm trying to check out what the trainers are doing... was really interested in seeing what was going to happen as far as them getting in the tank... but was SO not staying for the show.

 "Shamu", as every whale at SeaWorld is called (even though they have various other names) is released from the holding pen, into the show tank... the stands continue to fill... about 5 minutes till show time.

 Showtime is about to start... I'm so angry at this point, I don't even like looking the whole ordeal.

 Time for me to jet from the deck viewing area.... I thought it was appropriate that the tunnel felt like you were in a CAGE.

Because that's exactly how these animals feel everyday.

Talking to a staff person at SeaWorld, I asked about the Orca's dental care, because again... that is something that is always of concern for animals and dolphins in captivity. She stated that the whales in this particular SeaWorld (the orcas) typically receive drilling on their teeth DAILY. This was something that I had read about, that is basically the worst or the worst. I didn't think I would be hearing about it happening at SeaWorld... I thought maybe of one of the smaller, private owned parks. She stated that their teeth get so bad, that it's pretty much all they can do for them. Hmmm. I wonder if it's it's their diet? The stress they are under (stomach acid eating away at their teeth)? The fact that they aren't able to hunt like nature intended them too? I wonder how the owner's of SeaWorld would feel getting their teeth drilled on daily.

Sick.
Sick.
Sick.

My next post, I'll talk about the dolphins of SeaWorld, San Diego.

Till Next Time....

National Dolphin Day, follow up

All around the world... for one day... we stood together.
Pics were posted on Ric O'Barry's blog from all over the world, of people coming together on October 14th - for one common purpose. To help spread the word to stop the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji. From large scale rallies to small ones, each one had the same message and effort. Thanks to each and every person who helped with this effort.
Check out some of this footage.
Here's an awesome PSA made from the Capetown demo: [O'Barry, www.savejapandolphins.org]
Click Here for Capetown PSA.... AWESOME.

To see more pics from rallies from around the world, see Ric O'Barry's blog here.
You will be amazed how many countries and cities were truly united in this effort.
Great work everyone.

Till next time...

4 Dolphins from the Cove, Exported to Egypt... Living in a "Swimming Pool".

Here's me, and one of the signs I have made for the rally on Thursday.
It's getting closer.
I'm getting ready.
Are you?

Ric O'Barry is advocating for 4 dolphins which have recently been shipped to Egypt from Taiji, during this time of need. What an adventure. I will update you here.
In a nutshell, there are plans for a dolphinarium, to open in the desert in Egypt. So far, 4 dolphins were imported from Egypt, with the plan for 5 more to follow. According to O'Barry's blog (www.savejapandolphins.org) he states, "HEPCA, the local Egyptian environmental organization that has been in the forefront of efforts to stop the dolphin imports and the dolphinarium, is working hard to see if they can get local authorities to halt the construction".

The good news is, the Governor of The Red Sea district of Egypt has issued a ban on all future imports of dolphins, meaning that the next 5 they were going to get from Taiji will NOT be coming. He also issued an ultimatum to the owner of four dolphins that had been imported from Taiji: the dolphins must be moved to a new location that complies with national and international standards for care. [O'barry, www.savejapandolphins.com]. Prior to this issue, the 4 dolphins were living in what almost appeared to be a swimming pool size hole in the ground, in someone's back yard! Living in their own feces, and for SURE not being properly being taken care of. To see a 1 minute clip of their living conditions, click here.

As for O'Barry, here is his speech at Dolphin Awareness Night for the HEPCA, in Egypt. Click here to watch that. Great how he explains how and why the dolphins in Egypt are in danger, and why it's so important to get them the heck out of there.
Till next time....

Everyone has to start somwhere...

My blank canvas.
Signs for the rally for Save Japan Dolphin Day, 10/14/10... coming soon.. as well as pics.
Got ideas for sign slogans? Post 'em here!

Some ideas given so far...

-Got Mercury? Dolphin Meat Does.

-Stop The Slaughter.

- Over 23,000 Dolphins a YEAR are KILLED in Japan

-Captivity FUNDS the SLAUGHTER

I don't know which ones I'm going to use, or If I'll come up with new ones. 

If you have ideas, please post them- you may see you idea being used! 

Till next time...
-Amanda

What's Killling the Whales in Captivity?

Thanks to Al Cane, a follower of this blog for bringing my attention to this very important video, by ABC News. The video, found here talks about the recent Orca deaths that have been occuring at Sea World- 3 within the last 4 months!
And, what you'll notice, is that not only are the whales in captivity dying... but, they are living to be only HALF the age that a whale in the wild would normally live to be.
Once again, another reason these animals belong in the wild.

Don't forget... Save Japan Dolphin Day is next week, 10/14/10.... I'm gearing up for it here in my hometown... more to come about that!

-Amanda

Coming Soon....

I've been excited to share this post. It's coming soon.
SeaWorld. San Diego.

Here's a few teaser pics....

 SeaWorld, San Diego

I'm in love already, because it shows ORCAS, which is my other love.... and other creature that should not be harbored in a TANK. SeaWorld Orlando, got slammed with the fine from OSHA the same week as my visit, for the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau. Brancheau's death was caused by a killer whale named  Tilikum, on February 24, 2010. "Tilly", as he was often called, was an aggressive whale that the park had known about- and trainers were given the "Tilly talk" about not getting too close or in the tank with Tilikum. [Linda Simons."Larry King Live".] (Simmons was the former Director of Health and Safety at SeaWorld Orlando.)

On this particular day, Brancheau was standing on a ledge surround Tilly's tank, when Tilly's took her by the hair and took her under. The accident lead the cause of death.

Finally, Simons spoke out about the conditions at SeaWorld, and was soon... "let go".
To read about the case, you can click here. Very interesting stuff.
Simons v. SeaWorld (Defamation).

Until next time....

Save Japan Dolphin Day, October 14th, 2010

On this day, there will be peaceful, worldwide rallies- many of which will take place in front of Embassies and Consulates of the government of Japan. (And yes, there are 17 that I counted in the U.S., including New York, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Denver, Atlanta and Detroit just to name a few.)
There is a list of participating countries/cities that you can find here.
I have contacted the person for the state and city in which I live, to city if there are any organized events planned for this day where I live. If there are, I will post them here for those that live close to me.

I urge you to find your country, state, and city on the list and contact your activist director.
Find out what is being done in your area, and what you can to join or even help.
Or, you would like to host a rally in your area, you can contact: Shelby Proie, Shelby@savelolita.com

Let's get together, one day, across the globe, for one cause.
See you on October 14th.
-Amanda