Monday, July 4, 2011
The Dolphin Surfers of Australia
The last few months i have been competing in Olympic qualifiers for fencing....Hungary, Rio De Janiero, Havana, Nanjing, Shanghai...and finally last but not least Australia. Have been lucky to spend time in the ocean in most of those countries...swimming or surfing between fencing competitions and training sessions. Not until Australia did i finally see a pod of dolphins....they showed up out of the blue... had been swimming in a pool next to the ocean when i overheard someone holler "Look! Dolphins!". A pod of dolphins were surging fast towards the surfers...like children running to a park. So excited to join in and to show off their surfing skills to the surfers.....and playfully jumping out of the water! All the surfers were smiling....and everyone on land watching the dolphins were smiling and laughing as well at their showmanship and cute personalities. So much more enjoyable to watch them in the wild than in captivity....interacting with people of their own free-will. Was told that they show up almost everyday to play in the surf with the surfers....
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Goddesses of the Yangtze River
I am now in Nanjing, China which lies along the Yangtze river. The Chinese dolphins of the Yangtze are now officially declared "extinct". They were venerated as " goddesses of the Yangtze'; until China's "great leap forward"; at which time they began to be hunted for food. In the 1970's, with numbers drastically reduced, hunting was outlawed; but it was too late and pollution, etc killed off the remaining population.
The Chinese are making efforts to save the Finless Porpoise from the same fate. It is against the law to hunt the Finless Porpoise in either China or Japan.
The Chinese are making efforts to save the Finless Porpoise from the same fate. It is against the law to hunt the Finless Porpoise in either China or Japan.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Earthquake
When checking my emails this morning, the headlines of a M8.9 earthquake and a Tsunami hitting Japan made my heart stop....immediately thought of my good friends in Taiji and of course, the dolphins at the whale museum and in the harbour pens. Then i saw that it was Northern Japan that was hit not Taiji...I contacted friends in Taiji as there was still the danger of a Tsunami striking Taiji as has happened in the past and my friends are all OK!.
My heart goes out to Japan for the lives lost today.
A friend in Taiji told me today that the waves are very BIG there!
* March 11/11:This update on the dolphins in the Habour pens of Taiji came through from Mark Bramberry on Facebook:
Also, it was suggested that taking iodine pills might be wise as there is suspected leaking radiation from nuclear reactors.
* March 11/11: This report in from TDAG from Japan:
Nuclear radioactive steam release information from Fukushima Nuclear power plant still not being given accurate attention in the news in my opinion. Here is one report:
The amount of radiation reached around 1,000 times the normal level in the No. 1 reactor's control room, the Kyodo news agency reported the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency as saying.
My heart goes out to Japan for the lives lost today.
A friend in Taiji told me today that the waves are very BIG there!
* March 11/11:This update on the dolphins in the Habour pens of Taiji came through from Mark Bramberry on Facebook:
:" Screams were from dolphins from an Aussie near the area. He went safely up Tsunami Hill. Sorry to report that none of the dolphins were seen to have escaped. Boats did get out to ride out the waves."
Also, it was suggested that taking iodine pills might be wise as there is suspected leaking radiation from nuclear reactors.
* March 11/11: This report in from TDAG from Japan:
Nuclear radioactive steam release information from Fukushima Nuclear power plant still not being given accurate attention in the news in my opinion. Here is one report:
The amount of radiation reached around 1,000 times the normal level in the No. 1 reactor's control room, the Kyodo news agency reported the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency as saying.
If the Pentagon/NYT report becomes public knowledge in Japan we may see panic in Tokyo."
www.nytimes.com
If the Pentagon/NYT report becomes public knowledge in Japan we may see panic in Tokyo."
www.nytimes.comTuesday, March 8, 2011
Being an Eco Tourist InTaiji, Japan
 |
| Engarde! |
 | ||||
| Strolling through a beautiful Japanese Garden *Photos by Bob Timmons "Artist for the Ocean" |
Friday, March 4, 2011
Singapore Zoo And The Pink Dolphins of Singapore
In 2008, the Canadian Women's Epee Team spent a week training in Singapore; before going on to Beijing for the World Team Championships. On a rest day, we took in the Singapore Zoo.....if only more zoos were like this one! However.....we did not swim with the pink dolphins of Singapore....aside from the fact that they are captive....there were rumours of abuse!.
 |
| Kangaroos on the loose! |
 |
| Kisses! |
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP) is a program administered by the U.S. Navy which studies the military use of marine mammals—principally Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions—and trains animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and equipment recovery. The program is based in San Diego, California, where animals are housed and trained on an ongoing basis. NMMP animal teams have been deployed for use in combat zones, such as during the Vietnam War and the Iraq War.
The program has been dogged by controversy over the treatment of the animals and speculation as to the nature of its mission and training. This has been due at least in part to the secrecy of the program, which was de-classified in the early 1990s. Since the program’s inception, there have been ongoing animal welfare concerns, with many opposing the use of marine mammals in military applications, even in essentially non-combatant roles such as mine detection. The Navy cites external oversight, including ongoing monitoring, in defense of its animal care standards.
The origins of the program date back to 1960, when a Pacific White-sided Dolphin was acquired for hydrodynamic studies seeking to improve torpedo performance.[1] The aim was to determine whether dolphins had evolved a sophisticated drag-reduction system, but the technology of the day failed to demonstrate that dolphins have any unusual capabilities in this respect. This research has now resumed with the benefit of modern-day technology; among the possible drag-reducing mechanisms being studied for human use are skin compliance, biopolymers, and boundary-layer heating.
In 1962, the animals' intelligence, exceptional diving ability, and trainability led to the foundation of a new research program at Point Mugu, California, where a research facility was built on a sand spit between Mugu Lagoon and the ocean. The intention was to study the dolphins' senses and capabilities, such as their natural sonar and deep-diving physiology, and to determine how dolphins and sea lions might be used to perform useful tasks, such as searching for and marking objects in the water. A major accomplishment was the discovery that trained dolphins and sea lions could be reliably worked untethered in the open sea.
In 1965, a Navy dolphin named Tuffy participated in the SEALAB II project off La Jolla, California, carrying tools and messages between the surface and the habitat 200 feet (60 m) below. Tuffy was also trained to locate and guide lost divers to safety.
In 1967 the NMMP was classified and has since evolved into a major black budget program [1]. The Point Mugu facility and its personnel were relocated to Point Loma in San Diego, and placed under the control of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego. Additionally, a laboratory was established in Hawaii at the Marine Corps Air Station on Kāneʻohe Bay at the Northern end of Mokapu Peninsula. However, in 1993, as the result of the Base Realignment and Closure process, the Hawaii lab was closed and the majority of the animals were moved to San Diego; some animals remained, as part of a program of joint research between the Navy and the University of Hawaiʻi.
There are five marine mammal teams, each trained for a specific type of mission. Each human-animal team is known in military jargon by a "mark" number (MK for short); the five teams are called "MK 4", "MK 5", "MK 6", "MK 7", and "MK 8". The MK 4, 7 and 8 teams use dolphins; MK 5 uses sea lions, and MK 6 uses both sea lions and dolphins. These teams can be deployed at 72 hours' notice by ship, aircraft, helicopter, and land vehicle to regional conflicts or staging areas around the world.
NMMP dolphins, such as the one pictured here wearing a locating pinger, performed mine clearance work in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War.
In operations sanitized for the public, a dolphin awaits a cue from its handler before starting to search a specific area using its natural echolocation. The dolphin reports back to its handler, giving particular responses to communicate whether a target object is detected. If a mine-like target is detected, the handler sends the dolphin to mark the location of the object by releasing a buoy, so it can be avoided by Navy vessels or neutralized by Navy divers.
Mine-clearance dolphins were deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War in 2003. The Navy said these dolphins were effective in helping to detect more than 100 antiship mines and underwater booby traps from the port of Umm Qasr.[3]
An NMMP sea lion attaches a recovery line to a piece of test equipment during training.MK 5 is dedicated to the recovery of test equipment that is fired from ships or dropped from planes into the ocean; the team uses California Sea Lions to locate and attach recovery hardware to underwater objects such as practice mines. In this role they can out-perform human divers, who are restricted to short working times and limited repeat diving.
This team first demonstrated its capabilities when it recovered an ASROC (Anti Submarine Rocket) from a depth of 180 feet (50 m) in November 1970. The team has trained in the recovery of dummy victims in a simulated airplane crash.
The U.S. Navy has an arsenal of more conventional weapons which can be used to attack enemy ships in harbor, such as the Mark 48 torpedo, the Mark 67 submarine-launched mobile mine, and the Mark 60 Captor mine. A single attack submarine could deliver up to forty Mark 67 mines in one mission, each carrying a 230 kg warhead, at a distance up to 5 – 7 miles (8 – 10 km). This is a significantly more powerful and more consistent capability than could be realized by the use of dolphins (presumably submarine-delivered to an enemy harbor). However, a submarine is much more likely to be detected as a threat than a marine mammal.
Bottlenose Dolphins are among the species used by the Navy's Marine Mammal Program.The Navy identifies the following animal species as having been used or studied by the program at various times:
Today, Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions are the main animals used, and are kept at the base in San Diego. Dolphins have powerful biological sonar, unmatched by artificial sonar technology in detecting objects in the water column and on the sea floor. Sea lions lack this, but have very sensitive underwater directional hearing and exceptional vision in low-light conditions. Both of these species are trainable and capable of repetitive deep diving. As of the late 1990s, about 140 marine mammals were part of the program.[1]
The program has been dogged by controversy over the treatment of the animals and speculation as to the nature of its mission and training. This has been due at least in part to the secrecy of the program, which was de-classified in the early 1990s. Since the program’s inception, there have been ongoing animal welfare concerns, with many opposing the use of marine mammals in military applications, even in essentially non-combatant roles such as mine detection. The Navy cites external oversight, including ongoing monitoring, in defense of its animal care standards.
[edit] History
 | This "History" section needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (June 2007) |
In 1962, the animals' intelligence, exceptional diving ability, and trainability led to the foundation of a new research program at Point Mugu, California, where a research facility was built on a sand spit between Mugu Lagoon and the ocean. The intention was to study the dolphins' senses and capabilities, such as their natural sonar and deep-diving physiology, and to determine how dolphins and sea lions might be used to perform useful tasks, such as searching for and marking objects in the water. A major accomplishment was the discovery that trained dolphins and sea lions could be reliably worked untethered in the open sea.
In 1965, a Navy dolphin named Tuffy participated in the SEALAB II project off La Jolla, California, carrying tools and messages between the surface and the habitat 200 feet (60 m) below. Tuffy was also trained to locate and guide lost divers to safety.
[edit] The program
The Navy Marine Mammal Program is based in San Diego, California, as part of SSC San Diego. The animals are trained in San Diego Bay; dolphin handlers can frequently be seen on the bay, where specialized small boats are used to transport dolphins between their pens and the training areas. Other locations are sometimes used for specific research, such as San Clemente Island in the Channel Islands of California, and torpedo test ranges in Seattle and Canada. The program's stated animal activities include protecting ports and Navy assets from swimmer attack, locating and assisting in the recovery of expensive exercise and training targets, and locating potentially dangerous sea mines.There are five marine mammal teams, each trained for a specific type of mission. Each human-animal team is known in military jargon by a "mark" number (MK for short); the five teams are called "MK 4", "MK 5", "MK 6", "MK 7", and "MK 8". The MK 4, 7 and 8 teams use dolphins; MK 5 uses sea lions, and MK 6 uses both sea lions and dolphins. These teams can be deployed at 72 hours' notice by ship, aircraft, helicopter, and land vehicle to regional conflicts or staging areas around the world.
[edit] Mine hunting
Three of the marine mammal teams are trained to detect enemy sea mines, which constitute a major hazard to U.S. Navy ships.[2] MK 4 uses dolphins to detect and mark the location of tethered sea mines floating off the bottom, while MK 7 dolphins are trained to detect and mark the location of mines on the sea floor or buried in sediment. The MK 8 team is trained to swiftly identify safe corridors for the initial landing of troops ashore.In operations sanitized for the public, a dolphin awaits a cue from its handler before starting to search a specific area using its natural echolocation. The dolphin reports back to its handler, giving particular responses to communicate whether a target object is detected. If a mine-like target is detected, the handler sends the dolphin to mark the location of the object by releasing a buoy, so it can be avoided by Navy vessels or neutralized by Navy divers.
Mine-clearance dolphins were deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War in 2003. The Navy said these dolphins were effective in helping to detect more than 100 antiship mines and underwater booby traps from the port of Umm Qasr.[3]
[edit] Force protection
MK 6 uses dolphins and sea lions as sentries to protect harbor installations and ships against unauthorized human swimmers. MK 6 was first operationally deployed with dolphins during the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1972 and in Bahrain from October 1987 through June 1988. When an enemy diver is detected by a dolphin, the dolphin approaches from behind and bumps a device into the back of the enemy's air tank. This device is attached to a buoy which then floats to the surface, alerting the Navy personnel of the intruder. Sea lions carry a similar device in their mouth, but instead attach it by hand-cuffing one of the enemy's limbs. The animals depend on their superior underwater senses and swimming ability to defend against counterattacks.[edit] Object recovery
This team first demonstrated its capabilities when it recovered an ASROC (Anti Submarine Rocket) from a depth of 180 feet (50 m) in November 1970. The team has trained in the recovery of dummy victims in a simulated airplane crash.
[edit] Attack missions
The Navy says that it has never trained its marine mammals for attack missions against people or ships.[4] The Navy stated that since dolphins cannot discern the difference between enemy and friendly vessels, or divers and swimmers, this would be a haphazard means of warfare; instead, the animals are trained to detect all mines and swimmers in an area of concern, and to report back to their handlers, who then decide upon an appropriate response.The U.S. Navy has an arsenal of more conventional weapons which can be used to attack enemy ships in harbor, such as the Mark 48 torpedo, the Mark 67 submarine-launched mobile mine, and the Mark 60 Captor mine. A single attack submarine could deliver up to forty Mark 67 mines in one mission, each carrying a 230 kg warhead, at a distance up to 5 – 7 miles (8 – 10 km). This is a significantly more powerful and more consistent capability than could be realized by the use of dolphins (presumably submarine-delivered to an enemy harbor). However, a submarine is much more likely to be detected as a threat than a marine mammal.
[edit] Animals
| Cetaceans: | Pinnipeds: | Other: |
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Inspired By The Courage of The Dolphins of Taiji
Filming the Dolphins of Taiji and witnessing their fight to the death will always be seared in my memory.. Could feel the dolphins' agony each time a spike was driven into their spine. Not something that i wanted to witness....but now that i have, trying to turn that horror into a more meaningful energy.
Each time a fisherman would drive a spike into a dolphin, it would give me a flashback to a traumatic fencing experience. All was going great with my fencing as I was on the National Team and training for Nationals. Because there was a shortage of fencers that night at the fencing club... agreed to fence someone who asked me to fence. Soon in our bout (when i was four points ahead)...this male fencer came at me with his epee held like a dagger with the intention to INJURE! I took what felt like my last breath as he thrust his epee deep into my shoulder. I remember the attack so vividly...those seconds were one of the longest moments....time slowed down from his arm winding up to hit with all his force before he drove his blade into me.
The dolphins' death is the most agonizing...before watching their fight to the end...i have never known such suffering to exist. From their chase into the cove...to their terror of being trapped in the cove....to witnessing members of their families being killed. And right down to individual dolphins being grabbed, tied by their tail and dragged under the darkness of the tarp for their own lives to end. You think it ends there after they are almost drowned and as they flap their tails vigorously trying to escape...but the never ending nightmare continues. A fisherman winds up his arm thrusting a spike into their spine.....the dolphins are in agony and dying, yet refusing to give up on life as they thrash their tails in agony trying to take a breath through their blowholes that the fishermen have plugged.
Through these dolphins..from the one at the Whale Museum who wanted to play with me...not harboring resentment towards humans for being kept captive ...to the dolphins who looked at death and felt hopeless despair...but still.tried to swim out to freedom....even as their last breath was taken from them...I have learned to not give up and to fight...to believe in life...and dreams.
As an athlete facing many struggles and injuries....the most recent trying to overcome an injury from a Chiropractor who was listed with the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, someone who was suppose to help athletes; but who nearly paralyzed me and took me out of the running (or what i had hoped for) of making the Olympic team. My pain...anger...resentment...and nightmares of the chiro...was all i could think about for a long time as i missed an entire fencing season. But while in Japan something shifted within me...i was becoming stronger...even when i had pain at night it seemed so insignificant compared to the" fight to live", i was witnessing the dolphins struggle with.
When i returned home...i looked at the fencing schedule and saw that there is still a small fighting chance to make the team for 2012. And what the dolphins taught me is that dreams are worth fighting for....whether or not they are achieved.....it's the hard fight and being hopeful in life which matters the most.
I'm leaving for Budapest this Friday to try to get into World Cup fencing shape again...if i do; will owe any future wins to the Dolphins of Taiji. And no matter what.....will continue to do what i can to return to Taiji as much as possible with ways to promote eco-tourism and to continue to learn more about ways of helping the Dolphins.of Taiji. (www.leslie-anngervais.blogspot.com - Journey of A Canadian Athlete)
Each time a fisherman would drive a spike into a dolphin, it would give me a flashback to a traumatic fencing experience. All was going great with my fencing as I was on the National Team and training for Nationals. Because there was a shortage of fencers that night at the fencing club... agreed to fence someone who asked me to fence. Soon in our bout (when i was four points ahead)...this male fencer came at me with his epee held like a dagger with the intention to INJURE! I took what felt like my last breath as he thrust his epee deep into my shoulder. I remember the attack so vividly...those seconds were one of the longest moments....time slowed down from his arm winding up to hit with all his force before he drove his blade into me.
The dolphins' death is the most agonizing...before watching their fight to the end...i have never known such suffering to exist. From their chase into the cove...to their terror of being trapped in the cove....to witnessing members of their families being killed. And right down to individual dolphins being grabbed, tied by their tail and dragged under the darkness of the tarp for their own lives to end. You think it ends there after they are almost drowned and as they flap their tails vigorously trying to escape...but the never ending nightmare continues. A fisherman winds up his arm thrusting a spike into their spine.....the dolphins are in agony and dying, yet refusing to give up on life as they thrash their tails in agony trying to take a breath through their blowholes that the fishermen have plugged.
Through these dolphins..from the one at the Whale Museum who wanted to play with me...not harboring resentment towards humans for being kept captive ...to the dolphins who looked at death and felt hopeless despair...but still.tried to swim out to freedom....even as their last breath was taken from them...I have learned to not give up and to fight...to believe in life...and dreams.
As an athlete facing many struggles and injuries....the most recent trying to overcome an injury from a Chiropractor who was listed with the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, someone who was suppose to help athletes; but who nearly paralyzed me and took me out of the running (or what i had hoped for) of making the Olympic team. My pain...anger...resentment...and nightmares of the chiro...was all i could think about for a long time as i missed an entire fencing season. But while in Japan something shifted within me...i was becoming stronger...even when i had pain at night it seemed so insignificant compared to the" fight to live", i was witnessing the dolphins struggle with.
When i returned home...i looked at the fencing schedule and saw that there is still a small fighting chance to make the team for 2012. And what the dolphins taught me is that dreams are worth fighting for....whether or not they are achieved.....it's the hard fight and being hopeful in life which matters the most.
I'm leaving for Budapest this Friday to try to get into World Cup fencing shape again...if i do; will owe any future wins to the Dolphins of Taiji. And no matter what.....will continue to do what i can to return to Taiji as much as possible with ways to promote eco-tourism and to continue to learn more about ways of helping the Dolphins.of Taiji. (www.leslie-anngervais.blogspot.com - Journey of A Canadian Athlete)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
In The Bushes.....Face to Face With A Japanese Killer Hornet
Flasback from my first year to Taiji, Japan. One of the younger generation of dolphin killers was giving me a tour of Taiji. He took me to a hiking spot which surrounds the coast line. As we walked through a trail....he grabbed me and stopped abruptly....as we backed up slowly...he was eyeing what looked to me like a Bumble Bee..told me that he thought this was a "Killer Bee".....
Fast Forward to my recent trip to Taiji.
While hiding in the bushes videoing, felt something buzzing around me. Put my camera down and what I thought was a huge Bumble Bee moved directly in front of my face. It's long transparent-like wings beating furiously, keeping it stationary like a humming bird, looking straight into my eyes. Because i was in hiding from the fishermen searching for anyone in the bushes, I could not give into my fear....which was to JUMP UP...and run out of the bushes Screaming! Instead, I was forced to lie " tete a tete" with this "strange Bee" looking deep into my eyes..After what seemed like an Eternity...it shot up and disappeared. and I resumed filming.....shortly after that, a strange wind blew through the bushes and over the water. And then sthg happened, the wind blew the tarps up which the fishermen use to hide the slaughter....and that is when i filmed some of the horror with my blurry camera.
On returning home, googled "killer bees" in Japan and discovered that the fisherman had meant "killer hornets". There is a hornet in Japan which has a powerful deadly venom which they spray into the eyes of their victims. Which would explain why the hornet idled at my eyes...feel lucky...very lucky!
From the Internet on Japanese Killer Hornets: * I did not write the following:
Why you must fear it:
It's the size of your thumb and it can spray flesh-melting poison. We really wish we were making that up for, you know, dramatic effect because goddamn, what a terrible thing a three-inch acid-shooting hornet would be, you know? Oh, hey, did we mention it shoots it into your eyes? Or that the poison also has a pheromone cocktail in it that'll call every hornet in the hive to come over and sting you until you are no longer alive?
Think you can outrun it? It can fly 50 miles in a day. It'd be nice to say something reassuring at this point, like "Don't worry, they only live on top of really tall mountains where nobody wants to live," but no, they live all over the goddamned place, including outside Tokyo.
Forty people die like that every year, each of them horribly.
:
.
Fast Forward to my recent trip to Taiji.
While hiding in the bushes videoing, felt something buzzing around me. Put my camera down and what I thought was a huge Bumble Bee moved directly in front of my face. It's long transparent-like wings beating furiously, keeping it stationary like a humming bird, looking straight into my eyes. Because i was in hiding from the fishermen searching for anyone in the bushes, I could not give into my fear....which was to JUMP UP...and run out of the bushes Screaming! Instead, I was forced to lie " tete a tete" with this "strange Bee" looking deep into my eyes..After what seemed like an Eternity...it shot up and disappeared. and I resumed filming.....shortly after that, a strange wind blew through the bushes and over the water. And then sthg happened, the wind blew the tarps up which the fishermen use to hide the slaughter....and that is when i filmed some of the horror with my blurry camera.
On returning home, googled "killer bees" in Japan and discovered that the fisherman had meant "killer hornets". There is a hornet in Japan which has a powerful deadly venom which they spray into the eyes of their victims. Which would explain why the hornet idled at my eyes...feel lucky...very lucky!
From the Internet on Japanese Killer Hornets: * I did not write the following:
Why you must fear it:
It's the size of your thumb and it can spray flesh-melting poison. We really wish we were making that up for, you know, dramatic effect because goddamn, what a terrible thing a three-inch acid-shooting hornet would be, you know? Oh, hey, did we mention it shoots it into your eyes? Or that the poison also has a pheromone cocktail in it that'll call every hornet in the hive to come over and sting you until you are no longer alive?
Think you can outrun it? It can fly 50 miles in a day. It'd be nice to say something reassuring at this point, like "Don't worry, they only live on top of really tall mountains where nobody wants to live," but no, they live all over the goddamned place, including outside Tokyo.
Forty people die like that every year, each of them horribly.
.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Re: Orca Capture In Japan....A Letter of Concern by Nicolas Entrup
On January 14/11, while in Taiji, Japan, I asked a film maker if he knew how Nami, the Orca was doing. Had seen her last year at the Whale Museum in Taiji; but she had since been sold to the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. Was told that she had died that very day, January 14th. Thought it strange that I should enquire about her on the very day that she died; so I did a little research on Orcas in Captivity and came across this very well written "letter of concern by Nicolas Entrup"
Mr. Entrup says"that even though the letter is many years old, many of the aspects are still valid and it includes very useful information. we definitely need to watch out whether the institutions in Japan do also look for new orca being captured and brought into captivity".
*While I was in Taiji, was told that a permit had been issued for ten Orca capture this year....but, have not been able to verify this information.
*Found this info on FB "Stop the Wild Orca Capture":Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Taiji town mayor, announced his plan to capture more orcas and send them to Dalian and Beijing for more "scientific research" to improve relations between Japan and China.
He expects that the governments of the two countries will permit and support this orca-trade.
*Another report by Mark Bramberry of Taiji Action Group on FB is that no permits have been issued in Taiji for Orca Capture
Orca capture in Japan - violation against Convention on Biological Diversity (CoBD)? (by Nicolas Entrup)
While international conventions as e.g. the Convention on Biological Diversity are signed by several countries, it is very questionable if the actual capture of the ten orcas in Taiji, Japan, is in agreement with that Convention.It is my understanding that the capture of 5 orcas was permitted by the Japanese Fisheries Agency for scientific research". Olivier Fabre of REUTER`S writes within his MARMAM message that an official of the Izumito Sea Paradise, which has rights to one of the two whales still awaiting transfer, said they purchased their female for breeding purposes". Fabre quotes: At Izumito we are currently raising a male killer whale, and we are interested in breeding,'' said Masatoshi Mano, head of public relations".
Therefore there are two arguments given to justify the capture.
1. BREEDING PURPOSE
2. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
To capture an orca for a captive breeding program is within the CoBD a purpose for an Ex-Situ measure. Criteria for Ex-Situ Conservation are listed under Article 9. Therefore basic criteria for any Ex-Situ program is that it is predominantly for the purpose of complementing In-Situ (protection within their natural habitat) measures. Are there any In-Situ measure steps undertaken by Japan to protect Orca within their natural habitat ? Are there any In-Situ measure steps undertaken by Japan to protect that specific Orca Pod ? If not, taking these orcas are not fullfilling the basic criteria of the CoBD.
Further it is important to look at Article 9 (d) which states regulate and manage collection of biological resources from natural habitats for ex-situ conservation purposes so as not to threaten ecosystems and in-situ populations of species, except where special temporary ex-situ measures are required under subparagraph (c) which states adopt measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species and for their reintroduction into their natural habitats under appropriate conditions".
Orca Pods are sighted infrequently in Japanese waters. The size of the population is unknown but probably very small. Destroying even one orca family could cause great harm to the Japanese orca population. It is my understanding that NO scientific evaluation of this specific pod and the Japanese Orca population has been done before granting the permit for the capture and before the capture itself. The capture of almost a whole pod will cause extinction or even do enormous harm to this pod. Such an operation is a threat to the In-Situ population and therefore violates against the CoBD.
It is my understanding that till today NO research application has been made by any of the involved dolphinariums. So we have to look at the argument that the orcas got captured for breeding purpose".
As an Ex-Situ measure has to complement In-Situ measures I assume that the captive breeding population and so the programs must be self-sustaining. Several amusement parks and zoological gardens argue that their breeding programs are self-sustaining. Therefore I would like to know why they have to capture orcas from the wild if these programs are successful? Having a look at the reproduction of captive orcas in Japan we have to face the fact that two birth have been recorded. One calf survived about 10 days (conceived in the wild) and one live birth which died the same day. To start (!) talking about a successful captive breeding program assume that the captive population breed regularly in the second and third generation and then it is still critical if the population is self-sustaining. As reproduction of captive orcas is NOT self-sustaining, captive facilities are no valid Ex-Situ measures!
Looking at the statistics of already captured Orcas within japanese waters and taken for amusement parks or zoos, an extremely high mortality rate is fact. From about 14 captured Orcas 11 are already dead.
Regarding Artcile 9.c, we have to be aware that till today NO amusement park or zoological garden has ever released an orca back to its natural habitat.
Summarizing the listed facts I personally come to the conclusion that the actual capture of Orcas in Japan violates against CoBD and has to be stopped. To minimize the damage which is already been done to the wild population these animals has to get immediately released back to the wild and measure steps implemented to protect Orcinus Orca in Japanese waters.
I ask the zoological gardens and amusement parks to dissociate officially from such operations! Also I ask the Japanese authorities to revoke the permit which was given to capture five Orcas and release the captured animals.
Monday, January 24, 2011
A Torturous death
One can vaguely make out the fishermen holding the spikes that they are about to drive into the dolphins.
Sound of Flapping Tails Scream of Agony
The dolphins are being brutaly murdered under the tarps by fishermen driving spikes into their blowholes, resulting in a slow agonizing death. Even the birds are feeling the dolphins' suffering.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
"Fish don't talk"
Dolphins love to play...and so do i...in the wild, dolphins bond through play. I spent half my day playing with the dolphins at the Taiji Whale Musuem...running back and forth with them like a twelve year old. It was great fun! Each time i stopped to take a breather...one of the bottlenose dolphins would come up to me and chat. The dolphin knew that I had no fish to give....so the chat was more about friendship. At one point i reached my arm over and my dolphin friend turned on it's back as if to say "do not be afraid, you can rub my belly"... and it was a sweet gesture of trust; a remarkable act of forgiveness towards humans. Please see video below...where my dolphin friend does one of his/her chats to me in between our play sessions...as though saying "Do not stop! Let's keep playing!".
While having breakfast at my hotel in Osaka, Japan, on my way to the airport, I chatted with the hotel's chef. We talked about the depletion of the oceans...he mentioned that when he calls in orders of sea food that sometimes they are unable to deliver the quantity of sea food that the restaurant needs. The chef asked me a question as i was leaving...."sorry to ask; but, what makes dolphins different from just another fish?".
Update On The Little Striped Dolphin
I have reluctantly left Taiji, Japan, stayed as long as I could financially....now in California on my way home. I have footage and photos that i will be adding soon from my stay in Taiji, Japan. While i can no longer check in on the little striped dolphin myself......some friends still in Taiji will be doing so for me. So i will report back here on the latest. So far....the little striped dolphin is still hanging in there, a testament to it's "will to live"......and now in a tank with the bottlenose dolphins. Credit must go to the Whale Museum, if this little one survives, as it is extremely difficult to keep striped dolphins alive in captivity due to their refusal to eat.
Please see video below...of when the two striped dolphins were taken into captivity. I had mentioned to a friend that day..."one looked stronger than the other". Sadly three days later one of the striped dolphins died...depressed, traumatized.....and of starvation as it refused to eat.
Please see video below...of when the two striped dolphins were taken into captivity. I had mentioned to a friend that day..."one looked stronger than the other". Sadly three days later one of the striped dolphins died...depressed, traumatized.....and of starvation as it refused to eat.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Taiji Dolphins' Tails Tied Under Tarp
I apologize for the poor quality of this video; but my camera which I am not too familiar with was trying to focus on the leaves of the bushes which surrounded me.
Horrific deaths
As i write, my hands still shake from the horror. Saw things that will haunt me for life. The dolphins are not killed swiftly without excruciating pain...they are taken from life....fighting...breathing hard....bleeding....screaming...and flapping their tails in extreme agony. Like any family....and friends, they also tried to help each other and sticking together. I wish they were mean to humans....but they are such innocent gentle souls which are taken advantage of. When the fishermen came for them...part of the family tried to hide and to escape around the rocks before they were dragged away. I have never seen this kind of brutality or terror in a being. The brave harpooners from the past would be horrified at what this practise has evolved into...the mass suffering.... the mass killings.
My camera lens was blury because i was around bushes and had trouble focussing in with my lens....but i filmed what i could.
Update on the missing Juvenile dolphin
Sad news: It is unlikely that the young striped dolphin is living...and now the other little one swims alone awaiting comfort...with it's family brutaly killed. Earlier today, they introduced a pacific white sided dolphin for campanionship....with the white sided dolphin making noises swimming around the little one. Then the white sided dolphin was removed...perhaps they need more visits with each other until they become friends. The little striped dolphin remains in the pen swimming alone and scared.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Missing Dolphin
One of the two striped dolphins from the Whale Museum is missing. There is speculation that it may be in quarantine being force fed. In an earlier blog I mentioned how they were not eating, in spite of the efforts of the dolphin trainers...sadly, striped dolphins have a history of not surviving long in captivity. Will keep you posted on this little one's condition.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Simulating Ocean Waves in a Tiny Space
Spent some time alone with the bottle nosed dolphins at the Taiji Whale Museum.... made friends....ran with them...and they let me in to their secret world when no one was around. Dolphins have amazing imaginations...and they are magicians! They shared with me how they can turn a tiny little pen into their own little wavy ocean. Some people say that they would rather be killed with their family than taken into captivity to die a slow death. I can understand this...but i see that every dolphin there makes an effort to comfort each other...and to struggle to live and to find happiness in the smallest of ways.
This last week has been tough....there is no sleeping in Taiji....in fact, will probably never sleep an entire night for awhile after witnessing the horror and loss of many of my sea friends. The pain of this loss has ripple effects throughout Taiji....the mental health of men who kill the dolphins and the people who bear witness. Tuesday, two baby dolphins were taken to the Taiji whale museum...after their mothers were brutaly killed. The babies are terrified...not swimming correctly...and weak as they are not eating and lost without their mothers. It appears that they are striped dolphins. Striped dolphins are known for not doing well in captivity...they usually refuse to eat and die within a couple weeks:(
On this day i had passed a note to free the babies and mothers....but it was ignored. Instead, the trainers at the Whale museum are having to try to get these babies stable before they die. At one point it looked like one of the babies ate a fish...and the trainers all clapped their hands in relief. In fact, one of the trainers even shed a tear of happiness.....i could see that some of the trainers gathered around the babies with empathy of their trauma as right now they need special attention. Howerver, without their mothers' love at this fragile age, they may not survive...or may not want to survive.
Update: Apparently they are not babies; but very young dolphins.... the striped dolphin is a smaller species than the bottle nose.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
This morning when i heard that the boats went out again....really did not have the emotional strength, but returned to Taiji again in an exhausted daze. Not sure how the fishermen are able to put themselves through this....day in, day out, driving and killing dolphin families.....this has to affect one's mental health when causing such suffering to intelligent beings, the dolphin people.
Arrived too late at the Cove, the fishermen had already driven in another pod of dolphins...and the boats were already going into the Cove to begin the slaughter. Friends of mine were returning to the hotel...and since i felt sick to my stomache knowing what was about to occur...and had to leave. Believe in witnessing their valient struggles to live; but not sure of the ethics in witnessing the actual killing(not that we can really see the slaughter)....remember last year, how one of the dolphin killers enjoyed my distress. Later heard that four dolphins tried to escape (they have to know what is about to happen)....jumping up onto the rocks...injuring themselves and suffering a slow painful death.
Arrived too late at the Cove, the fishermen had already driven in another pod of dolphins...and the boats were already going into the Cove to begin the slaughter. Friends of mine were returning to the hotel...and since i felt sick to my stomache knowing what was about to occur...and had to leave. Believe in witnessing their valient struggles to live; but not sure of the ethics in witnessing the actual killing(not that we can really see the slaughter)....remember last year, how one of the dolphin killers enjoyed my distress. Later heard that four dolphins tried to escape (they have to know what is about to happen)....jumping up onto the rocks...injuring themselves and suffering a slow painful death.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Running through Taiji..racing the clock of death
Yesterday morning, awoke to news that striped dolphins were being driven in to the cove. Was given a ride to Taiji by a friend. Ran up the steps of the cliff which overlooked the pod that were trapped. I could see small fins swimming tightly with their mothers....and could hear them taking panicky breaths. I knew from the last family of dolphns killed...that i would have to act quickly to TRY to save them.
The other night, had a note translated for me from English to Japanese...which read "Please spare the lives of the mothers and babies". Wanted to give this to the fishermen's union in hopes that they would consider my plea. So started to run along the sidewalk...towards the union. A car passed by....passed again...then again. This time i waved. They pulled over....and I approached the car recognizing one of the men as a coast guard who had asked for my passport earlier. He got out of the car...opened the back door...insisting for me to get in. Knew i had done nothing to be arrested for...and do not believe that coast guards arrest anyways. So was not sure why he wanted me in the car. More than likely, he was trying to insist upon me not walking, alone. The second time i said "no"...he said "Please!"..waving me to get in while i was nodding NO...and said "sorry, i do not get in cars with strangers". A Japanese family stopped, looking my way with concern and then they left.
Continued jogging over to the fishermen's union. Running along the sidewalk with my note, passing many local people...almost everyone smiled saying"hello". Almost like running a marathon with people encouraging me to continue. By the time i drew nearer, i was tiring and having trouble getting enough air (it has been awhile since i ran like that). Just before the harbor near the fishermen's union, i had to stop and catch some air, could not breathe...with that, had visions of myself as a dolphin being speared and then dying of suffocation...( later found out that's about when the dolphins were being killed...the fishermen paralyze and then suffocate them by blocking their blow hole).
I found myself running up to someone around the corner of the fishermen's union....and showed him my note. He told me he was only a fishermen...and pointed me in the right direction on where i could drop it off. I went to the other end of a building which ended up being the dolphin slaughter house. Two men came out...and i respectfully approached them with my note. I was standing at the edge of the slaughter house...trying to show my note to two men smoking as they waited the arrival of the dolphin carcasses. Their eyes were glazed over not wanting to look at my note. I found no hope...or consideration in my plea to spare the lives of the mother's and the babies so i left.
On my way back, decided to that i would drop off the note to the Taiji Mayor office. Entered and took a seat beside a lady to await my turn...wanted to be ultra respectful...as the office has been hassled in the past with no result. I was not there to video...to create drama...or confrontation. When someone was available i passed along my note. She and a gentleman took my note...and we all bowed to each other as i left quietly.
When i returned to the cove discoved the entire family of dolphins were killed:( And that two babies were ripped from the family and taken into captivity(but they were at least alive). I also heard that one dolphin jumped the net...and got away...but swam away oddly...it's fin staggering. Another upsetting report was that...one dolphin was so scared...it jumped onto rocks breaching and injuring itself....shaking, then dying on the rocks. Was told that when a fisherman pulled it into the water by the tail, the dolphin sank to the bottom....
Today was a difficult day.
The majority of the people who live here are loving and thoughtful. Taiji would be one of my most favourite places in the world if not for all this bloodshed:(
A Mermaid and Wild Dolphins
Spend time riding around on a bike...going to the onsens...and meeting local people. Every day i spend here, falling more in love with the community....as they begin to accept me more and more.
There are many people with organizations who have come and gone in just the short time i have been here. Have made some good friends among those like-minded about wanting to understand the people and their way of life...to help the dolphins and the community.
A local invited me to drop by his coffee shop. So stopped by with another girl staying here...who is very sweet and introduced her to him. He made us fresh coffee and we enjoyed chatting with him...learning about what it is like to grow up here...and he shared with us that he does not eat dolphin. And his dream is to one day see "wild dolphin watching" tour boats gliding amongst wild dolphins just outside the harbour. He even drew us a picture of his vision. He said he would also love to have a statue of a mermaid overlooking the dolphins...and laughed saying..."you, mermaid, you, mermaid!". And he went on to say that i could feed fish to the wild dolphins. My friend who lives in Autralia then spoke of an Island off Australia which is a tourist attraction, because of the wild dolphins and people feed them fish. And I mentioned how funny that he should talk about a mermaid statue...because while staying in San Clemente, California, i stumbled upon a "mermaid/with dolphins" statue outside a coffee shop i went to each morning...and each time i walked by, it felt like the mermaid was bekoning me to return to Taiji. I like to believe that many other locals share his dream.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A Sad Day In Taiji
This morning rushed to a lookout point...the banger boats were out...and driving in two dolphin families. One family of bottle nosed dolphins were being pushed into the slaughtering cove...while another family of Risso dolphins were being chased out at sea.
So emotionally exhausting...watching one family fight to escape and another being manipulated easily to what ultimately would be into a death trap. I jumped in a car from the lookout point....to go to the cove. Felt panicky, as though, I too, were being driven into the cove.
On reaching the cove... hiked up to a cliff....trying to see what was what. At the top, I looked down on a family of terrified bottle nosed dolphins swimming tightly together. They would surface for air gasping with exhaustion. I felt ill...and could barely breathe myself, knowing this family would never be together again. Just as i began to film with my iphone, saw legs under the trees walking towards me....fishermen i thought, and it was a little scary. But when two Sea Shepherd people appeared...breathed a sigh of relief. A girl from Sea Shepherd said they would probably be killed soon. Last year, I saw that they would keep them over night...now they kill them shortly after they are driven in. Some of the organizations travel in pairs and have walkie talkies....a good idea i suppose..as my life was in danger last year, after finding decapitating booby traps...intended for me (given i was the only one here...and on the path i took). However, this time, the police, coast guards, dolphin groups were around...and that was nice to know. My deep fear and sickness, however, was for the lives of the dolphins. While hiking back down the cliff, passed fishermen on their way up to where I had left the Sea Shepherd crew.
A police officer approached me...asking for my passport...which was back at the hotel. He said that I was breaking Japanese law by not having it on my person. Told him that i had no idea it was against the law...and that i would be worried about carrying it in case I lost it. And showed him how I carry everything in tiny pockets and i think he understood. We came to an agreement that i would carry my driver's license with me instead. Then asked the police officer if the mothers and babies could be spared...he told me that is not part of his job.....it was out of his hands.
Went to the other cliff in Tsunami Park and encountered a fisherman guarding the area. I knew that the dolphins' time was coming to an end...and that was why he was guarding the area. I tried to talk to him about the mothers and babies; but do not think he understood English....and with the way he looked at me i knew I was barking at the wind. So i went back down the cliff...back towards the cove. Passing a man watching me from a truck.
I put my head down on the fence...feeling hopeless and helpless. Soon people were leaving....cars pulling out and i knew it was too late....
Was soon approached by a man wearing a coast guard t-shirt. He asked if my name was "Leslie-Ann Gervais...the fencer". I asked him how he knew this...he said "internet". He asked me some questions...how long are you here for? Are the fishermen giving you trouble? I said "No"...told him how much i loved dolphins...that as a surfer, I was often out on the water with them. And he seemed to care about dolphins too! We shared a chat about how they love to play and swim alongside and under boats. While still chatting...the boats started to emerge from the cove...gathering up some netting...tried to carry on my conversation with him... holding back tears. He saw me struggling and then I believe that i saw that....he was holding back tears as well.
So emotionally exhausting...watching one family fight to escape and another being manipulated easily to what ultimately would be into a death trap. I jumped in a car from the lookout point....to go to the cove. Felt panicky, as though, I too, were being driven into the cove.
On reaching the cove... hiked up to a cliff....trying to see what was what. At the top, I looked down on a family of terrified bottle nosed dolphins swimming tightly together. They would surface for air gasping with exhaustion. I felt ill...and could barely breathe myself, knowing this family would never be together again. Just as i began to film with my iphone, saw legs under the trees walking towards me....fishermen i thought, and it was a little scary. But when two Sea Shepherd people appeared...breathed a sigh of relief. A girl from Sea Shepherd said they would probably be killed soon. Last year, I saw that they would keep them over night...now they kill them shortly after they are driven in. Some of the organizations travel in pairs and have walkie talkies....a good idea i suppose..as my life was in danger last year, after finding decapitating booby traps...intended for me (given i was the only one here...and on the path i took). However, this time, the police, coast guards, dolphin groups were around...and that was nice to know. My deep fear and sickness, however, was for the lives of the dolphins. While hiking back down the cliff, passed fishermen on their way up to where I had left the Sea Shepherd crew.
A police officer approached me...asking for my passport...which was back at the hotel. He said that I was breaking Japanese law by not having it on my person. Told him that i had no idea it was against the law...and that i would be worried about carrying it in case I lost it. And showed him how I carry everything in tiny pockets and i think he understood. We came to an agreement that i would carry my driver's license with me instead. Then asked the police officer if the mothers and babies could be spared...he told me that is not part of his job.....it was out of his hands.
Went to the other cliff in Tsunami Park and encountered a fisherman guarding the area. I knew that the dolphins' time was coming to an end...and that was why he was guarding the area. I tried to talk to him about the mothers and babies; but do not think he understood English....and with the way he looked at me i knew I was barking at the wind. So i went back down the cliff...back towards the cove. Passing a man watching me from a truck.
I put my head down on the fence...feeling hopeless and helpless. Soon people were leaving....cars pulling out and i knew it was too late....
Was soon approached by a man wearing a coast guard t-shirt. He asked if my name was "Leslie-Ann Gervais...the fencer". I asked him how he knew this...he said "internet". He asked me some questions...how long are you here for? Are the fishermen giving you trouble? I said "No"...told him how much i loved dolphins...that as a surfer, I was often out on the water with them. And he seemed to care about dolphins too! We shared a chat about how they love to play and swim alongside and under boats. While still chatting...the boats started to emerge from the cove...gathering up some netting...tried to carry on my conversation with him... holding back tears. He saw me struggling and then I believe that i saw that....he was holding back tears as well.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Little Taiji History
The Whalers of Taiji began to use harpoons in the 12th Century; before that people had to depend on whales washing ashore. During the mid 1800's, Western Nations moved in, decimating the coastal whale populations and wasting so much of the whales; like the sealers of Canada who take just the fur pelts from the seal pups they slaughter while the Inuit people of the North waste nothing . The people of Taiji looked on with the same horror that we now do when we witness the dolphin slaughter. They turned to the pilot whales and other cetaceans for their survival.
From the Internet: "By 1822, thirty ships were whaling off Japan. By 1846, together with Russian, British, Dutch and French ships, as well as the big American whaling fleet, there were seven hundred or more vessels hunting off Japan, killing right whales, humpback whales, grey whales and sperm whales in great numbers. However, unlike the shore-based Japanese, the foreign ships had no use for meat or bones, and certainly not for entrails. They killed for oil, baleen, and what little ivory came from the sperm whales. To the Japanese, the wastage of those years is a horror story."
But I feel certain that the dolphin drive must be replaced with something...such as Eco Tourism built around such local attractions as the Dolphin families swimming by, Onsens, Surfing, Kayaking, Hiking, the rugged beauty of the area, and much more. There are now roads and rail lines into Taiji; the people no longer need to depend strictly upon the sea for survival, if they have alternative employment. In my opinion traditions should revolve and evolve around keeping nature in balance...Ninja philosophy is "harmony with nature". And if Organizations from the West can offer a helping hand; all the sooner the dolphin killings will end. While surfing Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa....would awake at dawn and marvel at all the different species of dolphins and whales breaking the surface....making life more beautiful.
But I feel certain that the dolphin drive must be replaced with something...such as Eco Tourism built around such local attractions as the Dolphin families swimming by, Onsens, Surfing, Kayaking, Hiking, the rugged beauty of the area, and much more. There are now roads and rail lines into Taiji; the people no longer need to depend strictly upon the sea for survival, if they have alternative employment. In my opinion traditions should revolve and evolve around keeping nature in balance...Ninja philosophy is "harmony with nature". And if Organizations from the West can offer a helping hand; all the sooner the dolphin killings will end. While surfing Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa....would awake at dawn and marvel at all the different species of dolphins and whales breaking the surface....making life more beautiful.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Another Day In Taiji
Today was another dolphin free kill day! Rumour has it that the Fishermen are on holiday until January 3rd.
Went to Shingu (a city close to Taiji) yesterday for some Indian food at the mall....later stopped by the grocery store. Interesting to walk around trying to make out what some of the foods are. Came across what looked like dove birds?
Went to Shingu (a city close to Taiji) yesterday for some Indian food at the mall....later stopped by the grocery store. Interesting to walk around trying to make out what some of the foods are. Came across what looked like dove birds?
Myself and the "Eyes on Taiji" crew jumped into the freezing Cove water for a swim at Dusk...feeding time for sharks(a very large Great White has been caught at least once in Taiji waters). The deeper I swam into the Cove the darker and scarier the water. Someone knowing my fears about sharks grabbed my ankle...my scream was probably heard throughout Taiji. Soon we noticed vehicles pulling over...we began to think that maybe we should swim back as we were not looking for trouble. They(?) were obviously finding our winter ocean swim...in the Cove...at night, a little suspicious, oops, we had unintentionally set off alarm bells! When we walked to the parking lot, we saw a truck with dark tinted windows.....we were being watched! We drove off wondering if we were being followed; so a quick left turn was made by the driver. We went to an Onsen to thaw out and later I accidently referred to the Cove as "the Cold".
Yesterday morning, peeked into the Tuna Factory. When the fishermen and workers saw me they crossed their arms, strong body language that was saying "no visitors!". They were packing Huge tuna in coffin-like boxes and covering them with ice. A young guy came up to chat...which then drew in the other fishermen which led to a private tour; but did not want to take any photos out of respect for their wishes. Later, the young fisherman walked me to my hotel...so he could practice his English. He asked me questions about surfing....and i asked him if he has ever tried it. He told me that he can not afford a surfboard or wetsuit: but that he really wants to surf. When we reached my hotel...he said "you're staying here?". Then one of the Dolphin Organizations at the hotel walked by and I said "hello" to them. He said "your friends?" ...he went red and left soon after.
Walked around town later that day...bought a coffee at the train station, but the lady who sold it to me was a bit funny. Remembered she was a little funny last year as well....like she did not want to do business with me. Went into several shops around there and could still feel her eyes closely watching me.
Later that afternoon, walking out from my hotel, ran into the young fisherman again...and he asked if I would like to join him Monday to see a shark. Hopefully he is not planning to feed me to one:)...however, it was nice of him to ask and I said yes...think he is happy to have the opportunity to practice his English...and I am curious about this shark!.
Walking to the store....noticed a man sitting in a wagon-like car, starring as I passed by. Then he got out and I could feel him tailing me. Went to a store at the train station to buy some snacks....and when I came out, he was talking to the lady whom I had bought the coffee from earlier and looking my way.
*This morning, when I bought my coffee, the lady at the train station was very nice...even telling me that I was not dressed warm enough...told her that I was Canadian, so it was OK. Maybe she just had to get to know me a little better. As I was saying before, many people here do initially put their guard up with foreigners.
*This morning, when I bought my coffee, the lady at the train station was very nice...even telling me that I was not dressed warm enough...told her that I was Canadian, so it was OK. Maybe she just had to get to know me a little better. As I was saying before, many people here do initially put their guard up with foreigners.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Yesterday's Morning, Afternoon and Evening In Taiji
Yesterday morning went to check the Cove with the" Eyes on Taiji" organization....They have been very helpful to me here...last year, I was having to take taxis which are expensive! Today we are at the tenth day of no boats going out looking for dolphin families to kill!
Yesterday, went for a long bike ride to a surf spot. Must remind myself often when crossing the street that the cars drive on the opposite side of the road here. The surf spot was flat...so decided to slip into my wetsuit and go for a quick dip into the freezing ocean.
A path leading to a vantage point over the Ocean
This is the vantage point from which we can see dolphins being driven into the Cove
Yesterday, went for a long bike ride to a surf spot. Must remind myself often when crossing the street that the cars drive on the opposite side of the road here. The surf spot was flat...so decided to slip into my wetsuit and go for a quick dip into the freezing ocean.
Then biked over to the harbour where the tuna factory is....passed by all these fishermen...among them I recognized one of the dolphin killers who had been assigned to stick with me last year while the slaughter was happening. He was standing there with other fishermen laughing and chatting about me. Wonder if he remembered me from last year, if so, he was probably entertaining them by mentioning how like a Ninja, I was moving from bush to bush, trying to hide up on the cliff that overlooks the Cove....not realizing that they were watching my every move in a camouflaged shed......believe, he is one of the few who can speak English.
On a lighter note, mentioned the Onsen which is in a cave at a hotel to the "Eyes On Taiji" organization. After dinner, they decided that they would like to check it out; so led them to the harbour where we waited to catch a boat to the hotel. Had to laugh a little at their uncertainty about my leadership. As we waited in the dark for the boat, I pointed out across the water as to which hotel we were heading for. Have only gone to this Onsen Hotel during the day..so it looked a little different at night with all the hotels lite up in the distance. However; assured them that the boat would take us to the right one. When the boat arrived, we all jumped aboard...mentioned this was a different boat and that I preferred the other one. On docking...we all jumped out....then told everyone to jump back on! It was the wrong hotel! The Captain did not speak English, but when we said "Onsen" he motioned that the hotel had an Onsen. It was their first Onsen experience...and after we bought our tickets we were given the tiniest towels! More like face cloths! We then went our separate ways (men and women separate) and i was left laughing thinking about their looks of apprehension.
View of the Harbour with Dolphin pens in the distance
Monday, December 27, 2010
Hanging with Taiji locals
I am second from left. Hanging with locals from Taiji and Kii-Katsuura!
Some residents in Taiji and the surrounding area put their guard up when they see Westeners. Perhaps they have had some activists here who have behaved very aggressively over the dolphin drive issue. It is horrifying what happens here...but controlling one's anger and channeling it in a constructive way is perhaps a better approach; so that we do not alienate local people who are also against the slaughter. The community is tangled up in a very messy issue and to help the dolphins I think it is important to be sensitive to the local people as well; the people and the dolphins are interconnected. In the future, (I prefer to be optimistic) many dolphins are going to have depend upon the goodwill of the people of this community, not on the few of us who come and go.
Last night I met up with some local friends. We went to a popular restaurant in town for dinner....I always ate here last year as they made me feel at home and at one point, they were the only restaurant in town who would serve me.
As soon as we entered, everyone turned to look our way...was hoping to go unnoticed....but as soon as I whisper anything in English, all heads turn.
As we looked at the menu (I pretended to look...do not read Japanese) my friend's husband looked at me deeply, slightly smiling, trying to find his English words. Our table of four waited for him to speak...he then blurted out "do you like whale meat?". My jaw dropped in disbelief that he was asking me such a thing! I may as well been shot in the heart with my expression on being asked such a thing. Not sure if his wife mentioned my position on this. Or if he was amusing himself with my feelings on this issue..however, his wife became very upset with him....expressing very loudly that she was not impressed with his behaviour. This caused a little stir in the restaurant and the restaurant owners threw over a glance of concern. To have my friend speak up for all to hear against eating whale meat in a Taiji restaurant made me very proud of her.
We then went on to order a bounty of vegetarian dishes which were sumptuously delicious. Before leaving the restaurant, the owners chatted with our group and my friend translated that the son of the restaurant owner said that " he remembers you from last year and that you are invited back anytime...and that he will prepare for you many vegetarian dishes".
Onsen Hopping
Would like to start my blog with good news...apparently this is now the seventh day that no dolphins have been driven into the cove! Taiji is so wildly beautiful when it goes into this peaceful state. This place has nature's power to become so much...if only....
Decided to spend time in the medicinal hot springs today. It is said that the Onsens of Kii-Katsuura are on par with the Onsens of Shirahama which has built a booming tourist trade around their Onsens. I believe Eco-Tourism is what will help to save the dolphins in the end (Shirahama used to hunt dolphins too)...also tourism helped to save the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, which were on the verge of extinction, along with the anti-poaching patrols put in place by Dian Fossey. After lunch...walked over to the harbour to catch a boat to the Onsens. Last year while in Taiji, would take this same walking route often and again I wave to some of the local store owners as I pass by. My favourite are the three cute ladies who wave to me from my favourite bakery.
Hopped off the boat at the hotel. This hotel is huge and has many hot springs to choose from. After I paid my ten dollar fee, was told that I could try all the hot springs if I wished; so, went straight to the most popular onsen...under a cave looking out onto the Pacific Ocean. The hotel is like a maze; had to walk about a mile before finding the second onsen...smaller and more private. After missing the boat back, I decided to try the onsen on the top floor overlooking the ocean...took the six minute escalator to the top of the hotel. The view from the onsen was breathtakingly awesome. Beauty products were scattered about for the women...shampoos, conditioners, body soaps, face soaps, foot creams, skin creams, etc. Of course, I wanted to try everything...need it! Except, was unable to read the Japanese labels. A girl laughed because I was soaping myself up with conditioner...thinking it was body soap...and washing my hair with face soap!
On leaving, I entered the elevator with a nice Japanese family. The young boy was beaming, hugging a stuffed dolphin doll. His eyes were shining....I know the look, a certain look of when you have fallen in love with an animal. Guessing that he had just come from the Taiji Whale Museum.
Believe this boy would be ecstatic if he could see dolphins swimming free in the wild!
Decided to spend time in the medicinal hot springs today. It is said that the Onsens of Kii-Katsuura are on par with the Onsens of Shirahama which has built a booming tourist trade around their Onsens. I believe Eco-Tourism is what will help to save the dolphins in the end (Shirahama used to hunt dolphins too)...also tourism helped to save the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, which were on the verge of extinction, along with the anti-poaching patrols put in place by Dian Fossey. After lunch...walked over to the harbour to catch a boat to the Onsens. Last year while in Taiji, would take this same walking route often and again I wave to some of the local store owners as I pass by. My favourite are the three cute ladies who wave to me from my favourite bakery.
Hopped off the boat at the hotel. This hotel is huge and has many hot springs to choose from. After I paid my ten dollar fee, was told that I could try all the hot springs if I wished; so, went straight to the most popular onsen...under a cave looking out onto the Pacific Ocean. The hotel is like a maze; had to walk about a mile before finding the second onsen...smaller and more private. After missing the boat back, I decided to try the onsen on the top floor overlooking the ocean...took the six minute escalator to the top of the hotel. The view from the onsen was breathtakingly awesome. Beauty products were scattered about for the women...shampoos, conditioners, body soaps, face soaps, foot creams, skin creams, etc. Of course, I wanted to try everything...need it! Except, was unable to read the Japanese labels. A girl laughed because I was soaping myself up with conditioner...thinking it was body soap...and washing my hair with face soap!
On leaving, I entered the elevator with a nice Japanese family. The young boy was beaming, hugging a stuffed dolphin doll. His eyes were shining....I know the look, a certain look of when you have fallen in love with an animal. Guessing that he had just come from the Taiji Whale Museum.
Believe this boy would be ecstatic if he could see dolphins swimming free in the wild!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Taiji Bound - Day Two
Was wide awake at 4AM because of the time change. Went upstairs for breakfast buffet, which cost 25 dollars..over priced; so decided not to stay. While leaving a Chef came out to speak with me. He is an Australian who has been living in Japan for four years. When i asked what brought him to Japan...he told me his wife. Told him that "I thought Japanese women were very beautiful".. guessing.the onsens are one of their beauty secrets. He asked what brought me to japan and I told him the dolphins...he said "Oh...you're going to Taiji...are you going to say STOP! STOP!?". Wish it were that simple I said.
The hotel let me keep my board bag in their storage area until i return to Osaka...to help lighten my load. Some attendants at the train station helped me put my luggage on the train. Scoured the coast line for surfers, during my four hour train ride...did not see one! In fact the ocean looked flat....not to mention COLD. Seeing surfers catching waves gives me the same excitement as seeing dolphins swimming free.
Now checked into my Taiji hotel. There are two Organizations here...everyone is really cool. "Eyes on Taiji. Org" kindly invited me over for some food they had cooked up.
Later, went to a tiny onsen around the corner. Now getting ready for bed...
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas from Osaka!
After my grueling long 12 hour flight...collected my luggage....a large suitcase, a carry on suitcase and my surfboard bag. Able to mannage all this on a cart; but it was a struggle outside the airport. Brought back memories of last year...lugging my suitcases around the train station in Taiji and a kind guy offered to help....the "kind gentleman", I was later to discover, was linked to the dolphin killings.
Once I had pushed my cart through the airport door....a cold wind almost knocked me over. Too late to leave my surfboard behind which United Airlines charged me $200.00 to bring.
After checking into my hotel in Osaka, waltzed over to a nearby outdoor mall. Was told that I would find an onsen there and it was amazing....about 5 hot springs and two saunas. In one sauna, you rub salt all over your body which gives you silky smooth skin. And the other sauna has these amazing white heavenly soft carpets to lie on....it was so relaxing. You may also watch TV while in the sauna.
On the way out, noticed other interesting rooms. One in which you lie on hot salted stones. Will have to try that next time!
Now time to think about how I will get all my luggage with me tomorrow on the train to Taiji.
But, maybe worry about that tomorrow....,
Once I had pushed my cart through the airport door....a cold wind almost knocked me over. Too late to leave my surfboard behind which United Airlines charged me $200.00 to bring.
After checking into my hotel in Osaka, waltzed over to a nearby outdoor mall. Was told that I would find an onsen there and it was amazing....about 5 hot springs and two saunas. In one sauna, you rub salt all over your body which gives you silky smooth skin. And the other sauna has these amazing white heavenly soft carpets to lie on....it was so relaxing. You may also watch TV while in the sauna.
On the way out, noticed other interesting rooms. One in which you lie on hot salted stones. Will have to try that next time!
Now time to think about how I will get all my luggage with me tomorrow on the train to Taiji.
But, maybe worry about that tomorrow....,
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Mohawk Council Seeks To End Seal Hunt - UN Wants Global Network To Strengthen Indigenous Rights
TRADITIONAL MOHAWK COUNCIL SUPPORTS BILL TO END CANADIAN SEAL HUNT
Monday March 23, 2009
CANADIAN TAX DOLLARS FUND MASS SLAUGHTER OF MARINE MAMMALS
For over thirty years the Government of Canada has funded and endorsed the largest mass slaughter of marine mammals in the world. The annual Seal “hunt” taking place off the Atlantic coast is a cruel and unjustifiable abuse of Canadian tax dollars.
The Government of Canada is unwilling to admit their incompetency in providing safe and sustainable forms of employment for people living in these provinces. As a result, the atrocious acts against the seals continue in the form of “democrapitalism”.
Canada hides behind a democratic process adding to the misconception that Canadian citizens are in support of the barbaric “hunt” while the true culprit is capitalism protected by democracy. This is causing all humanity to sink to the subhuman behavior which is destroying the Earth and the necessary life forms that live upon her.
Many countries have recognized the cruelty of the hunt. Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Mexico, Panama, Russia, Ireland and the United States have all either banned seal products or made moves to do so, adding to Canada’s shame on a global level.Native people of Turtle Island have also become a scapegoat for the greed driven massacre.
The Inuit of the far North have hunted and praised the seals for many generations. However, they take only what they need to uphold their customs, beliefs and traditions.
Their way of life is now being used and compromised by the Canadian Government as propaganda to benefit a capitalist agenda, despite the fact that the Inuit do not participate in the commercial seal “hunt”.
As Mohawk people and world citizens we condemn these acts of horror being committed against the seals as it furthers the destruction of our Mother Earth adding to the global ecological crisis.
As stated by Prince Charles of Wales on March 13, 2009, “the threat of catastrophic climate change calls into question humanity's continued survival on the planet." Canada chooses to invest in the war on the planet putting pressure on an already fragile eco-system.Canada has many policies and practices that are deplorable to the environment.
Subsequently, in accordance with the Silver Covenant Chain under the Two Row Wampum, we advise that a first step in correcting this is to pass Senator Mac Harb’s bill to end the commercial seal “hunt” permanently.
The proposed bill calls for an end to commercial seal hunting while respecting treaty obligations and protecting the Rights of Native people. With this in mind we urge you to support the end of the commercial seal “hunt” and stand together in defense of our Mother Earth for the benefit of current and future generations.
In Peace and Friendship,
Secretary, Stuart Myiow
Mohawk Traditional Council
Box 531
Kahnawake
Mohawk Territory
JOL 1BO
Monday March 23, 2009
CANADIAN TAX DOLLARS FUND MASS SLAUGHTER OF MARINE MAMMALS
For over thirty years the Government of Canada has funded and endorsed the largest mass slaughter of marine mammals in the world. The annual Seal “hunt” taking place off the Atlantic coast is a cruel and unjustifiable abuse of Canadian tax dollars.
The Government of Canada is unwilling to admit their incompetency in providing safe and sustainable forms of employment for people living in these provinces. As a result, the atrocious acts against the seals continue in the form of “democrapitalism”.
Canada hides behind a democratic process adding to the misconception that Canadian citizens are in support of the barbaric “hunt” while the true culprit is capitalism protected by democracy. This is causing all humanity to sink to the subhuman behavior which is destroying the Earth and the necessary life forms that live upon her.
Many countries have recognized the cruelty of the hunt. Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Mexico, Panama, Russia, Ireland and the United States have all either banned seal products or made moves to do so, adding to Canada’s shame on a global level.Native people of Turtle Island have also become a scapegoat for the greed driven massacre.
The Inuit of the far North have hunted and praised the seals for many generations. However, they take only what they need to uphold their customs, beliefs and traditions.
Their way of life is now being used and compromised by the Canadian Government as propaganda to benefit a capitalist agenda, despite the fact that the Inuit do not participate in the commercial seal “hunt”.
As Mohawk people and world citizens we condemn these acts of horror being committed against the seals as it furthers the destruction of our Mother Earth adding to the global ecological crisis.
As stated by Prince Charles of Wales on March 13, 2009, “the threat of catastrophic climate change calls into question humanity's continued survival on the planet." Canada chooses to invest in the war on the planet putting pressure on an already fragile eco-system.Canada has many policies and practices that are deplorable to the environment.
Subsequently, in accordance with the Silver Covenant Chain under the Two Row Wampum, we advise that a first step in correcting this is to pass Senator Mac Harb’s bill to end the commercial seal “hunt” permanently.
The proposed bill calls for an end to commercial seal hunting while respecting treaty obligations and protecting the Rights of Native people. With this in mind we urge you to support the end of the commercial seal “hunt” and stand together in defense of our Mother Earth for the benefit of current and future generations.
In Peace and Friendship,
Secretary, Stuart Myiow
Mohawk Traditional Council
Box 531
Kahnawake
Mohawk Territory
JOL 1BO
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)