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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Fight to save stranded New Zealand pilot whales

For 40 days and 40 nights Erwin has been held in a Japanese prison. The trial in Wakayama City of Erwin Vermeulen will go down in the history of the Taiji Dolphin Campaigns marking either a great success or a war cry for 100's or even 1000's to go to Taiji and demand an end of the dolphin hunt.

The trial starts on Thursday Jan. 26th--about 48 hours from now, in the late afternoon. It is expected to last two days. A decision will take anywhere from one week to a month. If Erwin is found guilty he will be deported after a few days of paper work. If he is innocent, it seems he will be freed, but as there seems to be no precedent for such a high profile enemy of the state to be freed, we still don't know. Perhaps he can remain in Japan until his visa expires.

During the trial, we dolphin lovers and also the dolphin killers and meat sellers will be watching closely. They will want to know if they can physically push us on the streets of Taiji and if we appear to push back, will we will all go to jail. The future of dolphin hunter power is at stake.

But even if they win, they will not get relief. They want their town back. Their winning will end up not with the dolphin activists backing off; I predict, more activists will look forward to greater Civil (Dolphin) Disobedience in Taiji. "Occupy Taiji!" will be the next thought in many a dolphin lover's heart.

Most cases like this in Japan get settled out of court when the accused pleads guilty and is fined a relatively small amount of yen (expected to be 2500USD) and gets deported without any more jail time that 20 days or so. This case is unique, not only because Erwin states that he is innocent, but also because he decided to hire lawyers and fight to the end, even to the point of not requesting bail.

Please say a prayer for Erwin's strength during the trial. He still faces up to two years in jail if convicted.

22 whales dead, rescue effort put off until morning - Environment Sci - Video - 3 News

22 whales dead, rescue effort put off until morning - Environment Sci - Video - 3 News

Time to consider ending seal hunt, MP Cleary says

A Newfoundland and Labrador MP believes it's time to examine whether the seal hunt should end.
New Democrat Ryan Cleary says it seems no one wants seal products anymore.
"Part of our history is also whaling, for example, and the day came when the whaling industry stopped," said Cleary, the MP for St. John's South-Mount Pearl. "Now, is that day coming with the seal hunt? It just may be."
Russia, Belarus and Kazahkstan are the latest countries to ban the import and export of seal pelts.That follows a decision by the European Union to ban non-Inuit seal products.
Cleary says Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are taking a lot of heat for an industry which was worth only $1 million to the province last year.
"We know that the world appetite is not there for seal meat, but the world appetite for seal products — I don't know if it's there. And you know what? I may be shot for talking about this, and for saying this, but it's a question we all have to ask."
Cleary says he and the federal NDP still officially support the seal hunt.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The coexistence of whaling and whale watching in a traditional whaling region:

The coexistence of whaling and whale
watching in a traditional whaling region:
The case of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Shio Segi1
Introduction
The discussion about the relationship between
whaling and whale watching is polarised. Antiwhaling
groups believe these two activities cannot
coexist, and continue to urge that whaling be
ended, stressing the economic benefits to be
obtained from the sustainable use of cetacean
resources. Examples from the Dominican
Republic, the Bahamas and other Caribbean locations
(Hoyt 1999), and from Vava’u, Tonga (Orams
1999), attempt to demonstrate the superiority of
whale watching.
In contrast, whaling groups, composed mainly of
anthropologists, economists and sociologists, seek
coexistence. They have sounded the alarm on
socially and culturally negative impacts caused by
converting from whaling to whale watching, and
have demonstrated the arbitrariness and overestimation
of anti-whaling groups’ economic analysis
and falsehood of their outcomes. However, both
groups place value on economic effects to greater
or lesser degree.
Whale watching has been conducted in 87 countries
and territories worldwide, attracting over
nine million boat- and land-based tourists annually.
In 1988, the value of the global whale watching
industry was an estimated USD 300 million
and a further USD 1049 million was gained from
indirect tourism expenditure (Hoyt 2000).
Although these estimates are still disputed, it is
clear that the direct and indirect economic
impacts of whale watching are extremely important.
Further, about 100,000 tourists annually
participate in domestic whale watching tours,
and many more participate in tours overseas
(Hoyt 2000).
Owing to IWC’s commercial whaling moratorium,
the local economies of Japanese whaling centres
have been devastated and their societies disrupted
by the exodus of young people in search of
employment and careers; and, there is little
prospect of change. Although Japan has campaigned
for a resumption of whaling at IWC, the
prospect for an increase in the coastal whale quota
is bleak, to say nothing of full resumption.
Under these circumstances it has been thought
that whale watching could become a fast growing
tourist industry with a large potential to resuscitate
the economies and societies of the traditional
whaling communities. But so far no whale watching
businesses have developed in traditional
Japanese whaling communities.
In this article I examine the traditional whaling
community of Taiji, in Wakayama Prefecture, to
clarify why a whale watching industry has not
developed in traditional whaling communities. I
also examine the processes and factors regarding
the coexistence of whale watching and whaling in
the wider area of southern Wakayama Prefecture,
and its application to other whaling communities.
1. School of Policy Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture Japan 669-1337.
Email: shioism@hcc5.bai.ne.jp

Small Dolphin Tank "The Fish Bowl" at Taiji Whale Musuem

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Update: Army investigating sheep beating video - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Army investigating sheep beating video - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

A Time When I Was Caring For Sosa and Angel

One of The Horrors Of the Bushmeat Trade

Rare Chinese white dolphin gets DNA bank

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gww4Q11aZAfvsu4BNc9psuMbhZFQ?docId=CNG.b55e62b1849467d932ccf3eb6b36cb49.d1

Anti-whaling activists back in Australia; PM blasts their 'irresponsible' behavior ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Anti-whaling activists back in Australia; PM blasts their 'irresponsible' behavior ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Fur Seal in Taiji via Sayaka Nakamura

From NHK Wakayama News:
A fur seal in Taiji fishing port

A fur seal, 1m long, was found wondering around in Taiji fishing port. The locals are watching the cute animal swiming in the port.

The seal was found swiming near Taiji fishing port at 2pm 18th Jan by a local. Testuo Kirihata, the vice director of the Taiji Whale Museum, was contacted, and he confirmed that it was a fur seal, not a sea lion which has a similar shape, but different forefoot, the length of ear & the lie of hair. As the seal was joyfully swimming around the fishing boats moored in the port, the nearby locals who heard the news gathered and watched the seal cheering when the seal surfaced for breathing.

One of the children who watched the seal swimming says, "I've never seen a seal in this place. This is very rare, so I'm happy." The fur seal usually lives in the sea of Okhotsk or the Bering Sea. "The seal might have left the pod during the southward trip in winter as they seek refuge from coldness & follow their food. I hope the spectators will watch the seal warmly (and do not diturb)."

Dog cries from his dead owner

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

60 Dolphins Stranded in Cape Cod

Hunting Giraffe Safari. Price $ 3800. Help us stop this madness!

Did you know that they are offering you a hunting trip to kill lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, etc etc just for fun!?
You can choose whatever animal you like. Most if not all of the animals are there. The smaller ones can be shot with a bow.
Price for Giraffe: $3800
Price for Elephant: $34 000

Price for male Lion: $22 000
or why not kill a Zebra for just: $1750!
Here is a price list of all animals: Click here!

Lioness Price: 2x $9000

Male Lion Price: $22 000
Elephant price from: $34 000
Zebra price: $2850
Thursday, 01 September 2011 14:25

Only 85 Irrawaddy Dolphins Remains!

Irrawaddy Dolphin

Palm Oil | A Global Threat to Rainforests and people lifes

Sharkgirl needs you!

Korean Dog Meat - Transport 3

Australia suspends live cattle exports to Indonesia (08 Jun 2011) ☠WARNI...

Experts perplexed by 60 dolphins stranded on Cape Cod

Experts perplexed by 60 dolphins stranded on Cape Cod