September 1, 2009: Return to Japan

By Richard O’Barry, Director
Save Japan Dolphins Coalition

Return to Taiji – On September 1st, the dolphin killing in Japan is scheduled to begin again in this town.

I’ve arrived in Kansai Airport on August 31st, one of the official entry ports for Japan, near the venerable city of Osaka. It was a long flight from Miami.

When we first decided to return to Japan and drive to Taiji, the “little town with the big secret” depicted in The Cove, I wasn’t sure if I could get into the country at all. Would the Japanese officials hassle me? Would they refuse me entry and put me on an airplane back to the US? Would they arrest me?

It was a big risk, but I vowed to be here for the opening of the dolphin slaughter season, come what may. Thousands of dolphins are destined to die, unless we continue our efforts to stop the killing NOW.

Fortunately, none of our fears happened. We of course had some back-up plans and phone numbers for Japanese lawyers, if the worst happened. And we had to contend with a small typhoon moving through Japan that delayed our flight an hour. But fortunately, I am here on the first leg of our return to Taiji.

With me are my son Lincoln O’Barry and a film crew. We are working on a TV series following up on the success of The Cove.

We also are hosting some additional media representatives, such as Associated Press. Since the release of The Cove in August in the US, the story of the dolphin slaughter is now big news throughout the world. The Cove, still being shown in a few theaters in the US, opens over the next two months in Europe.

Also with me is Mark Palmer of Earth Island Institute, one of the international member organizations of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. Mark and I will be doing a regular blog while here in Japan.

We are not sure what we will find in Taiji over the next few days. The town on the coast is a four-hour drive from here. Again, will the local authorities try to arrest us when we arrive tomorrow? We really don’t know. It is likely that the tension in the town will be really high this time.

Just two weeks ago, the town of Broome, Australia, decided to suspend its sister-city ties with Taiji, until the dolphin killing stopped. This was tremendous news in Japan, and many national newspapers in that country, that have refused in the past to cover the dolphin slaughter, suddenly featured this brave action by the Broome Shire Council on their front pages! We feel very pleased that we have broken the conspiracy of silence that the Japanese media have held over dolphin and whale stories. We hope these kinds of actions and The Cove movie will bring the truth to the Japanese people. See our press release:

http://earthisland.org/marinemammal/index.php/immpreports/city-of-broome-australia-suspends-sister-city-tie-with-taiji-japan-over-dol/

But we are more than a little apprehensive about how the town will treat us.

What sustains us is the amazing support we are getting from people like you! Did you know that the Broome Shire Council got 5,000 e-mail messages in ONE DAY urging them to suspend their sister-city ties with Taiji until the dolphin killing stops? Our online petition to the Japanese Ambassador and President Barack Obama has already garnered 30,000 names and continues to rise.

We have had dozens of volunteers passing out our postcards (directing people to our Save Japan Dolphins website) at screenings of The Cove in 32 cities in the US over the past month. We have one activist who is donating her own fees this month from her yoga teaching classes to the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. Our friends at Ecojoia, the outfit in Colorado that is printing our t-shirts and hats, is donating much of their profits to Save Japan Dolphins, too. The outpouring of support is almost overwhelming, showing how much the people of the world care about the dolphins in Japan.

I’m convinced, with your continued support, that we can stop the killing of dolphins and whales in Japan. There is no reason why it should continue.

For this trip to Taiji over the next week, we will be there – usually, the fishermen refuse to go out and catch dolphins on days when we are in town, so that in itself, if it still holds, may be one small victory.

Later this month, I plan to return to Japan to screen the Japanese version of The Cove.

Please help us by donating:

Click Here to Donate

Your donations and efforts on our behalf are what will sustain our momentum. This is an historic moment for the dolphins and whales of Japan. I thank you and ask you to join us in spirit for this return to Taiji.

The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition consists of Earth Island Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, OceanCare, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

"Arrival sign at the Kansai Airport, near Osaka, in Japan."
Photo Copyright Mark J. Palmer

"Arrival signs at the Kansai Airport, near Osaka, in Japan."
Photo Copyright Mark J. Palmer

"Ric O’Barry and his son, Lincoln O’Barry, arrive at Kansai Airport in Japan, near Osaka, on Ric’s first trip back to Japan since the premier of the film, The Cove."
Photo Copyright Mark J. Palmer

"Ric O’Barry relaxes after a long flight from Miami, Florida, to Osaka, Japan, on the first leg of his journey. "

Photo Copyright Mark J. Palmer

City of Broome, Australia, Suspends Sister-City Tie with Taiji, Japan, Over Dolphin Kill

By Mark J. Palmer, Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute

Ric O’Barry and Save Japan Dolphins Coalition Work to Save Dolphins, Thank Broome Shire Council

Ric O’Barry, Director of Save Japan Dolphins Coalition and star of the hit documentary “The Cove”, successfully convinced the Shire Council of Broome, Australia, to suspend its 1981 sister-city relationship with Taiji, Japan, the town where thousands of dolphins have been slaughtered in secret. Furthermore, the story has broken the silence of Japanese media about the dolphin slaughter, with stories about Broome action in NHK, Asahi Shimbun, and other Japanese outlets.

O’Barry later praised Shire President Graeme Campbell and the Council: “The action of the Shire of Broome have moved us a step closer to abolishing the world's largest dolphin slaughter.. Broome is on the right side of history. Thank you.”

The Coalition and O’Barry were quick to also praise the work of local environmental leaders in Australia, including Gary Adshead and the Western Australian newspaper for exposing the story of Taiji dolphin slaughter in Australia. More than fifty citizens in the Council chambers’ public gallery gave the Shire Council a standing ovation after the decision on Saturday, August 22nd. Thanks also to Louie Psihoyos, Director of “The Cove”, who also pushed the city of Broome to suspend their sister-city relationship.

Ric O’Barry recently toured Australia to promote the movie “The Cove”, about the efforts of O’Barry and Save Japan Dolphins Coalition to expose the largest dolphin slaughter in the world. “The Cove” is now opening in Australia, after receiving numerous awards at film festivals, including the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and critical praise. While in Australia, O’Barry screened “The Cove” for the citizens of Broome and appealed directly to Shire President Campbell.

“We believe and hope the Japanese people, when they learn the dirty secrets of ‘The Cove’, will help stop the slaughter of dolphins and whales once and for all,” stated David Phillips, Executive Director of Earth Island Institute, a member of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition.

Added Dr. Elliot Katz, President of In Defense of Animals: “The action by the Broome Shire Council underscores their deep feelings from seeing the slaughter of these intelligent animals..”

“We thank the Broome Shire Council and all the thousands of people, from Australians to the world, who contacted them to protect the dolphins and whales of Japan,” said Susan Millward, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Institute.

A team from Save Japan Dolphins Coalition will return to Taiji, Japan, shortly, in time for the annual dolphin slaughter, which is scheduled to begin September 1st.

Please help us fund our efforts to stop the dolphin slaughter NOW!

Click here to donate.

The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition consists of Earth Island Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, OceanCare, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

“The Cove” Opening in US Theaters Now!

By Mary Jo Rice
Associate Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute

“The Cove” movie, documenting the efforts of Ric O’Barry and the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition to stop the slaughter of dolphins and whales in Japan, is opening now throughout the US.

You can hear Ric O’Barry and “The Cove” Director Louie Psihoyos speaking on National Public Radio here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111366014

Please go see “The Cove,” and get your friends and family to see it too! You can find out where and when it is playing and buy advance tickets by visiting:

http://www.thecovemovie.com/festivals/upcoming_screenings.htm

Then, please urge people to take action:

http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

The Cove opened in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on Friday, July 31st. It opens in additional theaters in the US on August 7th (and some theaters will show it later in August).

“The Cove” is an intense and inspiring experience. It received standing ovations in various film festival circuit theaters. It received the Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and has so far garnered further Audience Awards at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto, the Newport Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Sydney International Film Festival, Nantucket Film Festival, and Best of Festival Blue Ocean Film Festival, and best documentary at the Galway, Ireland, Film Festival. Film critics across the nation are giving “thumbs up” to “The Cove” movie and the dolphins.

The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition wants to bring everybody who sees “The Cove” into our campaign to stop the slaughter. We believe this will be an historic opportunity for whales and dolphins. Your help is needed to make sure we can take advantage of the worldwide publicity and public support for dolphins and whales.

While planning continues for our efforts in Japan, we need to make sure that people who see “The Cove” go to our website and take action.

We encourage everyone who see “The Cove” to visit our website to take action for dolphins and whales.

If you would like to volunteer in your city to get the word out about “The Cove” and our campaign, please contact me at mjrice@earthisland.org .

Your help is greatly appreciated!

And, we need continuing funding to make sure “The Cove” is properly publicized and seen in Japan, and to help grassroots Japanese groups fight the slaughter of dolphins and whales. Please contribute if you can:

http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org/donate.php

The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition consists of Earth Island Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, Ocean Care, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale, and the Animal Welfare Institute.