A 1200 year tradition of killing. How long will we continue to look on and then look the other way?

You might think a comment like that came from the days when Rome sent Christians to their deaths in the arena.

A tradition that has occurred for over 1200 years?

In a recent press release posted by JiJi Press, the Japanese Whaling fleet returned back from the Southern Atlantic Ocean with a total of 267 dead whales. Of those caught and killed, 172 whales were pregnant.

When you think of it, it is at best an outrage. Japan’s press release was that it was a “successful catch,” when in truth, whale meat is being stockpiled for people who eat it only as a luxury. The fact is, less than 2% of the Japan’s population eat whale meat.

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Around the world, I am sure the whale community is aware that they now have friends in Switzerland!

In an amazing and yet sane move by the Swiss government, officials have now banned the keeping of Dolphins in zoo aquariums in Switzerland.

Although a great family movie, the Big Miracle misses the big picture.

Although for some it is very old news, I saw the film “Big Miracle”, based on a true life story about three endangered Pacific Grey Whales trapped in Alaska and the rescue efforts to save them. The unfortunate thing is that the real message was watered down and overlooked!

As is usual with scriptwriters, the story was “much to do with Hollywood” and altered from the real story. The movie, although moving and portraying the mindsets of the people and cultures affected by the “whales plight”, did touch but touch upon the realities of current Inupiat life and the lust for power by oil barons.

The only ones not really represented or understood were the ones the story was really all about – whales! Read the rest of this entry »

Some times I amazed at the press and their PR antics.

You see this all too often. Sensationalism done for notoriety's sake.

Earlier this week, a YouTube video caught the eyes of people all over the internet world. The video captured two things if you look closely: the creation of a ‘bubble net’ used by Humpback whales to corral fish they are about to eat, and then the actual surfacing, or breaching, of Humpback whales between two kayakers and a woman on a paddle board.

It was a rare shot and actually a good one. But then the Press loves controversy:

“Woman Almost Swallowed by Whale!”

Well, sort of. Nearly doesn’t really say that she was swallowed. But anyone reading the headline bites the proverbial lie and goes to the site where such an untruth has been dealt. Read the rest of this entry »

The onslaught of endangered whales continues, while Japan ignores the real truth

It is time once again for Paul Watson and his group of merry men (and women) to brave the Antarctic seas in an attempt to disrupt and delay the extinction of a race.

I am talking about whales.

The Japanese to date have fabricated the need for whale meat, when giant frozen stores lie untouched in Japan. Why? Because less than two per cent of the Japanese population eat whale meat. Some don’t even know it is still being sold.

So why are whales being hunted by the Japanese and being killed? Read the rest of this entry »

A friend of you and I asks your help.

Many of you who have read my ongoing blogs, know how I feel about the taking of life from sentient animals, especially whales.

My main concern has been endangered whales, but I do include dolphins, simply because I have had many wonderful opportunities to know and be with dolphins.

What I have come to realize is not the death of these animals I want to focus on – as far as Taiji is concerned – but it is only the rebirth of man’s awareness regarding his responsibility to his own environ.

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Author Atsushi Ishii. ATSUSHI ISHII PHOTO

ATSUSHI ISHIIA, a Japanese author “mugwump” (bird that sits on a fence, with his “mug” on one side and his “wump” on the other) has just published a book in Japan “Anatomy of the Whaling Debate”; Shinhyoron, stating that the anti-whalers should just stop their harassment of Japanese whalers.

His argument is that anti-whalers only fuel more consumption of whale meat. But he also states that the Japanese government is hiding its costs to maintain its whaling fleet and that there is a lot of graft in the government.

Really?

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I just read an article that promotes and uses marine animals for military purposes.

Marine animals are being used to protect our shores by the U.S. Military. Why aren't we protecting them? (Photo courtesy ABC NEWS)

One person argued that this is the height of nature and science and a proper use of both for man’s benefit.

Another said that these creatures are taken care of, while being employed for  military operations carried out by the United States.

It seems to me, that both these comments are self-serving to the U.S. Government PR machine.

Why would I say that?

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Recently there was an article stating that whales might be using celestial mechanics on their yearly migratory routes.

The article noted that after an eight-year study, the migratory patterns varied by less than 5 degrees!

Previously it had been thought that whales followed geo-magnetic patterns or sun tracking mechanisms. However in turbulent waters neither method actually works.

The question begins to rise – just how smart are whales?

We already know that whales now do have names for each other. We also know that the females experience menopause just as humans do. And then there are varying social hierarchies with the pods of whales. Additionally whales have been videoed training their young to hold their breath under water, as that is not a natural-born trait and must be learned.

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