The Big Taiji List

Thursday, July 18, 2013

#SHUTDOWNTAIJIIN2013

Take action for Taiji Dolphins.

Contact U.S.A. Congress, tell them what is going on with the Taiji Dolphin Slaughters and tell them it's time for them to lend their voices to stop it.

Thank you.

Find your United States Senators here:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Find your United States House of Representatives here:

http://www.house.gov/

http://thetaijilist.blogspot.com/2013/07/shutdowntaijiin2013.html

SAVE JAPAN DOLPHINS
http://savejapandolphins.org/
http://savejapandolphins.org/blog/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Japan-Dolphins/130698636967311

TAIJI DOLPHIN DRIVE HUNT SEASON 2013~2014 QUOTA

Thank you Olaf Janssen and Save Misty the Dolphin

CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
Thank you Olaf Janssen

WEBSITES OF JAPANESE EMBASSIES, CONSULATES AND PERMANENT MISSIONS.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html

CONTACT ~ MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
https://www.env.go.jp/en/moemail/

CONTACT ~ TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/SUB/contact.htm

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
https://www.contact.maff.go.jp/maff/form/114e.html

Please write your comment on the Administration of Japan
https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan:
Fax: +81-3-3581-3883
E-mail: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html

MR. KAZUTAKA SANGEN,
TAIJI TOWN MAYOR
Fax: +81-735-59-2801
E-mail: http://www.town.taiji.wakayama.jp/

SECRETARIAT OF TAIJI TOWN ASSEMBLY
Fax: +81-735-59-2884

TAIJI FISHERY COOPERATIVE

Fax: +81-735-59-2821

Embassy of Japan in Washinton D.C.
Ambassador Ryozo Kato
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869
Tel: (202) 238-6700,
Fax: 202-328-2187
Hours: M-F 9:15-12:30 and 2:00-6:16
E-mail: mailto:jicc@embjapan.org
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Fisheries Agency of Japan
Mr. Yoshio Kobayashi, Director-General of Japan Fisheries Agency:
Fax: +81-3-3502-1682

Mr. Jun Yamashita, Head of Whaling Section of Japan at Far Seas Fisheries Division in Japan Fisheries Agency
Fax: +81-3-3591-5824
E-mail: mailto:whaling-section@nm.maff.go.jp

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Mr. Toshikatsu Matsuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Fax: +81-3-3580-5556

The Ministry of the Environment
Ms. Masatoshi Wakabayashi, Minister of the Environment
Fax: +81-3-3581-3003
E-mail: mailto:MOE@env.go.jp

Wakayama Prefecture:
Local Government, Wakayama/Taiji

Mr. Yoshiki Kimura, Governor of Wakayama
Fax: +81-73-441-2020
E-mail: http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/secure/teigen/teigen.html
or mailto:webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp

Nourinsuisanbu Suisankyoku Shigenkanrika
(Resources Management Section at the Fisheries Section, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Wakayama Prefecture)
Fax: +81-73-432-4124
E-mail: mailto: e0715001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp

Facts About the Drive Hunt:
Death or Imprisonment for Life
Shared by Olaf Janssen
The dolphin drive hunts in Taiji do not just end in the killing of the dolphins. Taiji is “ground zero” for international trade in live dolphins. There is money – big money – in the captive dolphin entertainment industry. Without the money the FU makes from the live trade business, it is doubtful that the Taiji FU would be able to sustain the killing of dolphins. The operation is expensive.

We understand that the FU makes about $32,000 USD for each live dolphin it captures. Trained dolphins sell for much, much more. There is a direct link between the captive dolphin entertainment industry and the bloody waters of the Cove in Taiji. Supporting a live dolphin show or participating in a confined swim-with-dolphin program anywhere in the world is the same as slicing open a dolphin in Taiji. The dolphin entertainment industry drives the hunt. The killing of the dolphins follows in its wake. Well-intentioned marine mammal trainers and the dolphin-show-viewing public all have the blood of innocent dolphins on their hands.

For the dolphins pulled from their families and sold into captivity, life is beyond horrible. Even those dolphins born in captivity exist in prison-like conditions. It is now illegal in the United States to import a dolphin which has been caught in the wild, so there is a big business in captive-bred dolphins. One wonders though how many of the so-called captive bred dolphins imported into the US each year are actually wild-caught. Even the captive-bred dolphins most likely have ancestors who were captured in Taiji. The link to the killing in Taiji is undeniable, and unavoidable.

Taiji is located in a protected nook off of a bay. The rocky land soars up from the water along the coast there. The water in the bay is shallow and there are many rock spurs and islets. Near the entrance to Taiji harbor is the entrance to the infamous Cove. The rock spurs, islets, and shallows create a natural funnel right into the entrance of the Cove.

There are a dozen small fishing boats in Taiji equipped with metal poles on their sides. These boats go out into the ocean off the Wakayama coast each morning at first light. They fan out and start patrolling in the known dolphin migratory routes looking for pods of dolphins or small whales. They often go over the horizon. They also look for seabirds because the birds will follow the dolphins looking for an easy meal from the fish the dolphins chase. Once a hunting boat finds a pod, the operator will radio to the other boats. While the others are racing to that location, the first boat will follow the pod. Once there are five or more hunting boats on the scene, they will herd the dolphins using their boats and by banging with a hammer on a flange on top of the poles. We call them “banger boats” because of these poles. This banging creates a wall of sound from which the dolphins and small whales swim away. This is the “drive hunt.” The banger boats next drive the pod into the bay, along the coast past the entrance to Taiji harbor and then into the entrance to the Cove. Once the dolphins are past the entrance, other dolphin hunters close off the entrance with nets.

NO BOYCOTT JAPAN!!!
Taiji is not all of Japan.
Not all Japanese folks are even AWARE of Taiji dolphin hunting, nor are they themselves the hunters, nor would they condone this if they DID know.
We cannot afford to demonize the Japanese activists who will help to end the Taiji dolphin massacres by referring to them in terms of racist naming and slurs. We need to show them support and the same applied to all of the Cove Guardians who are there to witness.
Anything less will ENDANGER their safety, and then WHO will end this hell for Taiji dolphins?

YOU CAN'T BOYCOTT A COUNTRY AND A PEOPLE OF THAT COUNTRY!

The following does represent my personal point of view concerning ending the Taiji cetacean hunts by peaceful means. Please place your support and your praise with Save Japan Dolphins and Sea Shepherd. These powerful advocacy groups do not condone violence or racial hatred.

The Weight of a Snowflake

"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coalmouse asked a wild dove.

"Nothing more than nothing," the dove answered.

"In that case I must tell you a marvelous story," the coalmouse said. "I sat on a fir branch close to the trunk when it began to snow. Not heavily, not in a raging blizzard. No, just like in a dream, without any violence at all. Since I didn't have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,471,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch--nothing more than nothing -- as you say -- the branch broke off."

Having said that, the coalmouse ran away.

The dove, since Noah's time an authority on peace, thought about the story for a while. Finally, she said to herself, "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come to the world."
- Source unknown
+++++++++++++++++
February 11, 2013
Why I do not support a boycott of Japan
Taiji Dolphin Slaughter
by Sandy McElhaney
http://www.examiner.com/article/why-i-do-not-support-a-boycott-of-japan

Dolphin Activist Ric O’Barry: Boycotting Japan Is ‘Racist’
‘Cove’ star sounds off on the Solomon Islands slaughter, a Spanish dolphin named Marcos, rereleasing wild-caught orcas—and more.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/12/10/dolphin-activist-ric-obarry-boycotting-japan-racist#.UNzBQg70Fd8.twitter

Why Boycotting Japan is a Bad Idea
An article by Ric O'Barry
http://dolphinproject.org/blog/post/save-the-dolphins-boycott-japan

Regarding a boycott on Japan....
An article by Lotus
http://ourgreenandblueplanet.blogspot.ca/2012/09/regarding-boycott-on-japan.html

Taiji and dolphins: would boycotting Japan solve anything?
An article by Charlie Moores
http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/taiji-dolphins-boycotting-japan-solve-anything/

Eloquent, Intelligent, Spot On!
Article explaining the effectiveness of the peaceful activist solution for Taiji dolphin hunt
http://www.theinkednaturalist.co.uk/japan-love-your-dolphins/

MANY THANKS TO CALL OF THE COVE FOR PETITIONS. PLEASE VISIT http://callofthecove.wordpress.com
AND FOLLOW THEM ON TWITTER @callofthecove
THEY HAVE GREAT FAX + PHONE ACTIONS & PETITIONS & EMBASSY, MEDIA, & POLITICIAN CONTACTS

Monday, June 17, 2013

Summer Narwhal Hunt Confirmed for 2013

Narwhals Come Up In Seal Holes Photograph by Paul Nicklen

Narwahl ~ Wiipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal

Narwhal Monodon monoceros : National Geographic
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/narwhal/

Summer Narwhal Hunt Confirmed for 2013

ICTMN Staff
June 14, 2013
The government of Canada has confirmed that a narwhal hunt will take place this summer.

"We are pleased to confirm that the majority of Inuit hunters will be able to continue to sell narwhal by-products resulting from their subsistence hunt on international markets,” read a statement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada on June 14. “This decision was made based on the best available scientific information and in consultation with partners including Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Government of Nunavut, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, hunters and trappers organizations, and northern communities to ensure the long-term sustainability of the traditional narwhal hunt.”

The consultation was done in recognition of “the importance of the traditional narwhal hunt to many Nunavut communities,” said the statement released jointly by Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield, Environment Minister Peter Kent and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who also serves as minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development and is the Member of Parliament for Nunavut.

After evaluating the narwhal hunt for its impact on the endangered species, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced on June 14 that Inuit of Nunavut could continue harvesting the animals and selling their byproducts internationally. The agency conducted its evaluation in light of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which met in May. (Related: International Wildlife Trade Group Votes to Protect Hundreds of Species)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada “concluded that the planned harvest in 2013 will not be detrimental to the species’ survival in the wild,” the government said.

The Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for narwhal, agreed upon in January by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and Ashfield, formed part of the basis for the summer-harvest limits calculation. That plan took two years to build.

“At times, the development of the plan was very difficult, but in the end, Inuit now have a management plan in place that we feel meets our needs and respects our harvesting rights,” said James Eetoolook, Acting President of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., in a statement after the management plan was announced in January. (Related: Canada Feds Ban Narwhal Tusk Exports)

Under the management plan, the narwhal limit for the community of Grise Fiord harvesting from Jones Sound was raised from 20 to 50, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. said.

Besides the Narwhal Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, the government also examined scientific information as well as Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge that had been published.

“In particular, by-products of narwhal from the summering stocks of Somerset Island, Admiralty Inlet, Eclipse Sound, East Baffin Island, and Northern Hudson Bay can be exported again this year,” the government’s statement said.

The numbers for some areas of Parry Channel, Jones Sound and Smith Sound (the community of Grise Fiord) still need to be fine-tuned, the statement said, and a broad survey to do so will be conducted this summer.

“This will provide comprehensive advice on abundance, distribution and sustainable harvest levels of Canadian narwhal populations for the future as a decision could not be reached this year due to lack of scientific information,” the statement concluded. “We will continue building collaborative relationships to reflect our common objective —a sustainable narwhal harvest that will maximize the benefits to Inuit harvesters today and into the future.”

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/14/summer-narwhal-hunt-confirmed-2013-149917

Via BloodWolfie

Sunday, May 19, 2013

THE SEA SHEPHERD FAMILY~SARA PRISCILA

Courtesy Olaf Janssen

These are the words of Sara Priscila.
She is SeaShepherd.
She speaks for us all, and I feel blessed to hear this incredible voice from our family of SeaShepherd.

Discussion - 3:34 AM
#DONTBUYATICKET

#DONTBUYATICKET to SeaWorld
Let our dolphin #Swimfree because #captivitykills

Sara Priscila 7:44 AM+1

Lugar de cetáceos, peixes, moluscos, etc não é em aquários nem em laboratórios pra experiência nem tão pouco em panelas ou em lojas de shopping. Eles merecem viver livres em seu habitat natural!!! Assim como o lugar de todos os outros animais da fauna não é em cativeiro pois a jaula só deve aprisionar criminosos!!! Sou a favor do fechamento dos circos com animais, dos zoológicos, dos cativeiros e tanques particulares, laboratórios de pesquisas, lojas e marcas que comercializem qualquer animal ou derivado animal, parques que mantenham animais obrigados a trabalhar com entretenimento humano, etc. Querem conhecer os animais? Façam trilhas em grupos nas florestas com biólogos e botânicos que será bem mais instrutivo. Querem que suas crianças conheçam golfinhos, pinguins, leões marinhos, etc? Reunam as famílias de seus amigos e aluguem uma embarcação legalizada que os leve para passearem no final de semana, feriado ou férias em alto mar. Mergulhem com instrutores profissionais e seus filhos aprenderão mais sobre a natureza em poucos dias do que acham que aprenderam em anos dentro das escolas... Incentivem a educação ambiental e o respeito mesmo ao desconhecido pois o temido nem sempre é o vilão na realidade. Dessa forma, os pescadores poderão viver da renda que receberão em levar famílias pra conhecer os animais vivos e em seu habitat natural sem recorrem ao finning ou outras práticas abomináveis e será muito mais interessante e emocionante conhecer os animais livres do que aprisionados. Vamos tentar mudar a consciência dos outros a partir de nós? Só assim obteremos êxito!!! Façam o correto que valerá a pena. Abraço

Olaf Janssen9:53 AM+1
translation from +Sara Priscila :

Place of cetaceans, fish, shellfish, etc. is not in aquariums or in laboratories to experience nor in pots or in mall stores. They deserve to live free in their natural habitat!! As the place of all other animals fauna in captivity is not only because the cage to imprison criminals!! I favor the close of animal circuses, zoos, captivity by tanks and private research laboratories, stores and brands that sell any animal derived or animal parks to keep animals forced to work with human entertainment, etc.. Want to know the animals? Make tracks in groups in forests with biologists and botanists who will be far more instructive. Want their children know dolphins, penguins, sea lions, etc.? Gather your families and friends to rent a vessel that legalized mild to roam over the weekend, holiday or vacation at sea. Dive with professional instructors and their children learn more about nature in a few days they think they have learned in years within schools ... Encourage environmental education and respect even when

Adelheid Adelliam10:01 AM+2
Obrigado!
+Sara Priscila
Suas palavras são poderosas, bonito e totalmente inspirador. Tenho a honra de conhecê-lo e abençoado que vocês estão aqui como parte da família SSCS.

Thank you!!!
+Sara Priscila
Your words are powerful, beautiful, and totally inspiring. I am honored to know you and blessed that you are here as part of the SSCS family.

Thank you +Olaf Janssen for allowing me to understand. :) *

Sara Priscila12:02 PM+2

Eu que me sinto agraciada pelo Criador por me permitir conhecer o trabalho mais que maravilhoso da Sea Shepherd. Mais que piratas, cada voluntário da Sea Shepherd é um anjo de guerra que luta pela vida, pelo respeito, pela justiça e sinto que fui contemplada com a amizade de vocês. Sou Sea Shepherd na alma, no espírito, no DNA... Só depende de nós que nossos "inimigos" de hoje podem se tornar nossos aliados amanhã!!! Nós que temos a consciência ambiental devidamente fundamentada e as ideias revolucionárias é que devemos apresentá-las à eles ao invés de esperar que eles se comovam com nossa luta. Oque na realidade os move é o dinheiro para sustentar suas famílias, precisamos adaptar nosso combate ao que nos trará resultado efetivo. Se eles precisam do dinheiro e nós temos as ideias, vamos unir nossas forças por um bem maior: salvar os oceanos conscientizando e também salvando famílias de milênios de anos de tradições equivocadas e que mesmo adotando práticas erradas na tentativa de alcançar mais lucros ainda assim vivem em situação de miséria ou pobreza. Se mudarmos a forma de pensar a economia desde as pequenas vilas de pescadores, mudaremos o conceito de uso dos oceanos e com maior número de cidadãos conscientes ao nosso lado poderemos abalar o mundo e reescrever nossas leis e fazer a fiscalização acontecer de fato, não para os que se vendem para a injustiça mas as nações poderão pressionar o Japão e quem for necessário para que as futuras gerações conheçam a natureza fora da tela de um computador ou de livros antigos com histórias contadas por um povo que não reagiu à extinção do planeta. É nossa responsabilidade mudar a linha de raciocínio deles e não somente combatê-los e, mudar o jeito de pensar deles é muito mais difícil e árduo para nós que para eles, porém os resultados valerão mais que os confrontos. Necessitamos e podemos fazer a diferença e vamos fazê-la porque somos abençoados e munidos de uma arma que nem todos sabem utilizar: nossa capacidade de criar saídas onde não há e nossa coragem que mesmo em momentos de terror nos alerta para não desistirmos de lutar pela única coisa que vale à pena: dignidade e amor pela vida!!! Sem oceanos nós não somos nada... Obrigada por existirem e me estimularem a manter a cabeça erguida mesmo em momentos de tristeza em que parece que a esperança nos abandonou. Vocês são meus amados companheiros de causa e fé e luta constante. Podemos não estar precisamente do jeito que queremos mas haveremos de conquistar além de tudo que sonhamos se nunca esmorecermos. A Sea Shepherd é o coração dos oceanos que bate através de cada um de nós... A Sea Shepherd não pode esperar que governos nos apoiem. Precisamos sair da nossa zona de conforto. Deveriamos estar palestrando dentro das escolas das crianças, nas tribos indígenas, nos quilombos, nas universidades... Lá estão nossas gerações de guerreiros que atuarão juntamente conosco em todos os lugares deste mundo sem fronteiras. Chegou a vez dos voluntários também baterem nas portas das creches, das escolinhas de surf, nas alas infanto-juvenis de hospitais, das ongs que "se dizem" protetoras da natureza... Vamos sacudir a sociedade atual e cobrar de quem se diz protetor da natureza que se faça a parte que lhes cabe. Hoje, não podemos só cobrar a fiscalização das entidades responsáveis, nós somos os fiscais!!! Cada um armado com sua câmera no celular ou profissional, com seu blog, com seu perfil de protesto, com seus encontros nas ruas, nos meios de transporte...enfim... só depende de nós!!! Eu amo todos vocês, família Sea Shepherd!!!

Olaf Janssen12:24 PM+1
translation from +Sara Priscila :

That I feel honored by the Creator for allowing me to know the work that most wonderful of Sea Shepherd. More than pirates, each volunteer Sea Shepherd is an angel of war who struggle for life, respect, justice and feel that I have been awarded your friendship. Sea Shepherd'm the soul, the spirit, the DNA ... It's up to us who our "enemies" today can become our allies tomorrow!! We have reasoned environmental awareness and revolutionary ideas is that we should present them to them rather than expecting them to be moved by our struggle. What did actually moves them is the money to support their families, we need to adapt our fight we will bring effective results. If they need the money and we have ideas, let us unite our forces for the greater good: save the oceans and also saving families aware of millennia of years of traditions and misleading that even adopting wrong practices in an attempt to achieve more profits still live in extreme poverty or poverty. If we change the way we think the economy from small fishing villages, we will change the concept of use of the oceans and large number of concerned citizens on our side we can shake the world and rewrite our laws and exercise oversight actually happen, not for those who sell to the injustice but nations could push Japan and who needed so that future generations know the nature off the screen of a computer or old books with stories told by people who did not react to the extinction of the planet. It is our responsibility to change the line of thinking of them and not just fight them and change the way of thinking of them is much more difficult and arduous for us than for them, but the results will be worth more than the clashes. We need and we can make a difference and we do it because we are blessed and having a weapon that not everyone knows to use: our ability to create solutions where there and our courage that even in times of terror alerts us to not give up the fight for only thing worth it: dignity and love for life!! No oceans we are nothing ... Thanks for stimulating me there and keep your head up even in moments of sadness when it seems that hope has abandoned us. You are my beloved companions of cause and faith and constant struggle. We may not be exactly the way we want but we will conquer beyond anything ever dreamed up esmorecermos. Sea Shepherd is the heart of the oceans hitting through each one of us ... The Sea Shepherd can not expect governments to support us. We need to get out of our comfort zone. We should be lecturing in schools of children in indigenous tribes, the runaway slave, universities ... There are generations of our warriors who will work together with us everywhere this borderless world. Came the turn of the volunteers also knocking on the doors of kindergartens, schools for the surf, in the wards of hospitals for children and teenagers, the NGOs who "say" protective nature ... Let's shake up the company's current and charge who is said protector of nature that make their fair share. Today, we can not only charge the supervision of the responsible entities, we are the tax!! Each armed with his camera on mobile or professional blog, with your profile protest, with their encounters on the streets, in transport ... finally ... only depends on us! I love you all, family Sea Shepherd!!

Olaf Janssen12:25 PM+1
obrigado por essas palavras fortes e maravilhoso +Sara Priscila :)

Adelheid Adelliam12:33 PM+1

Oh. +Sara Priscila Eu nunca li nada na minha vida que me fez chorar como suas palavras fizeram. Estou honrado de estar a sua família em Sea Shepherd. xxx

Adelheid Adelliam1:51 PM

Posso postar esse incrível escrita de vocês neste blog, http://thetaijilist.blogspot.com para que as pessoas possam lê-lo e venha se juntar a nossa família em Sea Shepherd? Sua escrita me trouxe lágrimas de esperança, orgulho, gratidão e alegria Sara. Obrigado, Heidi +Sara Priscila

Sara Priscila2:36 PM

Claro!!! Devemos disseminar nossa filosofia e incentivar as novas e velhas gerações a começarem a fazer o que é certo desde já... Abração!!!

Sure! We spread our philosophy and encourage new and old generations to start doing the right thing already ... Abrasive!!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

ACTIONS: Help Bonneville Dam Sea Lions and Dam Guardians

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/20120315_sealion.html

Dam Guardian Campaign - Call to Action for the Sea Lions of the Columbia River! Please call M-F between 9-5 PST:

Oregon Governor Kitzhaber 503-378-4582

Washington Governor Inslee #360-902-4111

Tell them that killing sea lions won't save salmon!
http://www.seashepherd.org/dam-guardians/columbia-river-sea-lion-kill.html

Dam Guardians report "Hope", Sea Lion #781 finally gets assessment, but no intervention.
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2013/04/26/dam-guardians-report-hope-sea-lion-781-finally-gets-assessment-but-no-intervention-1498

Please help the Dam Guardians by taking the actions listed below.
Thank you!

EMAIL. FAX. CALL. TWEET. PETITION.
TELL Everyone who will listen!

These photos are going to break your heart. Count on it.
http://www.seashepherd.org/dam-guardians

Can you imagine what it does to the sweet pea Sea lion who was simply trying to eat his lunch?
How about what it does to our SSCS Dam Guardians, and Aaron Hall to be our witness to this?

I wish I could be that strong. I am not.

The BEST thing we all can to do is to follow @DamGuardians .
They are right there, no second hand news.

They recommend that we champion a Sea lion.
http://www.seashepherd.org/dam-guardians/champion-a-sea-lion.html

We need to ramp up the action effort here folks. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Updated Friday April 26~2013

Astoria - No Help for Hope: We would like thank all of the caring people around the world who have been calling various state and federal agencies asking that someone with authority to do so, come and check on Hope. A biologist from Portland State University did come out this afternoon to assess this wounded sea lion, but offered no intervention. Oregon has no facilities to treat an animal such as this. It is our understanding that in the event that Hope dies, a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. That is all the state of Oregon has to offer for Hope at this time. Meanwhile, as the biologist was on-site, the ODFW worker was nearby scaring the other sea lions off of the docks.

Current federal and state laws permit the branding, harassing and lethal removal of sea lions for eating fish, but do not provide care for injured sea lions like Hope. Something is very fishy in Oregon. Please contact Governor Kitzhaber and NOAA. Tell them it is time to move away from bad policies and to give a damn about the sea lions of the Columbia River.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber
State Capitol Building
900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301
phone: (503) 378-4582
fax: (503) 378-6827
Internet: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/RequestAssistance.aspx
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber
twitter: @govkitz

Helen Golde
Acting Director
Office of Protected Resources
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
phone: 301-427-8400
fax: 301-713-0376
helen.golde@noaa.gov

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2013/04/23/sea-shepherd-dam-guardians-report-sea-lion-in-severe-distress-at-port-of-astoria-1497

Below courtesy Fins And Flukes
https://www.facebook.com/FinsAndFluke

URGENT CALL TO ACTION!
We need your daily actions to end the cruel and unjust Sea Lion cull at Bonneville Dam. We must apply constant pressure on Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Washington Governor Jay Inslee in hopes that they will end the suffering, cruelty and death of the innocent Sea Lions. Please use hashtag #DamTweet on all correspondence and be sure to follow your Dam Guardians on Twitter, SSCS Dam Guardians @DamGuardians. Please feel free to copy and paste tweets to send to them and please Re-Tweet the Dam Gaurdians. Thank you in advance for your much needed help!

Please also fax, email and call the Governors offices. There is no limit on actions that you may take. Please invite your friends and share this event. Together we can end this!

http://www.seashepherd.org/dam-guardians

https://www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdUSA?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/

http://www.freefaxbutton.com/free_fax_machine.php

WHO TO CONTACT AND HOW TO REACH THEM

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber

State Capitol Building
900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301
phone: (503) 378-4582
fax: (503) 378-6827
Internet: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/RequestAssistance.aspx
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber
twitter: @govkitz

Washington Governor Jay Inslee

Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
phone: (360) 902-4111
fax: 360-753-4110
Internet: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaStateGov?ref=ts&fref=ts
twitter: @govInslee

EMAIL.

Sample email from Danette:
Borrow, steal, edit.
It's a good write!

I'm very concerned about the less than humane way the sealions at Astoria are being treated. Hazing and harassing is one thing, but to shoot at, and then leave to suffer...that's far beyond the call of conservation and safe-guarding of the precious salmon of the Columbia River.
Please take some time to consider the plight of for instance "Hope" a sealion currently suffering from gunshots, bleeding on the shore of the river!
I urge you to help this animal, and to re-consider how you go about saving salmons for the enjoyment of the public. Nature usually very well manages to balance itself, without interference like this. Or is it perhaps another agenda behind this? To extinguish any competition for the precious salmon?..
yeah I know I'm public, but I can't be bothered... help please?
Still, I hereby request that assistance is forwarded to the fitting instances so this sealion "Hope" and others like him will not need to suffer needlessly like this.
Than you for your time, and with the hope of a swift and positive action to follow.....

Contact form to submit to Governor John Kitzhaber
http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/RequestAssistance.aspx

TWEET.

You may also follow Governor John Kitzhaber on Twitter at @GovKitz
I do. And I talk to him via tweet.
I'm not very polite though, and I don't set a decent precedent for diplomacy. At all.

If you do care to tweet to him, Steve Jack has compiled a list of tweets for #DamTweet storms here:
https://sites.google.com/site/sealioncampaign/

Rock The #DamTweet for Sea Lions
https://www.facebook.com/events/619998414681442/620443061303644/?comment_id=626119637402653&notif_t=like

Sample Tweets-
SEA LIONS BRANDED WITH HOT IRONS The crime? Eating Fish! Tweet @GovKitz & @JayInslee Tell them to stop it! #DamTweet pic.twitter.com/rxjAHfzZRE

STOP #hazing sea lions in #Astoria NOW !!! @GovKitz @govInslee have you no #compassion? #DamTweet

@GovKitz @GovInslee PLEASE SHARE THE RIVER WITH THE SEA LIONS! There are better options than #Killing #DamTweet @DamGuardians #sealions

@GovKitz @jayinslee There's no excuse for animal abuse! Save the #SeaLions at #BonnevilleDam! You can stop this! #DamTweet

@govkitz Branding Sea Lions for doing what they do naturally is a disgusting case of animal cruelty. #DamTweet #YouShouldBeAshamed

DFW employee Matt Tennis https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=539960852693793&set=a.510751328948079.107668.507053622651183&type=1&theater … burning the flesh of#sealions #DamTweet

Rock The #DamTweet for Sea Lions! Event to help them on FB! Plz join!https://www.facebook.com/events/619998414681442/?notif_t=plan_user_joined …

#Oregon @GovKitz grants clemency to #murderers but not 2 #California sea lions who eat #Salmon #WTH #DamTweet @DamGuardians @SeaShepherd

@DamGuardians @seashepherd branded, bleeding & burnt #California sea lions brought 2 you courtesy of @GovKitz & our #Taxpayer $$$ #DamTweet

Plz support #DamTweet & Sea Shepherd @DamGuardians as they fight to protect Sea Lions being tortured & killed in USA

@GovKitz STOP THE TORTURE TAKING PLACE IN YOUR STATE! #DAMTWEET

@JayInslee STOP THE TORTURE TAKING PLACE IN YOUR STATE! #damtweet

Plz support #DamTweet & @SeaShepherd @DamGuardians as they fight to protect Sea Lions being tortured & killed in USA !

@govkitz Branding Sea Lions for doing what they do naturally is a disgusting case of animal cruelty. #DamTweet #YouShouldBeAshamed

FAX.
http://www.freefaxbutton.com/free_fax_machine.php

https://www.facebook.com/events/619998414681442/620443061303644/?comment_id=626119637402653&notif_t=like

Sample Letter to fax both Governor John Kitzhaber (Oregon) Fax# 5033786827 and Governor Jay Inslee (Washington) Fax# 3607534110.

I am contacting you to take immediate action to stop the hazing, branding, and death of Sea Lions. I strongly urge you to find alternative and humane solutions to save the endangered salmon and halt the lethal removal of California Sea Lions at the Bonneville Dam. Thank you.

Name
City, State
Country

http://www.freefaxbutton.com/free_fax_machine.php
(Two free faxes per day)

Courtesy Fins and Flukes
https://www.facebook.com/FinsAndFluke

PETITION
Petition to STOP Hazing, Branding and Killing Columbia River Sea Lions
http://signon.org/sign/stop-hazing-branding

PETITION: U.S. District Judge Boasberg: #Oregon — Stop Killing Sea Lions http://www.thepetitionsite.com/871/540/062/oregon-stop-killing-sea-lions/

BACKGROUND
http://www.idausa.org/saving-oregons-sea-lions/

This news was from March 5, 2010 so you can see how long this has been going on.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Blowing Up Tanzanian Dolphins for Sharkbait. Actions to take if you disagree.

April 18 at 7:45pm until July 1 at 10:45pm in EDT
Thank you to @Adriaticdawn

ON-LINE ALL OVER THE WORLD

PLEASE TAKE THESE 3 IMPORTANT STEPS TO INFORM JAKAYA KIKWETE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, THAT KILLING DOLPHINS AND SHARKS FOR SHARK FIN SOUP IS BARBARIC AND MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY:

► 1. SIGN & SHARE WIDELY THIS PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/701/204/671/tanzania-stop-dynamiting-dolphins-and-using-them-as-shark-bait
► 2. SEND HIM TWEETS: https://twitter.com/jmkikwete @jmkikwete
► 3. COMMENT ON HIS FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Kikwete, please keep in mind that you need to COMMENT on a post that is ALREADY THERE, since his page doesn't allow posts by others.

YOU ALSO CONTACT THE MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT:

Website: http://www.mifugo.go.tz/about_us/contacts.php

Address:
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development
PO BOX 9152
Dar es Salaam

Telephone: 2861910

Fax: 2861908

Email : ps-mlfd@mifugo.go.tz

In Tanzania, Africa, dynamite fisherman have been blowing up dolphins and using them as bait in the profitable shark-fin trade in the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park. The dolphins are protected in the marine park and also protected under the country’s fisheries regulations.

The Tanga region marine park is located on the northern coastline of Tanzania. It has an important regional coral reef ecosystem, and is also important habitat for other endangered species such as the dugong, sea turtles and migratory birds.

Tell Tanzania to stop the destructive dynamite fishing. Besides exposing tourists to this barbaric and cruel fishing method, it is very destructive to the entire ecosystem. Furthermore, hunting sharks for their fins should be banned as many shark species are approaching extinction. Stop this gruesome and destructive practice.

LINKS:

Tanzania Government To Fishermen: 'Stop Catching Dolphins, It Upsets The Tourists' http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/tanzania-government-to-fishermen-stop-catching-dolphins-it-up

Tourism fears as dolphins blown up http://wildlifenews.co.uk/2013/tourism-fears-as-dolphins-blown-up

Tanzania: Dolphin Hunting in Pangani Worries Tourism Stakeholders http://allafrica.com/stories/201304150052.html
Pinned Post

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

France: Grant political asylum to Captain Paul Watson

Disclaimer: This is translated from French to English via Google Translate

France: Grant political asylum to Captain Paul Watson
Petition Link for Avaaz
http://www.avaaz.org/fr/petition/Pour_que_la_France_acceuille_Paul_WATSON/

PAUL WATSON, Founder and President of the international NGO advocacy oceans SEA SHEPHERD (Sea Shepherd) is now on the verge of losing his freedom, his life can be.

Honorary citizen of the French town of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and designated by Times Magazine as one of the twenty greatest heroes of the twentieth century environmentalists, activist Paul Watson is invested in defending the oceans for over 40 years. In his fight for the oceans, he has attracted powerful enemies at the highest state level.

Paul Watson was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany on May 13, following an arrest warrant issued by Costa Rica for offenses dating back to 2002. Watson was then interrupted operation of illegal shark fin in the waters of Guatemala (cruel practice that involves cutting the fins of sharks and their bodies reject dying at sea). Watson then patrolled mandated Guatemala. The previous year, poachers Costa Ricans implicated in this operation were charged with illegal fishing of sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, World Heritage Site of Humanity and declared World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO in 2009. During this operation, Paul Watson did not hurt anyone and any damaged equipment. It is nevertheless pursued by Costa Rica, ten years after the fact, for "endangering the lives of others" even though two successive Costa Rican judges had not made a place at the time of the facts. Paul Watson is particularly subject to a red notice issued by Interpol after refused entry in a first time, finally bent to the will of Costa Rica, acting itself as a "subcontractor" Japan.

Because beyond the Costa Rican case, Paul Watson was particularly angered Japan-third-largest economy for its repeated interventions for 8 years against the Japanese whaling (hunting violates the international moratorium on whaling in force since 1986) in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. In 2010, Wikileaks revealed in the press that secret negotiations between the Japanese Prime Minister and the U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton sought to deny Sea Shepherd charitable status of his order to weaken financially. In these cables, Japan, Sea Shepherd made directly responsible for the poor performance of its whaling and tens of millions of dollars in losses that ensue. (In 2011 alone, 172 whales were killed in the Antarctic on a quota of more than 1000).

In October 2011, the date of issuance of the arrest warrant against Costa Rican Paul Watson, Japan intentait parallel action against Sea Shepherd American Court Justice to ban the NGO interventions in the whale sanctuary Antarctica. In March 2012, U.S. judge ruled in favor of Sea Shepherd in dismissing the complaint Japanese.

Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued by Japan for imaginary crimes allegedly committed during the 2010 campaign by Sea Shepherd Antarctic.

Arrest warrants from the Costa Rica (and Japan) are based on highly questionable procedures whose political aim is not to doubt.

Now hunted by the mafia shark fins by the Japanese government and its ally the State of Costa Rica, Watson became the "environmentalist" hit. It is a symbol, for example, continued. 700 While environmental activists have been murdered in the past decade.1, Captain Paul Watson reduce to silence, is to send a very clear message of threat to all ecological resistance movements struggling painfully to save what we remaining biodiversity.

At a time when the United Nations announced the establishment of the initiative "Ocean Compact 'meant more effective protection effective Oceans, do not let one of their strongest supporters be delivered to the powerful lobbies that destroy impunity marine biodiversity, thereby jeopardizing our future and that of our children.

Already in 1992, Cousteau was trying to warn us: "The oceans are dying before our eyes ...". Twenty years later, this vast ocean remains lawless zone in which crimes unpunished and where to play yet, out of sight of all, the future of humanity.

Because beyond the struggle for survival of marine animals, the battle of Paul Watson is no doubt one of the greatest humanitarian causes worldwide. If the oceans die, we all die, it is obvious that we can not escape, this is the one.

Today, let's not look away.

We, the undersigned, ask that France, home to the historic tour and Ocean country of Human Rights, agrees to give political asylum to Captain Paul Watson, one of the largest environmental heroes of our time.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty.
site: www.seashepherd.fr

PAUL WATSON, Fondateur et Président de l’ONG internationale de défense des océans SEA SHEPHERD (Berger de la mer) est actuellement en passe de perdre sa liberté, peut être sa vie.

PAUL WATSON, Fondateur et Président de l’ONG internationale de défense des océans SEA SHEPHERD (Berger de la mer) est actuellement en passe de perdre sa liberté, peut être sa vie.

Citoyen d’honneur de la ville française de Saint Jean Cap Ferrat et désigné par Times Magazine comme l’un des vingt plus grands héros écologistes du XXème siècle, Paul Watson est un activiste investi dans la défense des océans depuis plus de 40 ans. Dans son combat pour les océans, il s’est attiré de puissants ennemis, au plus haut niveau des Etats.

Paul Watson a été arrêté à Francfort, en Allemagne le 13 mai dernier, suite à un mandat d’arrêt émis par le Costa Rica pour des faits remontant à 2002. Watson avait alors interrompu une opération de pêche illégale aux ailerons de requins dans les eaux du Guatemala (pratique cruelle qui consiste à découper les ailerons de requins et rejeter leurs corps agonisants à la mer). Watson patrouillait alors sous mandat Guatémaltèque. L’année précédente, les braconniers Costa Ricains mis en cause lors de cette opération avaient été inculpés pour pêche illégale au requin dans la Réserve Marine des Galápagos, classée Patrimoine Mondial de l’Humanité et déclarée Patrimoine en péril par l’Unesco en 2009. Lors de cette opération, Paul Watson n’a blessé personne et n’a endommagé aucun matériel. Il est néanmoins poursuivi par le Costa Rica, dix ans après les faits, pour « mise en danger de la vie d’autrui » alors même que deux juges Costa Ricains successifs avaient déjà prononcé un non lieu à l’époque des faits. Paul Watson fait notamment l’objet d’une notice rouge émise par Interpol qui après l’avoir refusé son inscription dans un premier temps, s’est finalement plié à la volonté du Costa Rica, pays agissant lui même comme « sous-traitant » du Japon.

Car par delà le cas Costa Ricain, Paul Watson s’est surtout attiré les foudres du Japon- troisième puissance économique mondiale- pour ses interventions répétées depuis 8 ans contre la chasse baleinière Japonaise (chasse qui viole le moratoire international sur la chasse baleinière en vigueur depuis 1986) dans le sanctuaire baleinier de l’Antarctique. En 2010, Wikileaks révélait dans la presse que des négociations secrètes entre le premier Ministre Japonais et la secrétaire d’Etat américain, Hilary Clinton visaient à priver Sea Shepherd de son statut caritatif afin de l’affaiblir financièrement. Dans ces cables, le Japon, rendait Sea Shepherd directement responsable du faible rendement de sa chasse baleinière et des dizaines de millions de dollars de pertes qui s’ensuivent. (Pour la seule année 2011, 172 baleines furent tuées en Antarctique sur un quota fixé à plus de 1000).

En octobre 2011, date de l’émission du mandat d’arrêt Costa Ricain contre Paul Watson, le Japon intentait en parallèle une action contre Sea Shepherd devant la Cour Américaine de Justice pour faire interdire les interventions de l’ONG pour la dans sanctuaire baleinier de l’Antarctique. En mars 2012, le juge américain statua en faveur de Sea Shepherd en rejetant la plainte japonaise.

Par la suite, un mandat d’arrêt aurait été délivré par le Japon visant des infractions imaginaires qui auraient été commises à l’occasion de la campagne 2010 de Sea Shepherd en Antarctique.

Les mandats d’arrêt issus par le Costa Rica (et par le Japon) reposent sur des procédures hautement contestables dont la finalité politique ne fait pas de doute.

Aujourd’hui traqué par la mafia des ailerons de requins, par l’Etat japonais et son allié l’Etat du Costa Rica, Paul Watson est devenu « l’écologiste à abattre ». C’est un symbole, poursuivi pour l’exemple. Alors que 700 militants écologistes ont été assassinés au cours de la dernière décennie1, réduire le Capitaine Paul Watson au silence, c’est envoyer un message de menace très clair à tous les mouvements de résistance écologiste qui luttent péniblement pour sauver ce qu’il nous reste de biodiversité.

A l’heure où les Nations Unies annoncent la mise en place de l’initiative « Ocean Compact », censée rendre plus efficace la protection effective des Océans, ne laissons pas l’un de leur plus fervents défenseurs être livré aux puissants lobbys qui détruisent impunément la biodiversité marine, mettant ainsi en péril notre avenir et celui de nos enfants.

Déjà en 1992, le Commandant Cousteau tentait de nous alerter : « Les Océans sont en train de mourir sous nos yeux… ». Vingt ans plus tard, l’océan demeure cette vaste zone de non droit dans laquelle les crimes restent impunis et où se joue pourtant, loin des regards de tous, l’avenir de l’humanité.

Car par delà la lutte pour la survie des animaux marins, le combat de Paul Watson est à n’en point douter l’une des plus grandes causes humanitaires au monde. Si les océans meurent, nous mourrons tous, s’il est une évidence à laquelle nous ne pourrons échapper, c’est celle là.

Aujourd’hui, cessons de détourner le regard.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

From Captain Paul Watson:

"To be a Conservation Activist, one must be prepared to say things some people do not wish to hear, to do things many people do not like to see being done, and to provoke controversies many people would rather remain ignorant of. An Activist is like an acupuncture needle poking about for a reaction in an attempt to cure a problem. To do this we need to rock the boat, we need to get people's attention. We need to harness imagination and passion with courage and practicality. In truth I really don't care what people think of me. I represent my clients and their interests and my clients are whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, turtles, birds and fish. Not people."

Thank you to AdriaticDawn for sharing the words of Captain Paul Watson in this graphic work by Tom O'Brien
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=555161711172112&set=a.100829143272040.1705.100000348641195&type=1

The White House Government Petition to lift the Interpol Red Notice
for Captain Paul Watson.

Why did this petition not reach it's fulfillment goal of 100,000 signatures?

This issue still has me shaking my head, and based on recent conversations with a few
wonderful folks on Twitter, I'm not alone with my confusion.

SSCS had stated flat out that they don't usually work through petitions, so that in and of itself
implies that they are asking for some help from their supporters, us, and not merely suggesting that it might be a good idea to sign these petitions, if we could remember to, if we could get around to it sometime.

From what I can see on Captain Paul Watson's Facebook page, there are .........."likes", and
over on the Sea Shepherd Conversation Society Facebook page, there are......."likes".

That support was not visible when time came to sign this petition as far as I could see. When SO many "die hard" supporters would not sign and circulate that one action that would have had an impact, how are we going to rally 5 times that many folks to sign another one that is floating around?

Rumor has it many SSCS supporters were reticent to register their name or have their IP address logged at the White House petition site.

Come on folks, that was the flimsiest excuse I can think of, and it just doesn't hold water.

What, do we think for a moment that the USA government doesn't already have our IP address?
Heck, any savvy techie could probably figure out how to find it in minutes.

The White House Government petition site is cumbersome.
I had to ask for my password to go through 3 times, but it finally did, and then it took 30 seconds tops
to register my name.

Even SSCS issued an action that would enable supporters to register their name and address, in the
event that they had encountered difficulty accessing the WH GOV petition site, and their would be counted as being signed.

We are supposed to be supporting a global network of folks, our SSCS heroes, who literally
not only risk being rammed by a ship many times the size the size of the vessel they are on, they
do and did get rammed.
We're not speculating about the possibility, it already happened and it has been well documented on film.

All you have to do is visit youtube, punch in Sea Shepherd + Nisshan Maru and see the videos for yourself.
Again, and again, and again.
From many angles.
Take your pick.

So, my frustration stems from the fact that the discomfort level of having to register a name and an email with the White House Government petition site appears to be greater than the discomfort of living on a ship at sea, being rammed by bigger ships at sea, in order to make sure that justice is done for the Cetacean clients.

How did we not ponder what the ramifications of arrest and extradition for are for the man who would have benefitted from the action that drove that petition?

Namely at lot of days in a prison cell, probably not a very comfy one at that.
And that would be the best case scenario.

Good thing that it appears to be that we all have plenty of time now to ponder what could have been, had the armchair been less of burden.

The only comfort here is that Captain Paul Watson and SSCS are too darned smart and have been burned too many times to walk into a trap. They are under no obligation to inform you and I about their plans, and yet when they did, and asked for a very small token of support ~ a name and an email address on a petition site ~ we indisputably let them down.

I realize that this is probably the end of the line for quite a few of my "social media relationships"
that have developed during Operation Zero Tolerance.

That's just fine, nothing I can or am willing to do about it.

Disclaimer.

This one is mine.
Adelheid16