Just over an hour ago, Justin McCurry in Tokyo, writing for The Guardian newspaper has indicated that the Japanese have begun their cull of dolphins.
‘Japanese fisherman rounding up more than 250 dolphins, including babies and juveniles, into a cove in Taiji before the annual cull’ was accompanied by the distressing image of these highly intelligent animals caught in a violent onslaught by Japanese fishermen.
It is NOT a fish. It is a mammal with young who suckle.
What are fishermen doing killing mammals? Don’t answer. We all know it is for money.
I sit here with tears in my eyes when I realise that the US ambassador to Japan, Yoko Ono and world protests have accomplished nothing.
In my own way I have tried my best to stop the slaughter by donating to Sea Shepherd, by translating benevolently a long document from French into English for Sea Shepherd, Swiss, and by alerting as many people as I can to this annual horror.
Now, once again, as the murder of an estimated 250 dolphins began this morning, I can only do my best by bringing it to the attention of as many people as possible in hope that each one will express their indignation to the Japanese government. Remind them that they had the support of the world when they had the nuclear disaster. Perhaps they would reconsider this disturbing practice?
It would seem that a small number of the dolphins are selected before the cull to be sold to aquariums and water parks. Boycott them if you can’t do anything else. The dolphins are often ill and mishandled. Most end up suffering depression before dying. If you are interested in the document I translated concerning ‘Water Worlds,’ please contact me and you will understand that having been spared in a cull, the dolphins are doomed to a miserable life in restricted captivity.
I’ve said my piece, but I am no happier knowing what has been going on in Taiji, Japan today. I will continue to rant as it is the only way I can justify my being here...
For your information, if you have the heart to watch The Cove, here is an excerpt.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/132131/cove