Report from Taiji: December 14

Nicole, Libby and student Tatsuro (with his permission to publish his photo)You know the feeling when you have a really good day? Well, today was one of those days. For the second day in a row, all twelve banger boats stayed in harbor. The rain continued overnight and prevented the fishermen from hunting, which also means it was a great day for the dolphins and a great day for the Cove Guardians. Of course, work comes first so we parked again on the Mountain Pass and kept watch over the harbor of Taiji. After over an hour of no activity, we headed back to the hotel to work on our blogs, video, updates, etc. I have never worked so hard in my life, nor functioned on so little sleep, but every moment here is a moment that I’m grateful for. Here I can make a difference.

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a university student in Tokyo that had come down in November to spend time with the Cove Guardians. After his visit last month, he became fascinated by the dolphin drive and has since decided to take a stand. In his message, he asked if he could come back to Taiji and spend five days with the Cove Guardians. We picked him up at his hotel early this afternoon and spent the day at the Cove discussing his “plan of action.” He has intensely researched dolphin hunting in the entire nation of Japan and his findings were very interesting. He now hopes to take his newly gained knowledge and inform his country via broadcasting, blogging, etc. He is a very intelligent person and I feel that he will be a fantastic spokesperson to spread the message that slaughtering dolphins is very, very morally wrong.

I am amazed and extremely happy that this student has chosen to take action and encourage others to take action as well. In a country of conformity, it takes severe strength and passion for your cause of choosing to stand up and tell the nation, “I believe this is wrong;” yet that is exactly what is happening.

Janice looks out over the Taiji harborHere is your opportunity to become a Cove Guardian.  To join us in Taiji (voluntarily, and completely at your own cost and risk), write to us at coveguardian@seashepherd.org.  We will get back to you, but please be patient.  We cannot keep an eye on the Cove and answer e-mails at the same time.  Contributions to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to keep our official presence here are needed and welcome.  These contributions cover the costs for transport, telephone, equipment, supplies, food, and lodging for the official Sea Shepherd representative.  We will remain here through the end of March and will return for the next season in September 2011.

Thank you to the citizens of Japan who are weighing these issues and beginning to take a stand to solve them.  Thank you to everyone who is on the frontlines of this war.  This is a war to save ourselves from ourselves.  Without your calling and writing Japanese embassies and your own governments, there will be no change.  Keep it up! Every time dolphins are pushed into the Cove, let them have it.  Every time there is blood in the water, let them have it.  Make good consumer choices.  Inform everyone you know about the tragedy here and how it is linked to the captive dolphin trade.  All who patronize a dolphin show have blood on their hands.

For the dolphins,

Libby Katsinis

Libby and Nicole look past the barricades into the killing cove

Barricades at the Cove

Nicole, who will be assisting me during the next three months, will share her experiences while in Taiji on her blog.
Scott’s daughter, Elora Malama West, who assisted him, will continue her blog from home.