Report from Taiji: January 28

A skiff and a banger boat drive dolphins into
the CoveMass genocide of a sentient and near-celestial being is something that I cannot get used to despite the number of times I am subjected to it. Twelve Risso’s dolphins were forced away from their migration path today and chased into a little finger of water that is, in my opinion, one of the most evil places on this planet. They emerged from the killing cove as lifeless meat that will be consumed by the people of Taiji.

Who do we think we are? Why do we feel that as a species, we have the right to play a higher role and decide who and what lives and dies? We make decisions to eradicate animals from our forested lands, our oceans, even the garden in our backyard simply because these creatures have somehow inconvenienced our lives. The fact that the Taiji dolphin killers are told by their government that the dolphins are “pests” and are eating all the fish in the sea is something that I absolutely cannot wrap my mind around. If any species is acting as pests on this planet, well…it’s us humans. And if there is one species responsible for wiping the oceans clean of all life and its abundance, it’s humans again, not the dolphins or the whales.

Two fishermen try to hide the bodies of Risso's dolphins as they leave the killing coveAs we continue to industrialize further, and further into the wilderness, animals will continue to suffer and loose their homes. We choose to build our homes in the deep forest wanting to find solace, but then we also choose shoot the deer because they’re eating our rose bushes. We plant a nice bountiful garden in order to reduce our carbon footprint and live more sustainably, but then we poison the slugs because they’re eating our lettuce. As humans we desire, crave, and demand a lifestyle that cannot exist in harmony with the natural world, yet all along we say how much we love our planet and its abundant flora and fauna. I’m just as guilty as the next person of some of this - I drive a car, I don’t have solar panels on my roof, and I support corporate America by occasionally swinging through the Starbucks drive-thru. But as a species, we need to wake up and realize that one day soon we won’t have any flora and fauna left, we won’t have an ocean to harvest from, and we won’t be able to survive. As Captain Paul Watson reminds us, “If the oceans die, we die.” It’s the simple truth, yet we insist on discovering this truth the hard way.

Spread the word. Raise awareness. Speak out.

Here 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

A dolphin hunter bangs a hammer on the top of the banger pole to drive the dolphins

Cove Guardian Jared Harris photographs a sign placed on the barricades by city officials

Nicole, who will be assisting me during my time in Taiji, will share her experiences on her blog.