As planned the International Community stood in solidarity on September 1st regarding the first day of the Taiji dolphin slaughter. Ric O'Barry gathered a bus load of people to meet him in Osaka, Japan and ride down to Taiji to celebrate what he called Dolphin Day. Ric is trying to place a positive spin on such a horrible and disgusting act towards wild animals of the ocean. Ric believes we need to protect and celebrate the lives of the dolphins and I agree with him.
As September 1st came upon Taiji so was a massive Typhoon! The winds were picking up greatly and the rain was pounding down while the waves were crashing against the coastline. This brought great fortune to any dolphins passing by the outside perimeter where the 12 Deadly Sins would search for them but it is the start of grave danger for the captive dolphins in the pens of Taiji.
If you can remember earlier this year when the Tsunami devasted the country of Japan. Well this Tsunami also had some effects on the dolphins in the pens of the town of Taiji. These pens hold in some cases over 20 dolphins. When the Tsunami after effects hit the Taiji harbour the water receeded and then came back several times. This water housed the dolphins in the pen which were greatly affected and a few dolphins lost their lives. Well needless to say there is still dolphins in these cages within the Taiji town and no one, not even the trainers that say they love dolphins are doing anything for these dolphins. These dolphins are trapped in these water cages with netting and if you watch the video below with Ric O'Barry he is speaking about the horror these dolphins are currently facing and will face as the Typhoon picks up.
Brian Barnes who volunteers his time for Save Japan Dolphins has recently posted this as his status on facebook :
Many activists are preparing to go back again and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is leading their second volunteer run Taiji Campaign called "Operation Infinite Patience". Paul Watson says "Sea Shepherd's Cove Guardians cut the Taiji dolphin kill quota by half last season with over 65 crew stationed at Taiji over the 6 month period." I was one of the 65 activists last season and I am heading there again this coming season with no definite date set yet but aiming for the month of November. The energy you feel when amongst some worldwide individuals all there to end such horror to the dolphin species is a rush. Standing side by side to do the dolphins proud and get in the way of the murderers is an honour.
The Toronto Dolphin Day was a success with many active people coming from as far as Windsor, London, Brantford, Cambridge, and Barrie. A few activist dressed up like geisha girls holding signs about the dolphin slaughter. There were many honks, cheering, and sign waving as the group started in front of the Japanese Consulate at 77 King Street West from Noon till 4pm.
Below are some photos from the Toronto event.
Other sources:
Upcoming Fund-Raiser called "Give the Oceans A Break - First Annual"
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| Fundraiser - Saturday, October 15th - Mississauga, Ontario 4pm - 7pm https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194030500661187 |
Bob Timmons
Co-Host for Herbivores - Animal Frequency
http://www.facebook.com/HerbivoresAnimalFrequency
Artist For The Ocean
http://www.bobtimmons.org
Twiiter: http://twitter.com/activistartist
http://twitter.com/SSCSToronto
Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited
Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited
I now paint the plight of the ocean with what I call my “Awareness Paintings”. I do my best to compile all the needed visuals to promote the story of the issue I want to relay to young and old. I have started with the slaughters of the ocean and now the plight of the ocean itself. The paintings have been shown at many art showings but I do not want to sell them. They are meant to be together and tell the story of what is happening from Whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles and sharks. I am compiling a book of these paintings to further the animals lives of decline into book readers from schools to bookstores.
Now when I started my journey of researching animal slaughters I learned a lot to the point I needed to go public. I joined ARK II – Animal Rights Kollective of Toronto – Canada as their Director of International Campaigns since I built up a worldwide network just for animals. My first campaign with them was about shark cartilage against a company called Holista. We won this campaign 9 months after making it a nationwide win throughout Canada. I became very active on the streets with organizing demonstrations, protests, fundraisers for animal charities. I also became a board member for Oceanic Defense that was based out of California at the time to aid them in any grassroots action required. After that I founded my own organization called “Ocean Activists United – International Grassroots Action” which had 16 locations worldwide at one time. Then at the end of 2010 I was asked by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society if I wanted to be the Regional Coordinator for their Toronto Chapter which I gladly accepted.
Throughout the 3 years I only travel now for animal related issues from documenting, painting and/or organizing. This year alone I have gone to Japan where they slaughter dolphins in the town of Taiji to educate my readers and followers of the source of cetacean captivity and swim with dolphins. I witnessed 90 Dolphins slaughtered and 4 species of dolphins the time I spent there in Japan. Just a month ago I helped organize an Anti-captivity Mass Gathering in Miami – Florida where we did it at a location called Seaquarium that houses a very lonely female Orca named Lolita. The event was for worldwide captivity from zoos to aquariums with the focus on one establishiment while we had 5 other cities worldwide join in on the same day. I have also recorded 95% of what I do from the streets to the fundraisers as another tool to educate and bring awareness to the subject we are speaking about.
I also have done a lot of public speaking ever since I became aware of the animal issues globally. I feel it is the passion to help animals that gives me the courage to speak up and be a voice. I take any and all opportunities that come my way for animals and I do my best to support and/or network animal organizations to get them the help they need especially sanctuaries. I also donate prints of my art work to many fundraisers worldwide and I have one in particular that I donate to dozens of Sea Shepherd events every year that alone has raised over $3,000.
I am on facebook and I am very active locally and globally. I connect people, help support, and or raise awareness for them all for the bottom line of helping animals.
Now I go by the phrase "Artist for the Ocean".
My facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/aArtistfortheOcean