Dolphin Slaughter Season Has Officially Begun

Dolphin Slaughter Season Has Officially Begun!

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.

Save Japan Dolphins

 

Brian Barnes who volunteers his time for Save Japan Dolphins has recently posted this as his status on facebook :

Taiji's first kills of the season seems to have happened without the boats even leaving the harbor. Several dolphins being held in the sea pens at Dolphin Base didn't make it through the storm. The dolphins were pushed against the side of the sea pen by the waves and likely drown. It's ironic, these dolphins were captured last season - but killed this season. - Brian Barnes

It seems we have some casualties from the Typhoon when responsible people do not care about another life in their care.

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:

Article from Japan

Save Japan Dolphins

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Sea Shepherd Toronto

Upcoming Fund-Raiser called "Give the Oceans A Break - First Annual"



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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aartistfortheocean

Twiiter: http://twitter.com/activistartist

Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarineArtist
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/stalyun2006

Toronto Regional Coordinator for Sea Shepherd
http://www.facebook.com/SSCSToronto 

http://twitter.com/SSCSToronto

Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited

http://twitter.com/oceanactivists

Ontario - Canadian Artists Team Up For Japan Aid

As your all aware Japan has had some major natural disaster catastrophes that has immobolized the country. Now from the earthquake to a tsunami was surreal enough they are facing a major nuclear meltdown on 3 reactors and recently on their southern side of the island had a volcano erupt. An even more sad part of this if that is possible is the death toll rising and next will be a food crisis and disease! So as we all know it they are in extreme need of help!

Money raised is going to an Animal Rescue Organization working in Japan. Currently we are seeking out an SPCA that is in the ground zero of the worst area.

We will keep you posted here! We are supporting this organization Nippon SPCA for their efforts regarding the animals in the crisis of Japan.
Being an artist I am always looking for ways to create help for a positive change and when I heard about this matter I knew my art could raise some money. Then my good friend another local artist Pete Mander called me up and said he wanted to help out this situation and our wheels started to turn. When the passion for change happened in our minds we were able to get other artist on board and I called up a few more local artist and this amazing action occurred! All artist have similarities in our lives like supporting Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and animals. We have decided to have an online selling, auction - fundraiser for the human and nonhuman animals of Japan. We are all aware that there will be organizations going to Japan to help the people and the animals in this desparate time of need and we want to support them!
Below are the local Ontario - Canadian Artist that have some very close similarities in common but a diverse way of expressing it! Bob Timmons, Pete Mander, Alicia Whishart, and Stephen Watson!

Please make all inquiries to ArtistfortheOcean@gmail.com and when the payment is received via PAYPAL the artist will personally mail it to you. Let's help Japan!

Updates:

• Sold "Out of the Darkness" by Alicia Wishart
• Bid of $500usd on Halo Masterchief Costume March 15th
• Bid of $750usd on Halo Masterchief Costume March 16th
• Bid of $1000usd on Halo Masterchief Costume March 17th
• Sold "Blood in the Ocean - Dolphin" by Bob Timmons

Bob Timmons
Visual Artist
Toronto - Ontario - Canada

Artist, Grass-Roots Activist, Animal Rights Advocate,
Bob is the ‘Artist for the Ocean’ and through his powerful awareness- art exposes stories of worldwide marine animal decline and abuse, and critical issues of ocean health. He leads, organizes and documents street demonstrations, marches, and grass-roots protests, and through multi-media brings these events to a wider global audience. He is a fearless, vocal advocate for animals everywhere. Bob also combines the arts and sciences in his advocacy; as an environmental sciences graduate he integrates knowledge and passion in his writings, paintings, campaigns, and public outreach. Bob is a true ocean warrior. Bob is a the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Toronto Regional Coordinator and has done a few paintings with their ocean stories - one available below.

Bob will be selling unlimited amounts of the following items where 100% of the profits goes right to the fundraising for Japan. My jeweler Suzanne Crudden is also splitting costs to allow more money to go to Japan!

Blood in the Ocean Jewelry - Dolphin Charm

You can purchase this (Unlimited Sales) until March 25th to help with the Japan Fundraiser.

Purchase the itme here: Dolphin Charm

You can purchase this (Unlimited Sales) until March 25th to help with the Japan Fundraiser. Purchase the itme here: Octopus Charm





You can purchase this (Unlimited Sales) until March 25th to help with the Japan Fundraiser.

Purchase the itme here: Turtle Charm

You can purchase this (Unlimited Sales) until March 25th to help with the Japan Fundraiser. Purchase the itme here: Voyage of my Soul

Pete Mander
Visual Artist
St. Catherines - Ontario - Canada

Artist, Animal Rights Advocate,
Pete is an artist that can create almost anything that his mind comes up with into a man sized form. Creates visual FX from masks to suits that really captures the eye. Most of Pete's art ends up in the movie industries across North America however since he has been involved with the Animal issues of the world he has created many props for street activism. He is a huge supporter of the well known Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Pete wants to auction off one of his Halo Costumes value $3,100usd- Master Chief! This auction will start at $100 by sending your maximum daily bid to ArtistfortheOcean@gmail.com and the top bid will be posted daily so please mark this web page to your browser. Please send Max daily bid, name, number, and anything else we need to know. Remember this auction is on until March 25th at 4pm EDT. At that moment the winner will be contacted and will have an hour to purchase the item or off to the next highest bid. When the money has been paid by PAYPAL the winner will be announced and the item will be shipped.

You can watch a video of the man sized Master Chief Halo Costume here: http://vimeo.com/1294501

HIGHEST BID WILL BE POSTED HERE FOR THE COSTUME

Highest BIDS
$500usd by D'arcy Page March 15th  outbid
$750  by Tom Brown March 16th
$1000 Top Bid by Derek Cosgrave March 17th
 
CHECK BACK DAILY IF YOU'VE MADE A BID!

Sea Shepherd Plaque

$100usd

3 Available

AVP celtic predator biohelment

$180usd

2 Available

Sea Shepherd Mask inspired by Sea Shepherd Conservation's Efforts!

Head size and sells for $50usd

You can view a video on the masks here: http://vimeo.com/16131597

You can purchase this (Unlimited Sales) until March 25th to help with the Japan Fundraiser. Send payment to ArtistfortheOcean@gmail.com using Paypal and note SSCS Mask!

Alicia Wishart

Painter

Barrie - Ontario - Canada

Alicia is an amazing artist that places dynamic colours into her art of animals to show the energy of beauty within them. Alicia is an on-shore volunteer with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and is involved with activism regarding the voiceless - the animals.

Alicia would like to sell the following prints to help raise money for Japan. First come first served and when they are sold they will be stated. Please make all inquiries to ArtistfortheOcean@gmail.com and when the payment is received via PAYPAL the artist will personally mail it to you.

"Learning to Fly"
16"x16"
Print on canvas
$125usd

(ONLY TWO AVAILABLE)

"Out of the Darkness"
16"x16"
Print on canvas
$125usd

SOLD

Stephen Watson

Painter

London - Ontario - Canada

Stephen likes to work with watercolour and ink and has experimented with acrylics and their application to his unique style. Often his subject matter is designed to elicit a response of the viewers social and environmental conscience and was therefore honoured when his painting was chosen to be the cover of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) Christmas Card in 2000.  Stephen is also the brother of Captain Paul Watson founder/president of the SSCS.

Humpback Whale & calf

Ink and Water Colour

12in X 24in

$100usd

(ONLY TWO AVAILABLE)

Sperm Whale & calf

Ink and Water Colour

12in X 24in

$100usd

(ONLY TWO AVAILABLE)

Spherical Apparition

Ink and Water Colour

44in x 30in

$150usd

(ONLY ONE AVAILABLE)

Pandora's Box

Ink and Water Colour

32in x 22in

$125usd

(ONLY ONE AVAILABLE)

Please make all inquiries to ArtistfortheOcean@gmail.com and when the payment is received via PAYPAL the artist will personally mail it to you. Unless its a bid we will wait until 4pm EDT Ontario Time to take the last bid and first payment after contact will win the item.

THE FUNDRAISER ENDS MARCH 25TH 4PM EDT ONTARIO - CANADA TIME!

The Ying & The Yang

Since I have been in Japan I have had a ton of "Ying/Yang" thoughts or opposites of attraction. The people here are so amazing, respecting and constantly bowing to one another. The respect for nature with praying temples in the forest and at waterfalls is amazing. The actual beauty that surrounds us her is incredible with high hills that go back as far as the eye allows us to see. Not sure to call this the Ying or the Yang but let's say it is totally opposite to what happens in Taiji and the Killing Cove they call their own.

Today's events at Taiji were a Ying and Yang moment which left us with mixed feelings. We were put through the suffering and killing of dolphins - Risso dolphins - and then we witnessed a rescue of a dolphin. Yes you are reading that correctly - a rescue of a dolphin.

The ships were out far past the regular time frame of 9:30am with no dolphins on the horizon but I believe with 2 days of no dolphin kills they forced themselves to stay out longer than usual to make up for that. Well they did find themselves some dolphins to drive in and that was about 12 to 15 Risso Dolphins. It was sad really to see this happen when we almost felt it was going to be the 3rd day with no kills but sadly the 12 Deadly Sins of Taiji took that away from us.

As the drive was being pushed towards the harbour some dolphins strayed from the pod and went fearing for their lives into the harbour while the rest of the pod continued on and pushed into the Cove. Sadly the Cove took more intelligent sentient beings this morning to add to the other lives lost in this dolphin graveyard. However the few Risso Dolphins that broke from the pack were swimming around in the harbour. Then for some reason 2 of them left leaving behind 1 dolphin.

The one remaining dolphin for some reason was swimming in one area near the captive dolpin pens in the harbour and was swimming in a circle. You could almost pick the spot he/she was going to come up for a breath. It seemed very sad as if he/she were waiting for its mate or parent to find him/her. We watched the dolphin for awhile since the dolphin bodies from the cove were already transfered to the dolphin slaughterhouse and the fishermen seemed to be done for the day. We were planning to do shift work to keep an eye on the dolpin incase the fishermen decided to wait until we were gone to go and capture - then kill the dolpin for food.

Then 2 boats came out and had about 8 fishermen with one snorkeler. They came up to the last dolpin pen and slowly turned not to scare the free dolphin that did not want to leave the harbour. They started to put out their nets and they successfully closed off the freedom from the dolphin. We were very worried about this whole situation and a dozen cameras and more eyes were staring at this whole ordeal. It wasn't until we seen the dolphin stretcher that we knew they were going to lift the dolpin out of the water to relocate it but where?

As I was filming the situation and snapping photos here and there the fishermen managed to lift the dolpin out and into a small boat almost unaware of my 2 lenses. One boat took off out of the harbour and the other 2 started to take the netting up and back into the boats. At that moment I knew the dolphin was on the boat that left. I then quickly ran to my car and me and Sheri met other Cove Guardians at the Look Out Point to watch the boat and ensure that this was actually a rescue and not a ploy to hide the killing.

I climbed down the cliff at the look out and scaled across some rock at the bottom of the cliff near the ocean. I found a great spot to set up my camera the best I could and film the boat heading out to sea. After they reached a very good distance from the harbour they lifted their motor and started to shuffle about in the boat. It was tough to see but the boat had successfully been freed of the dolphin and the boat turned around and headed back to port.

This day really gave a Ying Yang feeling of mixed feelings from the horrific cruelty, fear, sounds, and finally death of the 12 to 15 Risso dolphins all the way to the happy moment of seeing this amazing sentient being carted off to the open ocean to live. However the poor Risso was left alone with 95% of its family decimated with the cove walls by the same men who freed it. Now this is the country of the "Ying Yang" and this ordeal today showed the disregard of compassion within the work hours of the cove to the compassion after hours to the freedom and/or relocation of the last remaining lost dolphin from the pod. It may be because we chose to stay with this dolphin no matter what or some of these fishermen do really have a heart and may not like how they have to earn their money to feed their family.

When we arrived they were searching for the dolphin and then left to the harbour.





The Taiji Fishermen Come To Catch The Lonely Dolphin



The Once Free Dolphin Is Now Netted




 

 Staying positive its the only energy that the darkness cannot extinguish!

Please contact your closest Japanese Embassy/Consulate and let them know you do not approve and want the dolphin slaughter to stop: Stop The Slaughter

Bob Timmons
Future Cove Guardian
http://www.bobtimmons.org/
http://thecoveguardian.blogspot.com/
_______________________________________________________________

It was a couple of years ago that I first learned about Taiji Bay aka "The Cove" when I did a painting that I called "The Rising Sun Exposes The Guilt". Now I have an opportunity to do more and this is becoming a "Cove Guardian" with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Taiji Bay, Japan.

 I have started to organize ways to raise some money and awareness about this decision I have made and you can donate and share on facebook,  , Paypal (timmons.animal.artist@gmail.com)