Save the Dolphins

Even though I’ve demonstrated for gay rights, protested against Nazis, marched in opposition of the Iraq War and campaigned for presidential candidates, I’ve never considered myself to be an activist.  The word “activist” comes with a sour taste.  Visions of angry protestors and riot police flood my vision as I think of years past.  I’m not violent.  I may be angry and frustrated but there’s no need for rubber bullets and flash grenades to control my actions.  I won’t throw bricks at the police or storm the front lines.

But I understand why some people do.

In September I began my senior seminar course.  Our assignment for the class is to research and present on a topic of interest.  While other students wanted to write about invasive species (I’m an Environmental Science major), I wanted to write about something different.  I wanted to research a topic that I cared about.  I decided to write my paper on commercial whaling.  The formal title of the paper is “The Effects of Commercial Whaling on Cetacean Populations: Science, Politics and Controversy”.  The more time I spent researching the topic, the more I realized that there is really very little historical data about whale populations and that so much of the issue of whaling is engulfed in controversy.

Despite an international moratorium on commercial whaling, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) does nothing to protect whales from being killed by the thousands each year.  The Japanese have exploited a loophole that allows them to continue whaling under the guise of ”scientific research”.  The Japanese kill whales each year in internationally protected waters, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and there is little anyone can do to stop them.  Participation in the IWC is voluntary and participating counties may withdraw at anytime or file a formal objection to any agreement, thus exempting themselves from the rules of that agreement.  Norway and Iceland have both filed formal objections against the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling.

The scientific research that Japan conducts has been called Junk Science by Greenpeace and the IWC has repeatedly issued requests for Japan to stop using lethal methods in their research.  The studies by the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) have yielded contrary results and have been rejected by numerous peer-reviewed journals because they failed to address criticisms to the methodology of their research.  And still the Japanese continue their charade.

These aren’t the only problems plaguing the Japanese whaling industry.  Whaling isn’t profitable and is supported by subsidies (US$164 million since 1988)  from the Japanese government.  Whaling is economically unsustainable.

Whale and dolphin meat also contain very high levels of methylmercury and can cause serious health problems like Minamata Disease, something the Japanese people know all too well.  Instead of concern for their health and safety, the government has begun feeding the poisoned meat to schoolchildren in Japan.  Since they are unable to sell the meat on the market, they need to find a way to reduce their stockpiles.  I guess feeding it to innocent children is the best way the government can find to dispose of the excess.

It’s because of this that I will be traveling to Japan in November.  I want to show the Japanese fisherman that the world stands against their practices of killing whales and dolphins.  I will be visiting Taiji, the city made infamous by the documentary, The Cove.  Each year, thousands of dolphins are herded here by Japanese fisherman.  The “best” dolphins are sold to dolphinariums around the world and the rest are mercilessly slaughtered.  If you want to learn more about what is happening in Taiji, please visit Save Japan Dolphins.

If you are interested in supporting my efforts directly, please make a donation or send me your words of encouragement.  Be sure to check out the daily updates from the Cove Guardians already in Taiji.