News
Watch this powerful video about dolphin captivity from Sea Shepherd…
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have released a video about dolphin captivity to coincide with the start of Japan’s annual six-month dolphin drive in Taiji.
The video, titled “Do You Know Where Your Entertainment Comes From?” begins with shots of dolphins performing at a marine park to enthusiastic crowds. The video takes a turn when the same footage begins to go in reverse, but goes further back to trace just how dolphins end up in these dolphinariums in the first place.
That route goes backwards to include crane shots of dolphins being transported, trained in sea pens, the bloody waters of the infamous Cove in Taiji, Japan, and beyond.
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/JH0O6dpTPMc
The accompanying text posted on Sea Shepherd’s You Tube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account reads:
“Every year from September 1st to March 1st, thousands of dolphins are viciously herded into a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, by local hunters who have the sole purpose of kidnapping some and murdering the rest. This bloody massacre is conducted with the backing of the Japanese government. The dolphins that are not brutally killed, are permanently traumatized after being forced to witness the horror of their family members being slaughtered. This is then followed by a horrifying existence of living in a tiny 10 X10 enclosure and being forced to beg and learn tricks, just to receive food.
Once they have properly “conformed” to the ritual of performing for a meal, they are ready to be sold into a life of slavery to the highest bidder from marine parks around the world.
The dolphins endure long rides in the back of trucks and on airlines, sometimes for a total of 30-40 hours. If they miraculously survive this trip, when they arrive to their new “home” they are forced into equally small, sometimes smaller pens, and must live and compete with dolphins from other pods. The enslaved dolphins are now required to perform in shows multiple times per day, and in between shows, they are made to “play” in the pools with humans, who want entertainment.
These dolphins are force fed pills that make them more subdued, to keep them from lashing out at humans and this is followed immediately by “uppers”, so they will still have the energy to perform. This is only a small glimpse into the dreadful and cruel existence that an enslaved dolphin must now endure.
If you buy a ticket to a marine park, or participate in a “swim-with-dolphins” program, remember that you are directly contributing to the Taiji dolphin drive, as well as the miserable life that these intelligent and sentient beings are now forced to live.”
Support the work of Sea Shepherd at www.seashepherd.org.
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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