In the summer of giant robots, red matter, and aliens in South Africa, one little movie has managed to do what no other has done: have an impact on the real world. The Cove is a documentary film that follows Richard O’Barry and a team of experts as they work to uncover and show to the world the extreme dolphin killings that occur in the town of Taiji, Japan, beginning every September. Well the 1st of September has come and gone, and believe it or not, the dolphin killings have stopped – all thanks to this great little thriller of a movie!
We cannot rave enough about the film. For those of you not familiar with it, it is the story of Richard O’Barry, the man who was the trainer of all the dolphins used in the Flipper TV show. Once the show was finished, he found himself questioning how dolphins were captured and used as amusement park attractions. Since then he has become an activist working for dolphins all around the world. It was then that he learned the secret of the town of Taiji.
After unsuccessfully trying to draw attention to the slaughterings, going as far as getting banned from the International Whaling Commission, he met Louie Psihoyos, the director of the film. “How can we expose this” they asked themselves. Their solution? An undercover mission that would make James Bond proud. They use fake rocks, recruited freedivers and professional photographers, snuck out thermal imaging equipment, got a few nondescript vans and 43 bags worth of equipment – all to get a peek at the restricted area where the dolphins were savagely murdered.
The film is unflinching in its depiction of the dolphin killing activities. It is difficult to watch at times, but thrilling, exciting, and wonderful at the same time. It shows us a man that has felt regret throughout his life and his struggle with how his own actions popularized the exploitation of creatures as innocent as dolphins.
The film ends with a wish that it could create enough media attention to stop dolphin killing in Taiji. Now that the killings have stopped, we hope they amend the ending when it comes out on DVD!
Habby says: Watch it!
+ The Cove
+ Urgent Update from Taiji: September 1, 2009, A Good Day for Dolphins
The killing hasn’t stopped it still continues in other parts of Japan and even Ric O’Barry sated that as soon as he leaves the killing will resume. I assume you copied your by-line from another site which is a pity as it is mis-leading and innaccurate.
QUOTE: The film ends with a wish that it could create enough media attention to stop dolphin killing in Taiji. Now that the killings have stopped, we hope they amend the ending when it comes out on DVD!
What is your source? I have not heard that it has officially been ended. I hope it has but until an official announcement people need to keep contributing and paying attention to this cause.
Well, the killing may have stop in Taiji, but will in resume later either in Taiji or in other parts of Japan.
What about claims that dolphins are being killed on other countries besides Japan, can these be autenticated?
Yes, dolphin killing is going on in Denmark.
The fisherman won’t stop unless they have a monetary incentive to want to do so. They need to establish fish farming or something to substitute for the dolphin and whale slaughter that is still going on elsewhere in Japan and on the oceans.
Also other fisherman that have these large sweeping nets that fish for shrimp, tuna, and other fish, throw away thousands of pounds of other sea life like whales, dolphins, sea lions, many species of shark,and other smaller rare fish. Pretty soon, sea life will be extinct in our oceans if we do not say something to our leaders around the world that we don’t like it!!!