I’m not sure how many of you’ve seen the incredible Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, directed by Louie Psihoyos. It’s like an Ocean’s 11 style mission taken to Taiji, Japan where the Japanese fisherman kill 23K dolphins a year. No, I’m not kidding, and not only are they killing them, but they’ve been substituting dolphin meat for tuna and other sea delicacies in grocery stores all over Japan. Dolphin meat has one of the highest mercury levels of any fish and in addition to selling this meat in grocery stores, it’s been given to local schools for their children’s daily lunches. A bigger issue the film brings to light is the amount Japan has been over-fishing, hurting the dolphin population, and then LYING about it. Twenty-three THOUSAND dolphins are killed in this small cove in Taiji, Japan by the local fisherman every year.
The Cove, released in 2009 brought attention to the city of Taiji, but the fisherman didn’t listen and continued brutally murdering 23K dolphins. Over this past weekend, thanks to the film’s director Louie Psihoyos and several anonymous Japanese groups, 2000 copies of a Japanese-dubbed “The Cove” DVDs were distributed in the mailboxes of ALL the households of Taiji, Japan. Thanks to this movement, the dolphin killing season was just ended early. This is activism at it’s best!
If you haven’t seen this incredible documentary, you should check it out! Even if you aren’t necessarily a dolphin lover (who isn’t though?), it will wrench your heart strings. It kept me on the edge of my seat, it also has a guest appearance by Hayden Panettiere attempting to stop the killing of dolphins in 2009.
Below, see the letter sent out by OPS (The Ocean Preservation Society) this morning:
This weekend, every Taiji household found a copy of The Cove in their mailbox.
In a surprise move shrouded in secrecy, film director Louie Psihoyos, in conjunction with several anonymous Japanese groups, arranged for 2000 copies of a Japanese-dubbed version of The Cove to be mailed to all residents of the coastal town. Most are aware of the controversy surrounding their town yet few have been able to view the film.
OPS has also put a free version for viewers outside the country, on The Cove website.
A theatrical release last summer was marred by incidents of protest by extreme nationalists, forcing several theaters to cancel. Despite dozens of awards and international acclaim, The Cove has had few viewers within Japan.
“The people of Taiji deserve to know what millions of others around the world have learned about their town,” said Director Louie Psihoyos. “We here at OPS hope that when the Japanese people watch this film in the safety of their own homes, they may see that a few fishermen’s profits are giving a whole nation a black eye, not them.”
A DVD subtitled version of film has also been released by Tokyo-based distributor, Medallion Media, slated for traditional sale and rental outlets. Ads for the film have been seen in Japan on TV, print and subway monitors.
The arrival of The Cove in Taiji coincides with reports that fishermen have ended the annual dolphin hunt one month early. Tarps used to shield their work and other equipment has been washed and put away. Some speculate that the fishermen have hidden evidence of the slaughter in anticipation of increased interest in the town.
OPS is grateful to the many who helped to make this happen. To our brave supporters in Japan who oversaw the delivery, to Bobby Sager who underwrote the dubbed version, along with all other donors.
To all who share our vision of ending the capture and slaughter of dolphins.
We thank you.
