Japanese & Dolphin Kill

SOURCE: Mark J. Palmer (mpalmer@cal.net) Earth Island Institiute SUBHEAD: New York Times confirms Japanese viewers of “The Cove” condemn slaughter of dolphins. image above: Still image from "The Cove" showing dolphin kill in Taiji, Japan. From http://spoutingoff.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/cove-of-death Press release on 27 October 2009 from Earth Island Institute - A recent story in the New York Times confirms that ordinary Japanese citizens, contrary to claims by the Japanese government and dolphin-killing fishermen, condemn the slaughter of dolphins after viewing the documentary movie The Cove. The story, titled “Film on the Dolphin Hunt Stirs Outrage in Japan”, was published on October 22, 2009. The story can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23dolphin.html “We have pushed to get The Cove movie shown in Japan, because I always believed that Japanese citizens, once they know the truth, will object to the annual slaughter of dolphins,” noted Ric O’Barry, Campaign Director of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. “Interviews conducted by the New York Times reporters after the first public screening of The Cove in Tokyo leave no doubt that we are on the right track in getting the truth out to the Japanese.” “We strongly believe the Japanese people will oppose their government’s blind policy of accepting the killing of dolphins,” stated David Phillips of Earth Island Institute. “Too often, we have only heard from the government Fisheries Agency or the dolphin-killers. We need to get the Japanese media publishing this story, especially that dolphin meat sold in Japanese stores is poisoned with mercury. The government is suppressing this information.” “We will not stop in our efforts to end the killing of dolphins and whales by Japan,” noted Susan Millward, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Institute. “We plan to continue our Coalition efforts to screen The Cove in Japan, to work with grassroots and Japanese media to spread the word, and to encourage alternatives like tourism and whale- and dolphin-watching enterprises in Japan to replace the slaughter.” The Cove movie has just opened in European theaters. It was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival last week to applause from the audience. For further information: http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition consists of Earth Island Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, OceanCare, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale, and the Animal Welfare Institute. CONTACTS: Mark J. Palmer, Richard O’Barry, Campaign Director Save Japan Dolphins Coalition 786-973-8618 ricobarry@bellsouth.net David Phillips, Executive Director Earth Island Institute (510) 859-9145 davep@earthisland.org Susan Millward, Executive Director Animal Welfare Institute (202) 337-2332 susan@awionline.org