The Cove Makes a Serious Splash. Save the Dolphins in Taiji.

Imagine going to your favorite local aquarium and instead of seeing dolphins jumping through hoops and dancing joyfully, you see them being slaughtered right in front of you.  You probably can't even imagine it.  That's because they would never show that to the general public.  I just watched the documentary The Cove, and realized with astonishment that something very fishy is going on.  While the dolphins in aquariums are well cared for by their trainers and adored by spectators, there is a mass slaughter going on behind the scenes.  Every year in Taiji, Japan thousands of wild dolphins are trapped and sold to aquariums and other dolphin experience establishments (for a whopping $150,000 each).  Unfortunatley the dolphins and porpoises that don't measure up for public display are brutally killed by the fisherman in Taiji.  23,000 dolphins are killed every year in this section of Japan.  Until The Cove documentary came out exposing this practice it was hidden from the public.  Hard to believe right?

So many of these intellectual mammals are being killed each year, and for what?  Meat!  They are selling dolphin meat to the people of Japan (who don't even really know what they are eating/ being "mislabeled" as whale meat).  Dolphin meat is loaded with mercury, and is completely unsafe to consume.  Anything to make a buck right?  These fisherman also consider their killing practices as a form of pest control.  How dare those wild dolphins eat the fish in the sea! 

The hero of the film is Ric O'Barry, a world renowned dolphin trainer (the Trainer of Flipper).  He regrets turning dolphins into a commercial attraction through the beloved television show Flipper and is on a mission to change the minds of people all over the world.  It is through his determination and love for the dolphins that this film has come alive, and shed light on such a dark issue. 

Do the world a favor, see the film.  It is beautifully made (it was even nominated for an Oscar) and I guarantee it will make an impact on you.  If you want to help save the dolphins you can text the word "dolphin" to 44144 or visit http://www.takepart.com/thecove or http://www.savejapandolphins.org/. 

You can also sign a petition to urge government officials to do something about the dolphin slaughter.  Just visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724210624.

Meet Your Meat. Ugh.

Watch the video that made me try a Vegan diet.  I don't eat meat, but after watching this video I felt like I had to do something more.  I tried giving up dairy and eggs, but it was just too difficult for me since I am such a picky eater to begin with.  My alternative is to buy local farm fresh dairy as much as possible.  It feels good supporting the local farmers too, especially since most of them care for their animals, unlike the factory farmers who make me sick!  If you are interested in trying a vegetarian diet visit http://www.goveg.com/ for a starter kit and many good tips.  I hope this video makes you think twice about the food you are eating, and what the poor animals are going through just to feed you a drive through hamburger. 

A News Clip from The Onion! How to Put the Spark Back into Your Relationship With Your Cat!!

The Onion.  A funny, ridiculous and satirical American news organization.  They typically cover current event issues buzzing from the US and all over the world and spoof them.  Their stories are amusing to say the least.  I found this funny clip (poking fun at morning news shows like the Today Show) entitled "How to Put the Spark Back into Your Relationship With Your Cat".  Enjoy... it's very silly! 


How To Put The Spark Back Into Your Relationship With Your Cat

Cool Cat Find! Cat Stamps from Sweden!

I saw these stamps on moderncat.com and thought they were the cutest things ever!  According to Modern Cat "The stamps were designed by Swedish illustrator Carina Länk and they are a celebration of the ways in which cats communicate through their body language and sounds."  The stamps are so playful and I really love the use of color. 

I'm not exactly sure whether you can use these Swedish stamps here in the US or what.  I should probably brush up on my philately knowledge!  But in any case- if you want to buy these adorable postage stamps visit http://www.posten.se/m/shop. 

Shelter Animals Being Used for Experiments

Homeless dogs and cats all over the country are being abused. Some being killed inhumanely at shelters who have no room and some being bought as bait for the "sport" of dog fighting- or being trained to fight.

But in this case, adoptable animals are being used in cruel experiments at the University of Utah (and other Universities for that matter). I understand that scientists need to experiment, but on these pets who could make loving companions?? I would rather die from a disease than be saved knowing that hundreds of animals suffered and died. Now, if everyone would just spay and neuter their pets, maybe this overpopulation problem would go away, and our shelters wouldn't be so full.

Watch the video from http://www.peta2.com/ then leave me a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.


Betrayal of Trust: A PETA Exposé