Challenge Japan to END Taiji Dolphin Hunt for Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid
This is Japan’s 5th Olympic bid, since their 1964 Olympics. They are very eager to be selected as Host City again to boost their economy after the devastating tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster. By challenging Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic bid, it’s a demonstration that the world is condemning the actions of this hunt and offers support to people within Japan who also strive to end this practice once and for all. Japanese Government grant permits to the Taiji Fishermen’s Union to hunt 2,800 dolphins from September to April for slaughter and to supply the captivity trade. While this is not illegal in Japan, the hunt has been condemned internationally as barbaric.
The Hunt Continues:
Despite claims that the killing is swift and humane there is extensive evidence to prove otherwise. In this daily hunt, babies are torn from their mothers, many dolphins witness the slaughter of their entire families before either being taken captive or killed. The manner in which they are killed (a spear to the spinal cord which takes up to 7 minutes to die in agony) is unspeakable and inhumane. The hunt continues, hidden under tarpaulins in an attempt to conceal the slaughter, they clearly know what they are doing is wrong. Many Japanese people are becoming aware & condemning it, but most are afraid to speak out. All pleas to stop the killings are ignored by the people who have the power to stop it. The dolphin hunt is a lucrative business for the Taiji fishermen, the big money is in the captive trade supplying marine shows, with prime specimens selling for ¥800,000 in Japan, but much more abroad.
Hunt Process:
Captives are initially held in cove sea pens, while buyers are found. Starved and traumatized, many die waiting.
Those not selected for captivity are slaughtered for human consumption, despite health warnings regarding the excessively high mercury content. This meat sells for around $22 per kilo.
Many alternatives have been put forth including turning the otherwise beautiful town of Taiji into a tourist attraction for whale and dolphin watching that allows the fishermen to continue to be employed, but they are repeatedly rejected in the name of “tradition”. The Japanese whaling fleet is the only fleet in the world that continues to hunt under the guise of research, in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, a sanctuary where endangered species are meant to be safe from poaching, allowing their numbers to recover from the toll of relentless hunting.
Countries Taking a Stand:
Australia has instituted proceedings against Japan in The International Court of Justice regarding Japan’s ‘Scientific Whaling Program’. The trial will run from 26th of June to 16th of July. More information on the trial can be found here:http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/148/17298.pdf If the IOC Evaluation Commission does not challenge these unsustainable atrocities under their Mandate for Environmental responsibility during the selection process, it will be perceived that by ignoring this, the IOC are actually endorsing the hunts. If Tokyo’s bid is announced as the winning bid on the 7th of September 2013. Japan will continue to hunt these very social, amazingly intelligent animals, with large brains, closest in structure to the human brain, capable of higher brain functions & emotions like humans, and they will eventually be driven to extinction.
The International Olympic Committee’s Opportunity:
The International Olympic Committee have the opportunity to make real changes in Japan, they can no longer disregard important environmental issues that contravene their own regulations, which potential host nations are meant to be compliant with, we MUST ensure that they listen to the concerned masses, NOT the people who profit from this shameful ‘tradition’.To clarify, at no point do I condone boycotting Japan, nor do I incite hatred, violence or negativity towards Japanese citizens.Please join one of our GLOBAL events on 29.06.13 or consider hosting your own.! All information can be found here: http://links.causes.com/s/clK7pg?r=HHVl