The Cove Movie

The Documentary Advocate Story – The Cove

THE COVE follows an elite team of activists, filmmakers, and free divers as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. The documentary shines a light on a dark and deadly secret. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure, and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action. Besides winning, the Oscar for Best Documentary the Cove has won numerous awards around the world including the Audience Choice Award at the Sundance Film Festival. What initially motivated Flipper trainer, Ric O’Barry, was not mercury contamination. Ten years of training dolphins for Flipper taught him that these highly intelligent creatures are also sentient enough to commit suicide. After portraying Flipper for several years, Cathy swam into Ric’s arms and closed her blowhole, refusing to take another breath.
A paradigm shift overtook him that guided his actions for the next 40 years. Ric urges people to stop visiting dolphinariums. “It’s all about demand. If there is no demand for captive dolphins, or for dolphin meat, there will be no dolphin slaughter.” There are 200 dolphinariums around the world with Japan having the most with a total number of 36. Followed by Mexico at 21 and Spain at 10. Japan runs three of the most hideous dolphin slaughters in Taiji, Okinawa, and Fuito. Jacques Cousteau while alive indicated, “There is about as much educational benefit to be gained in studying dolphins in captivity as there would be studying mankind by only observing prisoners held in solitary confinement.” O’Barry concurs. “They get depressed. They get sick. These are free ranging animals that often save humans.”
One story told is by a surfer who found himself being tracked by a shark. Out of the blue a dolphin “T-boned the shark,” giving the surfer time to escape. Marine biology students may be interested in saving dolphins, but O’Barry isn’t looking for any apprentices. One teammate was murdered in Japan, while O’Barry sat in jail. Upon his release, he learned she had been strangled.
Saving dolphins requires big heart, steady nerves, and perseverance in the face of murder, arrest, corruption, and government-industry collusion. Through stealth, talent, and sheer tenacity, Ric O’Barry finally launches his 38-year-old campaign to ban dolphinariums with a spectacular film by the Oceanic Preservation Society. The Cove is as exciting as any spy film. Most of all, it’s real life, about real heroes, that, if effective in reaching the public, will save real humans and real animals. The cinematography is breathtaking. Be warned though within a few minutes into the advocate film one will see slaughter like no other of its likes. Only the truth will set these intelligent, free-range animals free. Ric O’Barry is certain that once the public is made aware of the issues exposed in the film, the entire dolphin industry can be shut down. Because boycotting Japan as a strategy is not the answer, most all Japanese people don't even know that there are these coves, which are carrying on this slaughter to Dolphins daily. Yet the government and participants within Japan's fisheries do. In fact, we believe that armed with the facts they will take this fight on themselves.

Instead, reach bloggers in Japan to break thru the media blackout on the dolphin industry and end this hidden slaughter.

I watched this documentary and it was unbelieveable what takes place in 3 very secret slaughter areas within the coves of Japan.


http://www.takepart.com/cove