ORIGAMI WHALES PROJECT ~PEGGY OKI

ORIGAMI WHALES PROJECT ~PEGGY OKI

image © pacific whale foundations ~ Courtesy Olaf Janssen

Dear Friends,

1) Whaling, Big Time! (in three parts):
    a. Iceland Whaling + two online petitions
    b. Norway Whaling
    c. Japan Whaling

2) What's all the (underwater) noise about?

3) News from "Let's Face It" 
    ✮ Mark your Calendar: SBRG event 

4) "Blackfish"now screening internationally, including Santa Barbara!

5) Vote for Marineland Whistleblowers

6) Two Happy Endings, Volunteers needed, networking, and quote of the day

...and now the details.

1) Whaling, Big Time! (in three parts):
a. Iceland Whaling + two online petitions (at bottom of this section)
To date over 75 endangered Fin Whales (out of a quota of 184) have been reported killed by Icelandic whalers. 
Also, the minke whales are getting hammered in the north of Iceland. The Hrafnreydur has been off-loading record amounts of minke whale meat, indicating multiple minke whales killed each day.

+ Humpback Whales in the Crosshairs!!   
Just received (August 1, 2013) from a WhalesNeedUS colleague:
[translated] Gunnar Bergmann Jonsson director of the Minke whalers association hopes that humpback whaling can start, and said that his company would like to engage in such whaling.  Sverrir Daniel Halldorsson whale expert at the Marine Research Institute (HAFRO) said that it makes sense to allow the hunting of humpback whales for scientific purposes, which could be accompanied by counting [surveys] and research on the stock.  "But this is a political decision whether they want to go ahead and do it," said Sverrir Daniel, who said that research is expensive and would take a few years.

This is consistent with the proposal from Gunnar, who said that it is vital to study the stock. Hunting for scientific purposes could be conducted for five years, and that the the data could then be used for hunting advice.  "It would only be for ten animals a year and everyone knows that this would have no impact on the stock." 

Sverrir Daniel said that humpback whales have increased in numbers here in recent years and and that there is evidence that the minke whales are looking to other areas. Gunnar said that the minke whalers verified this when they went around the country and found that minke whales had diminished considerably in abundance and that humpback whales were in great abundance, especially in the north.  "I think that we need to investigate what the implications of this are on our resource, and that this is precisely the time for the experts to be given a stage from which to investigate this," said Gunnar.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture when asked said that as no such [formal] request has been received, the Fisheries Minister was not in a position to comment.

• Whale Meat Returns to Iceland, ...130 tons of (ENDANGERED) Fin whale meat arrived in Sundahöfn, Reykjavík’s harbor, on Sunday. (23.07.2013) 

"Shipping containers carrying Icelandic whale meat arrived in Hamburg over the weekend, and members of Greenpeace tipped off customs officials to the contents of the shipment. Whale products are illegal to transport through Germany,..."
http://grapevine.is/Home/ReadArticle/Whale-Meat-Being-Returned-To-Iceland

+ + + Please sign & ask your friends to sign these two online petitions against Iceland's cruel slaughter of Fin whales, 75 killed, with a quota of 184 this season! :(
@ WDC: http://whales.org/en/campaigns/dogfood-enl
@ previously posted NRDC:
https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3097

b. NORWAY WHALING
[translated]
"Several vessels have reported good catches, and earlier this summer, the buyers were talking about the great demand for and interest in this traditional Norwegian food. This is good, and it is hoped that whale meat will again have a rebound and become even more popular. 

In today's Fiskeribladet, there is a story about the whaling vessel "Reinebuen" which has had a good season.  By the beginning of this month, the boat had taken 77 whales, and there are still more animals to be hunted.  Skipper Bjorn Andersen said that the boat has never taken this many animals.

So far this season, more whales have [already] been taken than in all of last year. This year, 480 animals have been shot, 69 more than last year at this time. The entire catch last year was 465 animals.  In 2011, the figure was 533 animals, and there are good chances that that number will be reached this year.  There is still a long way to the quota ceiling of 1286 animals.

Every one of the whale meat buyers told FiskeribladetFiskaren in June that interest in whale meat was increasing, and that they could have sold much more meat if it had been available.  Gunnar Klo, Lofthval, Hopen Fish and Seafood and Ellingsen stated that the demand in the market is there, but that inadequate and poor distribution makes sales more challenging.  It is both difficult and expensive to get the meat to the consumers.  It shows that both the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Organization  and the whaling industry has a ways to go before being able to better serve the market.  It is therefore very pleasing to see that Lofthhval has managed to gain access to Rema 1000, with its portion packs.  We believe that this is key for further growth in consumption.

We believe that whale meat can, in fact, become a fashionable food, precisely as it is in Tromso these days.  The Bukta Festival began yesterday afternoon, and during the festival days, large quantities of whale burgers will be consumed.  The fact that younger consumers can access and taste whale meat can help to ensure continued growth in demand.

In addition, in line with the growing interest in sushi, we can expect that there will be an increased appetite and demand for "alternative foods", which is how whale meat is perceived.  And nothing can be happier than that whale meat can reach out to a new generation, who can help to ensure a viable hunt in the future."

c. JAPAN WHALING
"Japan launches campaign to promote whale meat sale"

✮ International Court of Justice update:
Australia's attorney-General Mark Dreyfus discusses whaling case against Japan
The court is said to announce a ruling by the year's end.


2) What's all the (underwater) noise about?
✮ Underwater Noise – The Overlooked Catastrophe. This highly educational animated video here covers the known impacts of various forms of underwater noise on cetaceans, including "our" world's smallest, the Hector's dolphins.

✮ Results from this study clearly indicate the impacts to behavior of cetaceans, including virtual stampede response, which also is a concern on top of physiological harm. 
Re: Whales flee from military sonar leading to mass strandings, research shows Studies are missing link in puzzle that has connected naval exercises to unusual mass strandings of whales and dolphins

Our letter to the New Zealand government addressing concerns over seismic testing in Maui's Dolphin habitat is soon to be announced!
Please read & share "Music to the Ears about Too Much Noise for Maui's Dolphins" (previous news/blog on underwater noise threats to Maui's) 

3) News from "Let's Face It" 
• Call for set net ban to save critically endangered Hector's dolphins
http://www.lets-face-it-dolphins.com/news-blog/article-100-2013-07/call-for-set-net-ban-to-save-critically-endangered-hector-s-dolphins
•  "Voices from Auckland Sounding Loud & Clear for the Maui's Dolphins" 
http://www.lets-face-it-dolphins.com/news-blog/article-99-2013-07/voices-from-auckland-sounding-loud-and-clear-for-the-maui-s-dolphins

.•*✮Peggy Oki's article, "Crusade For Dolphins" July/August 2013 issue of DEEP (surf) magazine is NOW available on news stands in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, and ONLINE at link provided here. ~ Please POST WIDELY ~thanks! ♥ ☆✮*•.
Find "Crusade For Dolphins" online, pages 60-62: http://www.deepzine.com/site/current-issue-of-deep-magazine

+ Our group (of nearly 300!) photo, "Stand Up & Be Counted" is included in the article. Read this report & watch our video (thank you Paul Moss!):
http://www.lets-face-it-dolphins.com/news-blog/article-91-2013-05/stand-up-and-be-counted

While the LAST 55 Maui's & 25% of Hector's dolphins are RUNNING OUT of TIME, the NZ government has been dragging their feet about the Threat Management Plan (TMP). But this buys us more time to show them our ever-growing numbers!

.•*✮ We now have 7,096 "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions (LFI VPs), and continue to send periodic follow-up e-mails to the 3 key decision-makers, urging them to protect the Maui's & Hector's dolphins from ALL known THREATS. 

✮ See how FUN & EASY it is to collect LFI VPs. 
Join us in sending our POWERFUL message to the NZ government: "Let's Face It" the WORLD is WATCHING! Next week, we'll be sending another follow-up e-mail to the NZ government.

+ Make Your Pledge by collecting 5, 10, 15 "Let's Face It" VPs this week. 
Huge thanks to Franklin Klock, who rallied the help of two high school seniors to collect 114 "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions at the "Summit Hill Hootenanny!"

.•*✮ Summer parties, asking your friends & family, events, your workplace, farmers markets... are great places to collect a lot of Visual Petitions. Bring your camera along with your chosen image(s) of a Maui's/Hector's Dolphin and "Show Us Your Love"!!

✮Start with Step 1 and see how easy & fun it is to collect "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions!

TEAM UP* with a couple of friends, and you'll collect heaps!!~; )`
*Working in teams of 2-3 people works well for collecting many Visual Petitions. Here's how:
• "Ambassadors": 1-2 persons briefly explain the situation of the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins and "Let's Face It" campaign.
• "Photographer": When people agree to have their photo taken, person with camera will take photos while the Ambassadors go on to the next person to explain.
People love smiling to save Dolphins!!!
* If you'd like information to download, print, and share, please visit our Visual Petition Collectors Packet page.

Our 3 minute campaign update video: http://www.lets-face-it-dolphins.com/news-blog/article-85-2012-11/call-to-action-please-spread-the-word-and-post-widely

Read & share our News/blog postings:

✮ Mark your Calendar! 
23 August, 5-10pm, Santa Barbara Rock Gym will be hosting a benefit event for the Origami Whales Project/"Let's Face It" and the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center while celebrating the gym's 1 year anniversary. Further details to be announced in our next newsletter. Please plan on celebrating with us!

Whales and Dolphins Ambassador Program, Carpinteria Valley Arts Center, 5-9 August! * (details below my signature)


5) "Blackfish"now screening internationally, including Santa Barbara!
U.S. News review: "Before getting into the science and the controversy, I'll make a prediction: "Blackfish" - the documentary that takes a critical look at SeaWorld's killer whales, premiered at the Lincoln Center in New York this weekend and hits theaters nationwide shortly – will win the Academy Award for best documentary. It's that good, and precisely the type of film that wins this award each year."
• "Blackfish" official movie site: http://blackfishmovie.com
"Blackfish" opens tomorrow (2 August) in Santa Barbara, at the Plaza de Oro Theater. 
+ Remember to bring your camera along with your chosen image(s) of a Maui's/Hector's Dolphin and "Show Us Your Love"!!

5) Vote for Marineland Whistleblowers
Ric O'Barry supports cause for the whistleblowers who've made huge personal sacrifice for the sake of the captive Belugas and all animals kept @ Marineland Niagara Falls. Please have a read and remember to VOTE DAILY in the Billie Award for Les Stroud! 
• Direct link to VOTE DAILY in the Billie Award for Les Stroud
https://thebille.com/r/5q1ij920

6) Two Happy Endings, Volunteers needed, networking, and quote of the day

"Springer is the first known case of a killer whale being captured, rehabilitated and successfully released back to their pod." 
(2:10 min. video)

Dolphin busts free, finds its family in ocean after years of captivity
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• Volunteers needed for grant writing, administrative assistance, our event on 23 August, and Origami Whales Stitching Parties
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• Networking, networking!
Follow my posts on facebook!
For regular updates and action alerts, regarding cetaceans and their ocean habitat at my Origami Whales Project wall and for "Let's Face It" on facebook, and "Share" my posts.
+ + + Follow "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign on Twitter, and post widely ~thanks!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
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• quote of the day:
"Three things cannot be long hidden, the Sun, the Moon and the Truth." 
- Buddha

Thank you ♥ everyone, for being a Voice for the Voiceless, the Cetaceans & fellow ocean beings! ♥
Peggy
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Peggy Oki
Origami Whales Project Founder & Director
ph: (in USA) 805.684.3573
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"Let'sFace It" Visual Petition campaign for the Critically Endangered Maui's and Hector's Dolphins of New Zealand:www.lets-face-it-dolphins.comwww.lets-face-it-dolphins.com
OrigamiWhales Project
www.peggy-oki.com/cu_origami.html
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* Whales and Dolphins Ambassador Program, Carpinteria Valley Arts Center, 5-9 August!
Next week! For the 4th year in a row as a part of the Carpinteria Valley Arts Council's Summer Arts Program, ages 7-14, 5-9 August. The flyer available for download on our events page.

As an extension of the Origami Whales Project, the Whales and Dolphins Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for children and teens to become educated on anthropogenic (human-caused) threats to cetaceans and their ocean habitats. Students become empowered to protect all connected marine wildlife and their habitat through art action letters and by applying artistic skills to crafting sustainable alternatives to some of these threats which include solid, chemical, and noise pollution, bycatch, entanglement, climate change, and ocean acidification, and whaling.  We also discuss ethics, cetacean captivity, and current movement towards a Declaration of Cetacean Rights. The goal of this program is to increase awareness of our impact on the environment, and to instill a need for stewardship of all life on Earth through caring for cetaceans, their fellow beings, and ocean habitats. 
For further information, please e-mail Peggy Oki directly at <peggyo@peggy-oki.com>
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Since 2004, the Origami Whales Project (OWP) has worked to raise awareness concerning threats to cetaceans (dolphins and whales) through its stunning and memorable "Curtain of 36,000 Origami Whales." Created by thousands of concerned citizens across the globe and exhibited throughout the world, this large-scale public art project serves as a powerful visual statement and memorial for the thousands of individual whales killed since the 1986 ban on commercial whaling. As urgent need for cetacean rights activities arise, the Origami Whales Project has expanded with additional outreach and education programs, creating "Curtains" of origami dolphins and whales in United States, Japan, Dominica, and New Zealand.
How to Make Tax-deductible Donations to the Origami Whales Project:
http://www.peggy-oki.com/cu_origami_donations.html


https://www.facebook.com/OrigamiWhalesProject

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