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Dave Chameides

Go See The Cove!

posted by Dave Chameides Sep 8, 2009 3:30 pm
filed under: Blogs, Conservation, Garden & Nature, Nature & Wildlife, Sustainable Dave, , ,
Go See The Cove!
15 comments

Some articles just write themselves and some I just can’t get started. Well today, I’m stuck with the latter problem. I have so much to say, I just don’t know how to do it elegantly, so I’m just going with it.

Go see The Cove.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this movie, it’s the story of Ric O’Barry, the man who trained Flipper for the TV show of the same name, and inadvertently started a multi-million dollar dolphin industry. O’Barry is the first human to have had longterm intimate contact with these creatures (who some say may be more intelligent than humans) and quickly realized that captivity was not where they belonged. Over the past 35 years he has continued a quest to free captive dolphins, and The Cove is the culmination (but surely not the end) of his trek.

This is the point where I’d usually explain what the movie is about, but the trailer below will do a much better job than I can. Go ahead and scroll down to check it out. I’ll wait.

As you can see, this is a powerful film with a powerful message. But for those of you who may be repulsed at the idea of watching dolphins die for 90 minutes, let me assure you that THE MOVIE CONTAINS LESS THAN 90 SECONDS OF GRAPHIC FOOTAGE AND NONE OF IT IS ANY WORSE THAN WHAT IS IN THE TRAILER.

OK, now that that’s behind me, here’s why I love this movie. For starters, it’s extremely well-crafted. Trust me when I say that while you are watching, you’ll have to remind yourself that this is not a scripted thriller, but in fact a real life drama that is playing out before your eyes. It is an espionage story of the highest caliber that will have you on the edge of your seat until the last frame.

Next up is what the movie stands for. We have all made mistakes in our lives right? Well how about making the kind of mistake that O’Barry unknowingly made, and then not only spending the rest of your life trying to right it, but publicly taking full responsibility for what you have done in order to right that mistake. It shows an incredible amount of character and is something to witness.

Probably most importantly though is that this is not only a movie with a message, but is a movie that is doing something about it. Since the opening of the film, the annual dolphin round up in Taiji has not begun this year. Considering that annually 23,000 dolphins are usually killed in the roundup this is a huge change. Furthermore, the program that fed mercury tainted dolphin meat to schoolchildren has been halted, and the people of Taiji are starting to submit to voluntary mercury testing now that they know about the dolphin program. So it has had a positive effect on a real world problem.

So here’s what you can do to help:

  • See the film.
  • Tell others to see the film and let them know it is not full of gory images, but an amazing, inspiring, entertaining and inevitably uplifting film.
  • Join the Facebook page Cove Kids (set up by a bunch of students who were moved to do something) and record your thoughts.
  • Text DOLPHIN to 44144 to join the movement.
  • Add the movie to your Netflix cue to show interest in the film.
  • Click here to find even more ways to help.

While The Cove may be about the dolphin roundup in Taiji, it is really about so much more.  This film is a portal into larger questions about what we are doing to the other species on the planet and to ourselves.  Overfishing, species depletion, government agendas, mercury poisoning and so much more all play out from this one simple quest to right a wrong.  Perhaps the film will be a jumping off point for some and will serve to remind us that we are not alone here, and more importantly, that in order to continue as a species, we will need to adapt and live in harmony with the other beings that surround us , rather than subjecting them to our every whim.
 

 

Dave Chameides is a filmmaker and environmental educator. His website and newsletter are designed to inspire thought and dialogue on environmental solutions and revolve around the idea that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. “Give people the facts, and they’ll choose to do the right thing.”

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15 comments

15 comments

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Andrew O.

This video (http://www.newsy.com/videos/hunting_the_dolphin_hunters) shows the reactions and condemnations from around the world… Some of Taiji’s sister cities have even cut off their relationship as long as the hunt continues!

Thomas O.

Yes. Did indeed request that the local theatre manager
show The Cove. If you have an "art" theatre in your area, it will work. It will be opening at the Rialto in Santa Rosa, CA this month--Sept.

Teresa T.

Great article. After another article in Care2 a couple of weeks ago (possibly written by you?) about must-see documentaries I had already added The Cove to my Netflix list. I happened to see that this movie was in very limited release in my area about a week and a half ago, I'm not sure it's still here. But since it's on my Netflix I'll see it as soon as it comes out in general release.

Elizabeth A.

Dave, I love you! And this is one of the reasons why -- you are so up-to-date on everything. Without you, I NEVER would've heard of this movie; the trailer was absolutely chilling, and I'm torn between wanting to running out and seeing it and never having to expos myself to yet ANOTHER of the world's atrocities. You INSPIRE me, Dave, in everything you do. Your articles are, without a doubt, my favorite on Care2.

Sustainable Dave

Well said Peter. The film actually does a very good job of pointing out that the average Japanese citizen is not only unaware, but not interested in dolphin meat or dolphin hunting. Rather it is the small minority who perpetrate these acts that are to blame.

Peter Hoyle

I am concerned at the slaughter of Whales and Dolphins. I believe they are a pointer as to how we are looking after our beautiful planet!
I would doubt however that most Japanese would be aware of these practices ... so please be careful to blame the culprits, and NOT the ordinary Japanese citizens. We no doubt have certain things in OUR culture which others find extremely offensive ! e.g. our eating Cattle, which are sacred in some cultures ! We tell others they can not have Nuclear bombs, yet the USA are the only country to have dropped 2 in anger on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ! In the USA hunting wild animals for " sport " not food is " acceptable " to US citizens !Minke Whales are slaughtered in Alaska ... Seals clubbed to death in Canada !!! the list goes on and on !
What I am saying is, education and discussion is surely more constructive than just outright criticism, which can easily lead to racism ! and perhaps the West are seen by others as hypocrites ? and remember the USA refused to sign the Kyoto agreement on pollution !
" let he who is without sin cast the first stone ! "

Lisa Bee

This saddens and sickens me!!! What is more I have done a bit more research wondering if WE are getting Dolphin meat here in the USA. YES we are! Not only Does Walmart Carry Dolphin meat in their Japanese stores (which I will never shop at Walmuck again!!!) but some of this meat IS being shipped here and a place in seattle washington sells it as premade Sushi!! And I guess it is even sold in Walmart stores as Sushi. I have no proof of this at the moment. Here is one article on it,

http://www.businesspundit.com/walmart-sells-whale-meat-in-japan/

Seiyu, Ltd, also sells premade Sushi here in the USA. So I am stearing clear of them all!!!

Sustainable Dave

Sadly, just this morning the dolphin slaughter started again.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/bad-news-at-the-cove-taiji-dolphin-hunt-begins.php

Please check out what you can do and take action. The reason they held off this ong was to let the press die down. The more pressure we can place on our government and the government of Japan the more chance we have of keeping this from continuing.

Sarah D.

It is absolutely disgusting what is done to these dolphins. If you thought dolphins dying in fish nets was bad, the hunting of dolphins in Japan adds a whole new meaning to the term "horror."

Sustainable Dave

Came out about a month or so ago in limited release. If it's not in your area, call your local theater and ask if they can get it in.

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