Tuesday August 25, 2009, 6:50 am
The mayor of Taiji in Japan says it is hard to believe Broome Shire Council has suspended ties with his town over its annual slaughter of dolphins.

The Australian reports that mayor Shinichi Ryono is yet to receive official word from Broome that the 100-year relationship between the towns is over.

On Saturday the Broome Council voted to suspend sister-city relations after councillors decided Taiji's dolphin cull was barbaric.

The traditional dolphin slaughter, in which the marine mammals are herded into a cove and then killed in the water, has been widely condemned by animal rights activists in recent years.

In 2007 Australian actress Isabel Lucas took part in a protest against the cull, paddling out to the dolphins on a surfboard.

The move prompted Japanese police to issue a warrant for her and other's arrest.

The Taiji fishing practice has been under increased pressure following the release of documentary film The Cove.

"Taiji and Broome have a long relationship going back more than 100 years since men from here started going there to dive for pearls," Mayor Ryono told The Australian.

He said that claims the Taiji fishermen killed 23,000 dolphins a year were grossly inflated.

According to the Broome Shire Council, the suspension of relations hinges on the method of killing the dolphins and the fact that their meat contains high levels of mercury.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:47 am
Well, time they get SHOCKED! :) Thanks Claudia for bringing this to people's attention!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:50 am
Way to go Broome Shire Council. You did a great thing. Thanks Claudia.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 8:04 am
Finally someone is listening!! Thanks Claudia

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 8:45 am
Well, the movie the Cove,made an impression, finally. There is now documented proof of what goes on there,

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 8:48 am
Thannxx to these people... good that they got shocked to the core, perhaps they will wake up now and relise what they are doing

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 8:48 am
This make me just have wet eyes with joy...now lets get them to Stop trolling the Oceans Period...

Great Story, Thanks Claudia, you are the True Warrior for the Ocean and gotta love your stories, with there was more time in a day!!!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 9:10 am
Pressure from the outside is excellent, it's what WE can do.

BUT...I can only hope that within Japan, young people and perhaps those Buddhists who take compassion seriously, will TAKE ACTION against the slaughter of these precious, sentient beings !

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 10:03 am
This is good. Although difficult due to emotions with the long ties, and could affect this town in Austrialia financially from tourist, the people of this town stood up on the moral and spiritual grounds and sent a strong message to Japan. They should be applauded and I hope others who read this that fight for our oceans and the creatures who live within will think of visiting this town when going to Australia. Let the town officials know that you visited them because of the decision they made.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 10:54 am
they shock everyone when they slaughter whales and dolphins its no harm to shock them for a change

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 11:33 am
The fact that they could not understand the outrage shows how large the problem really is.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:15 pm
"According to the Broome Shire Council, the suspension of relations hinges on the method of killing the dolphins and the fact that their meat contains high levels of mercury."

so if there was a better method to kill and there was no mercury, it would be ok?

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:16 pm
They really don't know how many massive massacre they did every year isn't it?

The Japanese government should really preserves its richful sea creatures that they have rather than killing and eating them.

Time for a change, Ganbatte!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:18 pm
Nothing like a little public pressure to get people's attention. You can do what you want when no one is watching but thankfully those days are over and the world is becoming a public domain.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:23 pm
I reckon the cancelling of the sister city relationship was the biggest bucket of cold water ... it really made them stand up and take notice. Kudos to Bromm Shire Council.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:28 pm
Good for Broome Shire!!! This one action could finally get Taiji to end their slaughter. I hope so....

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:46 pm
Whatever it takes to end this cruelty. Good work Broome Shire!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:50 pm
noted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 1:31 pm
Good for Broom Shire!!
Oh, the Japanese are shocked? Oh well, maybe they'll pay attention now,.
Tx Claudiax

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 1:35 pm
At least a tiny drop of water on a hot stone. When will we see whole countries breaking ties with Denmark for their atrocious slaughter practices of marine mammals? Or with Spain for their barbarous bullfights? Or with African nations that resort to the indiscriminate cull of elephants and major fauna?

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 2:00 pm
If the Japanese were not aware of how the people of the world feel about their slaughter then they would not be hiding it in the way that they are. They are just shocked at being caught.

Congrats Broome Shire for doing what is right.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 2:14 pm
Good on yer Broome. I hardly think tourism is going to be affected by this. People go to Broome not Japan when they visit the area. I for one will be proud to vacation there next time we are home in Australia

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 2:46 pm
The Japanese are shocked??? Good for Australia! If it isn't dolphins, it is whales and believe me they are into more exotic endangered animals too. Just remember not all Japanese support this there are many out there protesting this.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 4:07 pm
Thank you Claudia great news

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 5:18 pm
Hit the city of Taiji right were it will hurt the most. Their secrecy of this slaughter and the resulting exposure will enlighten the Japnese people and the world. This had to happen and I will view the movie "The Cove", I'll probably weep also.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 5:33 pm
Keep up the good work / pressure!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:02 pm
TY, Claudia! Well done, Broome Shire Council!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:35 pm
you know this is a very good thing now if the rest of japan would take heed,and stop there murder of the world's great whales,it would be a historic event and a very happy day,if that were to happen there might be a small bit of hope for man! thanx Claudia

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:46 pm
Wonderful news Claudia!Maybe we are getting somewhere.Thank you,Debbie

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 7:47 pm
I am glad for the Dolphins But can the people of Taijin, Japan eat fish instead, (not dolphin) I'd hear is tasty.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 8:09 pm
Good on Broome! I hope this is a big wake-up call to Taiji. The dolphin slaughter is absolutely horrendous. I saw "The Cove" and cried buckets (and covered my eyes a lot).

The fishermen regard dolphins as "pests" who compete for the fish stocks. Dolphin meat is fed to schoolchildren in Japan, even though it is dangerously full of mercury.

Thank you, dear Claudia.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 9:14 pm
The Japanese official was shocked at the worlds outrage!? I think not, more he's shocked that Taiji's bloody secret is finally out and the whole world is aplauding Broome Shire! Bad enought they whole sale slaughter the Dolphins in secret, but then knowingly feed the flesh of the Dolphin to the school children, all the while knowing of the mercury toxin involved.

At another site I wrote a Thank You letter to the people of Broome Shire, commending them for their coureageous stand. It is such a pleasure to be able to send a thank you instead of only petitions to stop doing things.

Lync

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 9:38 pm
"The Japanese official was shocked at the worlds outrage!? I think not, more he's shocked that Taiji's bloody secret is finally out and the whole world is aplauding Broome Shire! Bad enought they whole sale slaughter the Dolphins in secret, but then knowingly feed the flesh of the Dolphin to the school children, all the while knowing of the mercury toxin involved."-

Right on Lyn! They are out there for the world to see-their slimy little game-and I love the irony here-Broome-sweeps clean this filthy doorstep called Taiji!

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 10:12 pm
Agree with you: Pamylle, Dandelion, Mary, Geoff, Jon, Ian, Elvira, Susan, Judy, Mandi, Christoph, Gillian, Marie, Alejandra, Mike, Debbie, Koo J, etc.

Ann, Lynn C and Rafael Apollo Lido, I was thinking the same. They are shocked their "secret" is out! We need to support more good officers, etc in their good causes. :)

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 12:21 am
Bravo to the council! shocked my butt, they are just pissed, how dare anyone speak out against them :P guess they best get used to this, hope to see more turn on them.
ty Claudia

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 2:23 am
Shock is good ! To see them suffer would be even better ( the nasty fishermen who inflict such cruelty to these beautiful creatures )

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 5:19 am
So the people of Taiji are in a state of shock well I for one hope the bloody shock kills them.I only hope now that more towns and cities throughout the world follow suit.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 5:22 am
Yay -GOOD ONYA, Broome it's about time SOMEONE in Australia stood up to the Japanese !

It must have been a real slap in the face for them, after the pussyfooting of KRudd, Garrett et al.

Following is a copy of the unanimous resolution made by Council on 22 August.

"That Council respectfully advises the Council of Taiji that it will be unable to fulfil its pledge as a Sister Town with the Town of Taiji while the practice of harvesting dolphins exists;The Council of the Shire of Broome acknowledges the following in relation to the Sister Town relationship with Taiji:The Shire of Broome has always recognised the relationship with Taiji and Japan that extends beyond the Sister Town pledge of 1981 to the foundation of Broome in the 19th century and the assistance in the development of Broome through the many hundreds of persons who sacrificed so much in developing the pearling industry, and who’s spirits remain in our care.

Anyone wanting to send a message of support to the Broome Shire Council - after all, it can't have been an easy decision for them.

shire@broome.wa.gov.au)

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 5:28 am
If they were truly shocked they'd repent from their practice of culling the creatures. After all doesn't everyone want to consume mercury or am I being skeptical? Thanks Claudia.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 6:12 am
I wish they shock themselves to death. How does the rest of the world feel about their cruel deeds.??

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 7:34 am
shock is a good thing in this case.. they need more.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 7:40 am
Murder is murder. How can anyone hurt a dolphin and sleep at night?
A dolphin's crime? Eating all the fish. Don't the Japanese eat all the fish?
It reminds me of the bomb. I guess I'm no better than them for thinking this way.
God will deal with these killers.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 1:55 pm
The cove is an amazing film - and an important act to end this slaughter!

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 5:55 pm
Great, finally they are taking notice. This is what should be done world wide, break ties to countries that continue barbaric and cruel practices on innocent and defenceless animals , what will happen then is that no country will have ties with any country because there is no country on Earth that is not committing a cruel act to animals.

Back to this issue and in regards to the following:-

He said that claims the Taiji fishermen killed 23,000 dolphins a year were grossly inflated.

My answer to that statement is: Killing just one is enough.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 5:59 pm
Although I'm sad at the death of hundreds of dolphins, I am sad for the others who are taken from their families and sent into slavery at Seaworld and other marine parks.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 6:18 pm
Let's save the dolphins! Actions information to help the dolphins: http://www.broome.geeky.com.au/
"Letter 5 - Is the most useful letter now to send to teh council and other organisations - there is a FORMAL and a SARCASTIC version"
Check it out!

Thursday August 27, 2009, 12:51 am
I saw 'The Cove' a few weeks ago; it was the most disturbing film I'd ever seen. Kudos to all who have brought this horrific practise by those in Taiji to the world's attention!
The capture of Dolphins for the entertainment market must end,to continue to enslave dolphins to entertain the masses is beyond imagination; particularly when these Dolphins appear to have more intelligence than those they're entertaining.
The word is out, Taiji's dirty little secret sickens not only the rest of the world, but also those Japanese interviewed in the film.

Thursday August 27, 2009, 1:46 am
I am proud and pleased as an Aussie that Broome Councile bowed to public pressure. I really hope the dolphins don;t suffer more because of it. I know Ric O'Barry is trying to raise funds to get over to Taiji before the killing season starts in September. Please help him at www.savejapandolphins.org

Thursday August 27, 2009, 3:37 am
Noted with great interest. TY Claudia.

Thursday August 27, 2009, 3:41 am
Dated Aug, 26, 2009.
They Media Reports are NOT being CORRECTED by Broome or Taiji as they WANT U TO THINK it is all over, that ties have been suspended / severed so you stop the pressure on them! - is all I can suggest? It is a CONVINIENT MisRepresentation!
Broome, Australia LOVES Taiji, Japan, unconditionally - no matter what they do and how they do it! Ties will NOT be suspended or severed - unless BROOME RESIDENTS DEMAND those words - with NO backdowns!
Did I got it right: Broome lied?

EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE INC Petition on FACEBOOK
Total Signatures: 29,400

More petitions:

“Tell Broome to help stop the dolphin slaughter”

"Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan"

“Help Save Japan's Dolphins”

Getting a Petition up soon - please check back often

Thursday August 27, 2009, 3:57 am
Download TEMPLATE LETTERS to SAVE & EDIT & FAX or EMAIL / PRINT & FAX / SAVE & EMAIL
formal
sarcastic to
Shire of Broome
Broome Senior High School
Broome Primary School
Cable Beach Primary School
Roebuck Primary School
Broome Chamber of Commerce

Relevant Email addresses:

shire@broome.wa.gov.au ; shirepresident@broome.wn.com.au ; eo.kacc@westnet.com.au ; albert@garnduwa.com.au ; chris@arthousebroome.com ; nikwevers@bigpond.com ; Councillor.Lander@broome.wa.gov.au ; councillor.matsumoto@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Foy@broome.wa.gov.au, ; Councillor.Maher@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Wevers@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Eaton@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Albert@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Campbell@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Mitchell@broome.wa.gov.au ; Councillor.Eaton@broome.wa.gov.au ;
broomechamber@westnet.com.au;
roebuck.ps@det.wa.edu.au;
cablebeach.ps@det.wa.edu.au;
broome.ps@det.wa.edu.au;

Japan:
PERMISSION FOR THE DOLPHIN HUNT IS GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR OF WAKAYAMA
Mr. Yoshiki Kimura
Prefectural Office of Wakayama
1-1 Komatsubaradouri, Wakayama-shi
Wakayama-ken, 640-8269 Japan

Tel: +81-73-441-2034
Fax:+81-73-423-9500
Public comment lines: +81-73-441-2028
Fax: +81-73-431-0462
E-mail: e0006001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp

THERE IS A FISHERY AGENCY POLICY EVALUATION GROUP WHICH HAS THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE:
Kawase, Yoshino and Tokura
Tel: +81-3-3502-8111 ext. 7057 and 7058
OR: +81-3-3591-5613 ( direct)
E-mail: sui_hyoka@nm.maff.go.jp

EMBASSY OF JAPAN IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Ambassador Ryozo Kato
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869
Tel: (202) 238-6700,
Fax: 202-328-2187
Hours: M-F 9:15-12:30 and 2:00-6:16
E-mail: jicc@embjapan.org

Thursday August 27, 2009, 4:01 am
Sorry, missing link to
TEMPLATE LETTERS to SAVE & EDIT & FAX or EMAIL / PRINT & FAX / SAVE & EMAIL

Formal letter

Sarcastic letter

Friday August 28, 2009, 5:40 pm
Way to go, Claudia AND Jelica for the addresses and template letters. I find myself shaking my head over the comment from the mayor was "He said that claims the Taiji fishermen killed 23,000 dolphins a year were grossly inflated." We aren't arguing HOW MANY DIED! WE'RE PROTESTING EVEN ONE DEATH as unnecessary! I noticed he's just stunned - no word that it's going to be discontinued as yet - hopefully the "trainers" who are there to choose healthy animals for places like Sea World and such will be the next group we can stop - too much information is available now on how all creatures are affected psychologically by being contained. Tell me again why humans are considered to be "higher" on the food chain?? LOL Kudos to everyone who wrote, called, or prayed about this situation.

Friday August 28, 2009, 8:52 pm
thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention. i have sent the petition to well over a hundred people and am starting to get feedback that people are signing the petition.

Friday August 28, 2009, 9:00 pm
It is as polluted in Japan as the rest of the industrial world, so its a wonder that they have enough sealife to exploit, let alone go out and brutally slaughter intelligent creatures that never did them any harm. Thank you, Australia, Isabel, The Cove, and all who put themselves in harm's way to show the truth.

Saturday August 29, 2009, 1:17 am
I want to toss these people into a shark infested ocean. They will burn in hell. Sorry Care folk, but I get fuming when I see this stuff.

Saturday August 29, 2009, 1:44 am
They have over-fished the ocean for so long that is is hard to find a sail fish, sword fish, or tarpan, guess what they are sport fishing for now? Sharks. Fuess what else, sharks are now dangerously endagered! They catch sharks for their meat to replace swordfish, and for shark fin soup. the average sized shark is about 2.5 fett long, not the terror of the seas we saw on JAWS at all, chance are unless they stop overfishing sharks, we will never see the big sharks again. hell, they can't even grom big enough to breed! And I KNOEW you saw in an earlier story what they are using as bait! I just want to cry.

Saturday August 29, 2009, 5:32 am
YAY! Someone does realize that animals are people too... and feel as we do.

Sunday August 30, 2009, 4:05 am
This is very good news!! I wish that more countries in this world will take such actions to help save the animal kingdom more often...

Sunday August 30, 2009, 12:15 pm
thanks Claudia

Sunday August 30, 2009, 9:05 pm
This a good news. Thanks Claudia

Monday August 31, 2009, 9:08 am
Japan had elections yesterday.
After nearly half a century, Liberal Party lost majority.
Official results were still being counted, but exit polls by all major media said Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan had won more than 300 of the 480 seats in the lower house of parliament. That would easily be enough to ensure that he is installed as prime minister in a special session of parliament that is expected to be held in mid-September.

Tuesday September 1, 2009, 3:04 am
YOU GO GIRL! WAY TO GO!!!; CLAUDIA! :) YOU ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION TO MYSELF, AS WELL AS MANY MANY OF US, HERE ON CARE2!!! GOD BLESS! & THANK YOU! MUCH LOVE, THOUGHT's & PRAYER'S, GOOD LUCK! & GOD BLESS YOU! & YOUR LOVED ONE'S!; ALWAY'S!!! :) YOUR FRIEND ALWAY'S!!!; Susan XOXO....

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 3:28 pm
Update from Ric O'Barry, Save Japan Dolphins Coalition

Today is September 1st, the first day of the dolphin slaughter season in Japan. But when I arrived today by bus from Kansai Airport with media representatives from all over the world, the notorious Cove from the movie was empty. There were no dolphin killers in sight.

So today is a very good day for dolphins!

I vowed to be back in Taiji when the dolphin killing began. I've often been here alone, or accompanied by a few environmentalists. Sometimes, I was able to talk a major media organization into sending someone.

But the people of Japan never learned about the dolphin slaughter, because none of the media in Japan (with the exception of the excellent Japan Times) have ever sent reporters to the killing Cove. Until today!

When I got off the bus at The Cove this afternoon, I was accompanied by my son Lincoln O'Barry's film crew, a crew from Associated Press, Der Spiegel (the largest magazine in Germany), and the London Independent.

No dolphins and no dolphin killers. We would not have had a story at all, except for the police who were there, waiting all day for us to appear. Nine policemen came to talk to us.

Now, I have said this repeatedly: Unlike The Cove fishermen, the police from this Prefecture have always acted professionally, courteously, and fairly. I have never been mistreated or threatened by the police here. I think they are a microcosm of the people of Japan—the very people I am trying to reach about the dolphins!

And as I was talking with the police, as the international journalists stood around listening, suddenly a camera crew arrived from Japan! And then another! And then still another!

You have to understand that this is SO IMPORTANT. These TV stations have REFUSED to cover the story in Taiji for years and years. NOW, for the first time, they have shown up, with cameras rolling. The head policeman talking with me even said, for the cameras, that the police are not there to support the dolphin killing fishermen. We shook hands, and they left.

As I said, it is a good day for the dolphins. And for me personally, as the police only wanted to talk with me, not arrest me!

The Cove movie led to the strong action by the city of Broome, Australia, in suspending the sister-city relationship with Taiji. So now, the Japanese media are sitting up and listening, for the first time.

And I'm telling them: "This tour is to show journalists the GOOD things about Taiji." You see, with The Cove movie out now, we don't have to show the BAD things about Taiji. Soon, the whole world will know about the Taiji dolphin slaughter. And all Japanese will soon know about The Cover-up that has occurred by the government in refusing to stop mercury-contaminated dolphin meat from being sold to unsuspecting Japanese consumers and children.

But Taiji can change this image of shame, if they want to. I will be telling them that the town of Nantucket used to be the capitol of the whale killing industry in the US. Now, it uses its history of whaling combined with whale-watching to market tourism very successfully. Whales and dolphins are worth more alive than dead. Taiji can do this, too. But the killing has to stop.

Yes, today was a good day for dolphins. Tomorrow, I will take journalists with me around town to show them Taiji. Tomorrow, too, I predict will be a good day for dolphins. Every day that we are here and the fishermen KNOW we are here, will likely mean no boats going out to round up dolphins for the killing Cove.

And because of The Cove movie, the dolphin killers must now fear hidden cameras and microphones, even when they THINK we are not here.

And soon the world spotlight from The Cove will shine a very bright light on Taiji.

Please help us by donating.

Your donations and efforts are a key part of our success so far on this tour of Taiji. For the first time, thanks to your support, the secrets of Taiji are being told to the Japanese people by television. And thanks to your help and interest, I can go to Taiji with journalists around me and not fear arrest. This is an historic moment for the dolphins and whales of Japan. I sincerely thank you and ask you to join us in spirit for this return to Taiji.


Ric O'Barry
Campaign Director
Save Japan Dolphins Coalition

Save Japan Dolphins Coalition: Earth Island Institute, Animal Welfare Institute, Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, In Defense of Animals, Campaign Whale of the UK, and OceanCare of Switzerland
www.SaveJapanDolphins.org


A petition:
Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 8:38 am
GREAT THAT THIS COUNSEL IS SUSPENDING RELATIONS.
maybe it will help stop the slaughter. the problems is not that they think killing and eating the dolphins is wrong, but how they kill them. so if the dolphin killers changed thier methods of killing the counsel would not have a problem with killing the dolphins.

ALL ANIMALS NEED TO STOP BEING SLAUGHTERED FOR FOOD. NO MATTER HOW THEY ARE KILLED. HUMANS DO NOT NEED ANIMAL FLESH FOR A HEALTHY DIET.

HUMANS EAT ANIMALS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THIER GREEDY DISGUSTING LUST FOR THE TASTE OF ANIMAL FLESH.