HBD: Special Report on “The Cove”
March 17 2010
You likely hadn’t see it. You probably had never even heard of it. But at the 2010 Academy Awards, “The Cove” was front and center as more than 41 million American televisions tuned in to watch the dolphin crusaders take home the Oscar for Best Documentary.
And the film didn’t go unnoticed. When Ric O’Barry flashed a sign during director Louie Psihoyos’ acceptance speech to “Text Dolphin to 44144,” which texted support of a petition to save Japan’s dolphins, the response nearly shut down the group’s mobile server. Though they got their 45 seconds of fame, the award barely scratches the surface of what the team behind the movie has been trying to accomplish: Rewrite the future for one of life’s most prized marine species and put an end to massive ecological crimes against humanity.
What is “The Cove?” Debuting in the spring of 2009, the documentary follows a covert squad of activists, filmmakers and freedivers who embark on an underground operation to uncover the deadly secret of a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, where a massive slaughter destroys more than 19,000 dolphins every year. But the movie brings more to the frontlines than just the situation in Japan. Think about:
Mercury Poisoning
It is the most toxic non-radioactive element on Earth, and it’s swimming in our oceans. Mercury is released into our waterways, rivers, streams and oceans when coal is burned, only to be consumed by the billions of fish that roam our seas. As mercury moves up through the food chain, its toxicity is magnified ten times until, finally, it reaches your dinner plate. According to “The Cove,” the FDA has failed to do their due-diligence in warning the general public of the dangers of mercury, primarily in women and children. Mercury has a half-life in the human body of about 70 to 90 days, in which it contributes to the destruction of our neurological systems including sensory perception, memory and motor skills. In both children and adults, high levels of mercury can damage the brain, heart, kidney, lungs and the immune system. More advanced poisoning rears its ugly head as mental retardation, cerebral palsy and dementia in adults. Aside from giving up sushi, experts like the Environmental Protection Agency recommend limiting your consumption to fish low in mercury to 12 ounces per week (six ounces of albacore tuna). Also, steer clear of fish high in mercury like shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish.
Dolphins as Amusement
Every year, thousands of dolphins are robbed of their natural habitats and shipped across the country to aquariums, like SeaWorld, to support a multi-billion dollar captivity industry and our amusement. Evidenced by the recent tragedy of Dawn Brancheau, the SeaWorld trainer killed by the 12,000 pound Tilikum, dolphins and whales are not designed to be held in captivity. “When you take sentient, intelligent animals out of the wild and force them to do stupid tricks for our amusement, it says more about our intelligence than theirs,” says Louie Psiyohos, director of the award-winning film. In the ocean, dolphins swim up to 70 miles a day, while captivity restricts them to swimming in endless circles. Here’s the deal: Stop giving your dollars to marine parks, and together, we can stop dolphin captivity. Sign the petition to stop dolphin captivity.
Restaurants Serving Up Endangered Species
The filmmakers behind “The Cove” celebrated their Academy Awards victory by making history once again. They busted a sushi restaurant in Santa Monica, CA for illegally serving endangered Sei whale meat that’s protected by international treaties. The restaurant’s head chef now faces a year in federal prison, and the restaurant will pay a $200,000 fine.
That’s putting your money where your mouth is.
Do you care about what you’re putting into your mouth and on your body? Would you prefer thighs that don’t touch? Are you a sucker for the environment? Get your daily snack for social change, and take a stand for what you believe in, damnit. From the co-author of New York Times Bestseller, Skinny Bitch, Healthy Bitch Daily is your online lifestyle resource that keeps it real, with fun topics on nutrition, health, fitness, beauty, style and staying eco-chic. Find something new to talk about at the dinner table.
