Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every Monday, many of us gather virtually to share our blogs.  Last Monday, I planned to, but I was diverted by a horrific event that you may have heard about; fisherman in Taiji, Japan wrangled 250 dolphins up from the sea.  The dolphins remained in what is famously called, The Cove, for several days while they separated babies from their mothers for a life in captivity, slaughtered some for food (despite the high mercury level in dolphin meat), then drove the rest out to sea exhausted and starving.

If you have a deep connection to dolphins, you may have watched all this happen via the livestream provided by the Cove Guardians.  Perhaps you saw it on the news or in a newspaper and turned away saying, “I can’t look at this.”  Maybe this is the first time you’re hearing about it.

At the end of this blog, I will provide you with links to learn more about what is going on Taiji for those who are interested. But before I do, may I introduce you to something that was shared with me recently?  It’s a relatively new model that may help us adapt to the fervent growth of the human population, now over 7 billion people (in 1960 we were just over 3 billion).  It’s called a Trans-Species Perspective on Nature.  See what you think.

Elephants are reportedly heading to extinction.  Sharks are being culled because so many of us humans now swim in the sea.  Dolphins and whales are being torn from their families for a life of slavery for entertainment and economic gain.  We will need to work fast and furiously to adapt to a planet with so much life on it.  What changes are you making?

To learn more about the dolphin capture & slaughter in Japan:

Read: An Angel Captured in The Cove via The Dodo  

Video: Piers Morgan, CNN

Watch:  Award Winning documentary, The Cove

Follow: @CoveGuardians on twitter, @Dolphin_Project

Abraham Lincoln — 'When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.'

Last week I wrote a blog called The Kind Vacation and promised to give some concrete examples and ideas of what a Kind Vacation might look like.  I have given this a lot of thought and have done quite a bit of investigating.  Some of the core values to a Kind Vacation, I propose, would be kindness to animals (no captivity at the entertainment venues, hotels, islands), as kind to the environment as possible, and still fun or enlightening.

I have to say, it has been quite disheartening to see, for example, how embedded we are using captive animals as entertainment.  Hotel chains, airlines, cruise tours the list goes on and on when it comes to who is linked with this cruel practice.  The good news, however, is that they all rely on the same thing to perpetuate the animal cruelty:  your dollars.  So, with the power of the masses we can sway this inhumane practice we’ve created, and supported over the years, in a new direction by spending our money elsewhere.

Here are a few examples I have come up with for kids.  I greatly welcome your thoughts and other ideas on this!

1.     Non-Captivity Parks:  Good luck trying to find them.  The more I looked, the more I was amazed at how many entertainment parks incorporate live, captive animals into their venues or incorporate actual zoos.  If these parks want to incorporate animals in a humane way, perhaps they will look to establish non-breeding, animal sanctuaries for mistreated, injured and/or retired wildlife.  Better yet, modernize the aquarium and zoo model, or stay out of the animal business.

2.     Camping:  Wait!  If you are a mom, please don’t click the close button.  I can hear what some of you are saying, “Camping! That is no vacation for me, it’s too much work!”  Maybe so, but did you know that camping can be good for you?  What better excuse to unplug your family, and spend some quality time together, than not having an outlet?  If you don’t have the equipment, chances are someone you know does and may lend it to you.  There are also renting options at stores like REI.  While there are many campgrounds in state parks in the mountains and beaches, you may choose to go as local as your backyard to give it a try.

3.     Wildlife Research Trips:  Does your child have a passion for a particular type of animal?  Chances are there is a researcher who offers trips to help fund and perform their research.  Choose one that is non-invasive and in the animals natural habitat like Diane Herzing’s, Wild Dolphin Project.

Avoiding mainstream trips may help your kids experience more adventure, avoid long lines and fast food, and help you feel kinder for it.  Where do you plan on going in 2014?

The new calendar is up, the decorations are put away and we’re all returning to our everyday routines with new goals and aspirations.  With all the jolly and fa,la,la behind us, we begin to dream about our next burst of fun; where to go on vacation!  This year a new factor, besides budget and beach versus mountain versus city, may come into our decision making process.  When choosing how to use our precious time off, we may be factoring in kindness.

Alicia Silverstone published a book a few years ago titled The Kind Diet.   Silverstone’s book outlines steps to become a Vegan, or how to head in that direction.  Her motive is to be more environmentally conscious and decrease animal cruelty through what we eat.  After reading it, I began to increase my plant based meals and incorporate more legumes rather than meat.  I feel healthier and kinder for doing so. 

This new level of consciousness led me to start following PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals) on Twitter, not to become an activist, rather to make myself more aware of the issues affecting animals.  It has been eye opening, heartbreaking and, on a good day, triumphant when PETA reports a humane change they have been able to accomplish.

The movie Blackfish that has OSCAR written all over it,  has opened my eyes even wider.  Perhaps we need to extend the kindness concept to travel.  Why not take more Kind Vacations?  Trips to National Parks, islands and theme parks that don’t hold dolphins and whales captive to entertain us, and more eco-trips. 

Next week I will highlight some specific Kind Vacation ideas. If you have some ideas that you would like to recommend, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.  Until then, consider following @peta ,if you don’t already, and see for yourself what we humans are doing to animals.  Unless you’re the tin man, you’ll probably be vacationing and eating kinder.