“The way to heal from grief is to grieve.”  Dana Reeve

While many of us mourn the loss, and celebrate the life of Robin Williams, I can’t help but wonder if the animals are sad too.  Mr. Williams was more than an iconic comic who made us laugh.  He was an intelligent person with a compassionate heart.  Perhaps having a heart that big hurts sometimes.

It was the animals, Robin’s dogs, Koko the gorilla and dolphins that could engage with Robin without a word spoken.  Koko turned the tables by making Robin laugh uncontrollably.  Dolphins shared the same spontaneous sense of play.  Robin was introduced to dolphins in the wild in a PBS video, Into The Wild, made years ago.  He experienced firsthand the difference between life in the sea and life in captivity for dolphins.  No sea pen or larger tank can replicate the life in the wild for these majestic animals.  Robin and fellow celebrities made this video asking us not to support dolphins being held captive.  They are abducted from their families for our entertainment, military advantage or ‘healing’.  

A treasured memory I will hold dear to my heart was talking to Robin about a mutual dolphin friend of ours named JoJo.  JoJo is featured in the PBS video.  As we shared stories about JoJo, a group of male tweens we knew came up to talk to him.  Robin broke into an improvisation as smooth as turning on a light switch.

“Hey Guys!  Did I ever tell you about this cool dolphin who swims with people in the wild?   He’s like, ‘Hey welcome to my world.  Want me to introduce you to some dolphin chicks?’ ” 

As he entertained us, we smiled.  What makes the moment extra special is that it occurred in the lobby of a Broadway theater, right after a beautiful memorial to another mutual friend, Christopher Reeve.  One of the boys was Chris’s youngest son, Will.

While Robin rests in peace after living a life well lived, we have the opportunity to carry the torch he left behind until all dolphins swim free in clean oceans.

September 1st will begin the annual Japanese dolphin drive hunt.  While the Japanese claim it is tradition, the truth is that the barbic capture and slaughter of hundreds of dolphins is for economic reasons.  Dolphins captured from the ocean are worth thousands of dollars.  In order for any captive dolphin program to sustain itself, it must either introduce dolphins caught from the wild or breed incestuously.  It’s a harsh reality that is leading the National Aquarium and others to consider ending their captive dolphin programs. 

In honor of Robin, we can continue the peaceful initiative he was part of. 

*Follow @CoveGuardians, @CoveMovie_OPS, @Dolphin_Project, @Voice_OT_Orcas, @Whales_org on Twitter and/or Facebook. 

*Watch and share the movies The Cove and Blackfish 

*Voice your opposition to cetacean captivity on social media, sign petitions like this one from Oceana, write letters to your political leaders.  This does make a difference!  Southwest Airlines recently ended their partnership with Seaworld.  There is legislation proposed to end Orca captivity in California.

*Don’t buy a ticket to a dolphin show or swim with captive dolphins. 

*Help keep the oceans clean. 

*Take kids to visit beaches where dolphins swim free in the distance.  They will squeal with delight just spotting them, trust me.

Together we can carry the torch to the finish line. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140305-dolphins-video-megapod-superpod-california-captain-drone/)

“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it”

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Director of Blackfish

It has been just over a year since the documentary Blackfish was released.  A film made by a mother who was curious about why a captive killer whale would turn on a trainer he knew for years.  The film has gone viral globally.  Cowperthwaite took the unique point of view by telling the story from what the captive killer whale might be experiencing.  It hit home, hard.  So hard, in fact, that people across the world are questioning not only why Orcas are being held in captivity but why do we humans go to zoos, swim with captive dolphins, and attend circuses with animals.

Artists feel emotions deeply and show their feelings through their medium.  Here are four artists and their Blackfish work.

Matt Sorum, lead drummer of the Band Guns N’ Roses, created this music video, For The Wild One’s.

Michael Beerens painted this mural and created a video of how he did it. ‪http://vimeo.com/100671520 







Banco Poulair, aka, Sir Michael Rocks, created this rap song and video.

Artist Larry Torro created this image.

Haven't seen Blackfish yet?  Please do.  Decide for yourself how Orcas and other wild animals living in captivity should be treated.

Here's the trailer: Video

This past year, several talented musical artists have chosen to help dolphins and whales being held captive.  Many have forgone lucrative show offers, asked that their music not be played at venues, like Seaworld, or have pledged not to perform where these majestic beings are held unnaturally.  They have graciously given time and their voices to increase awareness of this form, of what was previously thought of as entertainment, but is now considered abusive by many with lethal consequences.

As a way of showing our appreciation, I propose we start Download Friday.  Each Friday, we download a song (album) from itunes of the chosen performer of the week.  With hope, this might encourage those who have not yet become aware of the substantiating scientific research that cetacean captivity is inhumane, to learn more and join their fellow artisans.  Music has a way of bringing us together.

So, here’s the schedule.  Please share and start downloading some great tunes!

February 21:  BareNaked Ladies

February 28:  Willie Nelson

March 7: Matt Sorum

March 14:  Heart

March 21:  Trisha Yearwood

March 28:  REO Speedwagon

April 4:  Martina McBride

April 11:  .38 Special

April 18:  Cheap Trick

April 25:  Joan Jett

May 2:  Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

May 9:  Trace Adkins

May 16:  The Beach Boys

May 23:  Wynonna Judd

May 30: David Crosby

June 6:  Who’s Next???????

(Please note, if I have missed anyone who should be included on this list, please let me know and I’ll be more than happy to add them.  Thank you.)

For many of us that live in the United States, this has been a brutal winter.  Waves of artic air, coupled with deluges of snow and ice, have put our stamina to the test.  For those of us who love animals, this past year has inundated us with storms of what has seemed like a never-ending deluge of horrific news.  The surge in social media has linked us to events that we may have never heard of. Mainstream media is hesitant to report on such topics.   Only a few brave networks like CNN and shows like Katie Couric Show have taken the risk to talk about extreme animal abuse issues.  After all,  no one wants their following to turn the channel because, “I can’t watch that.”

Black rhino extinction, dolphin torture in Taiji, Japan, elephant poaching for ivory, shark culling in Australia are just a few of the issues that only a few media outlets are willing to bravely share with their viewers.  The documentary, Blackfish, has hugely surpassed the number of viewers that even the director thought it would have reached.  This in itself, is just one sign of hope-that there are a huge number of human beings, worldwide, who care enough about wildlife to view an emotionally difficult film and then take action to make things better.

Let’s take a look at more signs of better days to come for our wildlife, shall we?

Worldwide outrage about dolphin hunting and capturing for entertainment in Taiji, Japan:

*Protests in Africa, Berlin and soon a collective effort globally on February 14th.

*American celebrities use their collective influence and voices to petition the United States Government to include

*A heightened awareness in Japanese people of the atrocities occurring in their own country and the world view of this.

*Discussion on NPR's, Diane Rehm radio, show about dolphin hunting in Japan.

Corporate culture changes

*Major retailers banning the use of  angora wool.

*Commercials suggesting interspecies relationships:    Side note:  Anheuser-Busch owned Seaworld for years, are they ready to make a statement condemning captivity now?

Youth taking charge of their future

*Prince William joins the Tusk Trust and Joint statement against wildlife crime via video with his father, Prince William

*12-year-old, Rose McCoy, activist making the news for captive dolphins & whales

*13-year-old,Max Guinn, challenges Seaworld to debate the directors of Blackfish 

Countries taking brave initiatives

*India declares dolphins as non-human persons and banning them from captivity

*Palau bans commercial fishing to boost eco-tourism

Bold Activism

While I personally do not support illegal or violent activism, I do understand where the motive comes from when seeing helpless animals suffer.  As the saying goes, if the leaders do not lead, the people will.  Going forward we will need global leaders who show care and show compassion for animals, our environment, as well as people or get out of the way.  We, the people, need to demand this from our leaders.

With gut wrenching videos, reports and pictures about animal abuse running rampant, it’s easy to understand the condemnation of others that is occurring.  I myself have tweeted some curse tweets, in an effort to stop the madness.  What seems to be coming more clear, however, is that this is not a ‘my country versus your country’ issue.  This is a collective awakening of the human consciousness and our behavior as people.  As I sit back and watch the movement, I have great hope that goodness will win.

Do you have an optimistic example of how people are changing behaviors and/or attitudes towards animals in a positive way?  If so, please share in the comments section below.  Every bit of encouragement boosts our morale and helps us move forward.

Note: Dolphin picture via @earthpix

Today Seaworld has taken a big step to combat the unexpected public backlash from the documentary film Blackfish.  Seaworld has taken out full-page ads, in several well known publications, in an attempt to show the public why they should visit.  If you haven’t heard or viewed the documentary Blackfish, it is now available on Netflix, Amazon and itunes. 

One of the central issues dividing Seaworld and millions of people around the world is the idea of keeping the orcas, aka killer whales, captive for entertainment.  What Seaworld doesn’t seem to understand, or want to admit, is that many people don’t believe dolphins belong in captivity.  I say dolphins, because although they are commonly known as killer whales, orcas are actually dolphins. 

What about all the other animals in zoos, being used for research, testing, and enslaved while they wait to be eaten by us humans?  Yes, what about all the other animals, and if we take it a step further, people enslaved for sex trafficking?  For the purpose of this blog, I am going to stay focused on dolphins.

Why should dolphins not be kept in captivity? 

Research done by scientists for years, such as that done by Dr. Diana Reiss, shows that dolphins are not just big fish.  They are mammals-intelligent and emotional beings.  Dolphins kept in captivity are stressed.  The pod structures are damaged in captivity and the wild when they are torn apart as is the case, all too often, in Taiji.  Dr. Marino argues that while humans enjoy the interspecies encounter in dolphin swims programs, dolphins find it stressful.

Is it ever OK to keep dolphins in captivity?

This boils down to an ethical debate.  I, for one, propose that in a case such as the famous dolphin, Winter, whose tail was amputated after getting caught in a crab trap, it is best to keep her in captivity.  She now relies on a prosthetic tail to swim.  Dolphins who require medical attention by humans may be kept captive for rehab purpose and then released.  If release is not possible, then providing a humane, alternative environment for them to live in would be acceptable.

This allowance, however, gets tested when the said dolphin is worth huge sums of money in captivity, as is the case with Morgan.  Morgan is an orca who required rehabilitation.  Rather than being returned to the wild with a plan created by thirty experts, she was shipped to an aquatic entertainment park.

The dolphins in the news today are generating debate on social media amongst millions of people worldwide.  The Dalai Lama himself recently tweeted, “All beings want to live in peace and happiness, undisturbed. Therefore the concept of human rights is universal.”  I couldn’t help but wonder if this was his answer to the dolphin captivity debate.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

How do you feel after watching Blackfish?  Enraged, horrified, maybe even guilty since you took your children to Seaworld? You’re not alone.  I saw the documentary over the summer in a movie theater.  The reactions of the crowd leaving the theater after the show were powerful.  Some people looked stunned.

If Blackfish awakened something inside you and you want to become a voice for change in what we call ‘entertainment’, for the orcas and other wild animals in captivity, there are a lot of ways to get involved.   Being a voice for animals doesn’t make you a crazy cat lady.  The majority of American’s have a companion pet of some sort in their home.  The majority of Americans are kind hearted.  So here are ten ideas to start with, from simple ways to more complex, of how you can can involved.

1.  Like Blackfish on Facebook

2.  Follow @blackfishmovie on Twitter, and @Voice_OT_Orcas.  Search the hashtag #Blackfish. There is a whole array of other tweeters who are engaged in making a difference. 

3.  Join the campaign asking Macy’s to eliminate the Seaworld float from this year’s Thanksgiving day parade.

4.  Get kids involved; let’s hope the next generation will do better than ours. Check out what these high school students at Point Loma High School made: Video  and these grammar school kids: Video

5.  Blackfish will be available on DVD and Blue Ray 11/12/13 on Amazon.com.  It is already available for download on itunes.  Order the documentary and view it at PTA meetings, Girls Scouts, Boy Scout, Church Groups, anywhere that you think it will enlighten minds.

6.  Visit animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries instead of marine parks and circuses where wild animals are held and exploited for ‘entertainment’.  Here's an example of one for Tigers & Lions: Carolina Tiger Rescue

7.  Watch the dolphin version of Blackfish, The Cove.

8.  Planning a vacation?  Visit somewhere that doesn’t hold whales and dolphins in captivity for entertainment: North Carolina Beaches have pods of dolphins that swim free right along the shore.  If you think that doesn’t sound as fun as swimming with them in a pool, you haven’t been there to experience the excitement amongst the crowd as they go by. Countries India, CostaRica, Hungary, Chile, Croatia have banned captive programs, and the UK and Brazil currently do not have any. There are many well-organized programs that will introduce you to marine mammals in the wild in a safe, humane way.

9.  Organize a Walk against captivity like the one held on Turks & Caicos this past September.

10.  Use your influence to spread the word.  As a writer, and someone who is passionate about whales and dolphins, I integrated issues and facts about cetaceans in my novel, I Know You’re There.  What avenues do you have to increase the awareness of these magnificent beings?

Like many of you, there are a few choice words I have for Seaworld after watching Blackfish.  I have been struggling, and I mean struggling, to find some light in this horrendous situation.  This is what I have come up with.

1.     Redemption:  Seaworld has an opportunity to hault the inhumane care of whales and dolphins by releasing to sea pens and the wild, where applicable, it’s current stock of whales and dolphins.  In doing so, it would end the horror that children of the future will learn goes into this form of ‘entertainment’.  It will also start to heal the countless number of broken hearts that have streamed twitter these past few weeks, many of them saying they are lost hope in humanity.

2.     Innovation: Seaworld can set a new standard for wildlife entertainment and education.  Given today’s technology , students quest for knowledge of the wildlife on our planet and the need to preserve many species from mankind, establishing sanctuaries versus captive entertainment parks is the way to go.  In the case of aquariums, they can create ‘virtual aquariums’.  Using webcams in the oceans, tagging and tracking marine mammals (although I think the ethics of this may become debatable), and embracing the skill of wildlife photographers/videographers, there is no reason that we need to see a marine mammal ‘live’ today except on a wildlife tour.  The imaging today is so precise, I bet they could create virtual tanks to fool the best of us.

Ultimately, the public will vote with their dollars what they want to see. 

If you have not already seen the documentary, Blackfish that everyone is talking about, there are several opportunities to still do so.  Check your local program for it’s airing this weekend on CNN.  You can also pre-order the movie on dvd and blue-ray on Amazon.  To learn more visit: www.blackfishmovie.com