A perfect storm and silver lining.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured Lolita
A picture can say a thousand words.
In the course of collecting signatures on the 10,534 letters delivered to Palace Entertainment and Miami Seaquarium from our “16,425 Days A Slave” campaign, this aerial photo has been the most compelling.
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured Lolita
Standing Rock, DAPL, and how #WaterIsLife for all Beings including Dolphins & Whales
#NoDAPL - All have come to stand in solidarity against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) which is currently under construction.
Please support USA proposal to save Maui and Hector’s dolphins!
Please support the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency’s initiative to list Hector’s and Maui dolphins under the Endangered Species Act.
Letters of Love for Lolita from Aotearoa, and the Latest
People of all ages have been sending love from across the Pacific and Atlantic! Also we are sharing an update on the lawsuit for Lolita’s Endangered Species Act status, leading up to a press release yesterday (1 July 2016).
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured OWP Lolita
More Voices for “our” Maui’s Dolphins
Peggy Oki, reports on her 12th year in Raglan, NZ of working to help the last 55 or less Maui’s Dolphins.
LetsFaceIt Featured Video Interview
A Far Cry From the Wild
Toki being forced to scream for food truly is an “abomination”. It is also atrocious that she has been kept in an illegal tank (too small by Orca welfare standards in the U.S.), for over 45 years, 35 of them alone since the suicide of her Orca tank mate Hugo.
Urgent Action Needed!
Japanese Whaling fleet heading for Antarctica, expected to kill up to 333 minke whales by March 2016. The slaughter will occur in waters that have been declared a whale sanctuary by the International Whaling Commission (IWC)!
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured OWP
Miracle March for Lolita
I am excited to share with you that I've been invited to be a guest speaker at the Miracle March for Lolita in Miami (Florida) January 17, 2015! It is a huge honor to be able join in the walk and to stand before thousands at this historic event honoring Lolita and supporting her release from captivity.
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured OWP
15th annual exhibit at “the Sojourner Cafe”
Please join me in celebrating my 15th annual exhibit at “The Soj”!
We've Tried & Tried! What To Do When They Just Won't Listen?!
It is more than evident that unless the current government is VOTED OUT, the last 55 Maui's Dolphins could become EXTINCT less than two decades from now.
Silence Broken
Battles are being hard fought for the world's smallest, rarest dolphin in New Zealand -- a nation perceived as “green” but currently only in theory, not action.
C.R. Stecyk III
C. R. Stecyk III is a multimedia artist widely acknowledged as a major influence within the genres of graffiti and street art. He has participated in more than 300 international exhibitions and his work is included in a number of public collections.
Natas Kaupas
Natas Kaupas (born 1969) is a semi-retired American professional skateboarder. He grew up in South Santa Monica, California in the area known as Dogtown and is of Lithuanian descent.[1] He attended Santa Monica High School. He is often referred to as one of the first true professional street skateboarders.
Tommy Guerrero
As a teenager, Guerrero was one of the prominent members of the Bones Brigade, Powell Peralta's professional skateboarding team that was successful during the 1980s. He was well known for his relaxed style of street skateboarding and his Bones Brigade footage was primarily filmed in his hometown of San Francisco
IWC to consider imminent extinction of Maui’s dolphins
New research confirms that New Zealand’s Maui’s dolphins could face extinction by 2031. In the past two years, the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) had issued urgent recommendations about the need to protect the dolphins’ from fishing nets. New Zealand has failed to implement this advice. IWC scientists are scheduled to discuss the plight of the last 50 Maui’s dolphins again at their meeting in Bled, Slovakia this week.
LetsFaceIt Featured Marine Mammals
Rakuten bans sales of whale and dolphin meat; notifies all sellers
More good news, and gratitude to EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) and HSI (Humane Society International) for this campaign
OrigamiWhalesProject Featured Marine Mammals
Supporting AB2140 (The Orca Welfare & Safety Act)
Thanks to my friend Joyce for helping to fax (15 committee members!!) my 4-pg letter from the Origami Whales Project today
Whaling
During the 20th century alone, more than 1.4 million whales have been killed. In the process, commercial whaling systematically depleted whale population after whale population. Estimates indicate that the impacts of previous commercial whaling led to the reduction of whale populations, leaving species such as the Humpback Whale down to 10%, the Blue Whale down to less than 4% from "pre-exploitation numbers", the Gray Whale down to 12%, the Right Whale down to 6%. All of these whales are among at least 7 whale species listed as Endangered. These numbers may be shocking, but also disturbing is the fact that scientists from outside of Japan have purchased whale meats from Japanese markets to find DNA results indicating that Humpback, Blue, and Sei whale meats are still being sold.
OrigamiWhalesProject Marine Mammals
Interview on Raglan Radio with Peggy Oki
Peggy Oki talks with Aaron of Raglan Radio in NZ about the Maui's Dolphin Threat Management Plan recently announced, threats to their habitat, the current New Zealand government, and more.
Threat Management Plan from a government with deaf ears!!
The NZ government has again failed to adequately protect the ever-declining population of Maui's Dolphins, now at 54 or less (adults over age of 1 year) There is very little question that current government is bowing to the commercial fisheries, seabed mining, and deep sea oil industries instead of doing the right thing to save the dolphins.
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), better known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom (Slash achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan (born February 5, 1964) is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with the band, he released a solo album, Believe in Me (1993), and formed the short-lived supergroup Neurotic Outsiders.
Steve & Josie Stevens
Steve Stevens is one of the most original guitarists to emerge from the 80's rock scene, best known for his 30 year partnership with Billy Idol, his work on Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana", his Grammy Award winning performance on "Top Gun Anthem" & his work with Vince Neil on "Exposed"... & ...Josie Stevens is an American TV personality, model & fashion designer.
Glenn Hughes
Vocalist/bass guitarist/songwriter Glenn Hughes is a true original. No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card. He's known as a singer's singer. Stevie Wonder once called Hughes his favourite white singer.
Call to Action to protect Maui's Dolphin habitat from seabed mining
Seabed mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) "...aims to suck up to 50 million tonnes of sand from the seabed, and ship up to 5 million tonnes of iron concentrate to Asia every year."
Matt Sorum
Matt Sorum speaks through the drums. Each hit or kick that Sorum has committed to tape or knocked out on stage can be felt by anyone within earshot.
Les Stroud
Best known as the award winning producer and star of the hit TV series Survivorman (OLN Canada, The Science Channel US, Discovery Channel International, City TV (Rogers) Canada), Les Stroud is the only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone.
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an American actress and singer. She gained fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. This followed with major roles in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers, Strange Days, The Evening Star, Kalifornia, From Dusk Till Dawn, and The Other Sister.
Howard Garrett
Howard Garrett offers educational programs about orca natural history around the Pacific Northwest. He co-founded the non-profit Orca Network in November 2001 with Susan Berta. Howard received his degree in Sociology from The Colorado College in 1980, and began working with the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island in 1981. In 1996 Garrett wrote Orcas In Our Midst, a booklet oriented toward middle-school students, and has since published additional educational books about resident and transient Orcas in the area.
Join us in supporting our friend Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project
“Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project” KINGS OF CHAOS--the new touring project featuring former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan, along with Glenn Hughes (Black Country Communion/Deep Purple), Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)--will perform a special concert on Monday, November 18 at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles. They’ll play a two-hour set spanning the greatest hits from all of its superstar members and additional special guest performers.
Marco Morgan, The National Skate Collective, South Africa
The group of skateboarders united in the celebration of the lifting of the ban of skateboarding on a Promenade in Cape Town, and last week we united to support the Lets Face It campaign. It was featured in the local papers as well. I wish you the best of luck with the cause and I hope that we are able to support in the future.
From Across the World With Love for "Our" Maui's & Hector's Dolphins
25 NGOs representing across the globe, backing concerns of over 2,000 marine mammal scientists, a "sign on" letter is sent to the New Zealand government during the re-opened Threat Management Plan (TMP) submissions period.
ACTION ALERT: Submissions for TMP (Threat Management Plan) reopened for Maui's Dolphins.
Send your own submission directly to the NZ government.... DOC (Department of Conservation) NZ is now seeking submissions on the Minister’s intention to vary the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary to prohibit commercial and recreational set net fishing between two and seven nautical miles offshore between Pariokariwa Point and the Waiwhakaiho River, Taranaki.
Helene Schneider
Helene Schneider currently Mayor of Santa Barbara (California), previously served as Councilmember from 2004 to 2010.
News Flash and CALL TO ACTION: New Zealand government is taking first steps to open up Maui's & Hector's habitat to SHELL and offshore oil!
After North Sea Gas Leak, Drillers Fear Corrosive Fluid Could Threaten Deep Sea Wells Across The World
Your Voice Urgently Needed Against High Risk Exploratory Drilling in NZ Waters!
On the heels of the controversial Anadarko Amendment (criminalizing aspects of protesting at sea), the New Zealand government has proposed a law change to the Marine Legislation Bill, currently before Parliament. If passed, the public's right to oppose deep-sea oil and gas exploration will be removed.
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales.
Táta Vega
With Táta Vega, what you hear is what you get--and what you get is an artist whose music mirrors her spirit...and vice versa. A fresh and original blend of energy and inspiration...an effervescent personality combined with abundant talent, refreshing music and an eternal message.
Shaun Tomson
Shaun Tomson has been listed as one of the 25 most influential surfers of the century and as one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time. During his career he was both the youngest and oldest surfer to win a pro event and is considered to be one of the architects of professional surfing.
Call for set net ban to save critically endangered Hector's dolphins
Scientists are calling for a complete ban on set net fishing in Akaroa Harbour after finding out one of New Zealand's most endangered species is in the area more often than they thought.
Voices from Auckland Sounding Loud & Clear for the Maui's Dolphins
Quotations and comments from Wayne Walker, Albany ward councillor and Auckland Council environment and sustainability forum chairman back the (IWC Scientific) committee's recommendations for saving the last 55 Maui's dolphins. And Auckland council coastal specialist Bill Trusewich chimes in too.
The Good News, and Word is Getting Out
Hail to the great Blues, Light is shed on the New Zealand government lurking in darkness, while the Mexican government steps up to the plate.
Stand Up & Be Counted
Large scale environmental art image was organized by “Let’s Face It” Visual Petitions coordinator Peggy Oki, Founder & Director of the Origami Whales Project.
Music to the Ears about Too Much Noise for Maui's Dolphins
After numerous e-mails and phone calls by Peggy Oki (Coordinator of "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions) since February (2013) pushing to formulate a group letter of concern to DOC with request for protocols including necropsy to determine cause of death in any cetaceans found in proximity to zones of seismic testing we gladly announce that the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) is urging the New Zealand government to halt seismic testing in Maui’s dolphin habitat immediately. In a letter to New Zealand’s Prime Minister the SMM expressed concerns about seismic surveys in the home of Maui’s dolphins, the rarest dolphin species on earth. The President of the Society Prof. Helen Marsh said that "allowing seismic testing in the dolphins’ habitat may harm their hearing and push them into unprotected areas, where they are more exposed to fishing nets. The impact on the 55 remaining Maui’s dolphins could be devastating. Allowing this seismic testing appears inconsistent with the New Zealand Government's stated goal of enabling this subspecies to recover..."
Mark Cunningham
Living legend Mark Cunningham continues his exciting life as one of the most inspiring world class bodysurfers of all time after retiring from 29 years of Honolulu City & County lifeguard duty including the beach at Ehukai Beach Park for nearly two decades. He's six time winner of the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic.
Hannah-Beth Jackson
19th District Senator, California. Hannah-Beth Jackson is an educator, former State Assembly Member, and former Deputy District Attorney. She was elected to represent the 35th Assembly District, encompassing large portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, from 1998 to 2004.
Keith Malloy
Like his brothers, Keith is a master of all forms of waveriding. Keith can surf anything and everything from 2' to 25' and was on the WQS tour for years and ended up qualifying for the WCT. Keith did the WCT for one year but decided that traveling and surfing with his brothers and friends, making movies, and having the freedom to go anywhere in the world on short notice for a huge swell was more to his liking. Keith and his brothers shocked the surfing community when they went outside of the industry and signed a sponsorship deal with environmentally friendly Patagonia. All three Malloys are a driving force behind the brand's ocean stores and conservation efforts.
Chris Malloy
First known as a professional surfers, Chris along with brothers Keith and Dan impressed the world over with their surfing. Along with surfers like Pancho Sullivan, Myles Padaca, Noah Johnson and Strider Wasilewski, Malloy was part of a new breed of pro surfer who put travel and big waves way ahead of competition on the priority list. He became a fixture in the surf magazines, was a top-biller in Taylor Steele's momentous surf videos and, in one article, was even labeled a "New School ringleader."
Another Love Letter, shocking dolphin bycatch numbers, and Maui's Dolphins Making the News!
Letter to New Zealand Prime Minister regarding Maui's, Shock over accidental catch rates, and when a marine sanctuary is a "killing field".
Tom Curren
Surfing legend Tom Curren has been the world champion three times (1985, 1986, 1990) and won 33 championship events in his professional career, a total only bested by Kelly Slater.
Yvon Chouinard
Legendary rock climber, surfer, environmentalist and outdoor industry businessman, noted for his contributions to climbing, climbing equipment and the outdoor gear business. His second company, Patagonia, is known for its environmental focus.
Call to ACTION! Please spread the word & post widely!!!
We've heard that the NZ govt may announce the Threat Management Plan (TMP) on the Maui's & Hector's dolphins this month!!!
Dave “Rasta” Rastovich returns to paddle for the Maui’s Dolphins and New Zealand coastal habitat!
Congratulations and much gratitude to Dave “Rasta” Rastovich’s on returning to New Zealand for his 350km, two-week solo paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha, west of Auckland, in New Zealand. The paddle aims to draw international awareness to the seabed mining proposed for the coastline.
Interactive Tool: "A future for the Maui's Dolphin?"
A visual exploration of threats & protection options made by 'dumpark creative industries' Learn about the rarest dolphin on earth and its worrying decline of population.
Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis is an American film director, producer and cinematographer who has directed a number of well-noted action thrillers.
Love Letters and
A group letter of concern with 50 national and international organizations, representing over 20 million concerned citizens globally, for the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin was signed on 24 October, 2012, and will be sent to Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand. While this is impressive, we are still very concerned. Why? Earlier this year, more than 32,000 people having submitted on the measures around Taranaki, with 76 per cent of submissions calling for greater protection of Maui’s dolphins. Despite this, in September during the largest international conference on conservation (the IUCN) the NZ government was the ONLY member nation among 576 that voted against a motion to stop the extinction of the Hector's and Maui's Dolphins. So we need to do everything we can now to ensure that protections necessary for the survival of the Maui's and Hector's Dolphins will be included in the Threat Management Plan (TMP).
Erwin Vermeulen
Dutch activist Erwin Vermeulen traveled to Japan last year to serve as Cove Guardian volunteer for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Crusade to Save the Innocents
A true story unfolds as hundreds of nations, thousands of world citizens united, have eyes on New Zealand as leadership is called upon to save a precious symbol of peace and joy from vanishing forever.
Team up as "Let's Face It" Visual Petition Collectors
Peggy Oki will be collecting "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions at the American Cetacean Society XIII International Conference, San Diego, California, 9-11 November. Please contact us if you would like to help us in these last few days toward our goal of 5,500 VPs before 12 November.
Benjamin "Pottsy" Potts
For one, living legend and hero seen as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society crew member on "Whale Wars", Pottsy has put his life on the line to save the Whales off Antarctica.
Dr Liz Slooten
New Zealand's leading authority on the use of population modelling to estimate sustainable levels of marine mammal bycatch in fishing operations.
Sylvia Earle
Legendary ocean researcher Sylvia Earle shares astonishing images of the ocean -- and shocking stats about its rapid decline -- as she makes her TED Prize wish: that we will join her in protecting the vital blue heart of the planet.
Ric O'Barry
Ric wrote: "Lets get behind this urgent effort, folks!" and with his blessings to create this VP on his behalf, "We love Peggy".
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Explorer. Environmentalist. Educator. Film Producer. For more than four decades, Jean-Michel Cousteau has dedicated himself and his vast experience to communicate to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our water planet.
Louie Psihoyos
Founder of the Oceanic Preservation Society in 2005, renowned photographer and avid diver directed OPS's first film, The Cove, which has won dozens of awards around the world, including the Oscar® for Best Documentary in 2009, and inspired over a million people to action.
Peggy Oki
Peggy Oki, Coordinator of the "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign and "Origami Whales Project" Founder & Director
Xavier Rudd
Singer, songwriter, and PETA Asia-Pacific’s 2008 Sexiest Vegetarian man. Making his way halfway around the globe, XAVIER RUDD, one of Australia’s most iconic voices today.
Peter Hammarstedt
Second Mate, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Born in Sweden and raised in the United Kingdom, Peter, 23, joined the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as soon as he was old enough to submit an application.
Bruce Brown
Filmmaker Bruce Brown single-handedly changed the face of surfing with The Endless Summer.
John Calambokidis
Research Biologist and one of the founders of Cascadia Research, a non-profit research organization formed in 1979 based in Olympia, Washington. His work has been covered on shows by Discovery Channel and others and has been featured in National Geographic TV specials and a magazine article in 2009.
Jay Adams
American skateboarder most prominently known as one of the original members of Z-Boys skateboarding team. He is considered one of the most influential skateboarders of all time.
Tony Alva
Tony Alva was featured in the video game, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. In 2012 he appeared on an episode of the A&E reality series Storage Wars to appraise a skateboard.
"The Cab" Steve Caballero
Steve Caballero (born November 8, 1964, San Jose, California) is a professional skateboarder and musician. Steve was born in the year of the dragon, and has had several board graphics that feature dragons.
Lance Mountain
Robert Lance Mountain was one of the prominent skateboarders throughout the 1980s, primarily due to his involvement with the Bones Brigade; Mountain is featured in the 1987 Powell-Peralta video, The Search For Animal Chin.
Jim Muir
Dogtown, as a concept, has existed since the early 1970's. It was the birthplace of progressive skateboarding, Santa Monica/Venice, California. In the celebrated documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys
Mike McGill
McGill was a member of the "Bones Brigade", an elite team of skateboarders sponsored by Powell Peralta who dominated the sub-culture of professional skateboarding (both in contests and in popularity) for a large part of the 1980s.
Vernon Courtland Johnson
Vernon Courtland Johnson, or VCJ, is one of today’s most influential artists working in a commercial medium. His iconic designs for Powell Peralta have inspired thousands of other artists worldwide, and he routinely gets namechecked by street-art superstars like D*Face and Shepard Fairey. VCJ didn’t invent the idea of skateboard art, but he both defined it and set a standard that others have yet to match.
Dave "Rasta" Rastovich
Professional free surfer, co-founder of Surfers For Cetaceans, featured in the documentary film "Minds In the Water" on his journey as an activist for cetaceans. Dave came to Raglan, New Zealand this year to help stand up for the last 55 Maui's Dolphins.
Salud Carbajal
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal is a Legend! He is always ready to help!
Chuck Barfoot
Its been estimated that over 6.1 million people snowboard just in the US alone. According to Chuck Barfoot, the reason snowboarding was invented was because a few surfers wanted to surf in the snow - they totally related it to surfing.
Hillary Hauser
Co-founder of Heal the Ocean, Hillary Hauser (pictured left) has been a writer/journalist/news reporter since 1968, with published books about the sea and underwater exploration, and magazine articles including National Geographic, Geo, Islands, The Surfer’s Journal, Reader’s Digest and the Los Angeles Times.
Steve Olson
We love Steve, legendary old school professional Santa Cruz Skateboard team ridder, character so colorful... Here's looking at you Steve.
Christian Hosoi
Hosoi started skating at seven or eight years old with veterans such as Shogo Kubo, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Jay Adams as his idols.
Roger DeCoster
Roger DeCoster’s name is almost synonymous with the sport of motocross. DeCoster is generally recognized as the best-known racer in motocross in the first 50 years of the sport. His racing accomplishments are simply remarkable.
Brad Lackey
Brad Lackey was one of America’s pioneering motocross racers of the 1970s and ‘80s. In 1972, Lackey won the AMA 500cc National Motocross championship. In 1982, after a decade of trying, he became the first American to win the 500cc World Motocross Championship.
Janet Wolf
Over 4 years ago, at a press conference against commercial whaling, we met the now Santa Barbara Second District Supervisor, Janet Wolf. We are grateful to Janet also "Showing Us the Love" for "our" Maui's & Hector's Dolphins of New Zealand.
Jeff Johnson
California surfer / writer / photographer who stars in Woodshed Films’ 180° South – A trip that mirrors the legendary journey of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins. An accomplished writer, his works have appeared in Surfer’s Journal, Surfer, and Alpinist.
Patti McGee and Di Dootson Rose
Patti McGee was the 1965 Woman's first National Skateboard Champion, Santa Monica. Di Dootson Rose, former professional slalom skateboarder and now of the National Skateboard Review
NZ govt has reopened the submissions period regarding their Threat Management Plan (TMP) for the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins.
So we have till mid-November to collect as many "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions as possible. Let's show them through our global campaign that the WORLD IS WATCHING!!!
Unicorns, Maui’s Dolphins, Sumatran Rhinos, New Zealand Sea Lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, and Irrawaddy River Dolphins, ...Oh My!!!
The New Zealand government has been making news, ...but not in a nice way. As the veil of “green” is raised, the dark truth of New Zealand’s current environmental policy is revealed. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Attention All Surfers & Skaters, and Dolphin & Whale Lovers Alike!
Peggy Oki, Coordinator of the "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign and "Origami Whales Project" Founder & Director "continues to "Work it for the Whales, and Dolphins too of course!"
Peggy Oki, "Paints for the Porpoise"
Peggy Oki, artist and Coordinator of our "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign painted this bench as a contribution to the Carpinteria Valley Arts Council "Artniture" fund-raising event. And she's spreading the word at the same time with her creation which is also embellished with some art by students from her Whales & Dolphins Ambassador Program.
You can do something fun & easy to SAVE DOLPHINS in TWO COUNTRIES, in ONE DAY!
Japan Dolphins Day 2012 is just around the corner, 31 August or 1 September (depending on location). If you’ve watched “The Cove” you may already be planning to attend one of over 80 Japan Dolphin Day rallies across the world.
New Zealand dolphins to 'go the way of the dodo' because of cruel fishing methods
The world's smallest and most endangered dolphin 'will die out' unless radical changes are made to fishing, say scientists.
Ric O'Barry supports
Ric wrote: "Lets get behind this urgent effort, folks!" and with his blessings to create this VP on his behalf, "We love Peggy".
Sea Shepherds Love Maui's & Hector's Dolphins too!
Grateful to SSCS for posting this commentary on the need for NZ government to do much more to save the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins from extinction
Extinction is imminent for two marine mammal species unless their habitat is immediately cleared of gillnets
Research considered by the IWC's Scientific Committee shows that protected areas are too small to be effective, and progress in extending gillnet and trawl net free areas has been too slow to achieve recovery as part of New Zealand's national and international obligations.
South Korea unveils 'scientific' whaling proposal
"South Korea is proposing to hunt whales under regulations permitting scientific research whaling, echoing the programmes of its neighbour, Japan. ...There are several different stocks, or groups, of minke whales in the region, and one of the them, the so-called J-stock, is severely depleted."
Atlantic sanctuary for whales scuttled
Japan and its allies have shot down a Latin American-led proposal to create a sanctuary for whales in the southern Atlantic Ocean, reigniting international tensions over Tokyo's whaling.
Whales Urgently Need You To Act Today!
The latest news from Peggy Oki, "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign coordinator, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director...
"Whaling quotas for indigenous groups...renewed at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting."
"...despite questions over whether the bid from St Vincent and the Grenadines qualified under IWC rules."
Mining and Interim protection announced
Please consider these news items and actions that you can take to help.
Another fun way to Show your Love and spread the word
You can now turn your "Let's Face It" Visual Petition into your facebook profile timeline cover.
A blog from Peggy Oki, "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign coordinator, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director
Last night I presented the "Curtain of 3,800 Origami Whales" for a local screening of "Between the Folds", an amazing documentary about the art of origami...
Hector's Dolphin Day, July the 8th
Conservation Kids NZ - Calling all kinds who love dolphins, especially Hector's and Maui Dolphins!
Sending good thoughts
Liz Slooten (among foremost in studying the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins of NZ) is in Panama for the IWC meetings after presenting her paper to the Scientific Committee on the Maui's & Hector's of NZ, and the Vaquitas Dolphins of Mexico.
Happy Go Skateboarding Day everyone!
"Let's Face It" Visual Petition of one of my favorite skaters "The Cab" Steve Caballero, from the legendary Bones Brigade.
I Work it for the Whales (and dolphins too, of course!)
"I WORK IT FOR THE WHALES" says legendary Dogtown skateboarder Peggy Oki at the 2012 Skateboard Hall of Fame Awards.
Maui’s Dolphin Day 2012
Dave Rastovich and Lauren Hill travel to Raglan, on the West Coast of New Zealand, for the annual Maui's Dolphin Day celebration and community recycled raft race.
Whale Meat Doesn't Sell: The ICR Reports Miserable Result of Auction
"900 tons, an astonishing 3/4 of JARPN II meat, is left unsold from the auction. Nisshin-Maru returns from Antarctica (whose “mission was cut short by SS”) bringing back over 1000 tons. Now with the whale meat silently mounting in their warehouses, the future of the ICR is uncertain…"
"Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign submission
"Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign submission, 1pm NZT, 11 April to the three decision-makers in the New Zealand government
Conservation Groups Call for Immediate Action to Save New Zealand’s Imperilled Dolphins
Over a dozen non-governmental organizations have requested that Prime Minister John Key take immediate action to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins in a letter hand-delivered to him today.
March to Parliament in support of Maui's dolphin
Various conservation groups marched to Parliament this afternoon in support of the urgent measures proposed to save the dwindling Maui's dolphin population.
Goal of 5,000 "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions (VPs)
If you've already created your "Let's Face It" Visual Petition, you can still help by collecting more.
March for Maui - Maui Dolphin March on Parliament
Peaceful rally walking from Allen street to Parliament builidngs. We invite all people to walk with us and ask that our MP's use their special emergency powers and immediately stop the use of SET/Gill Nets.This march is supported by all New Zealand conservation groups.
Great news! Thanks to the many people across the world who have been participating, we have over 1,000 "Let's Face It" visual petitions!
We are hard at work to meet our print deadline for banners and posters to be presented to the New Zealand government in early April. While we won't be able to include any additional visual petitions (VPs) for this print run, our campaign will continue.
Hector's & Maui's Dolphins appeal by William Trubridge
Watch this excellent message from 15 time world champion free diver William Trubridge.
Raglan Positive Perspective - Peggy Oki "Lets Face It"
Juan Duazo of Raglan Positive Perspectives put together this great video for our "Let's Face It" visual petition campaign video. The sad thing is that since we began filming "On 13 March 2012, New Zealand's Department of Conservation announced that the number of Maui's dolphins is most likely 55."
Push for law change to track Japan whalers
"Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has proposed a simple amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, requiring a patrol vessel to monitor..."
Save the Whales by Hunting Them?
Twenty-five years later, the “temporary ban” is still in place, but three whaling nations -- Japan, Norway, and Iceland -- keep hunting whales anyway, selling them commercially.
Whale back on the menu
Nakao says whale is back on the menu at schools in Shimonoseki and nearby cities, which means 100,000 schoolchildren are having it for lunch every school day.
Maori hint at interest in whaling
"...shareholding in Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd which in turn owns Maori's 50 per cent share in Sealord. Until 2005 Sealord's other owner, Japan's Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd owned the Japanese whaling company Kyodo Senpaku Ltd. It no longer owns it."
International Reaction to Japan's Misuse of ($30 million) Earthquake Relief Funds
"...increase whaling budget by almost 600%"
"A Defender of World’s Whales Sees Only a Tenuous Recovery"
with Roger Payne, one of the earliest heroes bringing voice, literally by sharing Humpback Whale songs, to raise awareness about whaling.
Earthquake Relief Funds 20 December 2011 "...increase whaling budget by almost 600%" Japanese whaling gets (an additional) $28m in earthquake cash
“Japan’s whaling fleet has left its home port for another turbulent season in the Southern Ocean, this year courtesy of extra money from the nation’s earthquake recovery fund.”
Japanese whaling gets (an additional) $28m in earthquake cash
“Japan’s whaling fleet has left its home port for another turbulent season in the Southern Ocean, this year courtesy of extra money from the nation’s earthquake recovery fund.”
No Fin Whales Caught in Iceland This Year
"...will start preparing for the next season; we haven’t given up on whaling,”
Actor Pierce Brosnan Speaks Out Against Icelandic Whaling
Courtesy of The Natural Resources Defense Council
Secretary Locke certifies that Iceland’s whaling undermines the International
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke certified to President Obama that Iceland’s commercial whaling and international trade in fin whale products is diminishing the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission (IWC)"23.08.2011 "...will start preparing for the next season; we haven’t given up on whaling,”
Walkout Sours Global Whaling Conference
"A meeting of the International Whaling Commission ended in disarray on Thursday when Japan and its allies used the most basic of procedural maneuvers to kill a proposal to protect whales in the southern Atlantic: they walked out."
Whaling meeting 'ignores needs of whales'
The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) annual meeting has closed after a tense final day when relations between opposing blocs came close to collapse.
Revealed: UK fish and chips linked to Icelandic whale slaughter
"Iceland's biggest whaling company Hvalur has killed 273 endangered fin whales and exported more than 1,200 tonnes of fin whale meat and blubber to Japan since 2008, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), in a trade worth estimated US$17 million."
Japanese Whalers Set Sail In North Pacific
...looking to kill as many as 260 whales, ...Minke whales,...Bryde's and Sperm whales, and Sei whales
Radiation Detected In Minke Whales Off Japan
Japan's spring coastal whaling off Kushiro has ended, and radioactive caesium has been detected in some of the whales taken. Officials from Japan have announced that this is likely a result of the nuclear accident off Fukushima, and that the situation will need to be watched.
UK leads battle to clean up whaling commission
Japan accused of buying the support of members of the IWC with aid and bribery.
Japan coy over pro-whaling strategy conference
...pro-whaling nations are to discuss their future strategy and direction at a closed-door conference in south-western Japan next week.
Whalers Using Whale Oil to Fuel Whaling Boats
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society: Whalers Using Whale Oil to Fuel Whaling Boats Highlights the Confusing State of a Dying Industry Says WDCS
Japan's mighty whale mountain
Stocks of frozen whale meat in Japan have reached 4,000 tons - that's 4 million kg.
Iceland Whaling Season Begins Amidst Controversy
In this video from Reuters, Iceland's 100 day whaling season has begun amidst international condemnation and the outcry of environmental conservationists.
Save a Whale, Save a Soul, Goes the Cry
WHEN the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission ended on Friday with the 24-year ban on commercial whaling still intact, however tenuous its hold and leviathan its loopholes, sighs of relief issued from many quarters — along with, no doubt, a volley of whistles, clicks and proudly parochial squeals.
2010 IWC Commercial Whaling Compromise News
Thank you! ...to everyone who participated in making it clear that the proposed compromise on commercial whaling is unacceptable*. While this was good news, today, it was announced authorization for Greenland to kill 27 Humpback Whales in a 3 year period. Please consider the update and take action at left hand column. The whaling nations continue slaughter of over 1,800 whales annually, including recent escalation of Icelandic whaling which included the slaughter of 125 endangered fin whales last year.
Greenland gets green light to hunt humpback whales
AGADIR, Morocco — Greenland's indigenous peoples won the right Friday to hunt 27 humpback whales, capping three years of acrimonious debate within the 88-nation International Whaling Commission.
IWC rejects commercial whaling bid
Negotiations on the future of commercial whaling have collapsed, with pro- and anti-whaling nations unable to break a decades-long deadlock.
For Iceland's whaling king, they're 'just another fish'
AGADIR, Morocco — Kristjan Loftsson, Iceland's millionaire whaling king, doesn't really see the difference: "whales are just another fish," he said at a crunch meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
WDCS Undercover Investigation Reveals NO NEED To Expand Indigenous Whaling In Greenland
An investigation conducted by WDCS in May 2010 documented how a Greenland company commissions subsistence whalers to hunt whales for them to sell in supermarkets and how whale meat ends up as fancy dinners in 4-star tourist hotels.
Whaling talks move into hiding
...that (standing in as chairman of meetings) Mr Liverpool's own flights and accommodation to the Agadir meeting were being paid for by Japan.
Garrett criticises closed-door whaling talks
By environment reporter Sarah Clarke, Tue Jun 22, 2010 Australia has accused the International Whaling Commission (IWC) of trying to shut down debate after the whaling body suspended official talks...
Restaurant charged over whale meat
South Korean police have charged a Seoul restaurant owner with selling whale meat believed to have come from Japan's so-called scientific whaling program.
Purchase sent papers Korean manager, Wakayama smuggling whale meat provided
South Korean police said the manager offered whale meat smuggling...as secretly brought to Korea from Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture
Whale meat restaurants top 100 in Ulsan ...Illegal trading of the endangered species is the reason behind the mushrooming restaurants selling whale meat.
If the IWC compromise proposal, still currently supported by the Obama administration, would have been accepted at the meetings last month, South Korea surely would have been the next to demand legitimized commercial whaling.
IWC, Greenpeace, and Obama Administration Aren't Standing Up for the Whales
If you receive campaign e-mails from Greenpeace, WWF, Pew Environment Group, and Humane Society of the US, they state that the US voted against the compromise. In fact, the Obama Administration continues to support the compromise which would make commercial whaling legitimate.
Worldwide resumption of commercial whaling
In 2009, 1,163 Minke whales were reported killed by Japan, Norway, and Iceland. Since 1986, nearly 38,000 Whales (5 different species) have been reported killed. The fate of thousands of these Minke Whales are at stake as of this morning, the 64th annual International Whaling Commission meetings begin in Panama City.
Whales Might Be as Much Like People as Apes Are
As the annual International Whaling Commission meeting stumbles to a close, unable to negotiate a compromise between whaling opponents and people who’ve killed more than 40,000 whales since 1985, scientists say these aquatic mammals are more than mere animals. They might even deserve to be considered people.
Is the circus coming to your town?
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) opposes the use of wild animals in circuses and other traveling acts. Because cruelty to animals is inherent to such displays, we seek to end such uses of wild animals.
The Makah Hunting Gray Whales
Commercial whalers hunted the gray whale to near extinction by the 1920s. In recent years, gray whale stocks have rebounded, leading federal officials to remove them from the Endangered Species List in 1994. The gray whale remains threatened with populations worldwide estimated at only 23,000.
Japan Plans to Hunt Endangered Sei Whales
Four Japanese whaling vessels have set out on an expedition which will target a whale species environmentalists say is in danger of extinction.
Japan admits buying allies on whaling
Japan uses overseas aid to buy support for the resumption of commercial whaling, a senior government official admitted yesterday in unusually frank comments that have provoked fury among anti-whaling groups.
Defiant Whalers Take to the High Seas
The United States again is urging Japan not to take sperm and Bryde's whales for its expanded lethal scientific whaling program, the State Department said Monday.
Norway Commercial Whaling
Since Norway's resumption of commercial whaling in 1993, a total of 2,238 Minkes in the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and North Sea. Norway's self-created kill quota has increased from 600 to up to 711 whales for the year 2003.
Danny LaPorte
Danny LaPorte helped the United States make the transition from underdog to world leader in the sport of motocross.
David Helvarg (Blue Frontier Campaign)
David Helvarg, author of Blue Frontier – Dispatches from America’s Ocean Wilderness, The War Against the Greens, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean, Rescue Warriors, and Saved by the Sea.
Dr. David Guggenheim aka Ocean Doctor
Dr. David E. Guggenheim (third from left) is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, submarine pilot, ocean explorer and educator. He is president and founder of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, Ocean Doctor.
Pete Bethune
Earthrace Conservation, on the Maui’s dolphins, “The measures that could significantly help to stop this species from becoming extinct in our lifetime are being put on the back burner because of direct pressure from the fishing industries.”