www.showbiz-i.com

Wed 14 Oct 2009

I’m hoping that you’ve already heard by now about Ric O’Barry, the campaigner at the centre of the ‘Save Japan Dolpins’ organisation.

If not, then he is the dedicated force behind the fight to stop the slaughter of hundreds, even thousands of dolphins and small whales each year in the fishing village of Taiji, in Southern Japan. Entire schools of dolphins are driven into a hidden cove after a prolonged chase and once trapped the fishermen kill them, slashing their throats with knives or stabbing them with spears. The water turns red with their blood, and the air fills with their screams.

This barbaric massacre goes on for 6 months of the year every year. Even more scandalous is that some members of the International Dolphin Display Industry take advantage of some of the captured dolphins, using them in captive Dolphin shows and swim programs. Yes remember that holiday you went on in Florida where Dolphins jumped through hoops and you laughed at how clever they were….well they were probably seized in a brutal and cruel way and forced to perform those tricks. And if you’ve always wanted to swim with the dolphins, think again….they were also probably torn from their shoals and captured in order for you to get that picture up close with a bottle-nose.

O’Barry has fought to bring worldwide media attention to the killings, which are partially for profit but predominantly for ‘Pest Control’ according to the Japanese government. Dolphin meat is not considered to be a delicacy in Japan, unlike whale meat, so the government are killing  these beautiful and intelligent creatures to protect the fish in their seas and eradicate dolphins altogether.

 O’Barry first travelled to Japan in 2003 to document the dolphin hunt, which until then was shrouded in secrecy until Ric and his team exposed the brutal slaughter through camera images and videos. The team has risked their own lives at the threat of violence from the fishermen themselves and guards patrolling the protected area.

But now the world has taken notice, even the Japanese themselves who O’Barry has tried to educate about what is happening in their country. A documentary entitled ‘The Cove’ produced by O’Barry and a team of filmakers followed the plight of the dolphins and exposed the truth to millions and a website was set-up to garner support for the campaign to stop the killings.  Even Hollywood stepped in with actors such as Ben Stiller joining the cause.

If you too would like to save these amazing creatures and stop the killings you can do your bit. Go to http://www.savejapandolphins.org/ and sign the petition, make a donation and write a letter to President Obama to encourage the US government to get involved.  Make a pledge not to attend dolphin shows and find out where you can see ‘The Cove’ and even set up a screening for friends and family.

On Oct 21st ‘The Cove’ will be screened at The Tokyo Film Festival’ with O’Barry, his team and a host of US celebrities attending. The festival refused to screen the film at first but took a u-turn under pressure, although Japanese fishermen are threatening to protest outside the venue and block the entrance.

Showbiz-i is completely dedicated to supporting ’savejapandolphins’ and will do all it can to promote the organisation, support their dedication and spread the word. Please do the same.

Showbiz-i

So, 21 celebrities including Miss Minogue and Chezza Cole have raided their clip cloppy heels cupboards,  and shoved their trotters into their favourite heels, to be photographed for  an Ebay auction of ’star’s stilettos’. 

It’s all in aid of raising money for  women’ health issues, including young women dealing with chronic gynaecological conditions and ovarian and cervical cancer, as well as women determined to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.

The  clip clop-themed shots will be published this week in News of the World’s ‘Fabulous’ magazine which has teamed up with women’s health charity ‘Wellbeing of Women’ to run the Heels that Heal campaign.

And you can even bid on a shopping trip with Amanda Holden or afternoon tea with Rachel Stevens…so get on over to Ebay and start bidding…it’s for a great cause…and you could end up trying to shove your big trotters into Kylie’s little kitten heels…imagine that! ;-)

Showbiz-i

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