In regards to the photograph and article previously posted

I had some people contact me recently about sexism within the animal rights movement and what my position was on the subject. I wanted to clarify my opinion on the matter so I wrote a response. If anyone would care to read it you can follow the link here: http://mikexvx.blogspot.com

Thank you,
Mike

Article posted in the Nanaimo News Bulletin 12/14/10

By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: December 14, 2010 8:00 AM
Updated: December 14, 2010 1:10 PM

 

Marley Daviduk knows when she travels to a small Japanese cove made famous for its mass slaughter of dolphins, she’ll be upset by what she witnesses.

But she also knows her presence and documentation of the actions of 26 fishermen, who have their government’s blessing to slaughter and supply dolphins for live trade despite breaking international laws, could help bring the annual event to an end.

The Nanaimo animal activist is raising money to travel to the cove near Taiji, Japan to participate as a Cove Guardian for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. For several years, the group has posted volunteers around the cove to capture footage of the slaughter.

Since the beginning of this year’s slaughter, which began in September and ends in late March, Sea Shepherd has had six to 20 volunteers at any given time.

“Every day will be filming, filming, filming, talking to the fishermen, talking to the Japanese media. Making sure the Japanese fishermen don’t get away with anything and that everything is documented so that the entire world can see what is happening on a daily basis,” said Daviduk, who will travel with friends and fellow volunteers Carisa Webster, also of Nanaimo, and Mike Vos, of California.


Despite the international ban on hunting whales, the Japanese government issued a quota of 23,000 dolphins this season. Most are slaughtered for food while some are captured and sold in the live dolphin trade to zoos and aquariums.

Whaling ships also left Japanese ports this week to hunt 1,100 larger whales in an Arctic sanctuary, some of which are listed internationally as endangered.

“We’re trying to expose that and shame the Japanese government into stopping, but we’re also hoping that once we expose this to the Japanese people, that they will put pressure on their own government to stop,” said Daviduk.

Daviduk knows it won’t be an easy three weeks in March. The Japanese government set up coast guard and police stations near the site to discourage violent confrontations.

The cove was brought to international attention by the 2009 Oscar award-winning documentary The Cove, a story about how a small group of people infiltrated the guarded cove for the first time to document what takes place.

Daviduk said the movie inspired her to take action not only for the dolphins, but Canada’s annual seal hunt as well. For several years, she has helped organize Nanaimo seal hunt protests.
“Whether it’s seals, dolphins or a shark hunt to make the Chinese delicacy shark fin soup, it’s wrong,” she said.

To help raise money for the effort, a showing of The Cove will be held at Vancouver Island University on Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m., featuring a talk by Cove Guardian Tarah Millen, who recently returned to the Island from Japan. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Boston Pizza, Tourism Nanaimo and The Thirsty Camel.

A ‘Bottle Nose Dolphin Drive’ is also underway at bottle depots on Fremont Rd. (off McGarrigle Rd.) and Mostar Dr. When returning bottles or cans, simply indicate you wish the proceeds to go to the Cove Guardians. Bottles and cans can also be dropped off on the driveway at 5977 Broadway Rd. on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

For more information or to donate, please e-mail thecoveguardians@gmail.com. The group will also be blogging at www.thecoveguardians.blogspot.com once they arrive in Japan.

An Evening for the Dolphins: Nanaimo, BC

Monday, January 17, 2011 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Vancouver Island University, Building 356 - Room 109
900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC

Come join us for Oscar award winning documentary The Cove, a powerfully moving film that exposes dark secrets of the small fishing community of Taiji, Japan.

Following the film will be a presentation from past Cove Guardians Tarah and Ryan, and a Q&A session. All funds raised will help pay for us to travel to Taiji, Japan in March 2011.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased through our Paypal button on this page (please write "Nanaimo tickets" in the message), or visiting one of the following locations:

TOURISM NANAIMO
BOSTON PIZZA
THE THIRSTY CAMEL

PLEASE NOTE: There are a limited number of seats available for this benefit screening, so get your tickets ASAP! This event WILL SELL OUT!"

THANK YOU!!

Mike, Marley, Carisa

Hello my name is: Carisa

I will be joining Marley and Mike in Taiji as a cove guardian in March. My name is Carisa, I'm 25, and have been a voice for animals for the past 6 years. 



My reasons for becoming a cove guardian will be obvious for those who have seen "The Cove", but for those who haven't I will explain. In Taiji, Japan there is a group of fishermen who trap pods of dolphins and either cruelly slaughter the brilliant animals or sell them to aquariums to do tricks for their food. Neither outcome is okay. 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed every year in the cove... until now. These numbers are down drastically this year, BUT it's not over. While we are there we will be documenting and filming the events of the cove, but this has to stop!



What you can do? We will do everything we can when we're there but we need help. You can donate on this page, and we are accepting airmiles as well. Every little bit helps. We will also be holding a silent auction down the road, so if you can donate anything it would be greatly appreciated. Other than that make sure you you keep calling the Japanese embassy near you to tell them what you think of the actions in the cove. Also, do not support aquariums or swim with the dolphins. Money is what drives the cruelty, hit them where it hurts. Attending aquariums supports the fishermen of the cove. 



Thank you for your support :)



-Carisa

Future Cove Guardian

Donate your AIRMILES to the Cove Guardians!!

You can help send us to Taiji Japan by donating airmiles to our account!
Call 1-888-247-6453 and transfer your airmiles to account number 85008048848


If you are in Nanaimo you can help by donating your bottles to the Nanaimo Cove Guardian
account at the bottle depot, 1805 Fremont rd.

Thank you so much for your support, and thank you to everyone who has donated allready!!

Marley, Mike and Carisa
Future Cove Guardians

Preparing to face death...

I would like to remind everyone of the importance of positive thoughts for the dolphins even though it may be easy to spiral into hatefulness when we see these EVIL human beings and the suffering they cause.  I have been an activist for more than 10 years now, and in the past others have accused us of being full of hate, and anger over these issues, but they couldn't be further from the truth.  Everything we do for animals, all of our efforts are fueled by our profound love for all of them.  We cannot allow ourselves become overwhelmed with hate for these awful dolphin killers because it will only delay our victories.  That being said, I admit it will take everything in me to look these butchers in the face and stop myself from thinking about what they truly deserve. 

Turn away from things you don't love and don't give them any feeling, because they have no place in your life.

“See no evil-hear no evil-speak no evil.”
Maxim on the Toshogu Shrine in Japan


As passionate as these filthy molesters are about the money they make off the dolphins blood, we are INFINITELY more passionate about their well being and safety.  We will do everything in our power to show the Japanese government that we are not only watching, we are on our way over to make sure the rest of the world can watch too.  The days are gone when these men and woman can carry out these hideous crimes in private.

Please focus on their freedom and safety, think about it everyday.

For the Animals. 
Marley

Benefit screenings in the works..

At the moment we're contacting some venues about benefit screenings of "The Cove". Right now it's looking like it will be at Universities in Nanaimo + Victoria, BC, Portland, Oregon and possibly Los Angeles, CA. Most of these screenings will probably be happening in mid to late January. If you'd like to help us set up a benefit screening in your area feel free to contact us: thecoveguardians@gmail.com

Also, please donate if you can with the button on our page. We have a long way to go still and every little bit helps!

For the animals,
Mike XVX + Marley D.

Getting things started.

After some deliberation, Marley and I have decided to set out to Taiji, Japan to act as Cove Guardians this March. We are both very excited to be volunteering with Sea Shepherd, and to help them finish out this season with documenting the disgusting and atrocious activities that go on in this small coastal community. Our friend Tarah is currently still in Taiji, and she has been documenting her experience on her blog: http://coveguardian.blogspot.com
For the Sea Shepherd report back and to hear a little bit more about what we're doing you can visit here: http://www.seashepherd.org/dolphins/cove-guardian-reports/

also, just found out another friend keeps a diary of events as well: http://23skidoo.org/

We're getting some things together right now to have some benefit screenings of "The Cove" around British Columbia to raise some money for our trip out there. We're starting from scratch, so if you have the means please feel free to donate with the button found here on our blog. You can use either Paypal or pay with a credit card. We also can accept your air miles, and since I don't have a ticket yet it would be immensely helpful if you could. If you'd like to do that you can email us at: thecoveguardians@gmail.com. And lastly, if you're able to set up a benefit show, vegan bake sale, leave out a donation jar or any other kind of fund raiser please feel free.

We'll keep you updated on things as they progress, and get a little bit more information on here once we get the ball rolling. Thank you.

For the animals,
Mike XVX + Marley D.