On the heels of Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, threatening to sue Japan in the International Court of Justice over whaling practices, two Greenpeace activists (one of them Japanese) were arrested in Japan. On its face this may seem appropriate, but increased pressure has only hardened Japan against international opinion. But what is that action? Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS, who made the film) urges viewers to sign petitions to pressure Japan to stop the dolphin hunt.
JOY MARINO SQUIDOO MOVIE
By the end of the movie when you finally witness the cove red with blood – you are rightly enraged and ready to jump into action on the side of the technology-wielding modern-day heroes of the movie.
If you’ve seen ‘The Cove,’ you easily understand why the lines have become drawn as ‘good guys’ against ‘Japanese whalers’. We need some voices that inspire Japanese people to the cause. This is unfortunate, because the people of Japan are in the best position to effect the change that ‘The Cove’ seeks to achieve. I also want to make a statement here about how the goals of this movie can be strengthened. Reaction to ‘The Cove’ has alienated many Japanese people. I commend their courage and recommend ‘The Cove’ to everyone, particularly if you care about dolphins. That the ‘ripples’ of the movie are wide is no surprise – ‘The Cove’ is an incredibly compelling and strong film, and I am grateful to the film makers for bringing international attention to an issue near and dear to my heart. But I’m dismayed at all the anti-Japanese sentiment that has been stirred up, particularly because I’m afraid this antagonism will not help the dolphins. As someone who loves dolphins, I’m encouraged that ‘ The Cove’ won an Oscar and is creating so much chatter about protecting whales and dolphins.
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