Dolphins held captive in Taiji, Japan try to make the best of their time by playing and jumping. A whaling harpoon ship (soon retired) lurks in the background.
To learn more about what happens to these dolphins please visit - http://www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians/
Local activist returns home after two months in Japanese prison
SEATTLE — He was accused of assault and detained in a Japanese prison, but a local activist is now free and back on home turf.
Erwin Vermeulen is part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a non-profit marine conservation organization based in the San Juan Islands.
He was recently in Japan documenting the killing of dolphins when a man accused him of taking his crusade too far.
In a small fishing village called Taiji, a resort employee accused Vermeulen of pushing him. His arrest and trial gained attention from media across the globe.
Vermeulen denied the charges, and Japanese authorities agreed, allowing him to leave the country a free man after two months in custody.
“We were able to prove that, yes, his hand had a radio in it. His other hand had a monopod in it, and his hands were full and he was not able to push the guard,” said Heather Hill, who testified at the trial.
Vermeulen arrived at Sea-Tac Airport on Wednesday to a hero’s welcome from other conservationists, including his girlfriend, Susan Hartland.
“It was very frustrating, not being able to talk to him. Not knowing how he was doing,” Hartland said.
For his part, Vermeulen said he’s happy to be home, but vowed to continue his fight.
“It was not a trial against me, this was a trial against Sea Shepherd to sabotage their successful campaign,” he said.
Vermeulen’s defense cost about $50,000 and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society plans to sue the man who wrongly accused him.
CALL TO ACTION!!! Please share this video. If you feel inspired to, please create a video in response showing how you spread the word about what go’s on in Taiji, Japan “The Cove” and send it into Sea Shepherds YouTube channel! We are all Cove Guardians!
- Biaggo
Captive Dolphins in Taiji, Japan are captured from the ocean, put into tanks and small pens, given antibiotics, then forced to do tricks for small dead fish. After they are trained most of them will be sold off and shipped around the world and sent to dolphinariums, aquariums, resorts, circuses, ect…to spend the rest of their lives doing tricks for food. Taiji, Japan is just one of many contributors to this industry.
Please support the Cove Guardians!
I helped this campaign in Taiji, Japan.
- Biaggo :)
Small boat taking a live dolphin from the cove (wrapped in a sling hanging off the side of the boat) to be put into captivity for the rest of its life… Taiji, Japan
