Demonstration in Puerto Vallarta Against the Dolphin Drive of Taiji, Japan Team Angels/Karla De La Pena - Dolphin Drive
August 23, 2016

Fishermen kill dolphin pods using spikes which sever the spinal cord, Taiji, Japan.

From Wikipedia: The Taiji dolphin drive hunt is a dolphin drive hunt that takes place in Taiji, Wakayama in Japan every year from September to March. According to the Japanese Fisheries Research Agency, 1,623 dolphins were caught in Wakayama Prefecture in 2007 for human consumption or resale to dolphinariums, and most of these were caught at Taiji. The annual dolphin hunt provides income for local residents, and has received international criticism for both the cruelty of the dolphin killing and the high mercury levels of the dolphin meat.

This drive, described as “inhumane” by Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador of the United States to Japan, begins September 1 and lasts until March of 2017. It results in the vicious slaughter of hundreds of dolpbhins for human consumption and the capture and sale of hundreds of dolphins to aquariums and swim with dolphin programs all over the world.
 
For that reason, we have organized a demonstration regarding the event with a group of concerned Puerto Vallarta citizens who will be holding in favor of dolphins and their right to life.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place on Thursday, September 1 from 2:30 until 4:30 pm. Venue will be the traffic lights at Ave. Francisco Medina Ascencio and Ave Fluvial.

Protestors are asked to wear the color red, representative of the bloody slaughter of the dolphins.

The purpose of the event is to send the message to the Japanese government that Mexico is against the killing of the highly intelligent and sociable dolphins and must be stopped; that Mexico does not want dolphinariums nor swim with dolphin shows; that dolphins belong to the planet, not to Japan, and should be free.

Regarding the human consumption of dolphin meat, it is high in mercury and therefore a dangerous source of protein. Regarding the captivity of dolphins, it is cruel. The brains and bodies of these mammals are not meant to be in cement tanks for the entertainment of humans.

If you would like more information, please contact Karla at kdelap1@yahoo.com.mx.

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