“You’re either an activist or an inactivist,” a statement that simplifies why the preservation of our planet is such a difficult task. The source of this quote is Louie Psihoyos, the director of a documentary focused on uncovering a big secret in Japan.
The Japanese village of Taiji is the setting of the 2009 Academy Award Winning documentary The Cove; a film that exposes a hidden cove within this small village where thousands of dolphins are taken each year to be selected for shows and captivity or, for those who don’t make the cut, mercilessly slaughtered. Up to 23 000 dolphins and porpoises are executed each year.
The Cove not only stresses the importance of protecting the dolphins from captivity and butchery, but also sheds light on the risks of eating the meat as it contains dangerous levels of mercury. The filmmakers reveal that a great deal of the dolphin meat is being sold under a different label, and therefore those purchasing the meat are unaware of the potential mercury poisoning that accompanies it.
If we are unable to stop this dolphin slaughter, who are we trying to kid about stopping the larger impacts like climate change and poverty?
Now, I know that not everyone is going to be proactive about this issue, but awareness in itself is a pretty powerful thing. By knowing what is happening, and exposing the issues, we can each make a little effort to conserve our planet and protect Earth’s magnificent biodiversity.
I worry our generation is turning a blind eye to the misdoings that are more than an arm’s reach away. The temptation of the almighty dollar is clouding our vision of what is really important and is resulting in the deterioration of many of our planet’s wonders.
By the time we wait for the big event that will finally change our perspectives, it may be too late. As quoted from the film, “all social change comes from the passion of individuals,” so do your part and visit www.takepart.com/thecove.
Hawley Campbell
Red Deer