• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world

 

Saturday, May 19, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Karl Burkart

Broome sparks international controversy over 'The Cove'

After premiering The Cove, Broome severs ties with its sister city, Taiji, sparking an international controversy that may end dolphin hunting in Japan.

Mon, Aug 31 2009 at 2:16 PM EST
 3

Photo: 'The Cove' movie
Related on MNN: MNN called The Cove the scariest dolphin movie you'll ever see.
 
About 30 years ago, 'Captain' Paul Watson of the famed Whale Wars TV show on Animal Planet was battling to save the whales off the western coast of Australia. Australia became the first nation to ban whaling and has been a leader in ocean conservation ever since.
 
Now the small coastal town of Broome in western Australia has become the fulcrum of an international campaign to end dolphin hunting.
 
Broome, a popular eco-tourism destination, boasts some of the best whale and dolphin watching in the world. It is also the sister city of Taiji which, as a result of new film The Cove, is know widely referred to as "the Auschwitz for dolphins."
 
Broome and Taiji have deep historical ties. The pearling industry in Broome was developed with the help of Taiji divers, many of whom have descendants living in the Australian shire.
 
So it was a difficult decision when the shire of Broome annulled its sister city relationship with Taiji. Mayor Campbell explains:
It's a very sad day for Broome, given the historical and cultural contribution made by many people from Japan to the town, and the number of people living here who still have relatives in Taiji.
But it was a decision they had to make. Thousands of emails poured in from around the world urging (and threatening) the shire of Broome to cut its ties with Taiji. As the film documents, police and government officials in Taiji are complicitous in what should be an international crime —the entrapment and mass slaughter of tens of thousands of dolphins every year.
 
Not exactly an association you want if you are a marine tourism destination. 
 
Jeff Hansen, the Australian director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has focused his attention on Broome. The film had its "world premiere" in Broome, knowing full well the political leverage that a sister-city relationship brings to the table.
 
As he stated, "This could just be the catalyst that shuts this unjustified, barbaric and inhumane practice down for good."
 
By ending its long-standing ties with Taiji, the shire of Broome has spoken in a symbolic language that the Japanese government will not be able to lightly dismiss.
 
Though the slaughter continues, Japan's dark secret is no more. The whole world is now watching.
 

 
NOTE: Broome has experienced some backlash from its monumental decision to cut its ties with Taiji. Paul Watson urges residents to honor and respect Broome's Japanese residents. Here's an excerpt posted Thursday from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society:
The Japanese people of Broome helped shape this northwest Australian town for what it is today and should be admired and respected. To treat people of Broome of Japanese descent with any less respect is an outrage, disrespectful, and quite frankly uncivilized.
 
Some people in Broome have even gone as far as to interfere with the graves in the Japanese cemetery. These people belong back in the Dark Ages.
 
While Broome still believes its decision was the right one and hopes there may be some impact on current practices in Taiji, there is a section of the community (people with Japanese ancestry) who now need to hear from everyday Australians that they are valued, respected and admired. They need to hear that message as loudly as they have heard the cry from us to sever those historic ties.
 
Sea Shepherd is asking to please write positive and reaffirming emails to the community of Broome, that Broome citizens of Japanese heritage are equally respected and admired as part of the community in helping to shape one of Australia’s premier iconic coastal towns.
 
Councilor Chris Maher is happy to take those emails and can be reached at chris@arthousebroome.com.
Alternatively you can write a letter to the editor of the Broome Advertiser by emailing news@broomead.com.au
 
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society condemns the outlash directed at the Japanese community of Broome. This issue has nothing to do with race; what is happening to the dolphins in Taiji is an issue that affects us all on a global scale.
 
Previous Post
ForestEthics releases Green Grades for paper industry
   Next Post
Uranium: The new 'foreign oil'
You might also like:
Related Topics: Activism, Animal Research, Conservation, Oceans

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (3)

anonymous
cjscript 03/13/2010 11:59 AM

This and other barbaric oceanic practices must be banished from our shared resources. The arrogance of dolphin and whale murderers is shrilling. Why won't international legal groups shut down these practices? Whale Wars and The Cove are good, but still too light. Stop dancing around the issue; slam the door shut on these practices. Would a bank robber have stink bombs thrown at him or would he be arrested? Arrest these murderers and nail the coffin shut. IT'S ENOUGH!!!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Luke M. 09/02/2009 14:00 PM

It's important to remember that this is not an anti-Japanese cause. It's about the specific persons responsible for this. Broome made the right decision to sever ties until Taiji stops killing dolphins. The film is very eye opening and is an incredible watch. Everyone should see it and support the cause!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 09/01/2009 11:58 AM

Print a retraction. There was no cemetery vandalism!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/31/2671784.htm

Meanwhile, police have confirmed no vandalism occurred at the town's Japanese cemetery last week, contradicting reports of a racially-motivated attack.

Last week, the Shire of Broome believed gravestones had been

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    •  
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use
Earn 100 points for signing up for a free iMeet trial now.
JOIN NOW
Sponsored by

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICKS

tease to rocket launches

tease to sunscreen

tease to Kennedy

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +

About Karl Burkart

Internet entrepreneur on green media and technology.

RSS feedMore about Karl

Recent Posts

  • Rock star charity seeks to Power the World
  • What do Leonardo DiCaprio, Linkin Park, Hayden Panettiere and Sergio Marone have in common?
  • Inhofe launches wacky 'Climate Hoax' book despite severe climate impacts in Oklahoma
+ Add this to my site
From our sponsor

Interview with green strategist Lewis Perkins

Sustainability strategist and Fast Company blogger shares insights on corporate... more >

Go green anywhere, anytime with PGi

See the visual story of how one company is reducing the need for corporate travel... more >

Is there a telecommuting personality type?

Some individuals may be wired to succeed at working from home while others just... more >

Carbon calculator: Know your travel footprint

Travel is a reality for many business people, but not all businesses consider the... more >

PGi green data center: Efficiency brings environmental savings

The following article is based on an interview with Aaron Lafferty, PGi Director... more >
PGi: Better for your business, better for the planet

Karl's BLOGROLL

EcoGeekFast Company
MongabayPhysorg Tech
Red Green and BlueTrendHunter Eco
TreehuggerGetting Hot in Here
Triple PunditWeb Ecoist

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports

Follow MNN

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
  • StumbleUpon
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS