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[CENOBITE]

http://thecovemovie.com/home.htm
I just got back from a Q&A after an intense screening of The Cove, a shocking and bloody documentary about a subject I thought we were finished with, apparently Japan (and other countries like Norway) disagree. It documents a dangerous and covert operation trying to expose the capture and slaughter of thousands of dolphins and porpoise (that for some reason are not protected under the worldwide ban on whaling) taking place in Japan.

From a nice write up in LA Times :

"How does one expose the secret systematic slaughter of 23,000 dolphins?

It helps to have a billionaire, plus a dedicated activist, a neophyte filmmaker, two of the world's best free-divers, a former avionics specialist from the Canadian Air Force, a logistics whiz trained in transporting pop-music stars around the world, a maritime technician, a military infrared camera for night cinematography, unmanned aerial drones, a blimp and fake rocks specially designed by George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic to hold secret cameras.

Also required? A willingness to risk arrest, police harassment and potentially much worse.

That was the "Ocean's Eleven"-style team assembled to make this year's Sundance sensation "The Cove," the unconventional true-life environmental thriller that brings to light the mass killings of dolphins, specifically those exterminated in the Japanese port village of Taiji, just south of Osaka. The footage in the film, which opened in L.A. theaters Friday, is shocking -- a tranquilly beautiful Japanese bay turned red with the blood of dolphins, as well as graphic images of fishermen spearing the gentle, highly intelligent sea mammals.

Unlike their larger cetacean brethren whales, dolphins are not protected by the worldwide ban on commercial whaling that has been in effect since the 1980s. Taiji, a bucolic town filled with boats bearing the images of happy dolphins, is, as shown in the film, essentially a dolphin bazaar for marine theme parks hunting for their next attraction, and they are willing to pay $150,000 per dolphin. Unselected dolphins are herded into a heavily protected secret cove where they're slaughtered for food, never mind the fact that, as the film makes clear, dolphin meat is chock-full of mercury -- or as one on-screen scientist states: The creatures are essentially swimming toxic waste dumps."

One fact I didn't know, is that Japan currently exploits a loophole in the whaling ban, killing whales for what it calls scientific research. It was sad to see them gutting and stripping entire whales while someone holds a sign in English that reads, "Taking tissue sample" to the helicopter filming. Iceland also conducts scientific whaling. Norway, the only country to openly hunt whales commercially, has set a quota for this year of 1,052 minke whales. Whale meat regularly shows up in Japanese supermarkets, on school menus, and in family-style restaurant chains, Reuters reported.

I strongly urge you to try to go see this film when it reaches a city near you. Feel free to post your reaction in this thread after seeing it!

Rotten Tomatoes at 94%

http://thecovemovie.com/home.htm

 

[WickedAngel]

I don't understand the logic behind this. What are they expecting to do when they fish these things into extinction? It's not like we haven't done so before; you can't abuse a natural resource in this way forever.

 

[Expendable.]

Really want to see this..

 

[Bluth54]

I don't understand the logic behind this. What are they expecting to do when they fish these things into extinction? It's not like we haven't done so before; you can't abuse a natural resource in this way forever.

Travel back in time to 1986 and bring back 2 whales to repopulate the species, with the extra benefit of preventing any alien probes from destroying the planet because the whales are gone.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Wow, that's just nutty.

It helps to have a billionaire, plus a dedicated activist, a neophyte filmmaker, two of the world's best free-divers, a former avionics specialist from the Canadian Air Force, a logistics whiz trained in transporting pop-music stars around the world, a maritime technician, a military infrared camera for night cinematography, unmanned aerial drones, a blimp and fake rocks specially designed by George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic to hold secret cameras.

That's some hardcore stuff for a documentary.

Awesome.

 

[Talka]

Hey, I just ate some whale recently. Expensive. I wonder where you go to eat dolphin?

The Japanese I've talked to about the issue just really don't care about it at all. Personally, I think it's bad, but I agree about just not really caring.

The whole "scientific whaling" nonsense irks me, though. If only because it amounts to casually giving the middle finger to international law.

 

[Duke Togo]

Personally, I blame Sprsk.

 

[Dresden]

Japan doesn't give a shit.

Just as they happily deny wartime atrocities in WW2, they'll happily deny, despite all evidence, any wrongdoing on their part.

 

[Narag]

I heard about this on Fresh Air the other afternoon. What a horrible practice.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

The for "scientific research" part also gets me, what an insult to the actual scientific community.

 

[inner-G]

I wonder where you go to eat dolphin?

mmmm dolphin

 

[zoku88]

I don't understand the logic behind this. What are they expecting to do when they fish these things into extinction? It's not like we haven't done so before; you can't abuse a natural resource in this way forever.

You can basically say the same thing for fish in general, given that there's massive overfishing done almost everywhere

(bad things are predicted by 2050, I believe.)

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

Hey, I just ate some whale recently. Expensive. I wonder where you go to eat dolphin?

The Japanese I've talked to about the issue just really don't care about it at all. Personally, I think it's bad, but I agree about just not really caring.

This is basically my view. I never got why some animals were higher up on the pity list than others. It's not like dolphins are totally nice creatures (though a lot of people have that perception). They're big fish (yes, I know) as far as I'm concerned.

The idea that you should feel a sense of "wrongdoing" for eating a creature, taken to its logical conclusion, leads to vegetarianism.

I'd love to try some dolphin someday.

 

[Aylinato]

Travel back in time to 1986 and bring back 2 whales to repopulate the species, with the extra benefit of preventing any alien probes from destroying the planet because the whales are gone.

or go back and save a mammoth or 5. you know, so we can eat them and make them extinct again

 

[CENOBITE]

Here is a list of when the film will be releasing in what cities in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with more countries across Europe and Asia being announced soon. Very cool that filmmaker, Luc Besson has acquired The Cove for distribution throughout France!

July 31

New York, NY
Venue: Angelika Film Center
Venue: Beekman
Los Angeles, CA
Venue: The Landmark
Venue: Arclight Theater


August 7

Aventura, FL
Venue: Aventura Mall 24 Theatres
South Miami, FL
Venue: Sunset Place 24 Theatres
Miami, FL
Venue: Cobb Dolphin Cinema 19
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Venue: Downtown at the Mall Gardens Palm 16
Delray Beach, FL
Venue: Delray Beach 18
Boca Raton, FL
Venue: Shadowood 16
Miami Beach, FL
Venue: South Beach 18
Winter Park, FL
Venue: Winter Park Village 20
Sarasota, FL
Venue: Burns Court
Atlanta, GA
Venue: Tara
Boston, MA
Venue: Nickelodeon Cinema 5
Cambridge, MA
Venue: Kendall Square Cinema
Brookline, MA
Venue: Coolidge Corner Theatre
North Falmouth, MA
Venue: Nickelodeon Cinema 5
Chicago, IL
Venue: Century Centre Cinema
Dallas, TX
Venue: Magnolia Theatre
Plano, TX
Venue: Angelika Film Center and Cafe
Houston, TX
Venue: Angelika Film Center
Austin, TX
Venue: Arbor Cinemas at Great Hills
Denver, CO
Venue: Chez Artiste
Boulder, CO
Venue: Century 16
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Venue: Maple Art Theatre
Montclair, NJ
Venue: Clairidge Cinemas 3
Philadelphia, PA
Venue: Ritz 5
Pleasantville, NY
Venue: Jacob Burns Film Center
Portland, OR
Venue: Fox Tower 10
Salt Lake City, UT
Venue: Broadway Centre Cinemas
Santa Fe, NM
Venue: De Vargas Mall 6
Seattle, WA
Venue: Egyptian Theatre
Washington, DC
Venue: E-Street Cinema
Bethesda, MD
Venue: Bethesda Row Cinema
Arlington, VA
Venue: Shirlington 7
Albuquerque, NM
Venue: Century 14 Downtown
Albuquerque, NM
Venue: High Ridge Theatre 8
Irvine, CA
Venue: University Town Center 6 Cinemas
La Jolla, CA
Venue: La Jolla Village Cinemas
Menlo Park, CA
Venue: Guild Theatre
Encino, CA
Venue: Town Center 5
Pasadena, CA
Venue: Playhouse 7 Cinemas
San Diego, CA
Venue: Hillcrest Cinemas
San Francisco, CA
Venue: Embarcadero Center Cinema
San Rafael, CA
Venue: Smith Rafael Film Center
Sacramento, CA
Venue: Tower Theatre
San Jose, CA
Venue: Camera 3
Berkeley, CA
Venue: Shattuck Cinemas
Edina, MN
Venue: Edina 4


August 14

Amherst, MA
Venue: Amherst Cinema Arts Center 3
Santa Monica, CA
Venue: Monica 4 Plex
Tampa, FL
Venue: Tampa Theatre
St. Petersburg, FL
Venue: Baywalk 20
Palm Desert, CA
Venue: Cinemas Palme D'Or
Bend, OR
Venue: Pilot Butte 6 Theatres
Baltimore, MD
Venue: Charles Theater
Scottsdale, AZ
Venue: Camelview 5 Theatre


August 21

Charlotte, NC
Venue: Park Terrace 6 Cinema
Cary, NC
Venue: Galaxy Theatre - Cary
Chapel Hill, NC
Venue: Chelsea Cinema
Monterey, CA
Venue: Osio Plaza 6
Richmond, VA
Venue: Westhampton Cinema 2
Santa Barbara, CA
Venue: Fiesta 5
Nashville, TN
Venue: Belcourt Theatre
Tallahassee, FL
Venue: Miracle 5
San Antonio, TX
Venue: Santikos Bijou @ Crossroads 6


August 28

Honolulu, HI
Venue: Kahala Theatres 8
Kihei, HI
Venue: Kukui Mall 4


Canada


Toronto
August 7
Venue: Cumberland
Vancouver
August 21, Scotiabank

Montreal
August 14
Venue: AMC Forum

Ottawa
Sept. 4th, Bytowne Cinema


Australia

ACT
August 20, Dendy ACT

New South Wales
August 20, Dendy Newtown
Dendy Byron
Greater Union Coffs Harbour
Regent Murwillumbah
Avoca Beach
Gala Warrawong
Glenbrook
Bowral
Bay City
Roxy Nowra
Merrimbula Cinema
Narooma Theatre

North Australia
Deckchair (Darwin)

Queensland
August 20, Dendy Portside
August 20, Cineplex Bulimba
Noosa
Civic Nambour
Warrina Townsville
Icon Toowoomba
Cairns End Credits

South Australia
August 20, Dendy ACT

Tasmania
August 20, The State

Victoria
August 20, Nova Carlton
August 20, Europa Southland
Theatre Royal Castlemaine
Star Eaglehawk

West Australia
August 20, Paradiso (Northbridge)
Margaret River
Sun Pictures Broome
Albany Cinema


New Zealand

Auckland
August 27, Academy Cinema
Christchurch
August 27, Hoyts Regent on Worcestor
Dunedin
August 27, Rialto Cinemas
Wellington
August 27, Paramount Cinema


Singapore
August 27
Venues coming soon.


The documentary has been sold to Madman Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand, the company is planning a theatrical release in September. Canadian rights have gone to Maple Pictures. Noted filmmaker, Luc Besson has acquired The Cove for distribution throughout France. German group, Drei Freunde is planning an October release for Germany/Austria.


Confirmed Film Festivals
Galway, Ireland
Galway Film Fleadh
July 7th – 12th, 2009
www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

Hamburg, Germany
Filmfest Hamburg
September 24-October 3, 2009

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne International Film Festival
Friday, July 24: Press. Melbourne International Film Festival Opening Night
Saturday, July 25. Intro Screening (GU 6). 2.30pm, Q&A TBC.

Auckland, New Zealand
Saturday July 11th: 10:45 a.m., Civic Theater
Tuesday, July 14: Media Intro and Q&A Screening. 6:15, Civic Theatre

Wellington, New Zealand
Monday, July 20: Media and Intro Screening. 6:15, Embassy Theatre, Q&A TBC

Brisbane International Film Festival
July 30-August 9th

FilmFest Hamburg
(through German distributor)
24 Sept-3 October

 

[Duke Togo]

I will go see this in Vancouver. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[WickedAngel]

This is basically my view. I never got why some animals were higher up on the pity list than others. It's not like dolphins are totally nice creatures (though a lot of people have that perception). They're big fish (yes, I know) as far as I'm concerned.

I'd love to try some someday.

Some animals are more likely to be hunted to extinction than others.

Edit: Just to be clear, I don't really care that these animals are killed for food. I just wish that it was being done in a responsible way (Think seasonal deer hunting or crab fishing).

 

[Pandaman]

I cant blame them, aqautic mammals just happen to be tasty.

when i lived in eastern canada, the seal hunt was my favourite time of year. we had this friend that'd use seal in his meat pies. glorious stuff.

 

[CENOBITE]

Hey, I just ate some whale recently. Expensive. I wonder where you go to eat dolphin?

If I were you, I would get a dna sample done to see if you have mercury damage or poisoning. Serious.

Dolphin and porpoise meat is widely and illegally sold in Japan as whale meat and all three foods are so riddled with mercury that just a tiny meal could exceed safety levels.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/12/1055220711026.html

 

[Mik2121]

secret?...

 

[CENOBITE]

secret?...

heh, well... NOTANYMORE! :lol

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

Some animals are more likely to be hunted to extinction than others.

Dolphins aren't at all endangered. I've yet to see a fact-driven argument that the slaughter of dolphins is any more unsustainable than any other type of commercial fishing.

It wouldn't make sense for Japan to drive dolphins to extinction, because then they would have nothing left to hunt and their industry would collapse--they know this.

 

[SpacLock]

Dolphins aren't at all endangered. I've yet to see a fact-driven argument that the slaughter of dolphins is any more unsustainable than any other type of commercial fishing.

I like how they use the word 'slaughter' too. Come on...

 

[soultron]

I really want to see this, but Toronto's Cumberland Cinemas is being shut down before the film is scheduled for its showing there, IIRC. I have an exam that day anyhow.

This looks phenomenal but I'm going to have to catch it when it hits DVD.

 

[WickedAngel]

Dolphins aren't at all endangered. I've yet to see a fact-driven argument that the slaughter of dolphins is any more unsustainable than any other type of commercial fishing.

The point is that we shouldn't have to get to that point to start taking some responsibility.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

I like how they use the word 'slaughter' too. Come on...

Well, what do you call the place where your beef gets made?

The point is that we shouldn't have to get to that point to start taking some responsibility.

Oh I agree, I just don't think that the current practice is unsustainable. It's not much different from the Canadian seal industry--people take a shit on the seal hunters too because seals are cute, not because the industry is unsustainable (it isn't).

 

[WickedAngel]

Well, what do you call the place where your beef gets made?

Happy Meal house.

And as CENOBITE has said, dolphins have a higher level of understanding and intelligence that other animals just don't have. That makes their suffering more significant than, say, the destruction of an ant colony.

 

[CENOBITE]

Dolphins aren't at all endangered. I've yet to see a fact-driven argument that the slaughter of dolphins is any more unsustainable than any other type of commercial fishing.

Spoken like a true sociopath. Read the scientific studies as to how intelligent they are, listen to them being killed, and you tell me it isn't a crime.

 

[SpacLock]

Well, what do you call the place where your beef gets made?

McDonalds.

 

[TAJ]

ILM hasn't had a model shop for a few years. It was sold off, and is called Kerner Optical now. Kerner operates out of the same building they have since The Empire Strikes Back, though.

 

[CENOBITE]

ILM hasn't had a model shop for a few years. It was sold off after Episode III, and is called Kerner Optical now. Kerner operates out of the same building they have since The Empire Strikes Back, though.

Not to be off topic, but that news is f*ckin depressing too.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

Spoken like a true sociopath. Read the scientific studies as to how intelligent they are, listen to them being killed, and you tell me it isn't a crime.

It's not a crime.

They're animals. I'm sorry, but octopi are intelligent too and no one gives a shit about them because they're ugly and have tentacles. Dolphins are lucky because they're cute and humanity has strange hangups about cute.

Either it's all okay or it's not, as far as I'm concerned. We're predators, we eat. Or at least, I choose to--I have no problems with people abstaining from whatever. I respect vegans highly.

What I do have a problem with is people telling me that my diet is evil or immoral, etc. Excuse me, I will eat what I want, you may do the same, thanks. Agree to disagree.

 

[NotWii]

ILM hasn't had a model shop for a few years. It was sold off, and is called Kerner Optical now. Kerner operates out of the same building they have since The Empire Strikes Back, though.

WHAT?!

 

[TAJ]

Not to be off topic, but that news is f*ckin depressing too.

They worked on this doc. It's in your OP.

 

[Zaptruder]

I cant blame them, aqautic mammals just happen to be tasty.

when i lived in eastern canada, the seal hunt was my favourite time of year. we had this friend that'd use seal in his meat pies. glorious stuff.

Apparently whale blubber tastes bad, and the younger generation of japanese don't care for it.

Basically the japanese killing the whales and dolphins are podink rural villages that have existed in the past because of this sort of trade and are desperately clinging onto their traditions and values despite the general lack of market for their product. In the mean time, they're dragging down a few species of interesting animals to follow suit with their demise.

 

[WickedAngel]

It's not a crime.

They're animals. I'm sorry, but octopi are intelligent too and no one gives a shit about them because they're ugly and have tentacles. Dolphins are lucky because they're cute and humanity has strange hangups about cute.

Either it's all okay or it's not, as far as I'm concerned. We're predators, we eat. Or at least, I choose to--I have no problems with people abstaining from whatever. I respect vegans highly.

What I do have a problem with is people telling me that my diet is evil or immoral, etc. Excuse me, I will eat what I want, you may do the same, thanks. Agree to disagree.

You wouldn't have a problem with others questioning the morality of it if you didn't think it was true on some level (Even if you're not willing to openly admit it).

Your "all or nothing" stance is absurd. There are plenty of people who would likely be attracted to the idea of eating human meat; I wonder if your stance on predation would be so open if a cannibal wanted to eat you and yours. We're all just predators, right?

 

[BorkBork]

Last I heard, whale meat is terribly unpopular in Japan. I don't understand why they continue at such lengths and controversy to continue an obsolete operation.

 

[Discordian_taco]

A Japanese coworker informed me today that when she was in elementary school they would have whale on the lunch menu

 

[WickedAngel]

Last I heard, whale meat is terribly unpopular in Japan. I don't understand why they continue at such lengths and controversy to continue an obsolete operation.

It could be a societal issue; wouldn't it be quite embarrassing to a Japanese company to admit defeat and abandon such a big business venture?

 

[CENOBITE]

It's not a crime.

They're animals. I'm sorry, but octopi are intelligent too and no one gives a shit about them because they're ugly and have tentacles. Dolphins are lucky because they're cute and humanity has strange hangups about cute.

Either it's all okay or it's not, as far as I'm concerned. We're predators, we eat. Or at least, I choose to--I have no problems with people abstaining from whatever. I respect vegans highly.

What I do have a problem with is people telling me that my diet is evil or immoral, etc. Excuse me, I will eat what I want, you may do the same, thanks. Agree to disagree.

So, I guess if this wasn't a crime, you would be the first in line.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

You wouldn't have a problem with others questioning the morality of it if you didn't think it was true on some level (Even if you're not willing to openly admit it).

This isn't an argument. This is like a vegan coming up to you, scolding you for your burger, then saying that your protest is evidence that you know you're wrong.

Your "all or nothing" stance is absurd.

How so? Anything less in my opinion is hypocrisy, unless there's solid evidence that the practice is unsustainable.

There are plenty of people who would likely be attracted to the idea of eating human meat

WickedAngel, you're better than this. I'm not even going to acknowledge the cannibalism analogy here, because I know you're smarter than that.

 

[HolyCheck]

protected under the worldwide ban on whaling

Some one forgot to tell japan?

 

[zero9]

Why do people care so much about dolphins?

No one gives a shit about pigs and they're supposedly very intelligent animals.

I would love to try some dolphin meat.

 

[CENOBITE]

Last I heard, whale meat is terribly unpopular in Japan. I don't understand why they continue at such lengths and controversy to continue an obsolete operation.

I was just in Japan in October. It's embarrassing to TALK ABOUT in urban centers, but it's still everywhere you look. In the 'hick' fishing villages they take PRIDE in it.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

So, I guess if this wasn't a crime, you would be the first in line.

It's clear you're not interested in a reasonable discussion on the matter. You address none of my points, and instead bring up a ridiculous false equivalency between humans and animals.

Conversation over, Cenobite.

 

[CENOBITE]

Some one forgot to tell japan?

Japan currently exploits a loophole in the whaling ban, killing whales for what it calls scientific research.

 

[CENOBITE]

It's clear you're not interested in a reasonable discussion on the matter. You address none of my points, and instead bring up a ridiculous false equivalency between humans and animals.

Conversation over, Cenobite.

You can't argue with a sociopath and my days of ivory tower logic dissecting are over. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

 

[Pandaman]

I was just in Japan in October. It's embarrassing to TALK ABOUT in urban centers, but it's still everywhere you look. In the 'hick' fishing villages they take PRIDE in it.

and they should, its a proud tradition and an honest days work.

your anthroziation fetish is cute and all, but you'll have to realize it isn't an opinion everyone shares. if 'omg, listen to them cryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy' was a valid argument, we'd all be vegans already, distress calls are quite literally designed to invoke sympathy.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

You can't argue with a sociopath and my days of ivory tower logic dissecting are over. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

I do hope you run into a crusading vegan someday, perhaps then you'll understand how petulant you sound.

and they should, its a proud tradition and an honest days work.

This is true too.

 

[DoomGyver]

mmm dolphin.. the chicken of the sea.