Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary of 2009, The Cove exposes the devastating annual slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese fishing town of Taiji.
Described by Rotten Tomatoes as “guerrilla journalism at its best”, The Cove utilises evades constant police intimidation to use free-diving world champions, underwater microphones and high definition cameras disguised as rocks to break down the many forms and consequences of the Japanese dolphin trade. Initially shocking is the fact that several times more dolphins are killed annually by the Japanese – as many as 23, 000 – than their highly publicised slaughter of Antarctic whales. Migrating dolphins are herded into a hidden cove where they are netted and killed by spears and knives.
The dolphin meat, containing dangerous levels of mercury, is then sold as the more expensive whale meat, as well as being sold to schools to use in the mandatory school lunches. An interview with two local politicians campaigning, unsuccessfully, for the removal of dolphin meat from school canteens is featured.
Most intriguing is the alleged buying by Japan of votes in the International Whaling Commission so to prevent anti-whaling legislation from being introduced. Such ‘bought’ countries include Cambodia, Ecuador, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Laos and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Notably, these countries are on the lower end of the scale of economic strength. The unharnessed ability of Japan to use its monetary power to sway international bodies supposedly protecting our natural wealth in their favour is outrageous.
The courage of long-time dolphin campaigner Ric O’Barry to pull together a team of outspoken and unafraid non-violent activists and reveal another side of the profit-driving exploitation of our precious environment is commendable. An incredible film that has seen the spread of activism, even in Japan, regarding the urgent need to protect our water-bound friends.
R.L.Bradley
R.L.Bradley
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