Elise has traveled from the Netherlands to be a strong voice for the dolphins. “I traveled from the Netherlands to Taiji to be a Cove Guardian because what’s happening here during the hunt season in this small town is on my mind everyday. At home, I am an on-shore volunteer and have been for two years. I sell merchandise, share info, and collect donations for the Sea Shepherd campaigns at festivals and events. When I was a child I loved to watch the series of Jacques Cousteau and his team on TV and was so fascinated about the ocean life and all the amazing creatures that lived in the ocean. Since then the sea has been my passion. I love to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive in the sea on summer holidays. The first time I read about what was happening in Taiji was twenty years ago where there was an article with photos in a magazine. They said it was a tradition of local fishermen who eat the whale and dolphin meat, and back then there was no connection with the captive industry. Since then I now know that many dolphinariums worldwide are involved in the hunt and capturing of these intelligent creatures and I will make people aware of that. Dolphins and whales belong in the ocean and have the right to migrate through Japanese waters free with their family pod; we dont own them. Its not right to brutally slaughter them, and force those who are selected for captivity to perform silly tricks for human pleasure in a small concrete tank for a dead fish where they will spend the rest of their lives as slaves. I will always speak out for dolphins and never be silent about it, and hope it will end soon. When I look into the eyes of an animal, I dont see an animal...but a living being, I see a friend... I feel a soul.” A.D Williams.”
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 18:26:41 +0000