I recently watched “The Cove” a documentary directed by Louie Psihoyos of Boulder which was clandestinely filmed at the costal town of Taiji, Japan. This was one of the most touching and well made documentaries I have seen in some time. On the outside, to the public, Taiji is a tourist town where all the sea worlds and aquariums of the world come to purchase dolphins for captive entertainment. A lucrative trade for the local fishermen with dolphins sometimes selling for around $150,000 each. Around the corner there is another secret and well guarded cove where the film makers with hidden cameras captured the gruesome slaughter of the dolphins that were not sold into captivity. Taiji has been killing about 2000 dolphins a year for meat, fertilizer and pet food. The main character, Richard Barry was the original trainer who stared in the Flipper TV series and turned activist after one of the 5 female dolphins that played Flipper committed suicide in his arms. This film seems to be making an impact and it was rumored today that the dolphin slaughter in Taiji may shut down in response to the public outcry caused by the movie.
I have had the opportunity to swim and photograph wild Spotted dolphins off the sandy banks of the Little Bahamas and also Bottlenose dolphins in captivity in southern Mexico. If you have ever been underwater with dolphins and looked into their eyes you will have no trouble believing the claim in the movie that dolphins are self-aware like humans. Here’s a couple links to how you can help. http://thecovemovie.com/ http://www.takepart.com/thecove/
Here are some of the dolphin pictures I have taken over the years.
Dolphins – Images by James Gritz
An old friend and vajra sister Kathleen Howell died February 13th in Victoria BC due to liver failure caused by her struggle with cancer. I came across this pictures I had taken with of her with Trungpa Rinpoche at the shrine in Karma Dzong in the seventies.
Kathleen Howell (McCullough) with Trungpa Rinpoche
A wonderful Sukhavati Service was held for Kathy at the Boulder Shambhala Center on Feb 17th. At that ceremony her good friend Marybeth read this poem written by Alice Haspray.
Red hair flying
Porcelain skin
Fiery heart
Lady of space and wisdom
Lady of feisty humor
Lady of her guru’s heart
Piercing, co-emergent lady
Now with the moon and stars
Peaceful lady
For Kathleen Howell, who passed on peacefully in Victoria as the Tiger approached on softly padded paws
From an old friend, Alice
It seems that no matter how many times I repeat to myself the old Buddhist slogan “Death is real, comes without warning” it is still hard to believe. With every passing of an old friend or relative I am slightly more convinced.
This is the year of the metal (iron) Tiger. I was born in 1950 the last time the metal tiger came around and I hope to celebrate more this year and complain less. Happy Lunar New Year.
Here’s a link to an encouraging Losar talk by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche that can be downloaded for a short time. https://download.yousendit.com/VGljck93TXZWRC9IRGc9PQ
and I recently received this link to a youtube A Glimpse Into the Opening Celebrations in Nepal www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6nrWDN5u8
Khyentse Yangsi News – khyentsevisit2010.org/visit-news/
