Yesterday was a big day for our campaign to protect dolphins in Japan. It was imperative that we get Japanese media to cover the beginning of the dolphin hunting season—and more importantly, the worldwide opposition to it. And we succeeded!
We began by bringing all our international volunteers to a plaza near the U.S. Embassy. Our volunteers from around the world were lined up holding flags representing the 151 countries and 1.7 million signatures from this cause list! Several held strands of origami dolphins prepared by artist Peggy Oki, and we also had several inflated dolphin balloons for the cameras. I unfurled our long petition with all of YOUR NAMES—about 15 feet long! TV cameras and print journalists from all the major Tokyo media outlets were there to cover it.
I told the dozens of reporters that we were here to ask the Obama administration to help end the killing of dolphins. President Obama will be in Japan in November and could talk to the new Japanese Prime Minister about dolphins and mercury. (Note: the Japanese government is in transition as new elections are being held so we were advised that it would not be effective to go to the Fisheries agency).
I was then escorted by the Tokyo police, with media following along, across the street, up to the U.S. Embassy, along with volunteers Alyson Richards and Melissa Carbonne (who work with Hollywood celebrities in support of environmental issues), NASCAR driver Leilani Munter (who only accepts green sponsors for her winning race cars), and my colleague from Earth Island, Mark J. Palmer.
In front of the gates of the embassy, we met Mr. Bruce Howard, Counselor for Science, Environment and Health, representing the American ambassador. He accepted our petition, as I urged him to see that it gets to the President.
Our three volunteers each then talked with Mr. Howard telling him their own stories of why they had come halfway around the world to be here with me in Tokyo. It was an emotional meeting on what is most definitely an emotional day.
We still have a lot to do, but I feel like we accomplished an important goal—keeping this issue in the spotlight in Japan, reaching key decision makers, and hopefully educating more people in Japan about the atrocities taking place off their shores.
As for activities in the actual cove, reports are indicating that several dolphins were rounded up, a few were chosen for captivity and the others were released! So a small victory for the dolphins who escaped. The same thing happened last year when we went with cameras and media in tow. You can see that for yourself tonight on the Animal Planet mini-series, BLOOD DOLPHINS. It's directed and co-stars my son Lincoln. We follow up on THE COVE and then also take on other dolphin hotspots like the equally devastating activities in the Solomon Islands. It airs at 9:00 p.m. et/pt on Animal Planet. You can learn more and take action here:
www.earthisland.org/blooddolphins

Thank you all for your ongoing support. It is making a difference!
Ric O'Barry Campaign Director Save Japan Dolphins


Call to Action
Support the cause. Be counted:
I Read This
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/posts/535678?m=9bf2e676&user_viewed=1

Just as the U.S. economy began a dramatic nosedive in 2007, so did the Arctic’s summertime sea ice. That September, the ice’s minimum seasonal extent shattered previous records. The minimums in 2008 and 2009 were somewhat less extreme, but still well below those observed in the 1980s and 1990s.

This summer, the ice—much like the economy—continues to struggle. “It’s pretty crazy that on 6 August we were already below the 1979–2000 average extent for September,” notes NCAR’s Jennifer Kay, a climate scientist focusing on processes that affect Arctic ice.

The application for the 2011 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University is now available.  We would like to ask you to disseminate this announcement to eligible human rights activists and organizations. The application is available online at http:/ /hrcolumbia.org/hrap/apply/ <http://hrcolumbia.org/hrap/apply/> . This web-based format is the only version of the 2011 application. The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, minority rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, migration, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, and corporate social accountability. Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience in human rights, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to pursue graduate-level studies. Full-time students or government officials will not be considered. Advocates must work at the grassroots level. Applicants from high-income countries will not be considered except for those representing marginalized communities. See the FAQ at ht tp://hrcolumbia.org/hrap/apply/faq/ <http://hrcolumbia.org/hrap/apply/faq/> for more information about this requirement. Fluency in English is required. Preference is given to those who have not previously had opportunities to travel and study internationally. Advocates must provide proof of institutional endorsement from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. Only one application per organization should be submitted. More than one application means all applications from that organization will be disqualified.

This extremely competitive Program will admit approximately eight participants.  We make every effort to provide full fellowships to cover program costs as well as travel and living expenses for selected Advocates each year.  Completed applications are due by Friday, November 19, 2010. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  The 2011 HRAP will take place from late August to the middle of December 2011.  For further information, please refer to our website at: http://hrcol <http://hrcol/>  umbia.org/hrap/ <http://umbia.org/hrap/>  Thank you. Yours sincerely,
The Staff of Institute for the Study of Human Rights Columbia University --

I have to admit that I am rapidly becoming a believer that every time a see a BP or government official spew forth the latest update, I see their nose’s grow. BP had to remove Tony Hayward, his nose would no longer fit on the CNN TV set!

The well is capped, well sort of. Oil is no longer spewing out from the sea floor. And low and behold, the shrimping season has started. Of course there are no safe places to go fishing.

September 22nd is Elephant Appreciation Day, celebrated since 1996. The official website has many suggestions for ways to celebrate the holiday, but you can use your imagination to honor elephants in your own way. Tell elephant jokes, send an ecard, watch elephant videos on YouTube, or make a donation to one of the many organizations dedicated to the care and protection of the world’s largest land mammal.

Americans for Energy Leadership — one of the nation’s foremost energy policy think tanks and advocacy groups led by young people – is seeking applicants for the New Energy Leaders Project, an initiative to empower young thought leaders and help redefine the national energy and economic agenda.

What: Selective program for young leaders to engage in high-level writing, research, and discussion at the intersection of energy, economic, and national security policy.

The pen is mightier than the sword, but the purse may sometimes be mightier than the pen. Major US corporations are adding market pressure to the growing wave of opposition against tar sands expansion, giving tar sands producers a fresh reason to consider the consequences of their poor environmental street cred.

Whole Foods Market and Bed Bath and Beyond joined a list of six major Fortune 500 companies, including Gap, Timberland and Levi Strauss, committed to reducing or eliminating tar sands oil from their businesses. Walgreens also recently announced it will avoid purchasing tar sands oil to fuel its distribution network.

“When friends are outlawed, only outlaws will have friends.”–Mike Roselle

Ummm, yeah. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. We knew it would happen sooner or later. The surveillance state is not only watching social media sites, the social media sites are the surveillance state.

The advent of parallel wiring architectures for solar arrays promises to create new levels of freedom and flexibility for designers.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States -- For decades, designers of solar power systems have faced a knotty set of interlocking challenges. Solar panels produce DC at relatively low voltages, but inverters require a relatively high input voltage to be able to convert the power to AC and send it to the grid. Solar panels can be wired in series to sum their voltages, but their combined output fluctuates with even small mismatches among panels on a string.

We've had so much record heat around the world lately that the records themselves are setting records: 17 nations have reached new temperature highs, a new record for records in a year. Pakistan hit (129F) 54C, a new record for all of Asia. Moscow had never hit 100F (38C) before; lately it's been a rare day when the mercury settles lower.

Now scientists have confirmed what's been pretty obvious: the entire world has just come through the warmest six months, the warmest year, and the warmest decade on record. Following the hottest June ever, AccuWeather.com yesterday said July was the second hottest July recorded – and the warmest ever for land temperatures alone.