Dolphin Project
| Founded | Earth Day 1970 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Richard O'Barry |
| Type | Public charity (US) |
| Focus | Marine conservation |
| Location | |
Area served | Global |
| Method | Direct action |
| Website | DolphinProject.com |
Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project (Dolphin Project) is a non-profit, marine conservation organization based in Santa Monica, in the United States.[1]
Dolphin Project is a non-government and non-profit environmental organization, dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide. In the United States, Dolphin Project has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Founded by Richard O'Barry on Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the organization aims to educate the public about captivity and, where feasible, free captive dolphins.
Mission[edit]
The mission of the Dolphin Project is to end dolphin exploitation and slaughter, as dolphins are routinely captured, harassed, slaughtered and sold into captivity around the world – all in the name of profit. Dolphin Project works not only to halt these slaughters but also to rehabilitate captive dolphins, investigate and advocate for economic alternatives to dolphin slaughter exploitation and to put a permanent end to dolphin captivity.[2]
Founder[edit]
Richard "Ric" O'Barry (born Richard Barry O'Feldman)[3] [4] is an American first recognized in the 1960s for capturing and training the five dolphins that were used in the well-known TV series Flipper. O'Barry made a radical transition from training dolphins in captivity to assertively combating the captivity industry soon after Kathy, one of the Flipper dolphins, died in his arms. O'Barry believes Kathy committed suicide.[5] On Earth Day, April 22, 1970, he founded Dolphin Project.[6] For over 45 years, he has continued to fight for the rights and dignities of dolphins, while working to end dolphin suffering across the world.
History[edit]
The first actions undertaken by the organization were to draw awareness to the plight of captive dolphins. In the spring of 1970, O'Barry attempted to free Charlie Brown, a captive dolphin being held in Bimini. He was jailed for a week and fined $5 for trespassing.[7]
In the mid 1970s, Dolphin Project worked towards stopping the killing of dolphins and other whales by Russia, Japan and the United States tuna fleets, attracting the support of musicians including well-known singer-songwriters Fred Neil and Jimmy Buffet. Together, along with other musicians, the Rolling Coconut Revue was formed, which O'Barry later took to Japan in 1977 to draw awareness of the atrocities committed against dolphins and whales.[8] [9]
In 1989, after pressure from Dolphin Project and other environmental groups, U.S. officials imposed a moratorium on new licenses for swim parks due to the potential for harm to dolphins and humans who swim with them in captive swim programs.[10]
In 1991, O'Barry, was recognized as one of the top environmental achievers in the nation. He was awarded the "Environmental Achievement Award," presented by the United States Committee for the United Nations Environmental Program.[11]
Organization[edit]
A board of directors, of which O’Barry is a member, governs Dolphin Project. The organization's advisors include marine mammal veterinarians, university professors, media and communications specialists, technology advisors and the strong support of several celebrities. Matt Sorum, the ex-drummer of Guns N' Roses actively supports the actions and mission of the organization and is also on the board of directors.[12]
Activism and Achievements[edit]
Dolphin Project has achieved many important victories for dolphins over the years. The 2009 Academy Award-winning feature documentary "The Cove," focused on Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project's campaign in Taiji, Japan, where brutal dolphin drive hunts take place from September to April of each year.[13] Dolphin Project Cove Monitors are on the ground in Taiji during the entire hunting/killing season, to monitor and document the drive, with the organization pioneering the use of Live Streaming. O'Barry has been personally going to Taiji for the past 13 years, multiple times per season. In 2011, the Empire State Building in New York was lit up in red to raise awareness about the plight of dolphins in Taiji. [14]
In 2015, Ric O'Barry was invited to the White House to meet with members of the Obama Administration to deliver over one million signatures opposed to the dolphin slaughter in Japan.[15]
Animal Planet and Lincoln O'Barry released "Blood Dolphin$," a three-part miniseries in 2010, continuing Ric’s journey advocating for dolphins across the globe.[16] O'Barry has personally rescued and released more than 25 captive dolphins throughout the world, pioneering protocols for their safe readaptation into the wild, as well as retirement in cases where release is not possible.[17] [18] [19] In 2015, O'Barry presented a petition with over one million signatures to the Obama Administration at The White House, while discussing the current situation involving the dolphin trade and slaughter.[20]
O'Barry attends events in several countries across the world and continues to advocate for the welfare of dolphins, while raising awareness of the cruelty of dolphin captivity.
Celebrity Supporters[edit]
Folk legend Fred Neil is credited with cofounding the Dolphin Project back in 1970. He remained a supporter up until his death in 2001.[21]
As part of the campaign for The Cove, a public service announcement was created in 2010 to direct viewers to Dolphin Project starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Jennifer Aniston, Naomi Watts, Woody Harrelson, Hayden Panettiere, Fisher Stevens, Courtney Cox, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jason Mraz, Paul Rudd, James Gandolfini, Mariska Hargitay, John Leguizamo, Rob Morrow, Evan Handler, Russell Simmons, Chris Tashima and Richard Kind.[22] [23]
Harry Styles tweeted out his support for Dolphin Project in Oct 2014[24]. In July 2015, Harry Styles, Dolphin Project Ambassador Maisie Williams and Lincoln O'Barry pulled a publicity stunt at a San Diego One Direction concert. Harry, stopped the concert and asked the audience "Does anybody like dolphins? Don't go to SeaWorld." The incident caused an 800% spike in negative comment online about SeaWorlds brand. [25] [26]
Maisie Willams has contributed to many project for the origination. On October 17, 2016 Maisie & Ric O'Barry went skydiving in the English countryside to help raise attention to the plight of Dolphins around the word.[27] [28] In December of the same year, Maisie came to Taiji, Japan as a Dolphin Project Cove Monitor to witness the dolphin slaughter first hand. She visited the infamous dolphin killing area that was featured in The Cove. She live streamed and used her massive social media platform to spread the message "Stop Going to Dolphin Shows" [29] She did an exclusive interview for the Associated Press that was picked up and carried in media outlets around the world. [30] [31] [32]
While touring in Japan in 2011, Sting spoke out to raise awareness about the slaughter in Taiji.[33]
In 2012, celebrity supporter and race car diver Leilani Munter drove a "Cove" inspired race car at the Daytona Speedway.[34]
Long time activist and Queen guitarist Brian May spoke to the Associated Press in 2016 while touring in Tokyo about his support for Dolphin Project.[35]
Slash has played at numerous Dolphin Project fundraisers and made a statement about the Taiji dolphin slaughter while touring in Japan.[36] [37]
See also[edit]
Ric O'Barry, Founder/Director of Dolphin Project - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_O%27Barry
Lincoln O'Barry, American director, producer, animal rights activist and media manager for Dolphin Project - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_O%27Barry
Books written by Ric O'Barry[edit]
Richard O'Barry, "Behind the Dolphin Smile" (Earth Aware Editions, 2012). ISBN 978-1608871056 Search this book on 
.
Richard O'Barry, "To Free A Dolphin" (Renaissance Books, 2015).
References[edit]
- ↑ Lynch, Jim (March 21, 2004). "Friday Harbor, Wash., Activist Elicits Dual Images of Hero, Foe". The Oregonian.
- ↑ "Blood Dolphins from Blood Dolphins: Fight to Save Species".
- ↑ O'Barry, Richard; Keith Coulbourn (1988, 2012). "Behind the Dolphin Smile." Earth Aware Editions, 2012). ISBN 978-1608871056 Search this book on .
- ↑ "The Legacy of Flipper." New York Magazine. July 13, 2009. http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/57863/
- ↑ "What's Wrong With Captivity?" Frontline PBS. Retrieved 2014-02-05. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/interviews/obarry1.html
- ↑ "In Preservation Of Dolphins' Rights." Silver Sands/Broward Community College Library. 1972. https://archive.org/stream/silversands197273brow/silversands197273brow_djvu.txt
- ↑ "Sea of blood as Japan slaughters thousands of dolphins." The Telegraph. October 3, 2009. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/6255789/Sea-of-blood-as-Japan-slaughters-thousands-of-dolphins.html
- ↑ ."The Rolling Coconut Revue and other weekend events." The Miami News. July 30, 1976. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19760730&id=WmMzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aOoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3170,4735833&hl=en
- ↑ "Rolling Coconut Review Japan Concert April 10 1977." Mockford Wordpress. October 20, 2012. https://mockford.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/rolling-coconut-review-japan-concert-april-10-1977/
- ↑ "Flipper's Ex-Trainer Wants His Favorite Mammals Free to Swim with the Fishes." People Magazine. September 4, 1989. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20121085,00.html
- ↑ "Dolphin Activist Honored." Sun Sentinel. August 1, 1991. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-08-01/news/9101280960_1_ocean-world-ric-o-barry-dolphin-project
- ↑ "Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum joins protest against dolphin hunt in Japan: It’s ‘like a bad nightmare’." New York Daily News. September 2, 2013 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/matt-sorum-guns-n-roses-drummer-protests-dolphin-hunt-japan-article-1.1443720
- ↑ "The Cove Oscar Award Winner Best Feature Documentary." http://www.thecovemovie.com/richardobarry.htm
- ↑ "Empire State Building Lights Up In Red For Dolphins Of The Cove." Asian Scientist. December 10, 2011. http://www.asianscientist.com/2011/12/topnews/empire-state-building-the-cove-documentary-ric-obarry-dolphin-project-2011/
- ↑ "Activists Deliver to White House 1 Million Signatures Calling for End to Japan's Dolphin Slaughter".
- ↑ "'Blood Dolphins': 'The Cove' Star Ric O'Barry Returns to Japan to Confront the Continuing Dolphin Slaughter (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. 2010-08-27.
- ↑ "Richard O'Barry, Ex-trainer turned Dolphin Crusader." Orlando Sentinel. July 4, 1993. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-07-04/news/9308251285_1_richard-obarry-dolphin-flipper
- ↑ "The Cove Oscar Award Winner Best Feature Documentary." http://www.thecovemovie.com/richardobarry.htm
- ↑ "Freedom Fighter." People Magazine. October 15, 2001. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20135464,00.html
- ↑ "Activists Deliver to White House 1 Million Signatures Calling for End to Japan’s Dolphin Slaughter." Takepart. April 18, 2015
- ↑ "Dolphin Song". 2001-09-20.
- ↑ "Dolphin Project My Friend Is PSA." Vimeo. April 22, 2010. https://vimeo.com/29535660
- ↑ "Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston star in new dolphin PSA".
- ↑ "Just had lunch with @LincolnOBarry @RichardOBarry and @CalAurand Check out @Dolphin_Project and see if you support them like I do". 2014-10-05.
- ↑ "CREDIT SUISSE: One Direction's Harry Styles is a nightmare for SeaWorld's Brand".
- ↑ "The chart that shows how much Harry Styles hurt SeaWorld". 2015-08-31.
- ↑ "'Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams skydives for dolphin charity".
- ↑ "Maisie Williams skydives at 15,000ft to raise money for dolphins". 2015-10-18.
- ↑ "Maisie Williams: Stop going to dolphin shows".
- ↑ "Maisie Williams: Stop going to dolphin shows". 2016-12-03.
- ↑ "Maisie Williams: Stop going to dolphin shows". 2016-12-03.
- ↑ "Snub marine shows to help save dolphins, urges Thrones star Maisie Williams". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ↑ "'Cove' star Ric O'Barry meets with Sting about Taiji dolphin slaughter". 2011-01-19.
- ↑ "Leilani Munter to Drive 'The Cove' Car at Daytona : Ecorazzi".
- ↑ "Queen guitarist Brian May protests Japanese dolphin hunts".
- ↑ "Legendary Guitarist, Slash, Has a Message for Taiji Dolphin Hunters (VIDEO)".
- ↑ "Supergroup Kings of Chaos Plan Dolphin Project Benefit Concert". 2015-06-09.
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