The Cove plays at The Space

The Cove (12A) got an Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2009 and by all accounts deserves a watch. It plays at The Space on Sunday July 4th. Doors open 7:30pm Film 8:00pm.

See The Space Cinema Club and details of The Cove here.

Here's how it is described: "Led by one-time celebrity dolphin trailer Ric O'Barry, an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embark on a covert mission to expose how a small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action."

I've not seen it yet but have been told it is very good - although I personally have concerns (and remember I've not seen it yet!) that the film might be a US hero versus bad Japanese fisherfolk....as one guy who saw the film a month or so ago said to me there is a whole 'dolphin culture thing' that seems to see dolphins representing some sort of simple life that they we now miss as human beings? Well I'm not sure about that...

The film certainly has brought to attention that the number of dolphins killed in the Taiji dolphin hunting drive is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, - reports are that some 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year in the country's whaling industry.

However some good news - remember the petition I blogged about - see here - Well the proposal to legalise whale killing went down in flames in Morocco. Avaaz and others managed to build the biggest whale-saving petition in history - 1.2 million of us signed worldwide. It was delivered directly to key delegates at the International Whaling Commission meeting. In the end, the 24 year old whaling ban was upheld. Great stuff indeed.