Today, September 1, 2011, marks the beginning of a new month. It is also Japan Dolphins Day, a day that marks the beginning of a horrible event. Every year beginning on or around September first, fishermen begin their season of killing thousands of dolphins. This is a topic I feel very passionate about and believe it is important to raise awareness, offer my support, and urge others to help in any way possible.
I have always shared a love for dolphins. For as long as I can remember I wanted to learn as much as I could about this mammal. The more I learned the more I fell in love with this beautiful species. I continue to research information about dolphins in my spare time, and hope to one day somehow work with them, or work to inform the public about this amazing species.
When I first heard about the documentary The Cove I knew this was going to be one movie I would never be able to watch. For those who have not heard of the documentary, The Cove exposes the dolphin slaughter happening in Taiji, Japan. It has won awards, and is a great way to raise awareness about the dolphins being harmed in Japan. The dolphins are being slaughtered every year in Japan, as well as various countries around the world. Japan Dolphins Day is celebrated to help save the dolphins.
Every year, fishermen slaughter more than 20,000 dolphins between the months of September through April. While fishermen say the dolphin meat is a part of the Japan culture, this is not completely true. Yes, dolphin meat is sold in Japan, however the public in Japan is unaware of the slaughtering taking place. Dolphin meat is not desired in Japan, and is usually falsely labeled as whale meat. This is harmful to not only dolphins, but also to the people who eat the meat. The dolphin meat is highly contaminated with toxic chemicals such as mercury, methyl mercury and PCBs, which causes a serious health risk in those who consume the dolphin meat. Fishermen are not the only ones who take part in this event, some dolphin trainers have been spotted helping in the capturing of the dolphins. Dolphin trainers will help trap the dolphins so that they get their first pick of which dolphins to buy for their aquariums, and do not seem to care that they are aiding in the killing of thousands of innocent dolphins. As long as trainers continue to purchase captured dolphins, the less likely this horrible event will ever end.
I have learned a lot about the killing of dolphins over the past few days, and am trying to help in every way possible. Raising awareness is the best way to help, the more people that know of this deadly event the more likely we can stop the killing of dolphins. No dolphins are not endangered at the current moment, but if more than 20,000 dolphins continue to become slaughtered every year, they will become endangered, and that is something that I cannot allow to happen. I want to make it clear that no one is against Japan or the people of Japan, this is solely raising awareness in the killing of dolphins, that happens all over the world.
I hope to travel to Japan this time next year and join Ric O'Barry, the main character of The Cove, as well as the save Japan dolphins team who go to Taiji, Japan, at the Cove on September first of every year, the beginning of the annual dolphin slaughter there, to pray for the dolphins and to monitor the Cove. I have already signed a couple of petitions that will be sent to government officials and have purchased a couple t-shirts where the proceeds go to help the dolphins. I have only provided a small insight into a horrible event, please take the time to visit the links I provided to learn more, and to find out how you can help.
To learn more please visit: http://www.savejapandolphins.org/
Sign The Cove: Help Save Japan's Dolphins: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724/210/624/
Sign Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-dolphin-slaughter/
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Atlantic City
As we pulled up to the Borgata hotel and casino in Atlantic City I was excited as well as tired. I had slept for most of the car ride, which made me feel even more sleepy. However, I had a long night ahead of me. We arrived a little later than planned due to me having to work a half day before leaving, but I was not going to let that ruin the rest of the night. We pulled in the parking lot and carried all our bags to the lobby. I of course overpacked, I have an obsession with clothes, so much that I have to pack various outfits for each night in case I change my mind about what to wear. We proceeded to check into the hotel, and made our way up to the room. I immediately began to unpack. We had comedy show tickets, and I still had to shower and meet for dinner before the show. As soon as the unpacking was completed, I started getting ready for the night ahead.
I decided to wear one of my favorite go to summer outfits: a gray tank with an attached chain/beaded necklace with white shorts and wedges. While I was finishing getting ready I realized a lot of water had leaked out of the shower onto the tile floor of the bathroom. Upon a closer glance, it was clear that the glass shower door was not properly installed, and included a gap causing water to leak out every shower. I threw a bunch of towels over the spill and hurried to dinner. We went to the buffet in the Borgata hotel, which actually had a great selection of food. Being very hungry at this point, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
It was now time to head to the comedy show also in the Borgata hotel. I had never attended a comedy show at the Borgata hotel, and did not know what to expect. A few minutes into the show I couldn't stop laughing. The comedians, including one from the television show "America's Got Talent," were very entertaining. The show went by quickly, and it was soon time to shuffle out of the theater. The theater was packed with people slowly exiting, it seemed like forever before I was able to exit the room and make my way to the nearest bathroom. A couple glasses of wine before the show was not the best choice. After leaving the nearest bathroom crowded with a mix of drunken ladies and older women in power chairs, we made our way to the Gypsy Bar in the casino. The Benjamins, a great cover band I had seen play live once before, were already playing when we arrived. I was excited to see them play again, and made my way to the bar. After a few hours of listening to the band, drinking, and taking pictures with the members of the band, we eventually made it back to the room.
I intended to wake up early the next morning, but could not seem to get out of bed. I finally awoke and got ready for the day around noon. I put on my leopard print swimsuit, a tank top, and shorts and headed down to the lobby. The first destination of the day was the boardwalk, but not before having lunch. We ordered pizza at a little cafe in the Borgata hotel, which took quite awhile to be given. After lunch, we drove over to the beach area and made our way through a casino where we found ourselves in the middle of a mall attached to the casino. Of course we began to shop. About an hour later with a new zip up sweatshirt and sunglasses, we finally made our way to the boardwalk. The boardwalk was busy with people of all ages. We walked for awhile then stopped for a pretzel, and decided we were ready to head back to the hotel to enjoy the indoor pool of the Borgata. We finally made it to the pool, and soon found lounge chairs that were open. The pool seemed to be crowded with kids at the moment, so we headed towards the hot tub area. After a little time in the hot tub, it was time to lie down on the lounge chair and relax before getting ready for another night in AC.
That night I wore my new black mini skirt and one of my favorit white tank tops with a matching white sweater. We started with dinner at an underground italian restuarant. It was delicious! After we finished our meal it was time to walk back upstairs from the restaurant and head to the bars. I had a couple glasses of wine, and then found the slot machines. I decided to play the wheel of fortune slot machine and the roulette machine, where I walked away with around $200. I was happy to end my night after winning from penny slot machines.
The next day we continued our trip and were soon on the beach in Wildwood. The beach was packed and full of sun and cold water. After a few hours, we made our way to yet another hotel room, this time in Wildwood. That night we ate at a very crowded seafood restaurant, where I tried crab for the first time, and surprisingly loved every piece I ate. After the perfect beach trip dinner, we walked on the boardwalk. Soon after walking we decided to buy tickets and go on rides, I haven't been on any boardwalk rides in a long time, and was very excited to get in line. We started with the tilt-a-whirl, next was a pirate ship boat that took you for a ride around the boardwalk giving you great views of the beach. The swings were next, always a favorite ride, although being up in the air on this ride didn't feel so safe at the boardwalk, but soon we were back down on the ground and enjoying the bumper cars. Needless to say we fell asleep fast that night, and were ready to head home the next morning, but not before breakfast. We went to a cute breakfast restaurant in Cape May, and also shopped around the Cape May area, where we then decided to stop at the Cape May zoo on our way home.
The zoo was filled with beautiful animals, that I would have enjoyed seeing even more if it weren't so hot out. After a couple hours of wandering around the zoo, it was time to get on the road and head back home. I spent most of the three hour car ride asleep on my pink travel pillow, and before I knew it I was home, and it was the end of another jersey shore trip.
I decided to wear one of my favorite go to summer outfits: a gray tank with an attached chain/beaded necklace with white shorts and wedges. While I was finishing getting ready I realized a lot of water had leaked out of the shower onto the tile floor of the bathroom. Upon a closer glance, it was clear that the glass shower door was not properly installed, and included a gap causing water to leak out every shower. I threw a bunch of towels over the spill and hurried to dinner. We went to the buffet in the Borgata hotel, which actually had a great selection of food. Being very hungry at this point, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
It was now time to head to the comedy show also in the Borgata hotel. I had never attended a comedy show at the Borgata hotel, and did not know what to expect. A few minutes into the show I couldn't stop laughing. The comedians, including one from the television show "America's Got Talent," were very entertaining. The show went by quickly, and it was soon time to shuffle out of the theater. The theater was packed with people slowly exiting, it seemed like forever before I was able to exit the room and make my way to the nearest bathroom. A couple glasses of wine before the show was not the best choice. After leaving the nearest bathroom crowded with a mix of drunken ladies and older women in power chairs, we made our way to the Gypsy Bar in the casino. The Benjamins, a great cover band I had seen play live once before, were already playing when we arrived. I was excited to see them play again, and made my way to the bar. After a few hours of listening to the band, drinking, and taking pictures with the members of the band, we eventually made it back to the room.
I intended to wake up early the next morning, but could not seem to get out of bed. I finally awoke and got ready for the day around noon. I put on my leopard print swimsuit, a tank top, and shorts and headed down to the lobby. The first destination of the day was the boardwalk, but not before having lunch. We ordered pizza at a little cafe in the Borgata hotel, which took quite awhile to be given. After lunch, we drove over to the beach area and made our way through a casino where we found ourselves in the middle of a mall attached to the casino. Of course we began to shop. About an hour later with a new zip up sweatshirt and sunglasses, we finally made our way to the boardwalk. The boardwalk was busy with people of all ages. We walked for awhile then stopped for a pretzel, and decided we were ready to head back to the hotel to enjoy the indoor pool of the Borgata. We finally made it to the pool, and soon found lounge chairs that were open. The pool seemed to be crowded with kids at the moment, so we headed towards the hot tub area. After a little time in the hot tub, it was time to lie down on the lounge chair and relax before getting ready for another night in AC.
That night I wore my new black mini skirt and one of my favorit white tank tops with a matching white sweater. We started with dinner at an underground italian restuarant. It was delicious! After we finished our meal it was time to walk back upstairs from the restaurant and head to the bars. I had a couple glasses of wine, and then found the slot machines. I decided to play the wheel of fortune slot machine and the roulette machine, where I walked away with around $200. I was happy to end my night after winning from penny slot machines.
The next day we continued our trip and were soon on the beach in Wildwood. The beach was packed and full of sun and cold water. After a few hours, we made our way to yet another hotel room, this time in Wildwood. That night we ate at a very crowded seafood restaurant, where I tried crab for the first time, and surprisingly loved every piece I ate. After the perfect beach trip dinner, we walked on the boardwalk. Soon after walking we decided to buy tickets and go on rides, I haven't been on any boardwalk rides in a long time, and was very excited to get in line. We started with the tilt-a-whirl, next was a pirate ship boat that took you for a ride around the boardwalk giving you great views of the beach. The swings were next, always a favorite ride, although being up in the air on this ride didn't feel so safe at the boardwalk, but soon we were back down on the ground and enjoying the bumper cars. Needless to say we fell asleep fast that night, and were ready to head home the next morning, but not before breakfast. We went to a cute breakfast restaurant in Cape May, and also shopped around the Cape May area, where we then decided to stop at the Cape May zoo on our way home.
The zoo was filled with beautiful animals, that I would have enjoyed seeing even more if it weren't so hot out. After a couple hours of wandering around the zoo, it was time to get on the road and head back home. I spent most of the three hour car ride asleep on my pink travel pillow, and before I knew it I was home, and it was the end of another jersey shore trip.
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