Empire State Building Lights Up The Cove

red empire state building the cove

The Empire State building is lit red today to raise awareness about dolphin hunting and the film The Cove

The Cove is the award-winning documentary that sheds light on the covert dolphin hunting culture in Japan. National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos directed the film, and it provides a shocking, undercover look at dolphin hunting in a cove in Taiji, Japan. You can check out the film's trailer right here:

Our pal Asher Jay hipped us to the tribute and shared the beautiful image at the top of this post with us. Asher says:

I had the incredible privilege of meeting Ric O'Barry in person last evening for dinner, a long time personal hero of mine, whose unfettered commitment to cetaceans large and small serves as a continual source of inspiration to me. He is living proof that an individual can make a difference, that a single voice can incite a global shift in consciousness. The lighting of the Empire State building today, Dec 9th 2011, salutes his profound connection to the dolphins being slaughtered in Taiji, Japan. I think it is absolutely crucial that everyone watches The Cove, as this 2009 Academy Award winning documentary is a compelling look at a large range of interconnected environmental issues through the microcosmic reality of dolphin culling in the cove. People assume that this movie is a bloodfest, but having seen it myself I can assure everyone that the narrative is eloquently and elegantly portrayed so as to not repulse the audience but educate them.

Take a picture of the Empire State this evening as it sheds red honor on the dolphins in Taiji and hashtag it #TheCove on twitter or spread the word to your friends via other social media conduits, you need not be in Taiji to lend a voice today. Log on to thecovemovie.com to know more and to take action now!

The lighting ceremony happened on account of Leilana Munter's initiative, an environmental enthusiast who has already made three trips to Taiji in an effort to contribute and raise awareness for the unnecessary and cruel culling of dolphins there. The ceremony took place on Dec 9th 2011 at 10:00 a.m., in the presence of Ric O Barry, Leilana Munter, John Leguizamo, Louie Psihoyos and Steven Fisher.

Dan Nelson, long time friend of Louie Psihoyos, has just launched Cove Wines LLC, to support OPS (Ocean Preservation Society) and the organization's relentless campaign to scupper and stop the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji Japan. Look up http://www.thecovewines.com/. I had the immense honor of receiving one of three Zinfandel bottles east of the Mississippi with signatures from Louie Psihoyos, Ric O Barry and Dan Nelson last evening! To me the wine in that bottle is now the holy grail of the environmental movement, I am never uncorking it!

Dolphin Hunting: What You Can Do

The best way to help Japanese dolphins is to spread the word about this practice, and the folks at The Cove make it easy to get heard. Here are some ways that you can help: