Superbowl Sunday

We don't watch football. Sometimes, James will watch a game if Miami is involved, but I don't even bother with fake enthusiasm. However, this week, in anticipation of Superbowl Sunday - we planned a party for two which included potato chips, pretzels, various dips with sour cream and cheese, etc. I really like the idea of a Superbowl party and thought I'd actually be interested in seeing it if we had access to food we never buy or eat.

Sunday rolled around and at 5pm, James started pulling our snacks out of the fridge and placing them on the counter. Surprised, I asked when the game started. He said "6:30 - this is the pre-game snacking." I'm easily swayed, so I jumped right in and we happily sat and ate our chips and pretzels and dip, chatting about the world. Me, asking questions like "So, who is playing tonight?" He, commenting on how fun it was to eat our snacks.

By 6:00, we'd eaten all we could handle and at 6:30 we sat down to watch the game. At 6:35, we changed the channel. By 6:40, I convinced him to watch the documentary on Rwanda that I ordered from Netflix. After that, we ate pumpkin bisque soup for dinner and I wandered off to read my book on the Scarlet Macaws of Belize in bed. I really like Superbowl Sunday.

The Cove

Last night, James and I watched "The Cove." We put it off for two years. We knew about it - thought we should watch it, but couldn't bring ourselves to watch a documentary about the death of dolphins.

While living in the Bahamas, we were witness to the beaching and death of two beaked whales. These were not mass beachings and the whales weren't being fished, but there is strong evidence to support the fact that the sonar used for military testing in the tongue of the ocean - just a mile off shore - frightened and confused the whales, causing them to swim toward land. Officials representing our employer, along with those from the Bahamian government, and the US and British Navy, denied this possibility and stated that the mother whale beached herself because of difficulties post-labor.

None of these entities acknowledged the second whale James, another friend, and I found beached a mile north the following evening, though the whale was covered in military-issued blankets. We were informed that we couldn't speak with the media. We were also adamantly told that the whale was not actually a whale, but instead, a dolphin. At the time, I didn't know why this mattered. After watching "The Cove," I realize this is because there are international laws and organizations that protect whales, but there are no such protections for dolphins.

Two weeks after the beaked whales were beached on the island, several large pods of dolphins came to shore in Miami. News reports stated there was no known cause, but that the dolphins were migrating and seemed to have lost their way.

We left the island shortly after these beachings and we began to write letters and to talk to people. We received little response if any - often a simple form letter thanking us for our concern, but reminding us that we were not experts. We were left feeling helpless to make a difference.

The oceans are home to many, many living beings and, whether we believe it or not, these creatures are impacted by the way we live our lives.  What we eat, what we throw away, where we go on vacation, how we train our military - all contribute to the maintenance and/or decline of ocean species and their environment.

Watch "The Cove." Not because it is easy to see - not because it will make you feel better about yourself. Watch it because it is important to learn what this film will teach you.