COWSPIRACY: The Sustainablility Secret (And Why You Should Watch It)

One of the most talked about documentaries in the plant based world is "COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret," and last night I finally watched it. Due to its recent unveiling on Netflix, I felt a good way to kick off its career was to review it. I was not sure what to expect from the film, based on the many people raving about it I assumed that it would be along the lines of "Earthlings," which is why I put it off for so long because I wasn't prepared to go through something so heavy again. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film had a healthy dose of humor and centered mainly along the lines of environmentalism and how food animal production has on the planet and the imminent threat that eating animal products causes.

If you enjoyed "Vegucated," "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," or other films that follow a specific person's journey, you will love this film. It follows the directors, Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn, as they travel to the different head quarters of big environmental groups like Green Peace, the Sierra Club, and the Surfrider Foundation to ask for opinions on the impact raising cows has on the planet and what can be done to reduce it. However, none of the organizations are willing to admit that agribusiness is the main issue, instead they focus on fossil fuels, palm oil, and coal.

This film is a wake up call to any and all people; environmentalists, big business, farmers, teenagers, everyone inhabiting the Earth. It is chock full of facts that are broken down in an easy, understandable, and entertaining way, as well as plenty of non-aggressive warnings about the overuse of land, the dead zones in the oceans, deforestation, and the very real threat that pollution is providing.

If you are considering switching to a plant based lifestyle but can't seem to motivate yourself to do so, watch this film. If you are already plant based and want to know more about your carbon footprint, watch this film. If you are simply looking for an educational film, watch "Cowspiracy."

I honestly cannot stress enough how important it is that this film is spread around and watched by as many people as possible. It is very well done, it is very entertaining, and its message is so damn important.

As of today, September 15, 2015, "Cowspiracy" is available on Netflix streaming. If you do not have Netflix you can buy the DVD or the download on their website. And if you absolutely don't want to spend money on the film but still want to watch it I'm sure there are websites where you can find the movie for free (although I strongly advise against it because Keegan and Kip could use all the help they can get and buying the film or watching it on Netflix are the best ways to do that).

Japan's Whaling Plans: Foiled Again!

The International Whaling Committee (IWC) has rejected Japan's most recent attempt to reinstate the whaling business under the guise of "scientific research." Japan requested permission to kill 330 minke whales a year for the next 12 years in order to gather information on "understand[ing] the Antarctic marine ecosystem and learn[ing] the whales’ population size required for a return to sustainable commercial hunting," as reported by International Business Times (IBT). The plan was known as Newrep-A, and was a very poor attempt to justify the slaughter of the animals. Japan has appealed for permission to hunt whales repeatedly since their license was revoked last year by the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the world.

Children observing a Minke whale head outside of Tokyo (photo from IBC)

Although Japan has announced they intend to resume the hunts in 2015 or 2016, the actual demand for whale meat in the country has been on the decline, as reported by CBC News. Commercial whaling has been outlawed since 1987 and now (actually ever) is definitely not the time to begin again. The planet is in a very delicate place environmentally and whales all over the world have been in trouble since the 80's. Japan does not have the right to slaughter thousands of Minke Whales just as no other nation has the right to slaughter Blue, Humpback, or Grey whales (and all the others). Of course illegal poachers are still running rampant throughout the seas, but at least official governments no longer have the choice to murder these intelligent beings.

I am glad to see that the highest court in the world, the true final say, is prevailing on the side of the whales. People all over are beginning to recognize the true impact we have had on this world and the true power we have to reverse it.

Rejoice! For the minke whales are (legally) protected once again!

Photo from LA Whale Watching

To read the IBT article click here
To read the CBC News article click here
To read the Guardian article click here
To read Japan's proposal, Newrep-A click here

SeaWorld Stops Dolphin Feeding

Now, as many of us know, SeaWorld has a pretty dark reputation when it comes to how they treat their sea creatures. Recently, the SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, has ended it's guest dolphin feeding program. The consistent offerings of food were causing obese, lethargic, aggressive, and underweight dolphins. With such a constant stream of food being offered, the dolphins grew more competitive, resulting in the weaker/lesser dolphins receiving very little food as they were constantly being bullied away by the larger, stronger dolphins. In light of the trainer deaths at SeaWorld (I recommend watching Blackfish to learn more) the dolphin feeding program had been facing a lot of criticism. When it became apparent the program was negatively affecting the dolphins in the exhibit, the program was cut.

SeaWorld has been disintegrating slowly for a long time now, and this degenerating has been seen as beneficial to the animal rights movement. The conditions the SeaWorld animals live in are in no way conducive to the well being of the animals themselves or the environment. Sea parks use up millions of gallons of water daily and in no way benefit the creatures housed in them. In a time where both life and water are so precious, the personal economy of tourist industries seems rather small doesn't it?

Photo from South Villa Orlando

To read the full Guardian article, click here.

Sylvia Earle's TED Wish

Please take the time to watch this, her speech is phenomenal and this is SO important to everything on this planet.