About Whale of a Time

Whale of a Time is riding the wave of change, promoting successful stewardship of our planet to create a peaceful, morally just, humane and sustainable culture, while ensuring survival of all species and their natural habitats. Whale of a Time organises creative and fun, inspiring and empowering events on environmental issues to encourage active participation living a sustainable lifestyle inspired by a positive attitude. We engage young and old from all walks of life through the Whale of a Time Community, the Whale of a Time Festival and the Whale of a Time Workshop. Our work has been recognised by many national and community and environmental awards schemes.

Whale of a Time Tweats

Wednesday 29 September 2010

The Black Fish cuts nets to free dolphins in Taiji, Japan


The Black Fish cuts nets to free dolphins in Taiji, Japan

September 28, 201010:43, by The Black Fish Media
Divers from the European conservation organisation The Black Fish have last night cut the nets of six holding pens in Taiji, Japan, that were holding dolphins caught during a dolphin drive hunt a few days earlier. During this hunt a number of dolphins were selected for the international dolphinarium trade and transferred to these holding pens. In rough weather conditions the divers swam out and cut the nets of six of these holding pens, allowing a number of dolphins to swim back out to sea. No arrests were made.
Fishermen transfer selected dolphins caught at the drive hunt to sea pen for the dolfinarium trade

Fishermen transfer selected dolphins caught at the drive hunt to sea pen for the dolfinarium trade by The Black Fish
Every year, between September and April, the sea around the fishing village of Taiji on the east coast of Japan turns red as it becomes the scene of one of the biggest mass slaughters of marine wildlife in the world. The dolphin drive hunt, which recently made global headlines through the Oscar winning documentary 'The Cove', is responsible for capturing and killing over 2,000 dolphins of Japan's annual quota of 20,000. Fishermen drive the dolphins from sea into a cove, where some animals are selected for dolphinariums while the others are killed for their meat.
The Black Fish and other marine conservation and animal welfare organisations run ongoing campaigns to push for the closure of the remaining dolphinariums in Europe, where some of the dolphins caught at Taiji inevitably end up. Dolphinariums are already banned in United Kingdom. The Black Fish believes that it is unacceptable to keep dolphins, orca's and other marine wildlife in captivity, given the vast areas which these animals normally inhabit, the miserable and squalid conditions under which they are often kept and the stress that public performances put on them.
Co-founder of The Black Fish, Wietse van der Werf, explains about their decision to intervene: "The connection between the dolphin entertainment industry and this annual drive hunt can no longer be denied. To be successful in our campaigns in Europe we need to get to the root of this illegal trade, which is right at Taiji."

The Black Fish is aware of the sensitivity surrounding the hunt at Taiji this year. With an international media spotlight on the Japanese dolphin hunts, tensions within the country have heated up and Japanese nationalists have seized the opportunity to defend this 'traditional' activity. While we acknowledge that change also needs to come from within Japanese society, we vow to continue to work for the protection of these defenceless dolphins and push to make dolphinariums and the drive hunts which supply them history.

Friday 24 September 2010

What does a day of peace achieve?


Founder of Peace One Day Jeremy Gilley has spent the last 13 years trying to ensure there is an annual global ceasefire on the 21 September.
Jeremy Paxman speaks to Mr Gilley and Daily Mail journalist Dame Anne Lesley about what the project achieves.
Check out the video 
Broadcast Tuesday 21 September 2010.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Whale of a Time at Peace Awards 2010!

We are so excited that Whale of a Time has been shortlisted for a Peace Award in recognition of our outstanding contribution to making London a better City.


Irene Schleining, founder of Whale of a Time has been nominated and duly recognised for her valuable contribution to peace and justice in London.

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The prestigious awards are a celebration and recognition of individuals and organisations who, through various initiatives and projects, have positively contributed to the peace and safety of London and are taking place as part of the London Week of Peace.
The Annual Week of Peace Awards Ceremony was hosted by Reverend Nims Obunge MBE DL with the Mayor Boris Johnson as the guest of honour at City Hall on 22 September 2010.
On behalf of the whales we'd like to thank everyone who has, is and will be supportingWhale of a Time creating sustainable and environmental change for the London community.

We would like to wish everyone a whale of a time and may all of you live in peace and harmony with our planet!

Stay tuned with the Whale Mail 
peace awards, Boris Johnson, City Hall, Reverend Nims Obunge, Week of Peace