Today, as we honor Martin Luther King, Jr., and the freedom and justice that he stood for, there are over 250 dolphins trapped in the Taiji, Japan, cove, made infamous by the movie “The Cove.” These dolphins have been herded into the cove by fishermen who cannot see the truth of what they are doing. These dolphins have no food. Most of them will be killed, filling the waters with blood. A few others will be sold to marine parks where they will live miserable lives of slavery. One of the babies is an albino. His fate is sealed by his skin color. The competition among captors for him will be fierce indeed.

Sea Shepherd is there documenting the tragedy and people around the world are calling on news agencies everywhere to bring this to light. Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan has spoken out against the killing and capture of these brothers and sisters of ours. If you google this online, you can find many ways to help with twitter, email, letters, etc.

Many of Martin Luther King’s ageless messages fit perfectly with this day and week as we mourn, memorialize, boycott, pray, and do what we can to help these dolphins. He said,

“Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about things that matter."

In his unforgettable “I Have a Dream” speech, he reminds all humanity, whenever it is read, that we must meet “physical force with soul force.” Speaking of white people, he said, “their freedom is inextricably bound to ours.” This is just as true for human beings and all other beings. None of us can be truly free until all beings are free. Toward the end of his “Dream” speech, he spoke of his vision of a new time in which all his people could say “Free at last. Thank God Almighty, Free at last.”

This week, in honor of Dr. King, let us “refuse to be silent,” and let us carry forth his vision of freedom and justice for all people and extend that vision out beyond humanity to all beings. And for the dolphins of Taiji, we say “Please hear us, dear dolphins, your deaths will not be in vain. We will never give up the fight to stop this annual killing and capture, and one day your dolphin people can sing, “Free at last. Thank God Almighty. Free at last.”

Thank you for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace for all beings.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and visionary thoughts. Thanks to all of you, compassion is encircling the earth for all beings. Thank you for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace for all beings.

With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy, and Will, Madeleine, and the Circle of Compassion team.

If you haven’t already done so, please join us at the Prayer Circle for Animals facebook page.

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