Swimming with Dolphins, SeaWorld, and Solitary Confinement

A few different links popped up on my Facebook newsfeed today that I shared without having time to write my thoughts on them. (I have since added comments). 

What started it was an article about the dangers of swimming with dolphins. Danger not to the human, but to the dolphin. 

Nothing in the article was a surprise to me. It wasn't disturbing, simply because I've been fortunate to know about these horrors for a while. 

There were about 5 months in my 9-year-old past where I wanted to be a dolphin trainer, but then I saw marine mammals in the wild and people educated me about the problems with keeping these creatures in captivity. 

I remember being somewhere around the age of 12, on a whale watching expedition with my family, having a "discussion" with one of the dads on the trip about places like SeaWorld and how terrible I thought it was and how I thought they should all be closed. He and others talked about how great they were that they could bring marine mammals to places that wouldn't normally have them—to people who would not normally be exposed to them. 

Sure, I get it. The first time I saw dolphins was at the Shed Aquarium. But there's no excuse for the torture we put marine mammals through. 

At the time I could only fight back tears, now I have more words. That was ten years ago and the fact that it's still happening is just fueling my fire. 

It's really easy for me to be cynical right now simply because I have been fortunate enough to have people in my life telling me about this from a very young age and passionate enough to have wanted to learn more on my own. I don't understand how people could not know that swimming with dolphins against their will is torture, but not everyone has had the same experiences I have. If you have taken advantage of some of the swimming with dolphins facilities around the world I'm not going to blame you. Obviously it's not in the corporations' best interest for you to know how terribly they are treating the animals. 

Again, nothing in the second article surprised me either. I've known about the pod of orcas it mentions who face some of the same dental issues because of their diet of skates and rays ever since I read Alex Morton's book Listening to Whales years ago. I know that these creatures have never harmed humans in the wild and the only reason they're aggressive is because of the huge amount of drugs they're on and the fact that they are literally going crazy. 

We're putting marine mammals in solitary confinement. There have been studies done on the dangers of solitary confinement and how people put in these units very often go insane, become more aggressive, even kill themselves to get out of the torture. 

This is exactly what we're doing to marine mammals. And it needs to stop. 

The last article is long—I haven't even read all of it—but here's a quote I pulled that I think really sums up what I wanted. 

The article was written by an inmate who was in solitary confinement for 26 years. What he describes is probably very similar to what orcas, dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals are experiencing in captivity everywhere. The only difference is that we don't have the intelligence or apparent emotional or intellectual capacity to understand the signals they're giving us. Just because they don't speak our language doesn't mean they shouldn't be respected. 

"I’ve experienced times so difficult and felt boredom and loneliness to such a degree that it seemed to be a physical thing inside so thick it felt like it was choking me, trying to squeeze the sanity from my mind, the spirit from my soul, and the life from my body. I’ve seen and felt hope becoming like a foggy ephemeral thing, hard to get ahold of, even harder to keep ahold of as the years and then decades disappeared while I stayed trapped in the emptiness of the SHU world. I’ve seen minds slipping down the slope of sanity, descending into insanity, and I’ve been terrified that I would end up like the guys around me that have cracked and become nuts. It’s a sad thing to watch a human being go insane before your eyes because he can’t handle the pressure that the box exerts on the mind, but it is sadder still to see the spirit shaken from a soul. And it is more disastrous. Sometimes the prison guards find them hanging and blue; sometimes their necks get broken when they jump from their bed, the sheet tied around the neck that’s also wrapped around the grate covering the light in the ceiling snapping taut with a pop. I’ve seen the spirit leaving men in SHU and have witnessed the results."

If humans can't even respect each other it seems hopeless to think that they could respect other species, but damn, we have to try. 

Body Positivity

I debated posting something about this ever since I saw a Humans of New York post about it. I just haven't been able to get it out of my mind, so I figured it was time. 

The majority of my life I've been pretty freaking skinny—tan, skinny, and blonde. Many people see this combination and think "Oh, she must have no self-esteem issues at all! If I looked like that, I would be happy." I didn't try to look like this. It was just my genetics. I came the way I came. I had a fast metabolism and was dancing and swimming and in general pretty active, just because I liked it. 

I remember a moment my freshman year of high school when I was walking to the cafeteria and I head someone behind me say something about anorexia. Who knows if it was actually about me, but I took it that way and became more embarrassed about my awkward teenage body than I already was. There's all this hype about fat-shaming and I'm not saying skinny-shaming is the same thing, but it's definitely out there, too. 

People always talk about the "freshman fifteen," a splendid moment that hit me as the "gap-year fifteen." As much as my 13 year old self couldn't wait to have boobs, my 18 year old self was mourning the stretch marks, the dimples, the multiple necks that I felt plagued my body. People would comment on the change, some saying I was still beautiful or that it didn't matter what I looked like. 

But I didn't feel beautiful and it didn't matter what anyone told me. I was never going to feel beautiful because I couldn't see myself as such. 

My point is really what we all should know to be true. 

Body positivity doesn't come from a weight, or a diet, or how "in shape" a person is. Recently I've been looking at myself in the mirror, at my reflection in a window, or just down at my body as I sit, walk, dance, type, anything, and feeling good. Sure, it's summer and I'm more happily tan and blonde and thinner than my gap-year self and that makes me personally feel pretty. Last summer, though I was tanner and blonder and my thought process wasn't the same, though, so the only thing that has really changed is my brain. 

Posts from women about their own lightning strikes of stretch marks, countless illustrations, and aerie's incredible (although shouldn't be) campaign for unretouched women all remind me of the different kinds of beauty. 

Obviously just viewing these things is not what made me more body positive. I've had to push myself out of my comfort zone in order to feel comfortable in my body. Through Carleton's Skin Deep, rock climbing, dancing more and in different ways, talking about my body, and wearing short shorts—all things that scared me, believe it or not—I've been able to come to see myself as beautiful. 

The point is:

It's a constant battle. You do have to tell the little judgmental side of your brain to shut up sometimes and other times you have to listen to it in order to motivate yourself to push a little harder, if that's what is going to fuel your beauty fire. 

In my "gap-year fifteen" phase my mom was always the one to tell me that I was the only one who could change how I felt. I always kind of hated it when she did, because I would commented on my body while I was eating ice cream or something complaining about one of my chins and I knew she was right, but couldn't admit it to myself or could't find a way to change it. 

Mama, you were right. As always. 

Late-Expressed Gratitude and Love

For a while now I've known and have been thankful for the countless women who have acted as mothers and role models in my life. I am surrounded by strong, independent, caring, kind, hilarious, genuine, positive women who inspire me every day to be the best person I can be. Something I am only recently becoming aware of is the number of men who have played similar roles. 

Two such men were Bhim Jyoti Shakya and Jeff Kalbach. 

I've been meaning to write about Bhim for a few months now, but somehow couldn't find the words. My learning of the death of Jeff Kalbach pushed the emotions over the edge. 

Bhim Jyoti Shakya was one of my home stay fathers the first time I was in Nepal. We never had intense intellectual conversations—we mostly laughed as he teased my aamaa and when he was otherwise getting himself into trouble. Still, we were never able to say goodbye to each other. We both would have cried, and if I'm being honest, did anyway. Some of my most treasured moments are the simple times we would be sitting together, drinking tea, eating biscuits, and watching something on the Discovery channel. I will always be able to recall the gleam in his eyes as he smiled or laughed, the way he would ask if he looked ok, and the way he would justify the tiny shots of Nepali wine he would take with dinner. I spent a total of 2 months with him, but I will always consider him to be my father. Sometimes souls connect and there is absolutely no way to describe it. 

Jeff Kalbach was the captain of the ship the first time my family went to Baja California. This trip changed my life. I was nine years old and I found my passion. Jeff was one of the first people to inspire me to pursue marine biology and give me advice on what I should do to make my dreams realities. This trip represents the time I became truly aware of the importance of nature and our role in conserving and engaging with it. Even today I had so many plans of meeting with Jeff again and pushing myself further into the world of marine biology and conservation. 

I don't tell people enough how much they inspire me—how influential the memory of their smile can be to my every day. I hope Bhim and Jeff (and the many, many others still living) can feel the motivation, passion, love, and gratitude currently radiating from my core. Hugging the universe. 

Kolor Kathmandu

Nepal: a country approximately the size of Kentucky; a country with 75 districts and more ethnic and cultural groups than you can imagine. 

Kathmandu: a city of such chaos, yet a culmination of many of the cultures; a rapidly developing city in need of fresh perspective. 

Kolor Kathmandu: a project. A project to educate and stimulate thought. A project to bring people closer to art—art that is meaningful and backed with purpose. It's a way for the artists to express their own truth and for viewers to discover theirs.

Kolor Kathmandu is an initiative by Yuki Poudyal under the Kathmandu-based Sattya Media Arts Collective whose goal is to replace "visual pollution" with 75 murals representing the districts of Nepal. Many of the walls are covered political slogans, calls for strikes, and cheesy movie posters—even for a foreigner who often stops to take pictures of (or at least admire) everyday things, they get old. If the city could become a kind of art gallery containing images that inspire constructive thought instead, it could be engulfed by a sense of positivity and hope.

That's exactly what it's doing.

Local and international artists alike have come together to create the 75 murals due to be finished by the end of the month. Each artist brings a unique view to their mural when they combine the elements, impressions, and stories that make up their district. Whether they're focussing on a specific event—a mass suicide, a battle, an endangered animal—or tackling a broad spectrum of life and culture, they all prompt a reaction. It's difficult to walk by one without stopping to ponder. They are so different from anything else seen in the city. 

Not only are they different from everything else on the walls, they are also different from each other. Each represents some aspect of Nepal's diversity. This is a way of educating the people about the other districts. One of Nepal's current challenges is finding the balance between diversity and unity. Education through art makes this possible. 

Kolor Kathmandu is about being different. It's informative. It's thought provoking. It gives a voice to the people—artists, viewers, districts. As Poudyal put, "sometimes, it's meant to shake you out of you comfort zone." It always, however, makes a impact. 


http://kolorkathmandu.sattya.org/

https://www.facebook.com/KolorKathmandu?fref=ts

Save the World

Maybe signing all these petitions is a little idealistic of me, but I feel like it's the only way I can make a difference right this very second. Here are just a few things on my mind:

"The governor is proposing a $5 million cut that currently helps to support Connecticut after-school programs, many of these programs would have to close, leaving thousands of children to fend for themselves between the critical after-school hours of 3pm to 6pm.   

However, this cut may occur while at the same time the governor is proposing $1.5 BILLION in financing be given to the University of Connecticut to refurbish the facilities and campus."

As a college student, I say support the kids. They are the future. And, while I'm at it: really? to refurbish the facilities and campus? Come on. Sure, we all complain about little things on campus that could be "nicer" but is that really more important than after school programs, or, I don't know, IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS? What about the teachers? What about giving the money to kids who can't pay for school? There are so many things we could do with $1.5 billion and our first idea is beautification. 

http://www.causes.com/actions/1732060-support-ct-after-school-learning-programs?utm_source=causes&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=WE813_1417

"The USDA projects that this year's corn crop will cover 94 million acres, all of which will be planted with seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. In small doeses these pesticides damage the bees' immune systems and homing abilities; in large doses the pesticides are lethal."

I...really don't like corn. And I really don't like pesticides. What is our world coming to? Do we really NEED 94 MILLION acres of corn? I don't think so. 

http://www.causes.com/actions/1686797-ban-the-use-of-neonicotinoid-pesticides-before-they-devastate-bee-populations-in-the-usa?utm_source=causes&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=WE813_1417

20for20

What did YOU do for your twentieth birthday? I can almost guarantee you that it didn't have as big of an impact as what this girl is doing for hers.

On January 28th Rebecca Kuntz turned 20. What is was her wish? To build an Education Center in Ghana for 5,000 children. She is moving there permanently to run the center herself. 

This girl is incredible. 

All she needs is 20,000 dollars. I know that sounds like a lot, but if 1,000 people each donated 20 dollars she would reach her goal. Just 20 dollars! You money can actually buy these children a place to learn, grow, play and be loved. 

Please consider donating. You don't have to donate 20 if you don't want to--even just 5 will help. 

For more information:

http://www.together-we-are.com/20for20/

To DONATE:
(or purchase a super cute shirt, the proceeds from which will be used as donations)

http://www.together-we-are.com/donate/

No Words to Express My Grief.

First, a link: http://intentious.com/2012/02/17/kayapo-damned-brazil-government-oks-hydro-plant-condemns-40000-lives/

The date the article was written: February 17, 2012. 

The first license to start the construction of the dam: February 2010.

The first report filed by staff members of FUNAI, Fundação Nacional do Índio, (National Indian Foundation): January 14, 2011.

Today's date and the day part of this article made its way to me on Facebook : January 29, 2013. 

Years later and people are finally hearing about this. 

In case you don't actually want to read the entire article, I'll summarize it for you. The world's third largest hydroelectric dam is being built in the Amazon. The lives of 40,000 humans in the Kayapo community will be destroyed. That's not including the other plants and animals in this region. The dam will flood 400,000 hectares of forest. (One hectare is 10,000 square meters, 2.471 acres). Naturally, the government and government-funded environmental agencies (just wrong. the government and the environment are not compatible) are claiming that this will not displace the people, and actually, they will benefit from the building of the dam! Tell me how the following quote from Roberto Messias, head of Ibama, the government-funded environmental agency, makes any sense at all:

“Many of them currently live in wooden riverside shacks. They are likely to benefit from the dam’s constructions.”

It doesn't. How are those sentences related? 

And what about this: 

"Minister Of Environment Carlos Minc told Brazilian TV stations, “There is not going to be an environmental disaster. Not a single Indian will be displaced. They will be indirectly affected, but they will not have to leave indigenous lands.”

That's what they always say. I've seen this happen. TI'm sure I mentioned the dam in the Nile. Same reason--hydroelectric power. They said it wouldn't effect anything. I was there and I have pictures. And no, I have no idea how to use photoshop. It was flooding. Rapids were turned into lakes. Little shacks by the banks, gone. Little islands in the middle of the river, also gone. 

Everything we do has an environmental impact. Maybe we should stop thinking about power and energy and go back to how we started. We're not living sustainably or constructively. We, my friends, are killing ourselves. And maybe that's the only way to do it. Maybe we have to destroy the majority of the world we know in order for us to begin again. I'd like to think there's more to us than that, though. 

Update: After reading comments from others on Facebook and doing some of my own research, the cause of the chief's tears is debatable, which brings up other interesting points. We are such visual creatures. We need pictures to help motivate us to do things, whether it's working out more, or donating to a "feed the hungry" organization, or trying to protect the environment. And then, we are so easily manipulated into believing incorrect information. 

Why are the facts not enough? Why are people no longer inspired by words alone?