I'll try to be brief! 1st, because of concerned, compassionate people like YOU, from all over the world, this petition has reached almost 122,000 signers. WOW! I’ve never done this before, so I’m in complete amazement at how quickly this has spread. Your very emotional comments and pleas to Joel Manby, IMATA and Japan to end this horror are powerful! I’m confident our combined efforts will prove to be effective. THANK YOU! I’d also like to thank the public figures that have tweeted my petition. Rachel Hunter, supermodel, dub-step artist Bassnectar, and actor, Ryan Lane. Noteworthy event since last update: SeaWorld stock tumbled 7% in premarket trade this past Tuesday, putting them on track to open at a record low, after the theme park operator said it would stop paying out dividends. Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/seaworlds-stock-tumbles-toward-record-low-analyst-questions-plan-to-cut-dividend-so-it-can-buy-back-stock-2016-09-20 I strongly believe that if they have a hand in ending the dolphin slaughters, their stock will go through the roof, like they did when they announced they were ending their orca breeding program. Also, I just checked Dolphin Project's twitter account. It says, "Taiji: 4 skiffs full with hunters, trainers and divers on their way to the cove. We'll update you shortly. 2016.09.24.5:35am #DolphinProject." Dolphin trainers are at it again, RIGHT NOW, in boats with those that brutally massacre these amazing animals! So, where do we go from here? Various sources have informed me that the most impactful measure we can take is to call SeaWorld. I realize it can be nerve-racking to do this, so below, I’ve provided a few key points of topic to hit on, if that helps. I highly encourage you to call SeaWorld’s public relations line, ask to speak with Mr. Manby, or leave a message if you have to. Let’s make this personal by letting them hear the conviction in our voices, just as you did in your petition comments! Please be respectful and courteous. The age old proverb states, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” It’s so true! SeaWorld Public Relations – (407) 363-2280 please try to call first. If unsuccessful, you can email too. Please ask them to forward your email to Joel Manby, CEO. swo.pr@seaworld.com 5 Key points: 1) I commend SeaWorld for your decision to end your orca breeding program. 2) The 1st line in IMATA’s Code of Ethics is, “exercising the highest levels of respect and humaneness for all animals.” They defend their member’s participation in sourcing wild dolphins from cruel drive hunts. This is blatant hypocrisy. 3) Even though SeaWorld doesn’t purchase dolphins in Taiji any longer, many of your trainers are members of IMATA, and sit on the board of directors. Out of the entire zoo and aquarium industry, IMATA is the only organization still supporting live captures in Taiji. 4) Your affiliation with IMATA and hosting their annual conferences discredits your reputation AND the conservation, animal rescue and animal welfare message you're trying to disseminate to the public. 5) You have a golden opportunity to improve your global reputation by denouncing IMATA, thus helping your financial situation if you denounce, or disassociate yourselves from IMATA. The hunters in Taiji defend this horrific custom as tradition, although eating dolphins is extremely rare due to the toxins in the meat. In fact, unsold frozen whale and dolphin meat stacks up in warehouses throughout Japan. They end up using it in jerky and pet food just to get rid of it! Witnesses on the ground year after year in Taiji have documented that IT IS THE DOLPHIN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY that fuels the hunt! Another graphic video, impactful for sharing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsdZ6CgWzE Article worth mention: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-singer-sosnowski-dolphin-hunt-capture-20160831-snap-story.html I can’t thank you enough for your support with this cause! Please keep it going! Email your friends and family and keep spreading it all over social media! I’m trying to get someone in the media to report on this petition and the upcoming IMATA conference in San Diego. I’ve been unsuccessful so far. If any of you have connections with media, your help would be greatly appreciated! @orneryoh on Twitter. There’s a protest being organized during the conference in San Diego, although I don’t have the details yet. -For the dolphins! Ori