Richard O’Barry left the US Navy and joined the Miami Sea Aquarium as a dolphin trainer. When TV’s beloved Flipper committed suicide in his arms, he dedicated his life to fighting against dolphin captivity and slaughter, going toe to toe with the Japanese Government by depicting the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji.

“The Academy Award, that’s the Japanese government’s worst nightmare.”

Websites

www.savejapandolphins.org
www.opsociety.org

Credits

Ric O’Barry, trainer of 1960s TV superstar dolphin Flipper, began his career happily working with, and training marine mammals. However, after a life-changing moment watching one of these captive creatures die in his arms, he vowed to end the very practice in which he himself had been so involved-by any means possible. In that harrowing moment, he experienced a personal awakening, something he terms a ‘rebirth’ and began to fight for the rights of these mammals the world over.

This GreenHero has proven to be as good as his word. Most people know Ric O’Barry in the 2010 Academy Award winning documentary The Cove. But his journey to fame as an animal rights activist began in 1970 on the very first Earth Day. This is when he founded the original “Dolphin Project” and has since been an outspoken advocate for the rights of dolphins, especially their right to live freely.

The Cove saw Ric with a team from the Oceanic Preservation Society travel to Japan and plan underwater footage to record the slaughter of hundreds of dolphins on film. This footage brought this awful practice to international attention and has affected real change. So can you.

TAKE ACTION

1. Donate and get involved: Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project

2. Sign the petition and together, our names can make some noise

3. Donate to Oceanic Preservation Society and help to make dolphin’s natural habitats a healthier and safer place

SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Ric is on Facebook, get updates and see what new projects he has on the go.

2. Send out some of this tweet and spread the awareness. We’ve made it easy, just cut and paste our 140 characters and show your followers the way.

Watch this before going to a dolphin show at the Aquarium http:// savejapandolphins.org/take-action/dolphins-in-captivity#geenheroes

3. To make a donation to the cause text the word “dolphin” to 44144

SPREAD THE WORD

1. Tell your Friends! This Public Service Announcement can be put onto your blogs, facebook page and anywhere else you would like to share it on the net. It is a simply way to create awareness and get people talking about the issue.

2. Embed our GreenHeroes story about Ric O’Barry on your blog, website or Facebook page with our Sharelizer widget. Let everyone see what moved Ric to become the GreenHero he is today.