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farquah

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Posts posted by farquah

  1. I was involved with the filming of a few documentaries in Taiji and have been many times. The biggest problem is the fact that the dolphin meat is so highly contaminated with Mercury it is dangerous to eat. Due tot eh fact it is high up the food chain means that it is far more highly contaminated than other food from the sea. When consumed this can cause a number of illnesses including something called Arctic Baby Syndrome (reversal in normal ratios of male to female births- seen in Arctic and Northern Canada), Autism, as well as Non Hodgkins Lymphomas disease, and cancers.

     

    We were actually getting somewhere with our progress in halting the culls a few years ago until the "eco warrior" types turned up and put us back to square one. As with the Whale hunting, too much international pressure can paint Japan into a corner where they feel forced to stand up to it and defend themselves, we need to focus on the science not the emotional arguments to get anywhere.

     

    The only way to argue things in Japan like this are on scientific grounds not humane grounds. The fact is that dolphins aren't endangered true, but the way they are killed is barbaric and there are laws on how we slaughter our animals for consumption. Add to that the fact that eating the meat is tantamount to eating toxic waste then it just deosn't make sense. There are wharehouses full of dolphin meat as there is no demand for it and there is no economic value at all. Dolphin watching is a far more sustainable and profitable option. If anyone is interested I have a lot of data and info on this topic and would be happy to provide you with it if wanting to teach about it in schools or just simply know more about it.

     

    This isn't confined to Taiji either, also in Kyushu, Izu and Chiba.

     

    This is a behind the scenes short video I made while in Taiji during the filming of "The Cove" which I was involved in and you can see some of the crew here.

  2. and from the Economist...

     

    The Economist Group expands

     

    Apr 1st 2009

    From Economist.com

    Explore a clickable map of The Economist's new theme park

     

    AS PART of a strategy designed to broaden the revenue base, leverage content over new platforms and promote The Economist brand to a young and dynamic audience, The Economist Group is delighted to announce the development of a public-entertainment facility that combines the magic of a theme park with the excitement of macroeconomics. After six months of negotiations with the British government, The Economist Group can confirm that Econoland will be built on a former industrial estate in East London, close to the beating heart of the City and thus to a large potential market of financial-sector employees. Thanks to issues relating to its previous use, the site has been acquired at an advantageous price. Most of the toxic wastes have been cleared and levels of carcinogens appear to have returned to normal. High unemployment in the area will only increase the facility's attractions, as former City workers seek to recapture some of the excitement they enjoyed in their professional life. Heavy investment in security and a landscaped moat and electric fence will neutralise any potential threat from the growing anarchist presence.

     

    Among the thrilling experiences Econoland will offer are:

     

    The currency high-roller: Float like a butterfly with the euro and drop like a stone with the pound! Chamber of horrors: Tremble at the wailing of distressed debt! Fiscal fantasyland: Watch the economy shrivel before your very eyes as you struggle to stop growth falling! Bankrupt Britain: Pit your wits against the government as you try to sink sterling and bring the country to its knees! The Severe Contest: Try your strength against a bear market!

     

    “Econoland will appeal to the kid in everyoneâ€, said a spokesman for The Economist Group, “although children themselves will not be admittedâ€. The park will open on April 1st.

  3. I'd suggest a snow related search on Twitter and see who you want to follow. (Also suggest a chap called Darrell_Nelson wink ), then start to inform the world of all the best bits you post on Snow Japan site with links here!! After a few days you'll be addicted!

  4. Any of you people use Twitter? I have gotten quite into it recently "tweeting" for work and private, great connector of different NPOs too. I find it a really useful way of staying up to date on various topics you are concerned with. Better than an RSS feed and more fun! Quite like this article in the FT

    FT on Twitter

     

    Quote:
    The blizzard of short messages on the service “extends peripheral awarenessâ€, he says, with the nuggets of observation and information flying by creating a richer “context†for online life.

     

     

    SJ- You guys not thought of "tweeting"? Imagine it would be a good thing for you guys to get into, quick and easy.

  5. Got around to buying a wifi station so I can dispatch with all the annoying cables lying around at home. Thought it would be a pretty straight forward process, but have been having major probs trying to get it all set up. Cables all attached correctly going through my original router and then to my mac etc. First of all couldn't actually reach the server for 192.168.1.1 to change settings and register as it says to do. Just says the server is not responding. Tried rebooting it all, rebooting Mac, nothing. THen all of a sudden without actually doing anything, finally managed it once, but it still didn't register properly. I clicked on the right things as outlined in the instructions, it said it was set up but when I clicked on the wifi signal to join it it (at top of screen) prompts me for a WEP password, yet I haven't got a password, nor is it set for encryption yet?!?! Now I can't get back on to the 192.168.1.1 site to change things or at least have a look at it. Any suggestions? I am literally banging my head against a brick wall!! For what it is worth it is a Planex BLW-54CW3. VERY FRUSTRATED!

  6. Oyuki- Good suggestion but I doubt it is in line with what they are looking for. As I am acting in more of a consultant form I don't have final decision, but I may do some research and see what groups are involved in that from Japan. To be honest though I think it would be too close to the bone for a Japanese TV company to pick up on. I have seen a documentary from the BBC I think in a similar vain though. Do you know of any groups involved directly with this at all? What projects are you involved with? I know you do things within Japan but any that involve other areas as well?

     

    Any other suggestions out there? No SJ activists/ philanthropists have causes they want to trumpet?!

  7. Quote:
    Tokyo tower, you can see all of Tokyo and Mount Fuji clearly on a good day. And chances are as you are coming in January the sky will be clear.


    I recommend the Government Towers in Shinjuku over Tokyo Tower. It is taller and is free! Great views and you don't have people trying to sell you crap!

    Meiji Shrine is good for a visit to escape the hustle and bustle. Daikanyama is nice to saunter around as is Shimokitazawa for a more bohemian vibe. Also Korakoen is really nice huge garden/ park. Or do a day trip to Kamakura to see the massive Budah, (Daibutsu) only about 30mins from Tokyo.

    For bikes you can actually rent them in Aoyama (near Harajuku) not sure of the company but just do a google.
  8. Need to once again leverage a bit of useful info from all you knowledgeable lot!!

     

    I need to find a subject for a documentary with Kyodo TV about some kind of NPO/NGO conservation/ education project. My brief was really broad, basically it has to be a japanese based group working on a project in an exotic location, and helping either a non main stream animal/ group or project. For example, one group I am exploring is the Japan Burkina Fasso Foundation who help to build schools and water wells in rural areas of the african country. Another is a group who try to educate fishermen in Mauritania (North East Africa) on how to create a sustainable fishing business, currently their biggest export. Groups helping Elephants/ Monkeys/ Turtles, etc unfortunately are too mainstream, so the more obscure the better, and the more endangered also!

     

    Therefore if anyone is involved or knows of any projects akin to this then I would greatly appreciate the help! Countries of particular interest are Africa, Peru and South East Europe.

  9. Totally agree with all the above, especially pork scratchings and scampi fries!! Top bar snacks! I am very much a savory over sweet snack person. Hardly eat any chocolate but could tuck into all the above and binge out easily!! I remember 10p bags of crisps in the vending machines after swimming. Remember Hedgehog falvoured crisps, what were they all about, loved them though! and piglets? Also Wheat Crunchies, they were great! ahhh I culd totally go on and on....

     

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  10. Press Release

     

    International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby World Cup 2007

     

    Following complaints to the IRB about the All Blacks being allowed to motivate themselves by performing the ‘Haka’ before their games,

    other nations were asked to suggest pre-match rituals of their own. The IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 Organizing Committee has now agreed

    to the following pre-match displays:

     

     

    1) The England team will chat about the weather, wave hankies in the air and attach bells to their ankles before moaning about

    how they invented the game and gave it to the world, but no one appreciates them.

    2) The Scotland team will chant “You lookin’ at me Jimmy?†before each of them smash a bottle of beer over their opponents’ heads.

    3) The Ireland team will split into two, with the Southern half performing a Riverdance, while the Northerners march the Traditional

    route from their dressing room to the pitch, via their opponents dressing room.

    4) Unfortunately the Committee was unable to accept the Welsh proposal to form a choir and sing Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusualâ€. And the Society for Sheep Protection denied the other suggestion.

    5) Argentina will unexpectedly invade a small part of opposition territory, claim it as their own “Las In-Goals-Areas†and have to be

    forcibly removed by the match stewards.

    6) Two members of the South African team will claim to be more important than the other 13 whom they will imprison between

    the posts. These two will then go about selecting the best parts of the pitch to settle on and claim that they have been there for centuries.

    7) The Americans will not attend until almost full time. In future years they will amend the records to show that they were in fact

    the most important team in the tournament and Hollywood will make a blockbuster film called ‘Saving Flanker Ryan’.

    8) Five of the Canadian team will sing La Marseillaise and hold the rest of the team to ransom.

    9) The Italian team will arrive in Armani gear, sexually harass the female officials and then prepare pasta dishes, which they will flog

    to the crowd for a fortune.

    10) The Japanese will shock fans buy demonstrating how to capture a whale for scientific research by harpooning an opposition prop.

    11) The French won’t have a pre-match display and will simply hide in fear in the dressing room for the whole match.

    12) The Australians will have a BBQ on their side of the field and invite the opposition over before the game. The food and alcohol

    will be in abundance and by the start of the game no-one will remember what they came to the stadium for. After some

    streaking, the singing of dirty songs and the occasional chunder everyone will go home thoroughly convinced it was a bloody

    good night.

    13) The Moroccan team will quietly pray during the first half and then launch suicide attacks against the opposition after the break.

    Unfortunately, this strategy works well for the first game only, after which Morocco is forced to withdraw from the Rugby World

    Cup due to lack of players.

    14) Samoa will prepare a huge feast in the middle of the pitch by digging a large hole and filling it with burning embers. They invite

    the opposition over by saying, “We’d like to have you for dinnerâ€.

     

     

    Hopefully, with these policies now in place, further problems is this area of the game should cease to exists.

    Regards,

    Syd Miller

    IRB Chairman

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