The Cove: Cause And Effect Essay Essay

The Cove: Cause and Effect Essay

The Cove is an award winning documentary that educated the public about the increasing Japanese dolphin hunting culture. The film was very successful in using a collection of emotional evidence that told a story from an ocean conservationists point of view. The director, Louie Psihoyos, used interviews, footage, and even a spy-like story plot that turned the film into a completely one-sided, suspense filled, expos of the tabooed dolphin slaughter culture. Psihoyos calls to action the audience members by using several instances of devastating causes and their resulting effects; most notably was the need for dolphin protection under the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the high amount of corruption among Japanese representatives, and the damaging effects the chemical Mercury has on people.

The IWC is an international committee of representatives that help conserve a variety of whale species by eliminating the practice of commercial whaling. Although, many different species of whales are protected under the IWC, dolphins are not included. Consequently, it is legal to slaughter dolphins in many parts of the world. The director attempts to show these devastating consequences by provide footage of dolphin killings. Personally, I will never forget the clicks and screams these dolphins filled the entire cove with. The ocean became tainted with blood, and the bodies stacked high. The movie claims almost twenty three thousand dolphins are killed yearly. As a result of the footage, audience members are instilled with a strong sense of pity, which the director is hoping will cause a greater sense of urgency and ultimately support his cause. Unfortunately, many Japanese oppose this cause and are willing to use any type of method to continue to hunt down these dolphins.

In the film, many Japanese locals who were involved in the dolphin massacres were very inclined to keep this a secret. Throughout the film, the film crew was shoved, shooed, even violently threatened to keep away from the dolphin killings. The author purposely included these threats to create a higher suspicion. If these fishermen were not doing anything bad, then why are they so keen on keeping it hidden? Even Japanese representatives of the IWC are in full support of dolphin massacres. The video provided many pieces of evidence that smaller nations were being bought for their votes in the IWC. According the video, Japan has recruited the following nations to its whaling agenda: Cambodia, Ecuador, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Laos, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The director used these pieces of evidence to make the audience believe Japan is corrupt, unmoral, and deceptive.

Lastly, the director brings up the rising issue of mercury poisoning. Dolphins have high levels of Mercury in their bodies, and many Japanese are now unlawfully mixing dolphin meat into childrens school lunches and packaged whale meat. If this continuous to happen, a rising epidemic could potentially take place in Japan. Mercury poisoning can result in several diseases, including acrodynia (pink disease), Hunter-Russell syndrome, and Minamata disease. (Wikipedia) Because Mercury is a metal, the human body has no way of getting rid of it. Excessive amounts of Mercury can prove to be extremely fatal. In the film, the director used a scene where Japanese children are born with deformities as a result of Mercury poisoning. Another instant of pity, which causes the reader to want to jump and take action. It makes the Japanese appear villainous for causing such a disturbance within their own communities. The director is hoping this cause will effect viewers into realizing that the slaying of innocent dolphins is inhumane, unnecessary and completely damaging.

The effect on the audience was ultimately reached from the supporting causes; dolphins are not safely protected under the IWC, Japanese officials are corrupt, and Mercury poisoning in on the rise. Many people felt awestruck and even ignorant after watching the film. The director was obviously successful in reaching the audience because the documentary overall won Best Documentary from the Environmental Media Awards. People were left intuitive, shocked, and perceived of the enlarging issue of dolphin slaughtering, which was the directors ultimate goal in the creation of this film.