They tried to stop people seeing this shocking footage of the hunts. But we managed to play it on a billboard to thousands of people in Japan. View this email in your browser The government did everything they could to stop people seeing this ad.

They didn’t succeed. Dear Debbie,



I have some incredible news. The first ever billboard showing graphic footage of the Taiji dolphin hunts is up and playing RIGHT NOW to thousands of people in Japan. And it’s all thanks to YOU!



The violent dolphin hunts are hidden under tarps, and the documentary The Cove, was heavily censored in Japan. The truth is, a lot of Japanese people don’t know how cruel the hunts are - which is why this billboard is SO important.



When kind dolphin advocates like you chipped in to make this project happen, you made sure the truth was exposed to thousands of people in Japan for the first time. Click here to see your billboard in action! I’m not going to lie, Debbie. It was a long and drawn out battle to get footage of the hunts up and playing in a crowded public place.



AFD originally purchased billboard space in Tokyo, but the Japanese government (terrified of exposing the truth) pulled out all the stops to ban it. They did their best to gag us – but they didn’t succeed.



After months of negotiations and attempts to find a solution we were finally able to play the ad above a busy intersection in Osaka – the closest major city to the dolphin-hunting town of Taiji. It’s up there right now, playing to thousands of people every day.



A group of dedicated Japanese animal advocates even staged a demonstration in front of the billboard over the weekend – using it as an opportunity to talk to people about the Taiji hunts. Some of the amazing Japanese animal advocates out talking to people about the Taiji hunts in front of the billboard. Many of the people they talked to were shocked to see and learn about the truth. Some even said they would stop visiting aquariums with dolphins stolen from the wild in Taiji - a HUGE step forward!



Debbie, I can’t thank you enough for helping get this exciting project off the ground. In order to end the sickening Taiji dolphin hunts we need to expose them, and get Japanese people involved. Which is exactly what your billboard is doing.



People told us this couldn’t be done. You proved them wrong.



Yours in gratitude,



Sarah.



P.S. If you want to help make more bold actions like this possible, please click here to sign up as an AFD Dolphin Defender, and join the fight to end dolphin cruelty.