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Cheerleader in Dolphin Crusade

Posted Nov 1st 2007 12:31PM by TMZ Staff

Hayden Panettiere is truly a maritime hero! She was recently seen in Japan, on a mission to save dolphins from slaughter by local fishermen -- an estimated 23,000 dolphins are killed every year.


Hayden and a few other surfers from the US and Australia went into the waters off Japan in an effort to drive the dolphins away from a hidden cove where the killings are carried out in secret. Angry fisherman used propellers of boats to scare surfers away, and even used a hook to intimidate the activists. After an intense struggle, surfers from the Save the Whales Again Campaign had to give up -- forced to leave the water due to the extremely dangerous situation.

After the frustrating attempt to save the mammals, an emotional Hayden said that when she was in the water, she saw a baby dolphin sticking his head out, literally "sky hopping." Hayden said, "The thought that the baby is no longer with us is very difficult."

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61. Save Iggy Save the world!

Posted at 5:22PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Ellen is a Kunt

62. Dolphins are highly intelligent mammals....NOT FISH. They stay together as families, just like humans do and keep to one spouse. In this case they KNEW their death was imminent and violent and they were terrified. They were "sky hopping" and thrashing around because they knew they were being murdered. My heart absolutely broke to watch this video. And the bloody water was more macabre than any Halloween costume or serial murder could be. If they were stupid, unknowing creatures , that would validate their being hunted and eaten;deer and cattle are unintelligent creatures, which is why they're used for food, although I , personally, do not eat meat.
The oriental people have always had funky customs.....binding little girls feet......concubines......selling little girls because only boys have any value.
Right now, the chinese are trying to kill us and our children and our pets....they're poisoning our food, our pets food and making sure the toys our children play with are full of lead and toxicity. We have no honeybees anymore....they're all gone...and I understand that it is thought the chinese have something to do with this also.
I'm afraid I have serious trust issues when it comes to the orient, with good reason.
Funny this video should appear today....the day the pilot who dropped the atom bomb on the japanese died. He was 96 years old.
Where is our compassion for thinking animals and our patriotism?

Posted at 5:32PM on Nov 1st 2007 by JackRussellMommy

63. I'm not arguing with you, Hypocrite..merely making an observation that you write in the stilted way you speak. As for your nephew comment, I have no idea what you are talking about, but that's not the point or subject matter. You are certainly welcome to pray for me..to whom..Buddah? Whatever

Posted at 5:34PM on Nov 1st 2007 by cherri

64. I agree with Cheri....Hypocrites posts are disjointed and his english is abhorrant. Perhaps he did not do so well with English classes when he arrived here from the orient.

Posted at 5:38PM on Nov 1st 2007 by JackRussellMommy

65. I'm glad she's doing something about this. I saw a gruesome video a year or so ago of japanese fisherman actually killing dolphins while little school kids walked right on by. Why doesn't the japanese government do something about it? Unless it's legal there, then that's just sad.

Good for her and for all the others who are helping the cause.

Posted at 3:16PM on Nov 2nd 2007 by jj83

66. Hero’s and villains.

All Hayden is doing is fostering support for racial intolerance against Asians. This is appalling in the “way” she has chosen to protest. The Asian culture is a beautiful rich culture and is different in many ways to the American culture. I am sure there are things America does that cause as much sadness and disbelief as whale and dolphin killing. It is supply and demand though. Dolphins and whales have been apart of their food chin for centuries. I doubt a Porche driving Hollywood actress can change that through hype.


Mammon Vs the purity of higher ideals. Choosing the latter on a global scale is the only way to change humanities selfish abuse of its planet and creatures. Problem is Hayden is the pin up girl for mammon. So I don’t buy this attempt to associate herself with the plight of the innocence.

The proof lies in the result. Hers leads to hatred and bad feelings towards a culture that is just different. She has no understanding of the cause or the people. This cruelty will only stop when DEMAND stops. That needs to be done through “gentle” understanding, education and not through ignorance and racism.

Taiwanese parents who can't feed their families due to global economics are forced to sell their daughters into prostitution. Hope Hayden considers their plight next time she jumps into her Porche and drives off into the SUNSET.

Posted at 6:01PM on Nov 1st 2007 by SUNRISE

67. Ths has been going on for years..disgusting...

www.Williamcnamara.com

Read his story

Posted at 6:38PM on Nov 1st 2007 by there are many other hero's

68. I saw all the footage on the news and I have to say, I was NEVER a Panettieri fan, BUT I AM NOW !!!!!!!! It takes guts to do this as a "regular joe", but as a celebrity when you could be off shopping on Rodeo Dr. or dining at Koi it takes you to another level in the public's eye.

RIGHT, PARIS ???!!!!???

Posted at 7:06PM on Nov 1st 2007 by noitall

69. This is so sad, I have swam with the dolphins in the Carribean, plan on it again next year, brings tears to my eyes.

Posted at 7:25PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Barb2

70. Wonderful job Hayden.
I know how much it hurts, I've been there.
We must keep trying for their sake.
It is wonderful for you to lend your voice for the cause.
Bless you.....

Posted at 7:30PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Judith

71. How are dolphins any different than cows, pigs, or fish? What a bunch of obnoxious hypocrites here!

And sympathy for these extremist PETA crazed terrorists that drop into a foreign country and disrupt the work of these fishermen? This is their "moral" mission?

Get over it Cheerleader!

Posted at 10:36PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Eye-rolling

72. I am trying to be as nice as I can. Eventhough I don't speak English well (I already said that English is my second Language). How many languages do you speak? Cherri, JackRusellMomy, I'm always right, you guys are true American. You always think that you are right in your little world. Everybody who disagree with you are uneducate, and stupid. Just like your so call caring president Bush. You are either with us, or you are against us. Step out of your little box, and try to understand and respect about other culture.
You can win a debate without calling people name. You just show how a low class you are.

Posted at 11:57PM on Nov 1st 2007 by hypocrite

73. #67 Eye-rolling:

Cows and fish and pigs are bred by humans for food.

Dolphins are not, and are endangered.

THAT'S the difference. And it's an important one. We won't run out of cows and fish and pigs. We will run out of dolphins.

Posted at 1:10AM on Nov 2nd 2007 by 'Chele

74. those slaughterers deserve all the brain damage they will get from the heavily tainted mercury meat! lets hope those ignorant villages die out

Posted at 1:57AM on Nov 2nd 2007 by vegetarian

75. Good for her!! I just saw parts of the video and I give her a lot of credit for putting her money where her mouth is so to speak. Far too many celebs today mouth off about issue but couldn't be bothered to truly do anything about them other than donate a few dollars a year.

On another note - perhaps it's time to put sanctions against Japan until they stop this practice? We keep putting sanctions against other countries for far less yet, I guess because China and Japan keep our economy going, the gov't will happily look the other way.

Good for Hayden for, perhaps unknowingly, using her celebrity status to bring this horror to international light.

Posted at 12:43PM on Nov 2nd 2007 by flyers fan

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