Article in Comox Valley Record

Hello everyone,

I am often astounded by the generosity that comes out of the community in which Ryan and I live. We moved across Canada to reside in the Comox Valley because we desired a change of scene. The two of us wanted to live in an area where people valued the environment over corporate interest. Upon arrival in the Valley we knew we had in a sense; come home. Not only is this pristine valley surrounded by majestic mountains and the beautiful ocean, there also exists here a level of consciousness that I have not witnessed elsewhere.

Not only this, but many have supported our fundraising efforts here in the Comox Valley. Many people, businesses and organizations have assisted Ryan and I in times of need, and for that we are very grateful. We would like to thank Zen Zero, Pat Newson, Lindsay Chung, all of our wonderful friends, and the many anonymous and public supporters of our endeavours. Each and every one of you are essential in making the work we do possible.

Today Lindsay Chung released a story about our current fundraising. I have been collecting empty bottles, cans and cartons for one week at this time and I have encountered many generous individuals willing to donate their recyclables to our cause. I have also been selling watermelon slices by donation in down town Courtenay to raise funds. Both of these methods have been very successful. The start of my career as a full time activist seems not only possible, but now probable. A ray of hope has been shining down. I can't possibly explain the relief I feel knowing now that I can dedicate my life to my passions.

Here is the wonderful story written by Lindsay:

Activist funding her participation in causes — one can or bottle at a time

TARAH MILLEN is collecting empty cans and bottles to help finance her participation in two Sea Shepherd campaigns.

By Lindsay Chung - Comox Valley Record
Published: August 18, 2011 5:00 PM



Are you hosting an event or a family gathering?

If so, Courtenay activist Tarah Millen would be more than happy to come pick up your returnable cans and bottles.

Millen, who has been to Taiji, Japan, twice to document the dolphin drive hunt with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is hosting a Bottlenose Dolphin Drive to raise money to take part in two Sea Shepherd campaigns.

Last fall, Millen and her partner, Ryan Hughes, travelled to Taiji as Cove Guardians to document and raise awareness of the slaughter of thousands of dolphins. They spent a combined three weeks in Taiji documenting the slaughter and placing pressure on the Japanese government to stop issuing hunting permits. They were also able to raise awareness of the destruction caused by the captive dolphin trade.

In March, Millen returned to Japan to document the slaughter of Dalls porpoises.

Millen started her bottle drive about a week ago, and she's been going door to door to people's homes on the weekends and going to different businesses and establishments in the city.

"It's going good so far," she said. "Everyone's been very receptive and very kind."

Millen got the idea for the Bottlenose Dolphin Drive from a friend who is also a Cove Guardian and was with Millen in Taiji in March when they survived a tsunami.

Not too long ago, Millen decided she was going to be a full-time activist, and she's been out there fundraising every day.

Millen is dedicating all of her time to issues surrounding conservation, animal rights, environmental degradation and other issues that she feels passionately about.

Millen and Hughes are going to go to Taiji again, probably in November, as Cove Guardians. They plan to stay there for a month and then go straight to Australia and board a ship with Sea Shepherd to participate in the society's Antarctic anti-whaling campaign to shut down the illegal whalers in Antarctica.

"We have some big plans ahead of us and a lot of work to do before going," said Millen. "We want to go so bad, and we want to dedicate our time to it because people need to be doing it. We just found we can't sit at home anymore. We need to be involved."

Millen is doing her bottle drive in the most sustainable way she can, and she is cycling everywhere with a trailer and a milk crate attached to her bike.

Millen is collecting returnable cans and bottles from anyone who is willing to give them to her, and she is happy to pick them up, clean them and sort them for individuals, businesses, organizations.

"I want to make it as easy as possible for people and have them feel good about providing their bottles," she said.

Millen has also set up an account at the Courtenay Return-It bottle depot on Puntledge Road. Anyone who would like to donate their recycling money to Millen's campaign can say they want the money to go to Account 119, Cove Guardian.

Millen is interested in getting local schools involved in the Bottlenose Dolphin Drive, and she is eager to make presentations to students about her conservation efforts and about following your dreams and doing what you believe in, even if it might be a bit outside the norm.

"I know it's that kind of presentation that brought me to this, and I'm so grateful," she said. "I don't know if I'd be where I am today if it wasn't for that presentation."

Anyone who would like to help Millen can contact her at tarah.millen@hotmail.com, through her blog at www.dolphinguardian.blogspot.com or through the website www.what2cando.com, which she and Hughes have created to highlight their dreams and their work and to show what two people can do.

"Everyone thinks 'I'm just one person,' " said Millen. "All it takes is one person to start gaining momentum and putting their passion toward a cause. We're just trying to show people one person can make a difference, and if it's two people, it's doubly inspiring. There are a lot of people who look at situations in the world and feel completely helpless."

People can also donate directly through Millen's blog or through www.what2cando.com.

Millen is selling watermelon in downtown Courtenay around lunch time most days and can be recognized with her bright blue bike trailer and green milk crate, and she is planning a bake sale in the future.

Millen is also wondering if someone who has experience co-ordinating fundraisers might have any suggestions.

Millen is extremely grateful to Zen Zero for supporting her and Hughes in everything they have done so far.

"They have helped us out exponentially," she said. "Without them, we wouldn't have done half the things we've done. They're wonderful people, and we're very thankful to them."

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/news/128043353.html

Thank you again to all of our supporters!

For the Oceans,
Tarah

One Bottle at a Time

Hey Everyone,

It's been a little while since I've posted here, as there have not been any updates. In light of the dolphin killing season resuming in Japan and some much needed action on my part, I have new and exciting news to post here.

I have decided to work as a full time activist, dedicating all of my time to issues surrounding conservation, animal rights, environmental degradation, and other issues that I feel passionately about. You may be wondering "how can one work as an activist full time?" There isn't any particular occupation for activists. Many environmental and animal rights crusaders struggle to get by with odd jobs.

I've created a video that outlines what I am currently doing in terms of raising funds and my hope for my continued work in the future.

I've realized that I need to put my passion and desires into action. Through collecting bottles with my bicycle trailer and recycling them for money I will be able to fund the majority of my endeavors, and all it takes is some inspired action. I spent this past weekend visiting my community door to door and received an enormous amount of support, collecting over 2000 cans and bottles in only 4 hours. I will continue to do the same so that I am able to return to Taiji and head to Antarctica this upcoming winter. 

There are many actions that anyone can partake in with a little brainstorming. The idea for bottle drives came from fellow Cove Guardians who had experienced success with this type of fundraising. I've come to the conclusion through much trial and error that this is the work I'm meant to do, living each day with inspired action while spreading the message. I will be contacting events, schools, restaurants, and many other establishments to collect their bottles, and have also opened up an account at the Courtenay bottle return centre so that anyone who would like to can donate their bottles to account 119, Cove Guardian. 

Here are some photos of some small loads from my first bottle drives. 

Anyone can choose to pursue activism as a full time passion. There is no need for wasting your passion and energy working a job that you do not enjoy. Start to think of ways in which you can use your skills to fuel your dreams. The possibilities are endless.

For the Oceans,
Tarah

Drive Through Otsuchi - After Earthquake Video

Hey all,

Here is the next video of our experience in Otsuchi, Japan after the earthquake on March 11, 2011 driving to higher ground from the center harbour. The first vehicle held myself, Scott, and Brian from Save Japan Dolphins. The second vehicle held Marley, Mike, and Carisa; friends of mine from Vancouver Island. We were conversing over walkie-talkies.

You may notice some joking on my part in this video. Not only did I not fully comprehend the severity of the situation, I really had no prior knowledge of what a Tsunami entailed. I remember viewing a video quite some time ago during the time of the Tsunami in Indonesia, but the only part I had retained was the water first receding and then quickly rising. Having experienced another earthquake only two days prior I did not believe that the Tsunami would be as devastating as it was.

Anyways, here is the video.

You can also view it by visiting my Youtube channel.

Also, many of you may have noticed the change in the name and URL of my blog. The Cove Guardians have had to change our blog and URL names due to complications with Sea Shepherd tax rights. My blog now goes by the name of  "Memoirs of an Ocean Guardian" and has the URL www.dolphinguardian.blogspot.com.

For the Oceans,
Tarah

Earthquake Video

I'd like to share with everyone the first video that I shot in Japan during the earthquake on March 11, 2011. I have a number of videos that I took during the Tsunami and I will be showing the ones that I deem appropriate.

Here is the first.

For the Oceans,
Tarah

Tsunami Photos

Hey all,

I've been absent for some time as my partner and I have been traveling to visit family and the like. We had taken a bit of time off to spend time with friends and family back in Ontario and Tofino, Vancouver Island's West Coast.

The last post I wrote here mentioned the Sea Shepherd event in Seattle. Many of you know by now that the event was a huge success. A group of us traveling from Canada experienced quite a bit of trouble at the border due to the fact that I had "Earthforce" in my possession. After a grueling 12 hour day at the border, running back and forth to retrieve documents showing our loyalty to Canada, we were allowed in the United States. We met up with other Cove Guardians including Bob Timmons, Rob Lorkiewicz, Libby Miller, Elora & Scott, Tim Quick, Dave Blanchard and his family and many others. It was great to spend time with other guardians, those who we had already been through so much with. We spent the weekend in Seattle before heading to Ontario.

Now, onto more recent events. I have decided to show my photos from our Tsunami experience in Otsuchi, Japan. It's quite surreal looking back on such a life changing event. It's easy to temporarily forget the experience with Scott, Marley, Mike, Carisa, and Brian, but viewing the photos brings it all home. Life returns to normal even after the most tragic events but I doubt this event will ever fade into the background for any of us. I had taken many photos and videos during the Tsunami, as we were there for the purpose of documentation. The majority of the photos that I have here today are taken on a second-rate digital camera. I have many others that I took with my 1989 SLR Minolta, but I cannot locate the disk to upload them. The photos are in order from the beginning of the water receding until we walked out of Otsuchi the next day. Also, please remember that these photos belong to me and are not for publication.



It's important not to forget that this disaster has not ended for Japan. The North American News stations seemed to have rendered the story unimportant for the time being, but Japan is still dealing with a nuclear crisis. Not only this, but the entire coast is faced with attempting to rebuild a fraction of the life they once lived. Having seen first hand the devastation that the Tsunami caused in Otsuchi, I believe the damage is almost irreparable. I cannot imagine the hardship that the Japanese people are forced to face in the wake of the Tsunami. Please, if you have the resources donate to Japan relief efforts. The aftermath of the Tsunami is not over simply because the News does not see fit to air it.

I will have video excerpts uploaded from our experience in Otsuchi in the coming days.
Until then

For the Oceans,
Tarah

New Opportunities

First off, I'd like to start this blog post with news of a Sea Shepherd event coming to Seattle on April 30th from 7-11pm. The event is a fundraiser for the purpose of introducing the new Sea Shepherd Seattle chapter. Ryan and I will be traveling to Seattle on Friday, April 29th to gear up for the event.

Many Cove Guardians will be present including myself, Ryan, Scott West, Elora Malama, Libby Miller, Rob Lorkiewicz, David Blanchard & family, Bob Timmons and more. This will be the first reunion for many of us, to visit with those who became Cove Guardians on the past campaign in Taiji. We're very much looking forward to meeting everyone and bonding again with fellow activists who also witnessed the atrocities in Taiji, Japan.

There will be many items to auction, both silent and live. The event will also feature a slide show, dessert bar, raffle, and a photo booth. If you live in the Seattle area please come out to support SSCS at this fantastic evening event! You can purchase tickets here.

On another note, Ryan and I were recently asked if we would like to participate in the upcoming campaign in Palau. We, of course are very interested in the campaign and will have details available soon. Palau boasts a shark sanctuary, the only one we currently have on this planet. Sea Shepherd recently signed an agreement that allows the conservation society to enforce shark protection laws in the sanctuary. For more information visit http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110331-1.html

Japan has recently issued a statement that you can find here claiming that Palau should reconsider this decision. Japan has also stated that they will send a vessel (at their own cost) to Palau to assist with the shark sanctuary. But wait a minute....Isn't Japan facing a nuclear crisis? Should the country not be more concerned with the danger faced by its citizens in wake of the devastating tsunami and Nuclear disaster? One would think that Japan has larger issues to tackle, instead of competing with Sea Shepherd over protecting sharks. Considering Japan once contributed to the decimation of over 10 million sharks per year for the shark finning industry in Kesen'numa, a city that was destroyed by the tsunami, it would not seem that protecting these creatures is high on their list of priorities. It seems to me that Japan may be attempting to turn this into a pissing contest, one to declare who is better suited to save sharks. This shouldn't be a difficult decision. Sea Shepherd has more than proven its ability to protect ocean wildlife wordwide. It is time for the Japanese Government to understand where their responsibility lies. Where, you ask? Their responsibility lies in protecting their people who are facing homelessness, lack of food, fresh water, and the possibility of widespread nuclear disaster.

Stay tuned for more news soon!

For the Oceans,
Tarah

Life Lessons

I have learned quite a few life lessons due to our experience surviving the Tsunami in Japan.

I've come to realize how precious life is. We often take each day for granted, spending our time working monotonous jobs for the purpose of making money to spend on items we neither need nor want. Some of this is done to gain status in society. Sometimes we fill our lives with experiences that do not further our happiness simply to fill a void, one we often do not realize is present.

Prior to this past trip to Japan I had decided that my life was going to be filled with fulfilling experiences. I would wake each morning happy to be alive, grateful for what the new day would bring. I decided not to waste my time trying to fit into society's norms or work a job that does nothing to help this world. Of course we're taught to believe that traditional work is necessary. We must compromise our ethics and happiness to purchase a house, vehicles, food, material items, and to have pleasant experiences. I don't believe that this is either true or necessary. I've declared that I will spend my life volunteering for what is right, and the rest will work itself out. There is no reason that we should not follow our dreams.

There's a quote i'm fond of and have found in my experience to be true.
"Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors where there were only walls."

This past weekend my partner, parents, and I traveled to Seattle to visit Scott and his family. It was a fantastic weekend. Prior to leaving Seattle we participated in a rally for Lolita to raise awareness for her 40 years of captivity. For the most part we received positive feedback.

 Also prior to leaving Scott happened to mention the new SSCS campaign in Palau. He asked Ryan and I if we were interested. I had been feeling a bit unrested, eager to get on the move again. This is just what I was on the lookout for. We told Scott that we were certainly interested. It is my hope that we can become a part of the crew to participate in the Shark finning campaign in Palau. If you have not read about the campaign you can do so here. As I was mulling over the idea of heading to Palau for the next few months I thought about something that Scott had said to me on our way back to North America from Japan. I had been watching "The Secret" on the plane ride home. Underneath each speaker was a word that described the individual such as "philosopher", "metaphysician" or "Author". Scott had asked if I had one word to describe myself. One word to sum up my existence here, to outline my hopes, dreams, and ambitions. I have not yet come up with that one word. I have a feeling that I will find it sometime soon.

I've had an internal battle as to whether to post another blog here or not. On the www.30bananasaday.com forum I have been posting about "The Secret" and the Law Of Attraction for the last while. I understand that not everyone agrees with or is interested in this concept. I prefer to keep this blog about my Ocean activism experiences, but for those of you who are interested in thespecifics of making your dreams come true please feel free to visit my blog roll on 30BaD.

Now is the time to live life the way you have been dreaming of. The largest mistake people make is to focus on how they are supposed to act. Dwelling on the logistics have never gotten me anywhere. You must simply focus on what you wish to experience and achieve. You may just find that the "how" works itself out while you're busy dreaming about your desires.


For The Oceans,
Tarah