Condors over Pacific at Big Sur
Photos by Charleen Touchette 2006
Dolphin Photos via China Daily 2009
Thousands of Dolphins Block Somali Pirates
News from China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-04/14/content_7676526_5.htm
Thousands of dolphins block Somali pirates(Xinhua/CRI/cnsphoto)
Updated: 2009-04-14 17:11
PrintMailBEIJING -- Thousands of dolphins blocked the suspected Somali pirate ships when they were trying to attack Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of Aden, the China Radio International reported on Monday.
Thousands of Dolphins Block Somali Pirates
News from China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-04/14/content_7676526_5.htm
Thousands of dolphins block Somali pirates(Xinhua/CRI/cnsphoto)
Updated: 2009-04-14 17:11
PrintMailBEIJING -- Thousands of dolphins blocked the suspected Somali pirate ships when they were trying to attack Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of Aden, the China Radio International reported on Monday.
Dolphins leap in front of a Chinese merchant ship passing the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast in this photo released by the China Radio International on Monday. [CRI]
The Chinese merchant ships escorted by a China's fleet sailed on the Gulf of Aden when they met some suspected pirate ships. Thousands of dolphins suddenly leaped out of water between pirates and merchants when the pirate ships headed for the China's. 
The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness before the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while.
Related readings:
Two fleets of naval escort ships meet in Gulf of Aden
US captain freed; pirates vow tit-for-tat action
New escort ships for Somali waters
Naval fleet ends largest escort mission so far in Gulf of Aden
China initiated its three-ship escort task force on Dec. 26 last year after the United Nations Security Council called on countries to patrol gulf and waters off Somalia, one of the world's busiest marine routes, where surging piracy endangered intercontinental shipping.
China's first fleet has escorted 206 vessels, including 29 foreign merchant vessels, and successfully rescued three foreign merchant ships from pirate attacks.
About 20 percent of Chinese merchant ships passing through the waters off Somalia were attacked by pirates from January to November in 2008, before the task force was deployed.
A total of seven ships, either owned by China or carrying Chinese cargo and crew, were hijacked.
Tianyu No. 8, a Chinese fishing vessel with 16 Chinese and eight foreign sailors aboard, was captured by Somali pirates on Nov. 14 and released in early February.
The second fleet of Chinese escort ships arrived at the Gulf of Aden on Monday to replace the first fleet.
___________________
Continue with 5 page story at link -
___________________________________
Chumash Consider Dolphins Relatives
http://www.rain.org/camp96/chumash_myth3.html
The first Chumash people were created on Santa Cruz Island. They made from seeds of a Magic Plant by the Earth Goddess, whose name was Hutash.
Hutash was married to the Sky Snake (the Milky Way). He could make lightning bolts with his tongue. One day, he decided to make a gift to the Chumash people. He sent down a bolt of lightning, and this started a fire. After this, people kept fires burning so that they could keep warm, and so that they could cook their food.
In those days, the Condor was a white bird. But the Condor was very curious about the fire he saw burning in the Chumash village.He wanted to find out what it was. So he flew very low over the fire to get a better look. But he flew too close; he got his feathers scorched and they turned black. So now the Condor is a black bird, with just a little white left under the wings where they didn't get burned.
After Sky Snake gave them fire, the Chumash people lived more comfortably. More people were born each year, and their villages got bigger and bigger. Santa Cruz Island was getting crowded. And the noise the people made was starting to annoy Hutash. It kept her awake at night. So, finally, she decided that some of the Chumash would have to move off the island. They would have to go to the mainland, where there weren't any people living in thos days.
But how were the people going to get across the water to the mainland? Finally, Hutash had the idea of making a bridge out of a rainbow. She made a very long, very high rainbow, which stretched from the tallest peak on Santa Cruz Island all the way to the tall mountains near Carpinteria.
Hutash told the people to go across the Rainbow Bridge, and fill the whole world with people. So the Chumash people started to go across the bridge. Some of them got across safely, but some of them made the mistake of looking down. It was a long way down to the water, and the fog was swirling around. They got so dizzy that some of them fell off the Rainbow Brodge, down, down, through the fog, into the ocean. Hutash felt very badly about this, beacause she had told them to cross the bridge. She didn't want them to drown. Instead, she turned them into dolphins. So the Chumash always said that dolphins were their brothers.
______________________________________
The Rainbow Bridge: How we & dolphins came to be–A Chumash origin story
The Chumash people say Hutash Earth Mother
grew us from magic seeds she planted
out in the Channel Islands, on Limuw,
Island of the Blue Dolphin. The people grew
from seeds Hutash planted. The people were
happy. There was plenty of fish and plants to eat.
Sky Snake, the husband of Hutash, saw
how pleased Hutash was with the people she
made, and saw how happy the people were.
Sky Snake, Milky Way, decided to gift
the people fire which he sent down as
lightening bolts from his slender forked tongue.
Now the people could warm and cook their food.
Now the people could stay warm in winter.
Now the children were warm and happy.
Now the people could stay up late into night
telling stories, singing songs, making babies.
Hutash was happy her people were happy.
There was plenty of everything they needed.
Her people had babies, the babies grew,
and they had babies too. There were lots of
singing happy people on the Island.
In fact, Hutash began to think there were
too many people on the Island.
Sometimes she would complain to Sky Snake.
“Sky Snake,” she would say, “the people are too
noisy! I want to sleep. I whisper to them,
shhh, children, it is time to be quiet.
It is time to rest, it is time to sleep.
But do they listen to Earth Mother? No.
Sky Snake, they do not. They make their music
louder! They build the fire higher!
They make more babies! I tell them there are
too many people right now, too many
for the land, and your fires are too big!
Sky Snake, they don’t listen! What should I do?”
Sky Snake sighed. He was getting tired of all
the noise himself. He shook his head. He didn’t
know what to do either, but trusted
Hutash would figure out a solution.
One night when the people were keeping Hutash
awake when she wanted to be asleep,
she looked out on the moonlit mainland and
realized she would have to send the people there.
“Sky Snake,” said Hutash, “The people need to
leave the Island and go live on the mainland.”
“How will they get there?” asked Sky Snake, the Milky
Way. “It is too far for them to swim.”
“I will make a Rainbow Bridge,” said Hutash.
“They will walk across the Rainbow Bridge to
the mountain top and they will find plenty
to eat and drink and we will all be happy.
The next day, Hutash told the people they
would have to leave the Island and walk
across the Rainbow Bridge to the mainland.
It would take them all day, walking, but when
they arrived there would be plenty of room
and lots to eat. The people were afraid.
“But Hutash, the Bridge is too high! What if
we fall? We will drown!” they protested.
“You are my people,” reassured Hutash.
“I will take care of you. In three days,
it will be time for most of you to go.”
The people put on their fur and leather clothes,
filled a few baskets with belongings,
and started up the Rainbow Bridge.
Families held hands to stay together.
“Keep your eyes on your goal,” said Hutash.
“Look ahead to where you are going.”
As the people climbed higher and higher
on the Rainbow Bridge, they could see the land
as clearly as on the days the warm winds
blow from the east, and they were excited.
But some people looked back, and some people
looked down. These people felt dizzy. The water
was a long long long way down. The fog licked
their toes. Some of the people grew afraid,
and they looked down instead of ahead to where they were
going. They doubted Hutash and their tummies
felt funny. Some of the people lost their
balance and they fell fell fell through the fog
toward the shimmering, dark sea far below.
Hutash had told her children she would take
care of them. So as they fell, she turned the
people into dolphins. When they landed
in the water, they could swim and dive and
hold their breath long enough to catch fish to eat.
The dolphin people are grateful to Hutash.
They like playing in the water so much
that they are always smiling. And we
smile to watch our dolphin brothers and sisters.
As Island caretaker, I will tell the stories of the people who originally lived in and around the Great Barrier Reef as well as stories reflecting its biodiversity inspiring the world to come to these islands to make their own stories.
Help me get the job of Island caretaker by watching my video and giving it a high ranking! Thanks!
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/most-recent/watch/wkq1V44y2fA
_________________________________
Posted by Charleen Touchette at OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com and TouchArt Ltd where we agree with the Lakotah that "We Are All Related."
The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness before the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while.Related readings:
Two fleets of naval escort ships meet in Gulf of Aden
US captain freed; pirates vow tit-for-tat action
New escort ships for Somali waters
Naval fleet ends largest escort mission so far in Gulf of Aden
China initiated its three-ship escort task force on Dec. 26 last year after the United Nations Security Council called on countries to patrol gulf and waters off Somalia, one of the world's busiest marine routes, where surging piracy endangered intercontinental shipping.
China's first fleet has escorted 206 vessels, including 29 foreign merchant vessels, and successfully rescued three foreign merchant ships from pirate attacks.
About 20 percent of Chinese merchant ships passing through the waters off Somalia were attacked by pirates from January to November in 2008, before the task force was deployed.
A total of seven ships, either owned by China or carrying Chinese cargo and crew, were hijacked.
Tianyu No. 8, a Chinese fishing vessel with 16 Chinese and eight foreign sailors aboard, was captured by Somali pirates on Nov. 14 and released in early February.
The second fleet of Chinese escort ships arrived at the Gulf of Aden on Monday to replace the first fleet.
___________________
Continue with 5 page story at link -
___________________________________
Chumash Consider Dolphins Relatives
http://www.rain.org/camp96/chumash_myth3.html
The first Chumash people were created on Santa Cruz Island. They made from seeds of a Magic Plant by the Earth Goddess, whose name was Hutash.
Hutash was married to the Sky Snake (the Milky Way). He could make lightning bolts with his tongue. One day, he decided to make a gift to the Chumash people. He sent down a bolt of lightning, and this started a fire. After this, people kept fires burning so that they could keep warm, and so that they could cook their food.
In those days, the Condor was a white bird. But the Condor was very curious about the fire he saw burning in the Chumash village.He wanted to find out what it was. So he flew very low over the fire to get a better look. But he flew too close; he got his feathers scorched and they turned black. So now the Condor is a black bird, with just a little white left under the wings where they didn't get burned.
After Sky Snake gave them fire, the Chumash people lived more comfortably. More people were born each year, and their villages got bigger and bigger. Santa Cruz Island was getting crowded. And the noise the people made was starting to annoy Hutash. It kept her awake at night. So, finally, she decided that some of the Chumash would have to move off the island. They would have to go to the mainland, where there weren't any people living in thos days.
But how were the people going to get across the water to the mainland? Finally, Hutash had the idea of making a bridge out of a rainbow. She made a very long, very high rainbow, which stretched from the tallest peak on Santa Cruz Island all the way to the tall mountains near Carpinteria.
Hutash told the people to go across the Rainbow Bridge, and fill the whole world with people. So the Chumash people started to go across the bridge. Some of them got across safely, but some of them made the mistake of looking down. It was a long way down to the water, and the fog was swirling around. They got so dizzy that some of them fell off the Rainbow Brodge, down, down, through the fog, into the ocean. Hutash felt very badly about this, beacause she had told them to cross the bridge. She didn't want them to drown. Instead, she turned them into dolphins. So the Chumash always said that dolphins were their brothers.
______________________________________
The Rainbow Bridge: How we & dolphins came to be–A Chumash origin story
The Chumash people say Hutash Earth Mother
grew us from magic seeds she planted
out in the Channel Islands, on Limuw,
Island of the Blue Dolphin. The people grew
from seeds Hutash planted. The people were
happy. There was plenty of fish and plants to eat.
Sky Snake, the husband of Hutash, saw
how pleased Hutash was with the people she
made, and saw how happy the people were.
Sky Snake, Milky Way, decided to gift
the people fire which he sent down as
lightening bolts from his slender forked tongue.
Now the people could warm and cook their food.
Now the people could stay warm in winter.
Now the children were warm and happy.
Now the people could stay up late into night
telling stories, singing songs, making babies.
Hutash was happy her people were happy.
There was plenty of everything they needed.
Her people had babies, the babies grew,
and they had babies too. There were lots of
singing happy people on the Island.
In fact, Hutash began to think there were
too many people on the Island.
Sometimes she would complain to Sky Snake.
“Sky Snake,” she would say, “the people are too
noisy! I want to sleep. I whisper to them,
shhh, children, it is time to be quiet.
It is time to rest, it is time to sleep.
But do they listen to Earth Mother? No.
Sky Snake, they do not. They make their music
louder! They build the fire higher!
They make more babies! I tell them there are
too many people right now, too many
for the land, and your fires are too big!
Sky Snake, they don’t listen! What should I do?”
Sky Snake sighed. He was getting tired of all
the noise himself. He shook his head. He didn’t
know what to do either, but trusted
Hutash would figure out a solution.
One night when the people were keeping Hutash
awake when she wanted to be asleep,
she looked out on the moonlit mainland and
realized she would have to send the people there.
“Sky Snake,” said Hutash, “The people need to
leave the Island and go live on the mainland.”
“How will they get there?” asked Sky Snake, the Milky
Way. “It is too far for them to swim.”
“I will make a Rainbow Bridge,” said Hutash.
“They will walk across the Rainbow Bridge to
the mountain top and they will find plenty
to eat and drink and we will all be happy.
The next day, Hutash told the people they
would have to leave the Island and walk
across the Rainbow Bridge to the mainland.
It would take them all day, walking, but when
they arrived there would be plenty of room
and lots to eat. The people were afraid.
“But Hutash, the Bridge is too high! What if
we fall? We will drown!” they protested.
“You are my people,” reassured Hutash.
“I will take care of you. In three days,
it will be time for most of you to go.”
The people put on their fur and leather clothes,
filled a few baskets with belongings,
and started up the Rainbow Bridge.
Families held hands to stay together.
“Keep your eyes on your goal,” said Hutash.
“Look ahead to where you are going.”
As the people climbed higher and higher
on the Rainbow Bridge, they could see the land
as clearly as on the days the warm winds
blow from the east, and they were excited.
But some people looked back, and some people
looked down. These people felt dizzy. The water
was a long long long way down. The fog licked
their toes. Some of the people grew afraid,
and they looked down instead of ahead to where they were
going. They doubted Hutash and their tummies
felt funny. Some of the people lost their
balance and they fell fell fell through the fog
toward the shimmering, dark sea far below.
Hutash had told her children she would take
care of them. So as they fell, she turned the
people into dolphins. When they landed
in the water, they could swim and dive and
hold their breath long enough to catch fish to eat.
The dolphin people are grateful to Hutash.
They like playing in the water so much
that they are always smiling. And we
smile to watch our dolphin brothers and sisters.
As Island caretaker, I will tell the stories of the people who originally lived in and around the Great Barrier Reef as well as stories reflecting its biodiversity inspiring the world to come to these islands to make their own stories.
Help me get the job of Island caretaker by watching my video and giving it a high ranking! Thanks!
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/most-recent/watch/wkq1V44y2fA
_________________________________
Posted by Charleen Touchette at OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com and TouchArt Ltd where we agree with the Lakotah that "We Are All Related."
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