As the February 14 demonstrations protesting the Taiji dolphin slaughters and captures draws near, do NOT forget the Russian captures of beluga, pilot, and orca whales. Stories about orca whales and Taiji dolphins taking part in the Sochi Olympic games have faded in the media. The exception is this excellent investigation http://timzimmermann.com/2014/02/10/who-is-white-sphere-the-barely-disguised-conglomerate-behind-russias-wild-orca-captures/ by a journalist who took the time to uncover the truth.
We ask you not to view the Olympic Games on TV (NBC in the US) in protest of these travesties and many others. Russian President Putin and his government are responsible for violence against these whales and dolphins, homeless dogs in Sochi, and LGBT people.
As for the Olympic Committee, we reject the notion that the highest standards of personal behavior and competition are required of athletes by the Olympic Committee while the same committee AND SPONSORS do not require hosting countries to uphold justice for individuals from other species and people. The Olympic Committee must reform the host country selection criteria or face dwindling public and commercial support for the games.