Ric Goes to Regent’s School, Thailand

By Emily Kay
Love Wildlife Foundation, Thailand

Love Wildlife, ACRES of Singapore and Goldfish PLC, The Regent’s School of Pattaya’s student enterprise, displayed their wide array of merchandise as dozens strolled in to the Globe Theater for an evening of excitement, heartache and activism. Ric O’Barry, the star of the movie-documentary The Cove, through the combined efforts of the Love Wildlife Foundation and Earth Island Institute, was to give staff, students and public of Pattaya an evening they would not forget for a very long time.

The presentation began with a harrowing showing of The Cove, a movie that will move the coldest of hearts.  Many tears were shed, but the beauty of the movie is that it is not all about sadness.  Through the efforts of Ric O’Barry and his activist team, they have brought to light a darkened corner of a tiny fishing village of Taiji, Japan.  After opening the eyes of those that want to see what happens in The Cove, many people have stood up and spoken out for the dolphins. 

As the movie drew to it’s dramatic end with the climactic score echoing in the background of the theater, Ric was welcomed to an extremely well-deserved standing ovation.  He clearly answered the abundance of questions asked of him by students ranging from primary school to the sixth form students in secondary, to staff and parents.  Asked such questions as, “Do you agree with dolphin breeding for captivity?”, “What was SeaWorld’s reactions to The Cove?”, and “Why did you spend ten years training dolphins to now be dedicating your life to saving them?”,  Ric was unfettered and detailed in his answers.

The Q&A ended on what Ric stated to be his favorite question of the evening: “What can I do to help?”  A question I have no doubt was asked by many in the audience.

After presenting the school with his book, with Nancy from Love Wildlife giving the school a copy of The Cove DVD, Ric spent the next forty-five minutes signing autographs and taking his time to answer individual’s more in-depth, personal questions.  Each person in that theater left having learned something new, sad yet they were left with a desire to make a difference and spread the word.

For me, having asked Ric, “Do you ever feel like you are fighting a losing battle?”, his answer was the simplest and most obvious of all, and one of which I had not yet thought about: “It isn’t about winning.”