Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Thursday, September 1, a group of concerned citizens in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is planning a peaceful protest of the annual dolphin drive in Taiji, Japan. Held every year from September through March, the dolphin hunt results in the capture and slaughter of thousands of cetaceans.

Described as "inhumane" by the Ambassador of the United States to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, the hunts are subsidized by the dolphin captivity industry, which pays top dollar for a few "show quality" dolphins that are ripped from their families. The rest of the pod is killed for meat.

The Taiji Dolphin Drive has also received international criticism for both the cruelty of hunting, capturing and killing dolphins, and the high mercury levels of the dolphin meat, which makes it dangerous for human consumption.

According to us.whales.org, during the 2014-15 season, nearly 800 dolphins were killed in Taiji. An additional 80 individuals were taken alive for captivity.

Quotas have been set for the 2015-16 season in Taiji allowing hunters to slaughter 1,873 dolphins. Over 900 bottlenose and striped dolphins may be killed, along with hundreds of other spotted, Risso's, pacific white-sided dolphins, false killer whales and short-finned pilot whales.

These hunts are a brutal reminder that we have a very long way to go towards securing a safe and humane future for all cetaceans and require our response at a variety of levels.

Here are two things that you can do from here in Puerto Vallarta to let the Japanese government know that you are against the cruel practice of capturing and killing dolphins:

• Participate in the Puerto Vallarta protest, which is set to take place at the corner of Francisco Medina Ascencio Ave. and Fluvial Ave. on September 1st, 2016 from 2:30-4:30 pm. Protestors are asked to wear the color red, representative of the bloody slaughter of the dolphins.

• Sign the change.org petition started by local animal rights advocate, Gretchen Dewitt

These are both positive and peaceful ways to raise awareness about the Taiji hunts, and your participation makes the message louder and stronger! If you plan to participate in the Puerto Vallarta protest, RSVP to Claudia Cinta at claudia7103(at)hotmail.com to stay informed of any last-minute details or updates.