Melissa Batt of Coram was so affected after watching a documentary called “The Cove” that she rented out Discovery Square in Columbia Falls to hold a free public screening and raise awareness.

“The Cove” is an Oscar-winning documentary about the controversial practices of dolphin slaughter in Japan.

Batt, 16, said she likes animals but has never considered herself an animal activist. Instead, she considers herself against the brutal methods used to kill the dolphins or trap them for sale to aquatic exhibits around the world.

Batt has set the screening for Dec. 3.

There will be presentations beginning at 3 p.m. with the screening starting at 7 p.m. In the meantime, she is selling raffle tickets to benefit nonprofits Save Japan Dolphins and Earth Island Institute.

“It shows everything … the dolphins trying to get away by jumping on the rocks. It’s so brutal. The cove they net off turns red with blood,” Batt said.

Compelled rather than complacent, she took her first job during the summer to pay for the rental of Discovery Square.

Her mother, Elizabeth, said not everyone has responded positively. She said some write her daughter off as an “eco-freak.”

“We’re not this big conservation family,” Elizabeth Batt said. “Her dad hunts, and we have no qualms with hunting at all. This is just one thing she is passionate about.” 

Rather than alienate people, her daughter’s hope is to provide an opportunity for people to watch the documentary and form their own opinions.

The next step Melissa Batt took was asking area businesses to donate prizes for a raffle the night of the screening. Raffle tickets at one for $1 or six for $5. She has received support from Save Japan Dolphins and Earth Island Institute.

“My mom has a lot of friends on Facebook and she spread the word what I was trying to do,” Batt said.

Area businesses have donated prizes such as dinners, haircuts and hotel stays. One of the prizes also includes a signed copy of “Behind the Dolphin Smile,” donated by Earth Island Institute. 

The book was written by former “Flipper” TV show actor and dolphin-trainer-turned-activist Ric O’Barry. 

Batt continues to look for more prizes donations and finds she is becoming more involved with the plight of ocean mammals.

For more information or to donate call 387-4221 or email batt.melissa@hotmail.com.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com

SIDEBAR

• Name: Louie Psihoyos, noted photographer and director of “The Cove”

• Briefly, how did you discover what was happening in this cove? I was at a marine mammal conference that (“Flipper” actor and activist) Ric O’Barry was supposed to speak (at) but the organizer of the event, SeaWorld would not let him speak about the dolphin slaughter.

• Where this cove located? Taiji, Japan.

• Why did you choose dolphins as the focus of your first documentary as opposed to, well, seal hunting, for example? We could have told the story of any exploited animal but the dolphins and Ric was compelling.

• Being a photographer, was it an easy transition to director/filmmaker? Being a still photographer is like being a lone wolf but a film maker needs to be more collaborative. That said, filmmaking is still photography at 24 frames a second, but with sound.

• What are you hoping to accomplish with “The Cove?” I would love for humanity to live up to our name homo sapien which means “wise human.” With regard to co-existing with other creatures on the planet we are quite primitive, Neanderthals really.

• The 16-year-old girl trying to raise money for Save Japan’s Dolphins through raffle tickets sales and getting people to attend a screening of “The Cove” has been difficult. What advice would you give to her or to the public? “The Cove” was made to inspire positive activism, to give humanity a voice, to give non-human creatures a voice. We are witnessing compassion rising up within people and that is what we will need more of to save the Earth’s species for future generations.