WHALE HEARINGS CONTINUE TONIGHT Just a quick message to keep you posted, especially for those of you who tried to watch the Whale Hearings online but due to a technical difficulties, there was no sound. We have been promised the Park Board will have the sound on for tonight's meetings and will also post the video of last night's very long meeting online with sound! Whale of a show last night. 65 folks signed up to speak, and only a third have been heard, so the rest will speak tonight starting at 6pm. First the Park Board staff did a long presentation, then the Vancouver Aquarium did one, too. Afterwards, delegations had 5 min. to speak with the American Humane and the Vancouver Humane Society starting first. Delegations spoke till late into the night with VA volunteers and staff whining about how much they "love" the whales. It would be comical if it wasn't so tragic. More to come tonight. Stay tuned!. Here's a few highlights of last night's meeting: PARK BOARD STAFF REPORT http://parkboardmeetings.vancouver.ca/2017/20170308/REPORT-CetaceansAtVancouverAquarium-ReferralReportBack-20170308.pdf VANCOUVER AQUARIUM The Vancouver Aquarium did a presentation showing lots of happy belugas in the wild and claiming they need 10 more years of belugas for research. NOTE: ONLY 1 BELUGA SCIENTIFIC PAPER has been produced by the VA in the past 4 decades of keeping belugas! Park commissioners asked the Aquarium tough questions and some of the answers were so idiotic that they were funny. The arrogance of the Aquarium's answers and attitude throughout the meeting reminded us of the new American president, especially when the Aquarium accused us of stating "alternative facts". Ayayay! Here's a sample of the discussion: - VA says they have to stop breeding belugas because of international animal rights groups pressuring. - Q: So taxpayers are subsidizing VA's operating costs? A: YES. - Q: Why can't the research on belugas continue at SeaWorld? Why the need to bring them to the VA? A: We need the whales for Canadian researchers. (NOTE: Federal Fisheries just told the Senate they don't do any whale research at aquariums, only in the wild) - Q: What happens if Senate Bill S-203 passes? A: Unlikely Senate bill will pass. Still needs to go to the house of parliament. - Q: All cetaceans or just belugas ended by 2029? A: Just belugas. - Q: Searched for alternatives? A: Yes, beluga arctic exhibit best. - Q: Why not virtual reality? A: Not enough time, could lose donors, must deliver by 2019. (NOTE $$$$$$$)- AMERICAN HUMANE As we predicted, American Humane reps (a group with a misleading name, as they always speak in support of animal abusers, now trying desperately to green-wash our local whale jail) were at the Whale Hearings saying a ton of silly things in favour of keeping whales at the Vancouver Aquarium. Commissioners asked AH, why does AH have such different views than our Vancouver Humane Society? - no real answer. AH Florida vet said she kept dolphins in sea pens and added that placing cetaceans kept in tanks into sea pens would be too stressful. Big laugh from the audience. A commissioner asked if whales were sentient beings, and AH asked him to define "sentient beings". More big laughs. What fools! VANCOUVER HUMANE SOCIETY No Whales In Captivity had sent a letter to the board requesting that the VHS be allowed to do a full presentation regarding their latest joint-report with Zoocheck Canada on the lack of education, conservation/research at the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland, the last 2 whale jails in Canada. READ VHS/ZC REPORT: https://www.zoocheck.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MM-Education-and-Conservation-Report-Dec-9-2016-fi.pdf When NWIC asked last night why VHS was not getting to do a longer presentation as it would expose the fallacy of the Aquarium's proposal, the Park Board staff lied and said they had not received our request. That's when Park Commissioner Kirby-Young pulled out our letter and demanded to know how the staff could have missed out request and why such a presentation had not been added to the agenda. The staff apologized and promised to add the VHS presentation to tonight's meeting agenda. YES! VIEW WHALE HEARINGS ONLINE Try watching tonight as a decision should be made by park commissioners after listening to the last of the 65 people signed up to speak. http://civic.neulion.com/vancouverparkboard WHALE HEARING NEWS Here's a few links to news about last night's Whale Hearings. Stay informed! http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/893690947768 http://globalnews.ca/tag/vancouver-aquarium/ Despite the Vancouver Aquarium vouching to shut down its beluga conservation program by 2029, the Vancouver Park Board held a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss the future of all cetaceans at their facility. http://www.news1130.com/2017/03/08/special-park-board-meeting-tonight-discuss-whales-captivity/ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-park-board-aquarium-special-meeting-1.4014217 http://www.vancourier.com/news/future-of-vancouver-aquarium-back-at-centre-of-debate-tonight-1.11305746 NWIC @ 11:30AM TODAY I will be interviewed live on Gorilla Radio at 11:30am (in an hour) if you want to listen live. http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/2017/03/gorilla-radio-with-chris-cook-ken-boon.html Never a dull moment! Annelise Sorg No Whales In Captivity