Vancouver Sun 2 Letters: July 25, 2003
Aquarium's critics all wet in Spinnaker's case
Steve Vanden-Eykel
Mark Van Manen, Vancouver Sun / The Vancouver Aquarium says Spinnaker
needs a dolphin playmate, but those opposed to dolphins living in
captivity say no way.
The Vancouver park board has stated that it will not make a decision
on banning dolphins at the Vancouver Aquarium without consulting
public opinion (Search for dolphins will continue, July 23). So
here's an opinion for them.
For starters, I think it's ridiculous that a group elected to oversee
parks has any control over how a scientific institution is run.
If the Museum of Anthropology were in Stanley Park, should the board
be able to prevent it from displaying native artifacts?
If the park board follows through on the threat to ban importing
dolphins, I would hope a higher level of government steps in to
override it. I would certainly vote against any commissioner who
voted for a ban.
I think Annelise Sorg of No Whales in Captivity should be ashamed
of herself. If she cared about whales, she'd be working at the aquarium.
What is the Coalition for No Whales in Captivity anyway? How many
people belong to it? Do they pay dues? Do they attend meetings?
Are minutes kept?
Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows that you can tell when an
animal is abused, suffering or unhappy. There is a difference between
a dog kept in a home where it gets lots of love and attention, and
a dog kept chained in the back yard.
Spinnaker is healthy, energetic and affectionate. He gets plenty
of attention, plenty of stimulation. He is a happy dolphin. Why
does Ms. Sorg wish to deny the one thing that would make Spinnaker's
life even better?
Steve Vanden-Eykel
New Westminster
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Aquarium's critics all wet in Spinnaker's case
Suzanne Anton, Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Aquarium has not been asked by the Vancouver park
board to refrain from importing dolphins until a review is complete.
It has been asked to do so by the chair alone. The request was not
discussed or debated at the park board table, nor was the aquarium
itself given any notice that such a request might be under consideration
so that it might respond.
In my view this was improper procedure and very disrespectful to
the aquarium.
Although the aquarium is free to ignore the request, it puts them
in an extremely uncomfortable position. We at the park board generally
deal with our community partners in a fair and proper manner. Unfortunately,
that did not happen on this occasion.
Suzanne Anton
Non-Partisan Association
park board commissioner
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Please Please Please write to the newspaper and the Park Board
!!!
Vancouver Park Board Commissioners
Suzanne Anton suzanne@suzanneanton.ca
Heather Deal heather_deal@telus.net
Alan DeGenova adegenova@sutton.com
Lyndsay Poaps lyndsay@checkyourhead.org
Eva Riccius riccius@sfu.ca
Anita Romaniuk aromaniuk@ca.inter.net
Loretta Woodcock lorettaisalways@shaw.ca
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca
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