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Dolphins as non-human persons - deserve human rights!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Canadian government must protect killer whale habitat
The federal government is legally bound to protect killer whale critical habitat, the federal Court of Appeal ruled Thursday.
The precedent-setting ruling, which follows a federal court decision last April, could affect fishing and vessel traffic in the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca Strait — critical habitat for endangered southern resident killer whales — and the Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait — critical habitat for threatened northern resident killer whales.
"I think it has to affect it," said Margot Venton, staff lawyer for Ecojustice, which acted for a coalition of conservation groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Wilderness Committee, Georgia Strait Alliance, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sierra Club and Dogwood Initiative.
Details, such as how much salmon is needed by whales, are likely to be worked out in resident killer whale recovery planning workshops being led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
"This is good news for all the endangered species in Canada," Venton said.
"This decision will clarify how government can proceed with all their recovery plans."
There are 90 endangered and threatened marine species listed under the Species at Risk Act and all depend on healthy habitats to survive, Venton said.
The Court of Appeal ordered the government to pay costs to Ecojustice.
Last year the federal court ruled in favour of Ecojustice and Judge James Russell criticized the behaviour of DFO saying the department behaved in an "evasive and obstructive way." He then awarded Ecojustice $80,000 in legal costs.
The court said all aspects of whale habitat must be protected, including food supply and quality of their marine environment.
However, DFO appealed the ruling and argued that there are discretionary provisions in the Fisheries Act for protecting critical habitat. Under the Species at Risk Act, critical habitat protection is mandatory.
"The original ruling and now the Court of Appeal's judgment have confirmed that the fate of killer whales should not be left to the discretion of politicians," Venton said.
"These whales must be protected by law.
"They need spaces to feed, breed and raise their young if their populations are going to survive and recover."
Venton said she was surprised by DFO's decision to appeal the original decision, especially after the judge said DFO hid behind procedural arguments and wasted "the court's time and judicial resources."
DFO spokeswoman Lara Sloan said the department is reviewing the decision and determining the next steps.
"The government of Canada continues to be committed to meeting its obligations under SARA," she said.
No figures are currently available to show how much the court case and appeal have cost the federal government, Sloan said.
Judith Lavoie, timescolonist.com
The Vancouver Sun, February 10, 2012
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Government+must+protect+killer+whale+habitat+court/6134639/story.html
The precedent-setting ruling, which follows a federal court decision last April, could affect fishing and vessel traffic in the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca Strait — critical habitat for endangered southern resident killer whales — and the Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait — critical habitat for threatened northern resident killer whales.
"I think it has to affect it," said Margot Venton, staff lawyer for Ecojustice, which acted for a coalition of conservation groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Wilderness Committee, Georgia Strait Alliance, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sierra Club and Dogwood Initiative.
Details, such as how much salmon is needed by whales, are likely to be worked out in resident killer whale recovery planning workshops being led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
"This is good news for all the endangered species in Canada," Venton said.
"This decision will clarify how government can proceed with all their recovery plans."
There are 90 endangered and threatened marine species listed under the Species at Risk Act and all depend on healthy habitats to survive, Venton said.
The Court of Appeal ordered the government to pay costs to Ecojustice.
Last year the federal court ruled in favour of Ecojustice and Judge James Russell criticized the behaviour of DFO saying the department behaved in an "evasive and obstructive way." He then awarded Ecojustice $80,000 in legal costs.
The court said all aspects of whale habitat must be protected, including food supply and quality of their marine environment.
However, DFO appealed the ruling and argued that there are discretionary provisions in the Fisheries Act for protecting critical habitat. Under the Species at Risk Act, critical habitat protection is mandatory.
"The original ruling and now the Court of Appeal's judgment have confirmed that the fate of killer whales should not be left to the discretion of politicians," Venton said.
"These whales must be protected by law.
"They need spaces to feed, breed and raise their young if their populations are going to survive and recover."
Venton said she was surprised by DFO's decision to appeal the original decision, especially after the judge said DFO hid behind procedural arguments and wasted "the court's time and judicial resources."
DFO spokeswoman Lara Sloan said the department is reviewing the decision and determining the next steps.
"The government of Canada continues to be committed to meeting its obligations under SARA," she said.
No figures are currently available to show how much the court case and appeal have cost the federal government, Sloan said.
Judith Lavoie, timescolonist.com
The Vancouver Sun, February 10, 2012
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Government+must+protect+killer+whale+habitat+court/6134639/story.html
Monday, January 30, 2012
What exactly were OSHA's findings in it's case versus SeaWorld?
Killer whales, or orcas, do not harm people in the wild. Then what exactly happens when trainers die while interacting with these mammals in captivity? Experts weighed in; the general consensus being that captivity itself is the cause of these tragedies.
Read on: https://sites.google.com/site/voiceoftheorcas/home/the-current-story/whatexactlywereoshasfindingsinitscasevsseaworld
Read on: https://sites.google.com/site/voiceoftheorcas/home/the-current-story/whatexactlywereoshasfindingsinitscasevsseaworld
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Voice of the Orcas
Want to find truthful, unbiased information about the realities of captivity for orcas and other dolphins? Then I encourage you to visit Voice of the Orcas, a website devoted to providing a voice to those without. It's a place to archive interviews and current events that deal with conservation and activism. The admins at this site are professionals and former marine mammal trainers who share a common philosophy. They experienced a change of heart regarding the captivity of whales and dolphins at amusement parks. This site provides a space for constructive dialogue, multimedia presentations and more. Enjoy! Voice of the Orcas
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A Fall From Freedom is coming to a tv station near you!
A shortened version of A Fall From Freedom is being distributed to all 325 PBS stations through a major PBS program provider, the National Education Telecommunication Association (NETA). The process is simple and has the potential to be very effective, but all of you can help in the process. Here is how it works:EarthViews Productions (EVP) provides the program to NETA, who in turn, works with EVP to promote the film to all PBS station program managers, letting them know of the program with trailers, sample information, press releases, etc., to generate buzz and interest.
NETA then "uplinks" the program to satellite, providing all PBS program managers the ability to downlink it and play it as often as they want, free of charge. The key is to get program managers to take the show, and that is where all of you can help.
Attached is the PBS website link, listing all PBS stations across the United States. Once the program is ready for download, a phone call and email to your local PBS station asking them to broadcast the show will be of enormous help to the cause. From experience, phone calls and emails DO make the difference as to a program manager taking a show or not, so please assist as best as you can!
On behalf of the whales of the world, whose songs are sung so sweetly,
EarthViews Productions
http://earthviewsproductions.com/
http://afallfromfreedom.org/
Link to PBS member stations:
http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Crimes Against Nature - Morgan in Loro Parque
Orcas and other whales are some of the most sentient species on the planet. THIS is what happens when these mammals are imprisoned against their will. A heart-wrenching video of Morgan, the orca who was rehabilitated and then senselessly shipped to Loro Parque, Spain instead of re-adapted to life in the wild. Crimes against nature = crimes against humanity.
Watch here: Morgan in Loro Parque
Saturday, November 26, 2011
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