Quote:
Originally Posted by bulliver
You know, I've not been to the aquarium so I don't really have an opinion either way, but is it really necessary to attack people and call them 'leftards' etc just because they feel exploiting animals to gain tourist dollars is wrong, and perhaps a more meaningful encounter can be had with an animal in its natural environment than in a relatively tiny pool? Is that really such a fucked up opinion?
And once again mr. x is foaming at the mouth. Why can't you accept some folks will have different opinions and will want to express them. It's not the end of the world if not everybody agrees with you.
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Sure, everyone and anyone can form an opinion but you have absolutely no idea what we have to deal with here...the absolute lack of any logic, rational, and basis on the actual fact is incredibly frustrating, and here in the west coast it more than often comes from those who are on the left of the political spectrum. It's simply retarded.
And it's very damaging to the city and progress.
This response against opponents wins the gold medal:
"Firstly, the Vancouver Aquarium does great work with its conservation and education programs. It was through being impressed by their integrity and adherence to these pro-wildlife principles that I decided to shell out money to not only be a member, but a donating supporter. It is certainly heads and shoulders above places like Sea World where the marine mammals are mostly used for spectacles and entertainment (i.e. dolphins jumping through hoops).
The large marine mammals on site (belugas, sea otters, dolphins) are there because they have been rehabilitated from injuries that would otherwise leave them up to the cruel fate of natural selection (survival of the fittest). If you've ever taken one of the more in depth tours of the aquarium (at a premium cost of course) you would also get to see the inner workings of the aquarium and the rehabilitation pools that they have for various seals, walruses, and other belugas.. all of which the public NEVER sees, and NEVER becomes exhibit fodder.
I've travelled to many aquariums and zoos around the world and the only place that I have come across so far that bests the vancouver aquarium for the good work that they do is the Singapore Zoo.
I get the feeling some of these opponents to the aquarium haven't been to the aquarium for a long time.
The sea otter show consists of someone standing on a rock platform, educating the audience for 10 minutes regarding the keystone species impact on the environment and why we need sea otters to flourish as a species. No show, no spectacle.
The beluga show involves a lot of educational talking where the belugas are trained to perform basic tasks to allow the audience to see their physical attributes clearer (i.e. fin, tail) to facilitate the learning experience. And yes, they will blow water at the front row as well. This isn't a spectacle by any stretch of imagination. The dolphin show is very much the same.
When tourists who have been to other zoos and aquariums come here their experience stands out because on the emphasis on education, and it showcases Vancouver as a city that embraces green living and sustainability.
The idea that an aquarium is obsolete as an educational tool, and then to bolster that argument by saying that there are better natural alternatives is asinine. It is impossible to expect the majority of low-income to middle-class families can afford for their children to take $50-$200 per person whale watching adventures to see them in their natural habitat... or to afford the opportunity to have their kids experience scuba diving, snorkeling, a trip to hawaii to see tropical fish etc... The aquarium is an educational compromise that allows the MAJORITY of the population a chance to see and learn first hand about something that they may never have a chance at grasping in their daily lives.... so that when we talk about saving salmon or seals and whatnot, they have some context to work with and conservation efforts gain more traction.
In the end,
the revenues generated from the exhibits enable the aquarium to help a SIGNIFICANTLY larger number of marine mammals/life, and that is what people absolutely FAIL to understand. In the capitalist society that we live in, without a hook or draw you can't get the vast public to buy into conservation/preservation/education with their WALLETS, and you certainly aren't going to get enough of that from government sources. The aquarium is a revenue source that facilitates all of these good things."
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