Image
File
City approach does not take
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.
Edited Text
City approach does not take
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.
aquarium into account
> Misconceptions on cetacean confinement
Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor
Kone cetaceans (whales and
dolphins) in captivity is wrong.
Putting some of the smartest and largest
animals on Earth into tiny tanks with
constant exposure to humans is cruel
and damaging for the animals. I think
companies that deliberately mistreat
whales—especially orcas—should be
held accountable for animal abuse.
Recently, the Vancouver park board
voted to ban cetacean captivity as soon as
possible in city parks, specifically targeted
towards the only such place that does so,
the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium
Appreciating nature for its beauty
is currently home to three cetaceans,
although none are originally from there.
The aquarium also operates a marine
mammal rescue centre out of view from
visitors. Previously, they had already
adapted initiatives to stop the breeding of
cetaceans, and to not take animals from
the wild. The park already had a plan to
phase out cetaceans by 2029, formulated
without city involvement. VanAqua
is widely considered a world leader
in marine animal research, operating
with a team of respected scientists.
The cetaceans at the aquarium
have nowhere else to go. They will
presumably be transferred to other
aquariums, which can cause significant
stress to the animals, and potentially
> The emotional side of environmentalism
Colten Kamlade
Senior Columnist
his week, I watched a documentary
called A Plastic Ocean, and it was one
of the few films that has made an impact
on the way I live. I find myself putting
in extra effort to recycle. I no longer
throw plastic in the trash, even when it’s
more convenient, because I know the
effect it will have on the environment.
The ocean is one of our planet’s
greatest wonders. If you have ever
watched a stormy sea crash against a
rocky beach, or gazed at the mirror-
like tranquility of its surface, you
know what I mean. Approaching a
politicized issue with such emotion
might seem odd, but I believe that nature
transcends politics. I’m not writing
this to tell you about an impending
environmental crisis. I’m writing
this to mourn the loss of something
beautiful, and deeply personal to me.
Ever since I was young, my family
has vacationed on Hornby Island. It’s a
small community off the coast of British
Columbia. Those who live there are
either hippies, artists, or both. The bright
clothes and the delicious food impressed
me asa child, but not as much as the
ocean did. The cool breeze that always
kept the temperature comfortable, the
plethora of life that skittered around on
the beach, and even the smell of sulphur
affected me deeply. Now whenever I
hear the roar of the surf or the squawk of
seagulls, my childhood washes over me.
This is why A Plastic Ocean hit so
close to home. At some point during the
documentary I realized that if our society
does not change, there will be a time when
put them in worse conditions than
they are in currently. They are rescue
animals who are physically or mentally
incapable of surviving in their natural
habitat. It is unfortunate that they end
up living shorter, worse lives due to these
conditions. However, it is also beneficial
for humanity to learn about these animals
up close, and one of the only valid ways
to do is to study the specimens we have.
The park also stands to lose
significant revenue from this by-law,
as cetaceans are the main attraction
to the public. Although the idea of
profiting from exploiting large animals
isn't very nice, most of the revenue goes
towards research and conservation in
marine biology. The aquarium does not
Photo via cloudinary.com
just study cetaceans, it researches all
marine biology. Much of that funding
will be lost, and it will particularly (and
ironically) be a setback for learning
how to help cetaceans in the wild.
Rules about what is at the aquarium
should be reserved for the respected
and knowledgeable officials that run
the place. City politicians pressured by
a misguided public that doesn’t know
all the facts should not interfere with
a professional, world-class facility that
has better knowledge on what actually
goes on there. A gradual timeline was
already in place to get whales and
dolphins out of there. There is no reason
to suddenly expedite the process.
C C Environmentalism has become such
a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is.
the coasts of Hornby will become flooded
with plastic. The place I keep closest to my
heart will be buried under trash, and the
ocean will be forever tainted by humans.
Environmentalism has become
such a political issue that we often lose
sight of how personal it is. When we
talk about the degradation of ocean
water, we shouldn't just be talking about
politics. We should care about nature
because it is beautiful and worthy of
our admiration and respect. Arguments
based on logic are indispensable, but
we also need to admit that there is an
emotional side to environmentalism, and
it is often the more powerful persuader.
This means that grassroots
movements are important. The prime
minister can talk about how important
sustainability is, but those of us who
live in BC have to foster our own love
of our forests and coasts. We need
to make it clear that our home—
our beautiful British Columbia—is
being threatened by environmental
degradation. There is a change that
needs to be made nationwide, but we
have to start within our own provinces.