I wanted to make sure you all know that the upcoming Park Board meeting on Monday June 25 will take place at the VAN DUSEN GARDENS on Oak and 37th - not in Stanley Park.

If you plan to speak to the board, please sign up before Monday at Noon by phoning Julie Casanova (604) 257-8451.

Rob Light is now signed-up to represent NoWhales In Captivity at the upcoming Park Board meeting.

The main points to be made at the meeting were best said in the Georgia Straight newsarticle:
Denis Howarth, a retired lawyer retained by the coalition, told the Straight this is the latest signal that the aquarium is moving further away from the original intent behind the bylaw: to phase out the importation of cetaceans for captivity.

"The current park board has completely reversed what the 1996 park board did," Howarth said. "They already in effect did that and signalled their intention to revise the bylaw on November 27, 2006." He added: "On November 27, the aquarium came back and said, 'Guess what? We've done it [public consultation], and everybody we've talked to believes we've done a wonderful thing. We asked a question: If a dolphin has been injured and captured and has to be put in a pool, are you cool with us keeping it? People said "Sure."' If you put it that way, even the animal advocates are in favour. The issue is, do you capture it in the first place? The way it's written now, if you are a Japanese fisherman–or any kind of fisherman–and you want to sell a dolphin that will eventually be sold to Vancouver, just make sure that it's injured before it gets into the boat and it will get under this bylaw."

Thanks,

Annelise Sorg
No Whales In Captivity