Animal Advocates Watchdog

Boycott the Aquarium’s PR Campaign

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE September 27, 2006

Boycott the Aquarium’s PR Campaign

NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY

WHALEFRIENDS

VANCOUVER HUMANE SOCIETY

LIFEFORCE FOUNDATION

Vancouver-based animal welfare groups are asking the public to avoid participating in the Vancouver Aquarium’s latest public relations campaign. The aquarium’s first “Open House” starts tomorrow but aquarium CEO John Nightingale has been busy informing the media that the aquarium’s proposed expansion plans have 80-90% support from the public, days before their “consultation process” even starts.

The aquarium paid $300,000 to Kirk & Co. to conduct the public relations campaign, but even Park Board commissioners doubt the results of such a “slick” marketing campaign/survey can be considered accurate.

The aquarium should have instead given the $300,000 to the city to hold a civic public referendum vote to finally ask Vancouverites if we agree with expanding marine mammal tanks so the aquarium can bring more dolphins into Stanley Park.

We feel that a public referendum is the only way to settled this in a democratic way.

We are asking the public:

DON’T BUY INTO THIS FARCE!

DON’T FILL OUT OR MAIL QUESTIONNAIRES!

DON’T PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS OR OPEN HOUSES!

DON’T E-MAIL THE AQUARIUM’S PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM!

Instead, we are asking the public to contact the Vancouver Park Board and urge the commissioners that they send this issue to a public referendum vote.

E-mail Park Board Commissioners pbcomment@vancouver.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY (604) 736-9514 Annelise Sorg

LIFEFORCE FOUNDATION (604) 669-4673 Peter Hamilton

VANCOUVER HUMANE SOCIETY (604) 266-9744 Debra Probert

WHALEFRIENDS (604) 327-0943 Janus Mate

Messages In This Thread

Boycott the Aquarium’s PR Campaign
GREAT LETTER: Aquarium wants to expand and exploit

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