October 8, 2006

NEWS RELEASE

Re: Just Say No! Let Stanley Park Be! Web Site

In order to protect Stanley Park and wildlife from the proposed Aquarium expansions the Lifeforce Foundation, a Vancouver-based ecology organization, has new web site information entitled “Let Stanley Park Be!” – www.lifeforcefoundation.org

The site includes:

1. Protect Nature: Stanley Park - A slide show and brochure about the natural diversity of fauna and flora in Stanley Park. There is absolutely no need to imprison animals, such as sea birds, beavers and others, that can be seen living freely in the park.

2. SADquarium – a slide show about the history of the Vancouver Aquarium exposing the many “animal skeletons in the Aquarium’s closet”.

3. Visions for Life – a slide show about promoting positive ways that have and will continue to protect wildlife and ecosystems without abusive captures and imprisonment.

4. VANOC or Van Aqua No Captivity poster. No “animal games” saying that the expansion must be done for the 2010 Olympics and implying that the Aquarium is part of it when they are not.

5. Fact Sheets – Deaths of cetaceans at Vancouver Aquarium and other aquariums, Aquarium zoo plans and Worldwide Dolphin Bans

More Aquarium pools and land means more captive wildlife being overcrowded in tiny prisons that cannot provide for their social and behaviour needs. Captivity instils a speciesist attitude that threatens true, decades-long conservation efforts by organizations worldwide. “You only protect what you respect,” stated Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Founder, “Captivity creates a false sense of security and slick Aquarium propaganda can brainwash people into thinking that the animals are not suffering. Every endangered species shouldn’t be and cannot be in aquarium and zoo displays. We learn about them from understanding their natural lives through land-based whale watching, humane education films and other such programs.”

The expansions plans would consume at least 50% more public parkland, clear cut at least 32 trees and imprison many more dolphins and animals. The public said “No Zoo” in Stanley Park so email addresses are provided on the web site for people to “Just Say No! Let Stanley Park Be!”

For further information:

Contact Peter Hamilton at 604-669-4673