Aquarium should work with protestors

To the editor:

Re: "Protesters part of worldwide event to stop 'Japanese dolphin slaughter,'" Sept. 22.

Thank you for the informative and objective article.

I have read about the issue of the Japanese dolphin hunts and believe that the protestors are backing a good cause. Mr. Nightingale's comparison of the dolphin hunt to the First Nations' whale hunt neglects to account for the differences in scale-the First Nations take a few whales per year using mostly small, private boats, for their own use.

The Japanese have built large, high-tech ships and take entire pods of whales and dolphins en masse, for highly lucrative commercial sale of meat and live animals. Markets are driven by demand, and aquariums contribute to creating the market for the hunting of cetaceans.

The Vancouver Aquarium claims that it wants to help the dolphins, and has "rescued" two new dolphins. I suggest that the Aquarium work with others concerned about cetacean welfare to help end the brutality these sea mammals face.

Such a collaboration could take on a two-pronged approach. First, work with the hunters to find alternate revenue-generating endeavours, such as whale-watching tours. Second, put pressure on the governments of those countries that still feel it is necessary to kill dolphins to adopt more humane and responsible resource-management practices.

Of course each interest group has its own agenda, propaganda and puts its own spin on information. However, every such group has its place and such is the greatness of a free and democratic society.

Were it not for protestors and advocates, we would likely not enjoy equal rights for women, minorities, and freedom of religion that is entrenched in our Constitution today.

Let's listen to what these people have to say, for history could very well prove them to be right.

William Hue, Vancouver

published on 10/11/2006