Friday, November 21, 2014

Businessweek Article Exposes that SeaWorld Lied in Federal Court

There were interesting revelations in Atchison's article with Businessweek
In this interview with Bloomberg
Businessweek, SeaWorld CEO Jim Atchison not only reinforced the notion that SeaWorld management is inept, see Dodo's take-down, here, the article inadvertently demonstrated that Kelly Flaherty Clark, curator of animal training, lied under oath in a federal courtroom in 2011. 


First, as depicted in the OSHA v SeaWorld courtroom scene in the documentary film, Blackfish, SeaWorld lawyer Carla Gunnin questions curator of animal training, Kelly Flaherty Clark regarding the connection between SeaWorld & Loro Parque. See 1:56 in the Blackfish trailer: 


As a reminder, this trial was national headline news, heavily attended, and widely followed. It began on Monday, September 19, 2011, lasting about two weeks, total. It was held at the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, FL, USA, with Federal Judge Ken S. Welsch presiding.  John Jett PhD and I were subpoenaed by Judge Welsch. You can view my subpoena, here. 
[The fascinating court transcript, filled with SeaWorld "whoopers," can be found & downloaded here. The exchange reported below is on page 133]



___________________________________________________________________

SW ATTORNEY:  Ms. Clark, I just have one more question for you. You mentioned something about Loro Parque, and I just want to clarify for the Judge. Is that a park owned by SeaWorld in any way? 
CURATOR KELLY F. CLARK:  No, it is not. 
SW ATTORNEY:  Are they affiliated to your knowledge with SeaWorld? 
CURATOR KELLY F. CLARK:   No. 
SW ATTORNEY: That's all I have.
_____________________________________________
Article by @TheBattWoman on Loro Paque: Incident report into park trainer's death raises concerns

For the record, curator Clark and Dawn Brancheau were close friends. In this article & video (60 Minutes Australia) they were described as "best friends."  Kelly was also Dawn Brancheau's boss, and sent her to Loro Parque. Relevant because Gunnin adds the phrase, "to your knowledge," which is a potential back-door out. 

The bottom line is that Kelly Clark had demonstrable knowledge of the association between SeaWorld and Loro Parque, as well as of her "best friend," whom she sent there to help train the SeaWorld killer whales; and also to help train the Spanish trainers. Thus, the phrase, "to your knowledge" doesn't provide her with an out. 
She knew.

 This photograph demonstrates the connection of SeaWorld & Loro Parque. 



Next, because it was the SeaWorld attorney, questioning her own witness, it demonstrates a tactic. One that was planned and designed to separate SeaWorld, legally, from it's relationship with Loro Parque, and culpability in the death of Alexis Martinez. [Note: This is where the article comes into play]. 

 Bloomberg Businessweek:  Saving SeaWord article: 
Paragraph Two: 
...as Atchison and his team have dealt with fallout from Blackfish, the documentary that shed unwelcome light on the lives of SeaWorld’s most valuable assets, the 29 four- to six-ton killer whales, or orcas, kept and trained at parks it owns or helps manage.   [Emphasis added]

Paragraph Nineteen:

"SeaWorld hasn’t participated in capturing wild orcas since the practice was banned in 1972. Of the 29 whales it manages, five were captured—including Tilikum     [Emphasis added]
Those statements confirm three things. First, that SeaWorld helps manage Loro Parque, proving that Kelly Flaherty Clark made a "bold-faced lie" under oath, and as demonstrated in the movie Blackfish. Secondly, that SeaWorld considers the 29th orca in its collection, Morgan, a company "asset." And thirdly, that Atchison lied regarding when SeaWorld stopped capturing orcas. In the chart below, note that Morgan was wild caught in June of 2010. And also note, here on CNN, this week, that former SeaWorld collector, Jeff Foster, describes capturing orcas for SeaWorld well into the 1980's.  [Warning, video below contains graphic footage]






See chart below, which was provided by WDC and can be downloaded here.   

Facility
Name of orca
Capture or birth date
USA



SeaWorld California
1.   Corky 2
Wild caught, 12/1969
2.     Kasatka
Wild caught, 10/1978
3.     Ulises
Wild caught, 11/1980
4.      Orkid
09/1988
5.      Nakai
09/2001
6.       Kalia
12/2004
7.      Ikaika
08/2002
8.   Shouka
02/1993
9.         Keet
02/1993

10.    Makani
02/2013

SeaWorld Florida
11.      Katina
Wild caught, 10/1978
12.     Tilikum
Wild caught, 11/1983
13.        Kayla
11/1988
14.          Trua
11/2005
15.       Nalani
09/2006
16.         Malia
03/2007
17.      Makaio
10/2010

SeaWorld Texas
18.       Takara
07/1991
19.     Kyuquot
12/1991
20.           Unna
12/1996
21.            Tuar
06/1999
22.          Sakari
07/2010
23.         Kamea
12/2013






























SPAIN

Loro Parque
24.      Keto
06/1995
25.    Tekoa
11/2000
26.  Kohana
05/2002
27.     Skyla
02/2004
28       Adan
10/2010
29.  Morgan
Wild caught, 06/2010



Perhaps these "bold faced lies" will be of interest to the Rosen Law Firm, which has filed a class action suit against Atchison, Blackstone, & other SeaWorld management. In it the suit questions the company's credibility and asserts that SeaWorld misrepresented its value, ripped off investors, and covered up its cruel practices with killer whales. 

 Based on personal experiences, this is nothing new for SeaWorld. 
____________________________

Jeffrey Ventre is a medical doctor licensed in the state of Washington and is a board certified specialist in the area of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Jeff was a marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld from 1987 to 1995. He worked with John Jett PhD, Samantha Berg, and Carol Ray, at SeaWorld in Orlando (as well as Kelly Clark & Dawn Brancheau). The four ex trainers continue to spread the word regarding cetacean captivity as a group known as "Voice of the Orcas."

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

The Cure For Toxic SeaWorld is Blackfish Bill AB-2140

Amidst the Blackfish backlash, toxic SeaWorld throws a bone to California politicians and Wall Street

Instead of responding to public pressure & collapsing stock, SeaWorld doubles down on captivity. In lieu of taking the proverbial high road  (phasing out shows, placing its female killer whales on oral contraception, & leading the way on coastal sanctuaries)  SeaWorld pompously announces more captivity, more pools, more breeding, and international expansion. 




___________________________________________



All Eyes on California

The proposed Blue World Project is a media play. Plain & simple. Rolled out to a live audience with a suspenseful unveiling, complete with rumors planted the day before, & some ball-park figures provided to Wall Street. It was a spectacle, to say the least. 
BACK TO REALITY

There isn't much information on how the proposed "Blue World Project" would impact the Mission Bay ecosystem. As recently as 2012, SeaWorld was cited & fined for polluting it. Subsequently, its hard to believe that SeaWorld can begin digging a massive hole on city property, with additional water treatment equipment, without due process. This would include environmental impact studies and approvals from regulatory agencies including the California Coastal Commission and the city itself. SeaWorld leases the land from San Diego. Check out this excerpt from Frank Gormlie of the  San Diego Free Press 23 October 2012:
SeaWorld is not just any corporate entity. Outside of the thousands of birds crapping in the water, one of the biggest polluters of Mission Bay is SeaWorld itself. Just earlier this year, SeaWorld was fined $6,000 for dumping excessive ammonia and animal waste into the Bay. (See Fox5 video here and “SeaWorld Cited for Exceeding Mission Bay Effluent Limits” in an article by Matt Potter, March 20, 2012 in the San Diego Reader.) 
SeaWorld is the largest discharger of water into the Bay and has been a known polluter of the body of water, as the bay has been on California’s list of impaired water bodies for several years as it does not meet the Clean Water Act standards.


A large proposal that will likely require city & regulatory approval 
Next, note the relatively long timeline for implementation, and also how it will happen one park at a time. This gives the company plenty of wiggle room and lowers risk. 

 If AB-2140 passes, the San Diego "Blackfish puppy-mill idea" will likely evaporate, as breeding captive killer whales would then be illegal. Faced with that, SeaWorld could halt the plans, or even shift the project to Orlando, a site that makes more sense, once you remove the politics. 
Artificial insemination into a young female with ungloved hand
In general, company officials have made it clear that expanding the breeding program is a big reason for the proposed addition. In regard to its business model, which includes the unethical 
artificial insemination (AI) of unnaturally young female killer whales, CEO Jim Atchinson told The Today Show earlier this week...

“We make no apologies for what we do and how we do it.” (SeaWorld)
Here's the deal:  SeaWorld is banking that this gesture will win it votes in the California legislature, and don't expect quick action. Major construction on Blue World will not begin until after a final vote on AB-2140 is counted. The company may stage a ground breaking ceremony for the press. But one shovel-load does not dig you a 50 foot hole in the ground with added water treatment capability, plumbing & "orca treadmill."

Hence, all eyes on California!

Assemblyman Richard Bloom needs help from a growing coalition of concerned citizens. Consider following Mr. Bloom, and spreading the word about AB-2140. These are live Tweets, from him:  



More Education is Needed


 The Blackfish Effect will continue to happen. Intermittent airings by CNN, DVD sales, and availability at Netflix & Red Box continues to bring aboard more education & people that wish to end captivity. Some folks hope for the right of "bodily liberty" for "non human persons." These awakened friends add to a growing army of regular people that seek justice for killer whales, an end to poaching, sensible regulation of farms, and more oversight for corporations.





SeaWorld is worried

 A critical mass of informed consumers has been achieved, with backlash coming from people & students from all walks of life, as well as both sides of the political aisle. For us, its time to craft the transformational political change we need, and that involves taking on a corporation at the ballot box. The Blackfish Effect needs to be converted into political action.  

The animal justice movement is growing with each airing of Blackfish. Thank you Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and producer Manny Oteyza. 




"Once you see it, you cannot un-see it." 





Why San Diego? Yep, It comes back to AB-2140

 Considering that the Orlando park is more profitable, sees more visitors, is home for the corporate headquarters, & has cheaper construction costs, you'd think that the Blue World Project would start there. So what gives?  

According to this report by WKMG-TV / Orlando, CBS Affiliate, as well as the SeaWorld web page, "The San Diego project is expected to open in 2018. New killer whale homes will then be constructed at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio."

Choosing San Diego is a strategic business move. This accomplishes at least five things for SeaWorld: 


An Artist's Rendering of the proposed "Blue World Project" 

1. Shows that they're doing something in response to public sentiment & collapsing stock value

2. This proposal provides cover to vote down Blackfish Bill AB-2140. SeaWorld gives a lot of money to campaigns in California, and politicians are happy to take "donations." 
Assemlymen who might buck public opinion & strike down the bill, can now cite "Blue World Project" as an example of how the company is evolving. 
To get a feel for public opinion in the state, watch this heartwarming video about three young ladies who delivered 1.2 million signatures to the California Assembly in support of a bill that would ban captive breeding of Killer Whales in the state.




3. It shows Wall Street they're "all in" and gives pro-SeaWorld Voice of San Diego plenty of feel good stories to publish. VOSD hosted a good live debate, but tends to frame SeaWorld's presence in San Diego as a beneficial, economic one, without much regard for the killer whales suffering in captivity. When captivity of killer whales gets reduced to economics, by Wall St, or VOSD, it misses the point. The coverage has been helpful to SeaWorld. 


Atlantis The Palm was heavily promoting its marine park on Emirates Airlines
4. The new pool, if AB-2140 is shot down (i.e. SeaWorld gets its wish), will become a #Blackfish "puppy mill" for SeaWorld's overseas expansion. In my opinion SeaWorld couldn't be happier with the ongoing Russian captures (more genetic material), and is looking carefully at opportunities in Dubai, where there is already a large marine life park itching to get some killer whales. 



I've written about this with John Jett PhD in a textbook chapter regarding animals in entertainment. We believe that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is gearing up for killer whales, and combined with company statements, will likely get them from SeaWorld. This effort, to breed animals as quickly as possible, is a way to get more animals into places like the UAE, for a hefty profit.  
Personal Photo. Departing Dubai International Airport. Boeing 777. Emirates Airlines. 
Placing killer whales into a region where temperatures regularly exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with little regulation or oversight, is a disturbing thought.
5. It changes the conversation, at least temporarily. SeaWorld has been getting bashed in the media, lately. This is a way to change the subject, for a while (see image of "Blackfish Wednesday") 
With plenty of money, a desire for Killer Whales, and pre-existing captivity infrastructure, Atlantis The Palm is a predictable destination for SeaWorld and the killer whales it is actively breeding. Note: Air temps in Dubai regularly exceed 120 F
SeaWorld Just Doesn't Get It


 In general the proposed Blue World Project is a striking indicator that SeaWorld really doesn't get it. It also points to the incompetence of the management team as described in this Dodo article by Keneth Leher. His five points are worth restating:

 1.  The SeaWorld brand is now tarnished, at best.
Toxic? Likely. The brand represents the torture of whales for an increasing population of concerned citizens. If you love whales (and who doesn’t), you don’t like SeaWorld. 
2.  Wall Street has turned on SeaWorld.
The stock is down over the last year by 45% and $1.6 billion in market cap has evaporated. You can sometimes fight City Hall, but it’s nearly impossible to fight Wall Street. And Wall Street is done with SeaWorld. 
3.  Consumers are turning away from SeaWorld.
Attendance has dropped 4.3 percent over the first 6 months of 2014. It takes forever and a day for consumers to return to a company once they have walked away. And they usually never come back. 
4.  The internet has turned against SeaWorld.
“Blackfish,” The Oceanic Preservation Society, The Dodo, over 100,000 users on Change.org and many other sites have made it their business to actively campaign against SeaWorld’s mistreatment of animals. SeaWorld can’t survive that, plain and simple. 
5.  Incompetence. 
SeaWorld has proven itself totally inept in dealing with one, two, three and four. They haven’t got a clue.


Get active links to all of these Blackfish Wednesday Headlines HERE














In summary, SeaWorld really doesn't get it, and hopefully changes can be made in middle & upper management that will improve the quality of the management team & improve the future lives of the killer whales in its care.  

 "Blue World Project" does not address the issue of broken teeth, collapsed dorsal fins, diminished quality of life, social strife, and shortened lifespans, all of which are caused by captivity. 

 Blackfish remains a critical tool in a growing movement. Lastly, AB-2140 is the cure for what ails Toxic SeaWorld. 
Jeffrey Ventre, MD, is a physician, Blackfish cast member, and former SeaWorld trainer from 1987-1995. 

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Monday, August 11, 2014

Four Piece Lecture Set from #Superpod3

This article contains three Lectures and a Q&A from #Superpod3, with more material to be posted at Voice of the Orcas  

Please dig in, as there's a lot to share & a lot to learn about Southern Resident Killer Whales, Russia vs China, Lolita, and salmon (aka pink fish for blackfish). Also, linked below is 34 mins from a Blackfish movie expert panel. Samantha describes the European screenings & the impact the film is having around the world. 

The additional material, to be posted under one tab at the site, will store interviews, a statement from Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, via Kimberly Ventre, and Monday Night (World Orca Day) lectures. We will archive all of it under one tab at VOTO, but here is a sneak preview of the approved interviews. 

If you are interested in #Superpod4, the event will be July 20-24, 2015, on San Juan Island, WA, USA 



(1) Dr Chris Caudill lectures on Salmon with historical context, challenges, damnation, salmon life cycle, patterns: http://youtu.be/jQdcoZXo1ls
(2) Howard Garrett lecture on Lolita: http://youtu.be/4QvUeHKdfbA

(3) Blackfish Panel Q&A After movie screening (the first 34 mins only) : http://youtu.be/Mb791vmpSUE

(4) Dr Naomi Rose lectures on legislation/regulation including comments on Russia v China, belugas, more : http://youtu.be/3P18nuf-_ME
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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Schedule of Events for Superpod Three

Superpod Three begins on World Orca Day, Monday July 14, 2014, and lasts for one week. Below is a schedule of events which will be updated as new information comes in. 

Not including the many local participants, naturalists, boat & business operators, Center for Whale Research staff, & more, approximately 35 - 50 additional human Superpod members will migrate to San Juan Island, WA, USA, to learn, present, share, Tweet, blog, plan, get inspired, cross-pollinate, & take stunning photos & videos to share with the world. 



These are the real Blackfish. And none of them have stage names like Shamu, Namu, or Baby Shamu

Two "Blackfish" jump for joy at their summer home in the San Juan Islands, WA, USA 

 The event will be the most attended one, yet. There is good news regarding the whales, too. June Chinook (salmon) numbers are good, thus far. The "J's and L's" are already swimming in the waters around the island & when the "K's" arrive...  a true, complete Southern Resident Superpod will commence, with local customs & traditions, including an annual whale greeting ceremony, and more. If you've not seen a Superpod, check out "Voice of the Orcas" video here: 


Previous Superpod events have included film crews from Blackfish, the Non-Human Rights Project, The Humane Society, & journalists like Tim Zimmermann, & David Kirby, who have written extensively about the plight of killer whales in captivity. Many keys journalists, former trainers, documentarians, and more have gotten their first exposure to wild killer whales from San Juan Island, and also at the Superpod One & Two events, 2011 & 2012, respectively. 

Here's a screen shot of the island showing distribution of current rental properties & hotels. Click to expand the view. 
Notice Kanaka Bay & Tilikum in the ocean. The dots represent Superpod Three Dwellings 

Daily Excursions & Events 

 Each day on Island, pod members will be out on the water, possibly on a whale watch boat, kayak or sail boat. Or maybe on land, at Lime Kiln State Park, watching as the Southern Residents swim by. Or lastly, spending time in beautiful Friday Harbor enjoying a craft beer with some grilled oysters at Friday's Crab House.  Usually, after whale watching the pod congregates at public and private spaces for presentations, food & spirits. Below, you'll find a current list of events that will be updated as more presenters check in and add details. 
Monday: Meet and Greet / Orientation in Friday Harbor at 2 pm.  Get off the WA State Ferry and meet some of the event organizers. 

Friday's Crab House from 2:00 - 4:00 PM (Upper deck)
Get Jerry's Famous Grilled Oysters with Capers Sauce
Friday's Crab House on the water in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA, USA 
Presentations will begin after 7 pm at the "VOTO-2" House on the West Side of the Island 


Learn about Taiji from a Cove Guardian, Rachel Carbary. Followed by "Dolphin Drive History 101" by Jordan Waltz (see below).  


Rachel has organized the global #EmptyTheTanks events, and will give a presentation on her experiences at the annual small cetacean slaughter & sale at Taiji, Japan.

Witnessing this was her inspiration for "Empty the Tanks." Rachel told VOTO,
This past November, when I was in Taiji for a second time, I watched dolphin trainers ride on a skiff with dolphin killers and dead dolphins on board. The slaughter exists because the captivity industry exists. Every time someone buys a ticket to SeaWorld or MarineLand or any park with cetaceans, you are encouraging the dolphin killers of Taiji to continue their bloody business. It doesn’t matter if SeaWorld doesn’t have dolphins from Taiji. Other parks in the world do, so if you go to any park that is using cetaceans for entertainment, you are encouraging new parks to be built in other parts of the world, like Dubai and those dolphins will be victims of Taiji’s annual slaughter and capture season. It’s simple supply and demand. Take away the demand and you eliminate the need for the supply.

Presentation Two: Dolphin drive history 101:  A presentation on when and how the drives the started and how they became entwined with the captivity industry, as well as how activists have tried to halt it over the years. Presentation duration will be 20-25 minutes. Jordan will present a printed out illustrated timeline where people can view it & provide feed back.


Jordan Waltz is A Midwest artist and independent researcher who has served as archivalist/researcher for Blackfish documentary.



 Tuesday:   Free public Blackfish Screening hosted by the The Whale Museum. Note: The location of screening is just two buildings down at The Grange, in Friday Harbor  
Come see the Whale Museum at Friday Harbor and meet the staff & up to 8 members of the Blackfish Cast 


5:30 Meet & Greet reception at The Whale Museum (light refreshments provided)
6:00 Move to the Grange (just two buildings up the street) for the film
6:10 Welcome audience & start film
6:15 Screening of “Blackfish”
7:40 Q & A conversation with the cast, immediately following film
8:45 approximate end time


Wednesday:  Voice of the Orcas hosted Media Day, with journalists in attendance. There will be interviews & film from the house & deck overlooking the Haro Strait. (See "Whale Party Central" on island map). We are hoping for some whale "fly bys" as the day unfolds.

That morning VOTO, along with Dr Naomi Rose, is tentatively scheduled to be on L.A. Talk Radio with Capt Paul Watson & the Barbi Twins at 11:00 a.m Pacific time. 
Wednesday evening, Howard Garrett of Orca Network (ON), will give a presentation on Lolita. 
Later, John Jett PhD will give a PowerPoint presentation called, "Survival Estimate for Captive Killer Whales" 
Lastly, Colleen Weiler,  Whale & Dolphin Conservation first ‘Rekos Orca Fellow, will do a presentation on the recent "Russian orca collections.
This deck, overlooking the Haro Strait, will be a big part of media day (and possibly some drone launches)
Thursday:   

Superpod3 Group Whale Watch Trip on the Western Prince II with naturalist Traci Walter (@TeelDubya) and others. The excursion departs at 10:00 am from Friday Harbor and we will meet by the Western Prince offices next to the ferry landing between 9:30 - 9:45 a.m. 

Presentation that evening by Dr. Naomi Rose on the topic of current legistlative & regulatory issues regarding killer whale / cetacean captivity. 



THURS: PRESENTATION ONE: "Pinkfish for Blackfish: The role of salmon recovery in sustaining the Southern Residents"

Dr Chris Caudill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho. His broad interests are in the ecology and evolution of animal movement and the conservation of aquatic resources. He holds a MS from the University of New Hampshire (1995) and Ph.D. from Cornell University (2002). He conducted postdoctoral research at Georgia Tech before joining the Fish Ecology Research Lab at the University of Idaho in 2003 for a second post-doc. He has directed the FERL program since 2008, largely focusing on the migration ecology of adult salmon, Pacific lamprey, and American shad in the Columbia, Snake, and Willamette rivers.

 PRESENTATION TWO:  Humpbacks of the Silver Bank by Jeff Friedman


Friday: 

War of the Whales Day. Meet Ken Balcomb, legendary killer whale scientist, Principle Investigator of the Center for Whale Research (CFWR), and primary character in the just-released non-fiction book, War of the Whales. Ken & his research staff will be hosting a social event at the CFWR.
Friday's event will occur at the Center for Whale Research, on the West side of San Juan Island. See map above. 



Saturday:


Book Signing 2-4 pm at The Whale Museum

Sandra Pollard's, Puget Sound Whales for Sale




Sunday / Departure

 If you've never seen a wild killer whale, join us this year, or plan to come to Superpod 4. For what it's worth, the co$t of our Western Prince II boat trip is about $30 USD less than a single day ticket at SeaWorld of Florida. 
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