On The Topic of Seaworld and Blackfish..

 On The Topic of Seaworld and Blackfish..


 I've been saving this up for a long, long time. Because I knew when I finally went off on it that it would be long, drawn out and I'd probably offend people.

 Folks- ISI Supports Seaworld. We also support Accredited Zoos. We love animals and we enjoy learning about them through zoos and marine parks, through education programs and online. We support rehabilitation and conservation programs.  We would never support animal cruelty or abuse..  but Seaworld doesn't do those things.

 We support the good work Seaworld does and keeps doing, the care they give to the best of their ability and the money they donate to conservation and rehabilitation programs as well as the work they do with their own programs. They many not have the most sparklingly clean history but NO Marine Park does! They, like many other Zoo's and Marine Parks, have made mistakes and we've all learned from them.  There isn't a simple answer to the question of marine mammal captivity. I certainly don't know it and never claimed too, it's out there someplace but at the same time that answer must be weighted against the education these animals can provide.

 It's complex. It's mind-boggling. Anyone who claims to know the answer is probably supporting a cause or doesn't have even the most basic of educations about animal keeping/animal welfare.

 As I've said before about Blackfish- Follow the Money before you make a snap decision. Do research and find out both sides before believing anything you hear on the idiot flashy box (TV) and some of what you read. I stand on one side of this argument while others stand apart from me. It's fine, we're all allowed to have our opinions but I urge people to learn before jumping the bandwagon.

 I've complied a bunch of facts on my own with research but I've also found some amazing points put out there. People who've done more research then I have and have complied it faster.  So I'm asking EVERYONE out there, Read. Learn. Then.. make your decision. Rather than just attacking with a blind rage, can YOU think of a solution that will work?

Please, Keep Reading..

((For the Second Part of "On The Topic of Seaworld and Blackfish"- Please Visit Part 2))

Can a Beluga Make Jokes About A Blackfish?

-From Themed Reality, Joe Kleiman (News Editor- InParks Magizine)

(Reprinted/Reblogged with full permission)

 According to theme park news site Screamscape.com, five of the big name performers scheduled for an upcoming annual concert series at SeaWorld Orlando have cancelled their bookings over concerns about allegations brought up in the recent documentary film Blackfish.  I have both seen the film, of which I was kindly sent a screener copy by distributor Magnolia Pictures, and read the related book Death at SeaWorld by David Kirby.  It is not my intent to either discredit or validate these works, though I can attest they follow a style of presentation that the animal rights movement established more than a quarter century ago.

 At that time, I was an intern at Sea World (note the space, delineating the spelling and ownership then from now) when two big things took place – the construction of the new larger orca “birthing” pools and the sudden closure and overnight transit of animals from Marineland of the Pacific.  I spoke with the protesters at the gates and read the articles and literature coming out.  Much of what happened then, I blame on a man I call “The Bookseller,” William Jovanovich. As CEO and President of the theme park chain’s owner, book publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, these were his decisions.  But since then, the park has changed ownership, first to Anheuser Busch, then Blackstone, and now it’s publicly held.  With ownership changes came management changes and radical departures in the way things are done, a point often skirted around in media coverage.  In essence, the SeaWorld of today is not the same chain that operated under HBJ.

 If you are interested in the film or the book, I encourage you to watch and/or read them.  But don’t take them as gospel.  It’s important to have a well rounded understanding of this complicated issue, and I highly suggest that you contact organizations on both sides, including the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, the International Marine Animal Trainers Association, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Center for Whale Research, the Animal Welfare Institute, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
peta, one of the biggest proponents of the film, is an organization that I have a love-hate relationship with.  On the one hand, I agree with their stance on the American Human Association’s monitoring of animals on film and television sets.  It’s a farce.  And not many know that the program is overseen and financed by the Screen Actors Guild, a trade organization that, by its very admission, does not allow animals to be members. On the other hand, peta’s attempt to free SeaWorld’s orcas by claiming that holding them is in violation of the 13th Amendment was just as farcical.  The judge was right to point out that the 13th only applies to humans.  And while science may have shown orcas to be social animals, they have not yet developed civilization.  In order to to do that would require the ability to build large communal structures from raw materials.  The only way I see this happening is for orcas to telepathically control humans to do their bidding.  But perhaps that’s how those larger SeaWorld tanks came to be.

 There’s a fringe element as well supporting the film.  These folks troll the internet for any mention of SeaWorld and fight back with allegations of lies, and deceit, and “go watch Blackfish.”  At the slightest tweet of something as innocuous as a parade float, the trolls hit en masse.  They’ve hit me and I’ve had reports of them hitting numerous bloggers and reporters as well.

@ThemedReality @seaworld @zoos_aquariums @cnn but #seaworld u have to admit u screwed yourself by abusing animals for ticket sales! Now reap

 This kind of approach to the film not only presents itself as hostile, but makes the film appear as if its intent is not “education” but rather “assault.”

 Then there’s CNN, the 24-hour cable network that “delivers the most comprehensive, nonpartisan and breaking news and analysis to global audiences across all platforms.”  CNN has broadcast Blackfish a number of times over the past couple of months.  Each time it’s been broadcast, there’s been a noticeably sharp increase of anti-SeaWorld comments posted to the park’s facebook and twitter accounts, prompting SeaWorld to post on their facebook page the evening of November 3:
This is a family friendly page, administered by SeaWorld Orlando, for the benefit and enjoyment of its fans. We welcome comments and if you have a question for us, we’ll do our best to answer it. We won’t tolerate offensive language or topics, though…


 Much was made about SeaWorld’s reluctance to participate in CNN’s “discussion” over the film.  Jack Hanna, who admitted to being a paid spokesman for the chain, did appear in a rather awkward appearance on air with the filmmakers and eventually SeaWorld’s Vice President of Communications, Fred Jacobs, responded in writing to prepared questions.  All this, of course, focused suspicion on SeaWorld and its motives.  But SeaWorld had very good reason not to participate.  Earlier this year, at the Sundance Film Festival, CNN’s new film unit acquired Blackfish, a fact not always mentioned in CNN’s web postings.  By demonizing SeaWorld and building interest in the film, CNN stands to make millions – from each and every ticket and video sale and rental and from the ad dollars surrounding broadcast rights and other CNN coverage of the film.

 It’s much like the recent 60 Minutes interview with Dylan Davies regarding his experience during the terrorist attack on the Benghazi consulate in Libya.  When allegations of false testimony arose, 60 Minutes gave a half-ass apology on air, apologizing for not having done a more thorough investigation, but never admitting to doing wrong.  As npr’s media watchdog show On the Media pointed out, the segment was tied in with a book written by Davies and published by CBS’s publishing arm, Simon & Schuster, a fact that was never disclosed on air.
Although it’s hard to tell what kind of direct impact CNN’s treatment of Blackfish is having on attendance at SeaWorld’s parks, the aforementioned concert cancellations do show that it is indeed impacting the park’s operations.  This marks the second time that media coverage has affected a theme park in the past few months.

 Earlier, I reported on Universal Studios Hollywood canceling their popular Bill & Ted show over allegations of homophobia.  If you recall, a blogger for a counterculture publication wrote a post denouncing a plot point in the show where Superman turns gay and then performs homosexual sex acts.  Mainstream LGBT media picked up on the piece and eventually advocacy group GLAAD went over the heads of park management directly to parent company NBCUniversal and were able to have the show canceled.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, it’s that we live in a society saturated with double standards.

What if the actor playing Superman had been gay? (I don’t know, he might have been)
What if the show’s writers were gay? (I’ve heard that one of them may have been)
What if it were performed for a gay audience?
What if it were in a cabaret, night club, theater, or comedy club catering to gay clientele?

 Even with the same sexual innuendos, it most likely would have been acceptable.  As someone who used to work in management in San Francisco’s theater community, one of the first things I learned is that there are differing degrees of acceptability to different audiences.
When Jerry Seinfeld or Joan Rivers jokes about Jews and their financial frugality, it’s comedy.  If a non-Jew makes the same joke, it can be taken as antisemitism.
Then of course, there’s the old question of “What’s the difference between a white man saying the ‘N-word’ and a black man saying the ‘N-word’?”
The white man’s Quentin Tarantino, the black man’s not.

 Bryant Gumble, on a recent episode of RealSports, spoke about the hypocrisy of speaking the N-word, regardless of color.  He points out that the word is a weapon.  ”To define, demean, and destroy millions of people should never be forgotten.”
Gumble’s point can be taken one step further – that suddenly appropriating something does not eradicate the past.

 

 CNN could learn from this.  Nowhere in their coverage of Blackfish and SeaWorld on air or online have I seen them disclose their owner, TimeWarner’s, own relationship, both historically and current, with parks that house marine mammals.
They have not disclosed how sister company Warner Bros. once had an ownership stake in both Six Flags and Village Roadshow Theme Parks. During that time, parks under their ownership featured performing marine mammals.

 They have not disclosed how Warner Bros. continues to license its properties to Six Flags and Village Roadshow.  One of the Six Flags parks had a performing orca until it was moved to SeaWorld in August 2012, and while it had that orca, that Six Flags park continued to run shows and attractions based on Warner Bros. characters.


 They have not disclosed how Warner Bros.’ film The Polar Express has for numerous years, including this, played in IMAX and a shortened attraction format at numerous zoos and aquariums that house marine mammals.  One of those happens to be SeaWorld Orlando, the very park targeted in Blackfish, where the Polar Express Experience culminates with a visit with Santa at the North Pole, where he is accompanied by live belugas and polar bears.
They have not disclosed how their immediate parent, Turner Broadcasting, in 1991 purchased Hanna Barbera, which from 1978 to 1982 operated Marineland of the Pacific near Los Angeles, which featured two performing orcas that eventually found their way to SeaWorld.

 Nor have they disclosed that Turner Broadcasting is a corporate sponsor of the Georgia Aquarium, with which the “Inside CNN Studio Tour” offers a joint ticket.  The aquarium, of course, houses belugas and performing dolphins.
 But I guess they don’t need to disclose that.  Because a white whale’s not a Blackfish.
Make sure to catch Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown on CNN.  He support’s Canada’s seal meat industry.

[NOTE 12/16/13: There has been some confusion on the internet regarding my comments on TimeWarner's relationship with Six Flags.  TimeWarner has never owned Marine World, now known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, where the orca named Shouka performed before being moved to SeaWorld San Diego in August, 2012.  In 1993, TimeWarner had acquired full ownership of the Six Flags theme park chain (it first purchased a 19.5% share in 1990).  In 1998, the chain was sold to Premiere parks, which already operated a number of other theme parks, including Marine World.  Two years later, Premiere Parks changed its corporate name to Six Flags.  As explained, Warner Bros. continued licensing agreements with Six Flags after its sale by TimeWarner.  However, TimeWarner's ownership of Six Flags is included as a separate bullet due to the daily performances of Avalon and Cody, two domestically-bred bottlenose dolphins at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey at the time TimeWarner owned the park.  The dolphins were acquired by the park in 1994 and 1996 respectively.]

10 Things You Should Know About Blackfish

From Joe Kleiman

(Reprinted/Reblogged with Permission)

Thank you to Theme Park Review, Behind the Thrills, and Screamscape for posting links to my blog post about CNN and Blackfish.  ThemedReality has seen an astounding 700% increase in hits over the past couple of days.  Realize that for the most part I am not critical of the film and it's not my intent to discredit it.  I am an advocate for the humane treatment of captive animals, which is different from being an animal rights advocate.  In the end, SeaWorld will do what is right and I will continue to eat meat.

After reading through over a thousand postings on my blog and other websites, as well as comments on facebook and twitter, here are a few things I'd like to share about the film and its promotion:

1. Based on the large number of comments concerning content in the film that isn't actually in the film, I'm under the impression that a lot of people commenting about it haven't actually seen it.  Just like a lot of people commenting about my blog post didn't take the time to read what I wrote.

2. Although Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the director of the film, claims she does not come from an animal rights background and that it was never her intent to make an animal rights film, this is indeed an animal rights film.  Advocacy films tend to end with images of common people working to make a change. Blackfish ends with footage of animal rights protesters at SeaWorld's entrance.  in addition, Cowperthwaite has both embraced and been embraced by peta.

3. The neurologist who features prominently in the film, Dr. Lori Marino of Emery University, is Science Director for the Nonhuman Rights Project, a fact not disclosed in the film.  This organization's mission statement is "to change the common law status of at least some nonhuman animals from mere “things,”which lack the capacity to possess any legal right, to “persons,” who possess such fundamental rights as bodily integrity and bodily liberty, and those other legal rights to which evolving standards of morality, scientific discovery, and human experience entitle them."

4. There are two edits in the film that can lead to an easy misinterpretation of the facts.  The first is at the end of the film, where a charity run for the Dawn Brancheau Foundation and an interview with her sister about the Foundation's work immediately follows the footage of animal rights protesters at SeaWorld's entrance.  This gives the impression that the Foundation and her family support the removal of orcas from the parks, which could not be farther from the truth.  The family has and continues to refuse to discuss the issues of Dawn's death and of orcas in captivity.

5. The second edit takes place near the beginning of the film.  Following footage of the 1970 captures in Puget Sound, which were done for Sea World when it was owned by the partnership of Milton Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott, and George Millay, and mention of the Orca deaths during those captures (which has been documented for decades), the film mentions that Sea World switched their capture location to Iceland.  The film then immediately cuts to footage of Tilikum being captured in the North Atlantic.  I have seen numerous comments about SeaWorld capturing Tilikum and how his family died during the capture.  Sea World was not involved in the Tilikum capture and there is no evidence of orca deaths during that incident.  The entire third chapter of David Kirby's book Death at SeaWorld dramatizes Tilikum's capture and does not mention any orca deaths.

There are sites on the internet that provide the same sort of distortion.  www.seaworldofhurt.com mentions in an article titled "Ten Things You Don't Know About SeaWorld" that "Orcas that were at SeaWorld before 1972 were likely kidnapped from their ocean homes. For example,Tilikum, a 32-year-old orca, was captured at the age of 2 by a marine "cowboy." Tilikum wasn't taken from his natural environment because he was injured—instead, he was torn away from his family against his will and confined to a small concrete tank for a hefty profit."

The piece fails to mention that Tilikum, who was captured in 1983, resided at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia until the park closed in 1992, at which time he was relocated to SeaWorld Orlando.  Many of Tilikum's issues are the result of his treatment in Canada and not at SeaWorld.  Note that SeaWorld of Hurt is a website owned by peta.

6. All of the performers who have cancelled gigs at SeaWorld have and continue to perform at casinos.  These are institutions where large numbers of people are encouraged to perform addictive and potentially damaging acts of gambling in an enclosed environment without natural sunlight while having their judgement distorted by copious amounts of free alcohol.

7. Without CNN and now Netflix, public exposure to the film would be minimized.  Theatrically, the film only showed in 99 theaters (my market not being one of them) and made just over $2 million in box office receipts.  CNN continues to promote its ownership of the film.  CNN.com has posted a news piece each time a band has canceled its SeaWorld performance.  Each piece mentions both CNN as owning the film and having broadcast it.  For instance, the piece on REO Speedwagon states: "The fans became upset after watching the CNN documentary "Blackfish," which first aired on CNN in October."  CNN also has used the sensationalist headline "SeaWorld Fights for its Survival" for an on air segment about SeaWorld appealing the ban on trainer contact with whales.  As evidenced by the company's recent expansions - Manta, Turtle Reef, Explorer's Cove, Aquatica in San Diego, Aquatica and its expansion in San Antonio, and TurtleTrek, Antarctica, and expansions to Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando - I'm pretty sure that SeaWorld is not dependent on human interaction with orcas for its future survival.  Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA also gives a good example of how a marine life/theme park can survive without orcas.

8. Although the switch from Anheuser Busch to Blackstone is discussed in the director's commentary on the DVD, ownership of SeaWorld and ownership changes are never mentioned in the film itself.  This gives the impression that SeaWorld is under the same ownership and management now that it had been in the 1970's and 80's.  At the time of Dawn Brancheau's death, Terry Prather was managing Water Country, a waterpark, in Virginia.  Prior to that, he was with Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans and Six Flags America.  Before that, he was Managing Director of the prestigious Witte Museum in San Antonio.  Now, I'll grant that Terry did work in maintenance and water quality at Sea World San Antonio from its opening in 1988 to 1997, but from knowing people in those fields at theme parks, I'm pretty sure that gave him an intensive understanding of the importance of safety.  

9. If the footage of animal rights activists and Lori Marino's testimony are removed from the film, it becomes a documentary about workplace safety. 

10. One thing I learned early on in the marketing of attractions is that the key to successful marketing is to target mothers - they're the ones who make all the decisions in today's modern family.  And mothers feel sympathy for other mothers.  The filmmakers play on this in their publicity for the film.  Cowperthwaite frequently refers to herself as having been a "SeaWorld mom" who regularly took her kids to the park.  The producers of the film, Judy Bart and Erica Khan are described as moms who, once their children were grown, decided to start a production company to produce films that "both inspire and entertain." (Not sure how all of Khan's children can be listed as grown, when her bio mentions them as ranging from ages 10 to 25).  I've been unable to find anything about these two women.  Their production company, Our Turn Productions, is registered with LA County to a nice three bedroom home in Huntington Beach owned by a lawyer.  I have no desire to pursue this further, but there certainly is a question as to where these two women procured the funding for the production.

Other than the two edits and the lack of labeling of Dr. Marino that I've described above, I have no issues with the film.  It's a good movie and I encourage you to see it if you're interested.  But it's not the definitive piece on the issue and I will continue to do research on the business, scientific, and historical fronts before I get to the point where I'm comfortable making an opinion on the matter. 

Blackfish should have been a murder mystery.  It should have been about what led the whale to kill.  Instead, it's been appropriated as a tool of the animal rights movement.  And this, along with the distorted and untrue facts that are being presented about the movie by pundits and posters on air and online, make it a venomous tool in their arsenal. It is no longer about SeaWorld and the orcas.  It is now part of a larger crusade to attack the very nature of the zoo and aquarium trade.  And beyond that, livestock and pets.  Which is fine with me.  Because I hope one day my grandmother will no longer need to worry about her Pomeranian being snatched up by coyotes because her subdivision expanded into their natural habitat. In this idyllic future, the Pomeranian will be able to fend for itself because it will be free in the wild.  And that, my friends, is a noble cause.

And now I need to finish my next blog post, wherein I accuse Brent and Dina of buying the Disney birthplace to perform Satanic rituals.  That should really confuse the Blackfish supporters.

Cheers,

Joe

More Fun Facts at Seaworld Parks

From +Kitsune Hazard 

(Reprinted with Permission)

Fun facts!
*Willie Nelson: Played this exact event at Seaworld Orlando in 2010 and 2011 without any issue.
*Joan Jett played Busch Gardens Tampa in 2011 as part of this event. She also does not own the publishing rights for "I Love Rock 'n Roll", EMI's RAK music does.
*CNN owns the rights to Blackfish, yet didn't make this widely known until recently, even though it was quietly announced in January.
*CNN is owned by Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting, both of which has licensing deals with Six Flags and other parks that have kept large maritime mammals and dolphins, yet does not disclose this.
*Seaworld has not captured any wild orca's for over 30 years.
*Tilikum was taken in from a Canadian marine park, he was damaged goods before even getting to Seaworld.
*Seaworld has changed ownership 4 times since then as well and things are vastly different than they were 40 years ago when the park opened.
Here's a list of the captured Orcas currently at all Seaworld parks:
Kasatka: 1978
Ulises: 1980 (taken in from various European parks)
Corky II: 1969 (taken in from Marineland of the Pacific)
Gudrun: 1976 (taken in from Dolfinarium Harderwijk)
Katina: 1978 (taken in from Marineland Ontario)
Tilikum: 1983 (taken in from Sealand of the Pacific in Canada)
The rest? All captive born, releasing them into the wild without the resources they would have otherwise is irresponsible at best, deadly at worst. Even releasing the 6 above after so long would also be very, very difficult and their survival is likely very questionable.
So, what do you do? Make the best of the situation and continue to improve your techniques. Did they make mistakes or get some Orcas from questionable means in the past? Yes, but the Seaworld parks these days are far better than they used to be in nearly every way for these animals. Everyone that's complaining needs to really look at the issue not just spout off agenda talking points or misinformation.
In total they currently have 23 Orcas and 17 of them are captive born. That's close to 75% of them. Eventually none of them will be from the wild at all, no matter how they got there. What's the argument then?


Now Please, Go do some research. Confirm these facts if you feel the needs, learn the topic on your own.  If your still bent on saving Orca's and Marine Mammals, I suggest you focus your attention and spotlight on other parks which still have unpleasant conditions and even darker histories then Seaworld. Help Lolita. She needs it FAR more than Tillikum does!

Also note- verbal abuse and threats will be deleted from the comments.