Proof of People Power

Some of the readers will remember a post I put up back in January about the two will orcas that were captured by White Sphere to be displayed at the Russian Winter Games.  Well, we have some great news! The President of the Sochi Olympic Committee has just confirmed that the two wild orcas captured by White Sphere will not be displayed during the Sochi Olympics.

However, the battle isn't over.  It is believed that White Sphere is responsible for the capture of 8 wild orcas in the past year.  What is more the two orcas that were bound for the Sochi Olympics are still in Moscow and sources have stated that they are going to be shipped of the another dolphinarium in Russia or China, where they will be force to participate in live shows and be kept in stupidly tiny metal tanks.  Is it only me or does this remind you of the film Free Willie?  I wonder if that is on the banned list of Russia.

With the physical and mental health of these orcas is in danger and more pressure on White Sphere is needed if they are to have any chance of being returned to the wild and the way how has recently come to light.

White Sphere is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IIAPA), the world's largest trade association for amusement parks and aquariums.  The IIAPA provides White Sphere with links to suppliers and partners around the world, as well as advice on how to improve efficiency, marketing, safety, and profitability. Above all, the IIAPA gives White Sphere a veneer of credibility. Without IIAPA membership, White Sphere could be exposed as the fraudulent outfit it really is.  Being booted out of the IIAPA would be a serious wake-up call for White Sphere and there is a possibility of an ally in this goal.

SeaWorld is another member of the IIAPA and it has good reason to speak out about what White Sphere is up to.  SeaWorld has been facing increasing pressure after the documentary Blackfish came out last year, alleging troublesome practises involving its captive killer whales.  So now is the perfect time for SeaWorld to stand up and demonstrate the ethics it says it stands for, by refusing to be associated with White Sphere - a company that has captured 8 orcas from the wild in one year alone.

If this angers you as much as it angers me then you can:
Demand that the IIAPA and SeaWorld stop working with White Sphere, unless it returns the wild orcas to the ocean.

Russia issues the permits for wild orca capture, but just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s right. The US hasn’t issued a permit for the capture of a wild orca since 1989. That’s how dated this practise truly is.

Hundreds of thousands of us have protested the display of the wild orcas at the Sochi Olympics, and we won. Now let's aim higher, and stand up for all the wild orcas at risk by White Sphere's despicable behaviour.  Every path starts with one stepping stone and we've already crossed the first one.  Are we brave enough to tackle the next?