We Must Speak Even Louder

Wild Orcas as they were meant to be,  free and Hunting in the Norwegian Sea.
Picture credit: Wolfgang Hägele

Yesterday in California,  more than a million voices, via their signatures on a petition, were  raised up against the continuing captivity of Orcas at Sea World San Diego, but they simply could not compete with those of the owners,  the local city Governments, or the faithful lobbyists who work so tirelessly on behalf of their clients.
What was at stake was the fate of the Orcas at Sea World facilities and their questionable safety and treatment.
Animal rights activists came from everywhere,  along with parents, teachers and children to show their support for the 
Bill AB2140 by  Democrat Richard Bloom of  Santa Monica,   who was apparently influenced by the highly popular and  widely publicized film,   Blackfish.
It is reported that the Sea World lobbyist is Scott Wetch.
Naomi Rose, who is a marine mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute,  sponsored the bill, AB2140.
This Bill would have stopped the killer whale/Orca shows at Sea World in San Diego and phased out their  captivity.
But at the end of the day, power and money won.
Now that the Bill has been sidetracked,  or waylaid until mid 2015 in San Diego, all involved in this seem to  agree that next on the list,  are the  Sea World facilities  in  Florida and Texas.
A curious item was mentioned on our local news, that Sea World’s  attendance is down , but their profits are up.
How very interesting.
Usually when a great many people are as enraged as those who signed this petition are/were,  something happens, things get changed, but in this case, it appears not, and over a million signatures on this petition meant zero to Californians.
Not surprisingly, Sea World did a massive, continuing campaign press blast,  to discredit the film Blackfish, while
the San Diego Chamber of Commerce declared that Sea World and the Whales are extremely vital to their economy.
And, now that this scenario is  guaranteed be repeated in Texas and Florida, you can be assured that the Sea World owners,  local city Governments,  and the lobbyists, will push back even harder with everything that they have, but it will in the end be, mostly about the money.
When those with the money and the control do not hear the voices of over a million in protest, we must speak even louder.
” We must speak for those with no voice.”

You may learn more here:
Bad Day for Captive Orcas: California’s ‘Blackfish’ Bill Stalls
California bill that would end SeaWorld killer whale shows stalls
Killer-whale bill stalls in hearing; study due in 2015
California Bill That Would End Orca Shows Stalls
Pictures of Orcas:    Orca Pod Wiki