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posted on March 9, 2010
This is no way to treat animals!
On June 4, 2008, following a one year investigation of the Fraser Valley Auctions in Langley, BC, Lifeforce released our report “Lives for Sale” for review and action. The report and the video clearly depict ongoing violations of Federal and Provincial Regulations/Guidelines (that are supposed to protect human health and animals) and inhumane treatment of animals. These inherent, callous conditions must be stopped.
During recent Lifeforce inspections we have found continuing problems. We have sent an Open Letter to government officials and the BCSPCA.
The full letter and current photos can be viewed at:
 Download NOWAYTOTREATANANIMAL.pdf |
posted on March 6, 2010
ACTION: US Government Proposed rule; request for comments, and availability of Draft Environmental Assessment on regulations to protect killer whales from vessel effects.(info at www.noaa.gov)
LIFEFORCE COMMENTS
From sunrise to sunset the endangered orcas are relentlessly pursued everywhere. Under the name of entertainment they are the gold treasure sought after by a multi-million dollar eco tourism industry. When the treasure is found the code word “Contact” is issued to the whale watch fleet. Lifeforce is a non-profit ecology organization based in Vancouver and WA. From 1993 to 2005 I operated the “Lifewatch Boater Awareness Program” to advise boaters about the guidelines/regulations re: watching marine wildlife such as orcas. This was the first program in Southern BC waters. I developed educational materials such as the “Whale Watching Guidelines for Southern BC & Washington”. In 2008 Lifeforce gathered conclusive evidence of ongoing flagrant disregard for the well being of orcas and the laws. We only had to spend a few days to observe repeated violations. This is common whale watch company practises when they are not watched by enforcement agencies. Pleasure boats imitate the illegal practises. When pleasure boaters are approached and advised of the laws they often respond by saying “We were just doing what the whale watch boats were doing. We thought they knew what to do.”
Read the full report and recommendations:
Download BOATVESSELLEGISLATION.pdf |
posted on February 25, 2010
February 25, 2010
NEWS RELEASE
Re: Lifeforce Requesting Inquest into the Death by Orca
Lifeforce , a Vancouver-based ecology organization, will be requesting that officials conduct an inquest into the recent death of Dawn Brancheau a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando. Lifeforce hopes that a legal investigation will help prevent human tragedies and the exploitation of orcas.
An inquest hearing was held in Canada into the death of Sealand employee Kelti e Byrne in 1991. The same orca, Tillikum, caused her death. Lifeforce made several recommendations including stopping any further contact with Tillikum and the other two orcas. Lifeforce told them that it is likely that Tillikum would attack again. Now he has caused a third human death.
In captivity orcas and other cetaceans are deprived of their behavioural and social freedoms. Confinement in aquarium prisons results in psychological harm resulting in neurotic, aggressive behaviours. Captivity can drive them insane. At Sealand of the Pacific, Victoria, BC the three orcas were inhumanely confined every night in a “holding module” that was approximately 25’ x 30’ (Photographs and video available). There was a history of psychological abuse to Tillikum.
“No one would put zoo keepers in a bear pit. Aquariums must stop putting trainers into whale tanks and stop all other public contact. “stated Peter Hamilton, Lifeforc e Director, who has studied orcas in the wild, “For the sake of both animals and people the imprisonment of all dolphins must be phased out. It is also time to immediately stop petting and swimming with orcas and other dolphins. Close contact with such wildlife for financial profit is cruelty to animals and a hazard to people. ”
There have been many attacks on humans by captive orcas. But there have been no attacks by wild orcas. There were some very serious employee injuries but hush up orders/financial settlements kept a lot of it quiet. This also applies to swim with dolphin programs in which there are numerous dolphin aggression problems. Petting and feeding attractions also present public safety risks.
For further information: Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Founding Director, lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
See Tillikum at Sealand video:
Tillikum
See History of Physical and Psychological Abuses:
Sealand/Aquarium Abuses
See Orca Freedom Photos
Orca Freedom Images
See Global National TV "SeaWorld tragedy aftermath" in which Lifeforce Founder, Peter Hamilton, predicts more attacks:
Lifeforce Predicts More Attacks
UPDATE MARCH 9TH - NEW ORCA FREEDOM CAMPAIGN VIDEO
Tillikum: A Time for Change |
posted on January 17, 2010
 B.C. businessmen Joel and Danny Nagtegaal were drinking beer and decided last spring to buy one goat for a poor family in Africa each time the Vancouver Canucks won a playoff game. Other Vancouverites decided to do the same thing and 1,073 goats were purchased for African families. Now, the brothers plan to buy a goat for an African family every time a Canadian wins a gold medal.
We must send poor Africans healthy food, water filtration systems, medicines, seeds, tools, books/education supplies and other donations that help them without causing animal abuse.
Read more:
Download GOATBACKGROUND.pdf
See our Facebook "Goat For Gold No!"
GOAT FOR GOLD NO!
Goat For Gold No! News Release January 22, 2010
Download GoatForGoldNo!NewsRelease.pdf
New Georgia Straight Op Ed - February 10, 2010
DON'T CELEBRATE OLYMPICS BY DONATING GOATS FOR GOLD MEDAL
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posted on January 7, 2010
On January 6th it was the 20th Anniversary of the Lifeforce rescue of a rat that an “artist” was going to crush to death.
Sniffy's Story
In 1990 Rick Gibson said that he would crush a rat named Sniffy in the name of art. Society must not condone promoting violence and cruelty in our society and to other sentient creatures. Killing animals is not art - it is sadistic. Speciesism is as abhorrent as racism and sexism. A speciesist has no ethical boundaries and does not draw any moral line between a bug or a bunny or a beagle and, for that matter, a human. Violence perpetuates violence. Violence towards animals also leads to violence towards people. Where will it end if society permits this? It is an indecency to animals and people.
On January 6th CBC Radio in Vancouver interviewed Rick Gibson and Lifeforce. During the interview Gibson admitted that he would have killed Sniffy if Lifeforce didn’t confiscate his equipment. His “rental” of the rat raised questions as to if was actually planning to kill Sniffy. Now his intentions are clear.
You can also see him state his horrible plan on the following video:
Sniffy's Story
Read:
Download SNIFFYSTORY.pdf |
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