Aquarium - Earthmother and Maria

[Guest guest]

Earthmother,

i despise the " vegan police " who

pass judgment on others and i swore the day i went vegan that i

wouldn't be

like that.

 

I despise being " policed " but I so want to educate (and learn).

I have found that saying nothing of length but interjecting small

things in conversation works well. For instance if someone brings up

raw eggs, I say " you can't eat raw eggs like in the 1970's because

the salmonella bacteria has adapted and is now actually inside the

egg. " I get a response like " What " ? or " How? " and then I say " Well,

from intense overcrowding of the hens " and just leave it alone unless

asked for more info. My husband on the other hand really talks it up

but more on the lines of a defensive argument ( he's prodded a lot).

He has converted several coworkers to a vegetarian diet and many to a

less animal centered diet. I don't push info on anyone and I usually

don't bring it up. But somehow, when you check out ingredients for

you own family, you become the " police. " Oh, well.

 

i think it would also be good

to maybe take her to a sanctuary or reserve and show her the " other

side, "

animals in their natural habitats in an environment whose sole

purpose is

preservation of the species in their own homes.

 

We have had the opportunity to take her to a licensed rehab

center with outdoor " habitats. " It was more like large pens that were

enriched as much as they could for their budget, but they did a

pretty good job. She was only 2 years old but she absorbed a lot of

what we were telling her. The local rehab is mainly cages. But they

are able to release the majority of the patients. They have visitors

only a few times a year, so we haven't been. Besides, they are caged

and I don't know if I am ready to show her that yet. The aquarium is

going to be flashy and exciting compared to the rehab center, so a

little worry there. But I hope to take her to some of the rehab

places in and around Atlanta while there!

 

so my parents, who live in arizona, took

him to a nature reserve instead,

 

we have several bird sanctuaries in the area. DD likes to

listen to my bird songs gadget and loves her magnifying glass and

her " binoculars " As soon as she is able to sit quietly a little

longer, I hope to take her bird watching. DH and I used to do a lot

of LNT (Leave No Trace) activities like backpacking. We have taken

her " car camping " and she loved the experience. I can't wait until we

are able to get back to extended LNT activities. ( We visited several

National Parks in Arizona and New Mexico. DH wants to move out there.)

 

 

Maria,

 

Most likely, the aquarium is using the " shark rescued from being

someone's dinner " and the " class II endangerment " level as a selling

point, rather than as a genuine mission statement to help these

species.

 

I agree with the whale shark statement. The Class II info is

actually info I found myself and is a reason the aquarium is not

supposed to have the belugas. Zoos and aquariums in the US have

voluntarily stopped trading belugas for the past ten years (not so in

Canada). But GA AQ acquired three captive belugas from NY AQ

specifically to breed!! (They did rescue two from a Mexican theme

park where they were housed underneath a roller coaster. They have

many health problems. I am happy GA watst to help these two in need,

medically and habitat wise, but I can't understand why they feel the

need to breed others. The lure of the two will bring many visitors

without babies.)

 

What about the animals in captivity? How are they being helped? The

principle of animal rights is similar to that of human rights in that

it entails the belief that every life is as valuable as the next. The

idea that we can " ethically harm a few to save many " is a more

utilitarian principle that generally as a society we do not accept

when applied to humans... so how could we apply that to AR views

without being necessarily speciesist? (Of course, only you can answer

these questions for yourself... but hopefully these philosophical

ramblings will spark a healthy internal discussion)

 

This is part of my dilemma; otherwise I would just jump on the

conservation bandwagon every time an opportunity arose.

 

The idea that we can " ethically harm a few to save many " is a more

utilitarian principle that generally as a society we do not accept

when applied to humans...

 

Actually, I feel it is applied frequently by governments all

over the world. The US is especially guilty of this.

 

somewhat of a hypocrite (as we all are at times)

 

This really bothers me as I feel DH is being hypocritical to

receive something he wants (to see the belugas and whale sharks and

show them to DD and share with his own father who never did things

with him as a child). I don't want to be dragged down that road but

feel I have no choice since I must watch over my child's experience.

 

http://www.asaanimalsanctuaries.org/Criteria/criteria.htm

 

Thanks for the link! I found a sanctuary for our travels in

early August. The Atlanta visit will still be on her mind so she can

see the differences.

 

 

 

 

We have done some of our activities, including singing Raffi's Baby

Beluga and reading the book with it (a favorite of hers for over a

year). I am also comparing whales to people – mammals, blowholes =

nostrils, mommy makes milk, they like to play, etc. When I mentioned

that the belugas would never see their mommy again, it made an

impact. DH took her to Wal-Mart and showed her the fish. He told her

they were crowded and explained the whale shark is too, even though

the aquarium is larger. She gets this pretty well. I feel better

about the whole scenario even though it isn't what I choose. Thanks

for your opinions and information. They have helped me redirect some

of my anger toward DH and be more centered on what I need to do to

help DD through this.

 

Thanks again,

Carrol