RAP SONG AGAINST ORCAS IN CAPTIVITY
An orca is the largest of dolphins.
Students at Leesburg High are speaking out against the captive marine mammal industry with a powerful rap message. With support from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), the students are promoting their rap message with a video showcasing magnificent orca whales in their natural environment.
“My classmates and I feel the best way to share our message against captivity is through rap music,” said sophomore D’Mauri Jones, also a member of the Leesburg High varsity basketball team. “Growing up in Florida, school field trips to marine parks such as SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium are routine. Many young people think it’s okay for orca whales and other dolphin species to live in captive facilities. We feel differently and we want the world to know why!”
"I have always been a firm believer that all marine mammals should be living in their natural habitat, not in an enclosed facility or marine park," Pier2Pier coordinator and teacher Jamie Aquino said. "There is no captive facility in the world that can compare to a whale's or a dolphin's natural environment."
"What is crystal clear to these students, that whales and dolphins do not belong in captivity, is becoming more evident to the general public with the unfortunate and recent events at SeaWorld, as well as the Academy Award recognition for The Cove which profiles issues associated with captivity," said Courtney Vail, campaigns officer for WDCS. "I am heartened by the awareness and conviction of these students."
In recognition of the students' commitment and enthusiasm, WDCS is arranging with OrcaLab, a research station based on Hanson Island in British Columbia, Canada (www.orcalab.org) to host a Pier2Pier visit that will introduce the students to orcas in the wild.
VOLVO ADVENTURE FINALISTS
By: Daphne Pearson
In the spring of 2009, our environmental project was named one of ten finalists and the U.S. winner in the Volvo Adventure competition sponsored by Volvo and the United Nations Environment Programme. Our reward was an all-expense paid trip to Gothenburg, Sweden for five days. I was joined on the trip by my teacher Ms. Aquino and my classmates Jake Cavender, Josh Piedra, Julian Evangelist and Jennifer Raney.
Looking back on the trip in early June of 2009, I am grateful for the opportunity to go to Sweden. My time in Sweden was life-changing for the better. I gained more confidence and respect for everything in the world. Because of the trip, I’ve become a better student and a better person.
LET MARINE MAMMALS LIVE FREE IN THE SEA
By: Jamie Aquino
Living just 30 miles north of Orlando, my students and I are all too familiar with a marine park called SeaWorld. It’s a place that many of them and their classmates have visited at some point in the past, either on a school field trip or with family. We were disturbed when we heard that Tillikum, an orca at SeaWorld had been responsible for the death of a veteran trainer. We were more saddened to realize that if that Tillikum has not been captured in the first place, this tragedy would never have happened. To date, an orca has never killed a human in the wild!
We are passionate about our feelings that marine mammals should live in the wild, where they belong and not in a captive facility. And, we hope that in light of the recent tragedy at SeaWorld, the captive marine mammal industry will learn that you can take a marine mammal out of the wild, but you can’t take the wild out of the marine mammal!
MARINE MAMMALS SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE WILD
By: Kayla Weihs
I personally don’t think that any marine mammals should be held in captivity because they need to be free. When you keep a wild animal in captivity, they can become aggressive because they aren’t in the same environment they were in when they were born.
I think these marine mammals deserve to be free and live in their own natural environment where they belong. They can be dangerous and don’t need to be in a place where they can’t swim and be free with other marine mammals. When you keep a wild animal in captivity, you never know when and if they are going to snap. If you hurt the animal or even threaten it, they may get upset. They also may want to be left alone and we don’t really know what they are thinking. Just let them be free and leave them alone in the wild!
KEEP WILD ANIMALS FREE
By: Miranda McElroy
I’m passionate about many things, including music and animals. I do not believe that any wild animal should be held captive. I believe everything is beautiful in its natural world and when people ruin that by putting animals in captivity, it ruins an experience you could have by seeing them in their natural environment.
I believe that certain animals are meant to be domestic like dogs and cats, but not all animals. I would personally like to act about this by telling others and explaining that wild animals that are captive would just be like people, (like you and me), being held captive against our will and away from our family and friends.
HELP SAVE HAITI'S MARINE MAMMALS
By: Rob Nelson
We are very excited to be working with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the American Haitian Foundation to develop a marine conservation and education project in Petite Riviere de Nippes, a small fishing village located approximately 60 miles west of Port-au-prince. This education and marine conservation project is important in a country where most people live in extreme poverty and there is a lack of educational opportunities. Haiti also has major problems involving the environment which has negatively affected all the marine life.
Haiti is home to a variety of marine life including dolphins, whales and manatees. The whale and dolphin species found in Haiti are the Sperm Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whale, Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Spinner dolphin, Pilot Whale and Humpback Whale. Although the numbers are small, Haiti is also home to the endangered West Indian Manatee. We believe the youth of Haiti should be educated about these marine mammals that share their waters.
Artwork By: Alexa Clavijo
This pilot project is named HOPE, which stands for Haiti Ocean Project for the Environment. We have the commitment of 20 middle and high school students in the village, who are interested in learning about the ocean and its marine inhabitants. These students will ultimately educate and outreach to other youth in Haiti. In addition to educating the youth, we also have other project goals including the protection of marine mammals and ecotourism in Haiti. Working with the Haiti ministry of tourism, we hope to develop the first whale and dolphin watching excursions in Haiti. We want the people of Haiti to appreciate and understand the importance of allowing marine mammals to remain in their natural surroundings, and not in captive facilities such as on other Caribbean islands.
Leesburg High senior Jonas Leon on Haiti….
Haiti has a very special place in my heart. For so long, the people there have suffered and been neglected by most people outside the island. My mother lives in those conditions. It’s like I know she lives in these circumstances, but she refuses to admit she’s helpless.
The idea of visiting Haiti has never been one of those must do before you die kinda things. I guess in my imagination, I thought I had an idea of what the country has to offer, but in recent conversations with people who have experienced the island of Haiti, they’ve all said that you will never know how beautiful it is until you personally go.
As I got older, I understood that Haiti is a place I must go before I Die! Haiti will always have my empathy and never be forgotten by me and anyone who is connected to the country because I truly believe that is the affect it has on people – maybe it’s because it’s so close to home, but the last to receive the help that is so desperately needed.
PIER 2 PIER WEBSITE WINS
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AWARD
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The Pier2Pier website gained major recognition after being selected one of two grand prize winners in the 2008 “Doors to Diplomacy” competition sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The awards recognize the websites that best teach young people about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Participants, ranging in age from 13 to 18, included more than 190 student teams from 38 countries.
For a opportunity to help us at PIER@PIER you can |
EARN A DOLPHIN DIPLOMA
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is awarding dolphin diplomas to young people who make an active contribution to dolphin protection. Get involved with a Pier2Pier project to receive your WDCS dolphin diploma award.
More information about obtaining a dolphin diploma can be found at www.whales.org or at www.yod2008.org.
Click here to download the teacher’s
activity pack.
