Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. 2013. CNN Films. DVD.
The documentary Blackfish which was directed and produced by Gabriela Cowperthwaite is film that uncovers the horrendous acts that SeaWorld has been trying to hide from the public for many years. The film shows the way in which SeaWorld cruelly retrieved their orca whales, and then the film talks about the captivity of the animals. It notes how the captivity of the whales is not suited for them and how the conditions that the whales are presented with cause them to lash out. The film then talks about all of the injuries and deaths that have occurred because of whales in captivity, specifically the whales at SeaWorld.
This film is a good source of information. The movie appeals mostly to pathos of the audience because the majority of the information given and the clips seen are quite heart-breaking. The film really pulls at the audience’s emotions because of all the horrific things that are seen and are talked about. It is because of this that the audience can be really distract from some of the hard evidence and facts that are given. It is a little questionable if all the facts are true because SeaWorld denies much of what is in the film, but most of the facts are backed up in the film by scientific research and many similar eye witness accounts, which helps to verify information.
"Killer Whales in Captivity." Killer-Whale. Bio Expedition, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.killer-whale.org/>.
The website Killer-Whale contains a lot of material that mainly informs about the natural habitat and life of killer whales and why captivity is not right for them. It is mentioned that because of the size, feeding habits, and communication methods of the killer whale that captivity does not meet the basic needs that the whales need. The website not only informs the viewers about the simple and basic facts about whales but it also talks about the conservation of killer whales and the research that is being done on them.
This source is an all-around good source for information. The information given is not biased and includes simple facts about the killer whales. The publisher of the site, BioExpedition, has many other sites available for all different species of animals. Because of the information that is given on this site, it is the perfect for individuals who are looking for basic information about killer whales.
"Killer Whales (Orcas)." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale>.
“Killer Whales (Orcas)” on the National Geographic website is an informative web page that talks about basic information about killer whales. The information given talks about the whales’ life span, diet, size, and where they are found. More importantly, it talks about the way the killer whales build their families. A whale’s pod, or family, is a very big part of the whale’s life. Each pod has their very own way of communicating with each other, which plays a vital role in the lives of the whales.
This page on the National Geographic website would be a good page for an individual who needs basic information on killer whales. The page would also be useful for people who want to or need to know about the family structure of killer whales and their communication. Seeing as though National Geographic is a credible source it is evident that the information that is given is accurate and not biased so it could be used as a source for an informative paper.
Kirby, David. "Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity." Death at SeaWorld. WordPress, 11 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://deathatseaworld.com/>.
David Kirby is the author of the book Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity. The website is based off of his book but offers more than just information about the book. There are articles being updated on the home page of the court cases that are currently going on against SeaWorld. Most of these articles are about the case between SeaWorld and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Along with the case updates, the website also contains a lot of information on why keeping killer whales in captivity is a horrendous act and how it is actually hurting them. The section entitled “Talking Points” touches on the topic of orca aggression in captivity, SeaWorld’s disregard of trainer safety, and how the entertainment business is killing them.
This website gives a lot of information about how having killer whales in captivity is detrimental not only to the trainers’ lives but also to the whales’ lives. The information about why having killer whales in captivity is bad could be useful to someone who is debating whether or not orcas should be placed in captivity or for someone who is writing a persuasive paper or speech. Another thing on the website that could be useful for research is the articles about the case against SeaWorld. Someone who wants to know about what is going on in the case would find this website very helpful because if its constant updates.
Kuo, Vivian. "SeaWorld Appeal of OSHA Citations Denied." CNN. Cable News Network, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/us/seaworld-ruling/>.
In a recent article on CNN’s website, entitled “SeaWorld Appeal of OSHA Citations Denied”, Vivian Kuo writes about how the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. denied SeaWorld’s appeal of the safety citations that were set in place. After the death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, OSHA restricted the contact that the trainers can have with the whales. SeaWorld tried to appeal it so they could get the contact between the whales and the trainers back, but they were not very pleased when the U.S. Court of Appeals judges sided with OSHA.
In this article there is a lot of information about the court case that is currently going on between OSHA and SeaWorld. The article is simply an update about what is going on in the battle that involves OSHA and SeaWorld. An individual who is following the case closely would be interested in reading this article because it gives lots of details about what has recently happened between the two large corporations.
"Lives Stolen by SeaWorld." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <http://www.peta.org/features/lives-stolen-seaworld/>.
This section of the PETA page, entitled “Lives Stolen by SeaWorld”, is an informative page. The article talks about the whales that have died at SeaWorld and how many of the whales died decades before their expected life span. There are names of the whales, and attached is a little blurb about how old they were when they died and how they died. One of the most interesting facts on the site, and a fact that PETA said is too high, is that 21 whales have died in SeaWorld’s care in a 22 year period. Most of these whales died fairly young compared to what a whale living in its natural habitat would live up to.
PETA, being one of the largest organizations for the protection of animals, has an abundance of information on their site pertaining to the ethical treatment of animals. Recently, one of the bigger issues they have been protesting is the captivity of marine animals. They have specifically focused on killer whales which is why there is a lot of information about them on their site. This page would be useful to an individual who is trying to find proof that whales die earlier and more frequently in captivity.
Martinez, Michael. "California Bill Would Ban Orcas at Sea World." CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/us/california-bill-orca-killer-whale-seaworld/>.
In the recent article “California Bill Would Ban Orcas at SeaWorld” by Michael Martinez, Martinez talks about the topic of California banning orcas from being held in captivity. California wants to place a bill in order that wouldn’t allow for the captivity, capture, or captive breeding of orca whales. A democratic assemblyman from California is fighting with PETA in order for the bill to go through. The assemblyman, Richard Bloom, talks about how SeaWorld is only out to get money and they are not thinking about the best interest of the animals.
This source would be useful to an individual who is interested in the case that is being built against SeaWorld. There are currently multiple cases against them that all threaten the livelihood of the company. This source briefly talks about the well-being of the animals from the democratic state assemblyman, Richard Bloom. This article shows perspectives from both sides of the battle. There are sources that are fighting for the protection of the rights of the animals and then others who believe that the animals are better off in captivity. The source would be optimal for an individual who is writing a pros and cons paper or speech about releasing whales in captivity.
Mishler, Jennifer, and Sandy McElhaney. "No Matter Who Wins, the Whales Lose." Sea Shepard. Sea Shepard Conservation Society, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2013/11/12/seaworld-vs-osha-no-matter-who-wins-the-whales-lose-624>.
After the death of Dawn Brancheau in 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined SeaWorld with $75,000 worth of fines stating that SeaWorld willingly put trainers in the pool with orcas which put their lives and safety on the line. SeaWorld retaliated the fine in an appeals court where the fine got reduced to $12,000. Even though SeaWorld paid the fine, they are still fighting OSHA to get the ability to get trainers back into the pools with the orcas. OSHA says that SeaWorld knew that they were putting their employees in danger when they went into the pools with aggressive orcas. The one whale in particular that had showed signs of aggression in the past was Tilikum, the whale that killed Brancheau. Tilikum had been involved in two deaths prior to Brancheau.
Like many other articles that update on the cases being built against SeaWorld, this article is very informative. Because the article comes from Sea Shepard, an organization for the protection of marine animals, it is a little one-sided. The information about the case is not biased seeing as though it is simply facts about what is going on, but it is easy to tell that the organization leans one way. This source would be helpful to someone who is following the case between SeaWorld and OSHA. The article not only talks about the case but it also talks about other instances where there has been whale aggression towards trainers.
"Orcas in Captivity: Animal Cruelty for Profit." Keep Whales Wild. KeepWhalesWild.org, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.keepwhaleswild.org/>.
On the website Keep Whales Wild, the article “Orcas in Captivity: Animal Cruelty for Profit” mainly talks about the myths of orcas in captivity, problems with whales in captivity, and the conservation of the whales. The website talks about the main problems with food, environment, socialization, and mental stimulation of the whales that are held in captivity. It also debunks some of the myths that are made stating that captivity is better for killer whales than living in the wild.
It is clear to see by the name of the website that it is going to be one-sided and pertaining to information as to why orcas should be kept in the wild. The information given by the website is almost exactly the same compared to other organizations who are for the ethical treatment of killer whales so it is evident that the information is accurate. For individuals who are looking for information about the problems that captivity causes for whales or the myths that captivity is good for whales this site would be worthwhile. This site would also be useful if someone wanted to know about the conservation of whales and how they can help protect them.
"Zoos and Pseudo-Sanctuaries." PETA. PETA, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/zoos-pseudo-sanctuaries/>.
The article “Zoos and Pseudo-Sanctuaries” on the PETA website touches on the cons of having animals in captivity and the negative intentions of zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, marine parks, circuses, etc. It states that the sanctuaries do not have good living conditions because they are filthy and restricting. Even some of the most well-kept and large facilities are harmful to the animals because it is not their natural habitat. These confinements often lead to abnormal behavior of the animals which the keepers try to fix with drugs. The website tears each of the captivities apart little by little and talks about the horrors behind the parks and facilities.
The article is tells about all the horrendous things that occur to animals in captivity and it definitely appeals to the emotions of the audience that is reading it. The true but saddening information is vivid yet it is not so vivid that it pulls away from the facts. Seeing as thought the web page talks about all the bad things about sanctuaries and is written by PETA, it is obvious that it is a one sided argument. This could be best used by an individual who wants to know about the horrors of zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, marine parks, circuses, etc.
The documentary Blackfish which was directed and produced by Gabriela Cowperthwaite is film that uncovers the horrendous acts that SeaWorld has been trying to hide from the public for many years. The film shows the way in which SeaWorld cruelly retrieved their orca whales, and then the film talks about the captivity of the animals. It notes how the captivity of the whales is not suited for them and how the conditions that the whales are presented with cause them to lash out. The film then talks about all of the injuries and deaths that have occurred because of whales in captivity, specifically the whales at SeaWorld.
This film is a good source of information. The movie appeals mostly to pathos of the audience because the majority of the information given and the clips seen are quite heart-breaking. The film really pulls at the audience’s emotions because of all the horrific things that are seen and are talked about. It is because of this that the audience can be really distract from some of the hard evidence and facts that are given. It is a little questionable if all the facts are true because SeaWorld denies much of what is in the film, but most of the facts are backed up in the film by scientific research and many similar eye witness accounts, which helps to verify information.
"Killer Whales in Captivity." Killer-Whale. Bio Expedition, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.killer-whale.org/>.
The website Killer-Whale contains a lot of material that mainly informs about the natural habitat and life of killer whales and why captivity is not right for them. It is mentioned that because of the size, feeding habits, and communication methods of the killer whale that captivity does not meet the basic needs that the whales need. The website not only informs the viewers about the simple and basic facts about whales but it also talks about the conservation of killer whales and the research that is being done on them.
This source is an all-around good source for information. The information given is not biased and includes simple facts about the killer whales. The publisher of the site, BioExpedition, has many other sites available for all different species of animals. Because of the information that is given on this site, it is the perfect for individuals who are looking for basic information about killer whales.
"Killer Whales (Orcas)." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale>.
“Killer Whales (Orcas)” on the National Geographic website is an informative web page that talks about basic information about killer whales. The information given talks about the whales’ life span, diet, size, and where they are found. More importantly, it talks about the way the killer whales build their families. A whale’s pod, or family, is a very big part of the whale’s life. Each pod has their very own way of communicating with each other, which plays a vital role in the lives of the whales.
This page on the National Geographic website would be a good page for an individual who needs basic information on killer whales. The page would also be useful for people who want to or need to know about the family structure of killer whales and their communication. Seeing as though National Geographic is a credible source it is evident that the information that is given is accurate and not biased so it could be used as a source for an informative paper.
Kirby, David. "Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity." Death at SeaWorld. WordPress, 11 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://deathatseaworld.com/>.
David Kirby is the author of the book Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity. The website is based off of his book but offers more than just information about the book. There are articles being updated on the home page of the court cases that are currently going on against SeaWorld. Most of these articles are about the case between SeaWorld and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Along with the case updates, the website also contains a lot of information on why keeping killer whales in captivity is a horrendous act and how it is actually hurting them. The section entitled “Talking Points” touches on the topic of orca aggression in captivity, SeaWorld’s disregard of trainer safety, and how the entertainment business is killing them.
This website gives a lot of information about how having killer whales in captivity is detrimental not only to the trainers’ lives but also to the whales’ lives. The information about why having killer whales in captivity is bad could be useful to someone who is debating whether or not orcas should be placed in captivity or for someone who is writing a persuasive paper or speech. Another thing on the website that could be useful for research is the articles about the case against SeaWorld. Someone who wants to know about what is going on in the case would find this website very helpful because if its constant updates.
Kuo, Vivian. "SeaWorld Appeal of OSHA Citations Denied." CNN. Cable News Network, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/us/seaworld-ruling/>.
In a recent article on CNN’s website, entitled “SeaWorld Appeal of OSHA Citations Denied”, Vivian Kuo writes about how the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. denied SeaWorld’s appeal of the safety citations that were set in place. After the death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, OSHA restricted the contact that the trainers can have with the whales. SeaWorld tried to appeal it so they could get the contact between the whales and the trainers back, but they were not very pleased when the U.S. Court of Appeals judges sided with OSHA.
In this article there is a lot of information about the court case that is currently going on between OSHA and SeaWorld. The article is simply an update about what is going on in the battle that involves OSHA and SeaWorld. An individual who is following the case closely would be interested in reading this article because it gives lots of details about what has recently happened between the two large corporations.
"Lives Stolen by SeaWorld." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <http://www.peta.org/features/lives-stolen-seaworld/>.
This section of the PETA page, entitled “Lives Stolen by SeaWorld”, is an informative page. The article talks about the whales that have died at SeaWorld and how many of the whales died decades before their expected life span. There are names of the whales, and attached is a little blurb about how old they were when they died and how they died. One of the most interesting facts on the site, and a fact that PETA said is too high, is that 21 whales have died in SeaWorld’s care in a 22 year period. Most of these whales died fairly young compared to what a whale living in its natural habitat would live up to.
PETA, being one of the largest organizations for the protection of animals, has an abundance of information on their site pertaining to the ethical treatment of animals. Recently, one of the bigger issues they have been protesting is the captivity of marine animals. They have specifically focused on killer whales which is why there is a lot of information about them on their site. This page would be useful to an individual who is trying to find proof that whales die earlier and more frequently in captivity.
Martinez, Michael. "California Bill Would Ban Orcas at Sea World." CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/us/california-bill-orca-killer-whale-seaworld/>.
In the recent article “California Bill Would Ban Orcas at SeaWorld” by Michael Martinez, Martinez talks about the topic of California banning orcas from being held in captivity. California wants to place a bill in order that wouldn’t allow for the captivity, capture, or captive breeding of orca whales. A democratic assemblyman from California is fighting with PETA in order for the bill to go through. The assemblyman, Richard Bloom, talks about how SeaWorld is only out to get money and they are not thinking about the best interest of the animals.
This source would be useful to an individual who is interested in the case that is being built against SeaWorld. There are currently multiple cases against them that all threaten the livelihood of the company. This source briefly talks about the well-being of the animals from the democratic state assemblyman, Richard Bloom. This article shows perspectives from both sides of the battle. There are sources that are fighting for the protection of the rights of the animals and then others who believe that the animals are better off in captivity. The source would be optimal for an individual who is writing a pros and cons paper or speech about releasing whales in captivity.
Mishler, Jennifer, and Sandy McElhaney. "No Matter Who Wins, the Whales Lose." Sea Shepard. Sea Shepard Conservation Society, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2013/11/12/seaworld-vs-osha-no-matter-who-wins-the-whales-lose-624>.
After the death of Dawn Brancheau in 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined SeaWorld with $75,000 worth of fines stating that SeaWorld willingly put trainers in the pool with orcas which put their lives and safety on the line. SeaWorld retaliated the fine in an appeals court where the fine got reduced to $12,000. Even though SeaWorld paid the fine, they are still fighting OSHA to get the ability to get trainers back into the pools with the orcas. OSHA says that SeaWorld knew that they were putting their employees in danger when they went into the pools with aggressive orcas. The one whale in particular that had showed signs of aggression in the past was Tilikum, the whale that killed Brancheau. Tilikum had been involved in two deaths prior to Brancheau.
Like many other articles that update on the cases being built against SeaWorld, this article is very informative. Because the article comes from Sea Shepard, an organization for the protection of marine animals, it is a little one-sided. The information about the case is not biased seeing as though it is simply facts about what is going on, but it is easy to tell that the organization leans one way. This source would be helpful to someone who is following the case between SeaWorld and OSHA. The article not only talks about the case but it also talks about other instances where there has been whale aggression towards trainers.
"Orcas in Captivity: Animal Cruelty for Profit." Keep Whales Wild. KeepWhalesWild.org, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.keepwhaleswild.org/>.
On the website Keep Whales Wild, the article “Orcas in Captivity: Animal Cruelty for Profit” mainly talks about the myths of orcas in captivity, problems with whales in captivity, and the conservation of the whales. The website talks about the main problems with food, environment, socialization, and mental stimulation of the whales that are held in captivity. It also debunks some of the myths that are made stating that captivity is better for killer whales than living in the wild.
It is clear to see by the name of the website that it is going to be one-sided and pertaining to information as to why orcas should be kept in the wild. The information given by the website is almost exactly the same compared to other organizations who are for the ethical treatment of killer whales so it is evident that the information is accurate. For individuals who are looking for information about the problems that captivity causes for whales or the myths that captivity is good for whales this site would be worthwhile. This site would also be useful if someone wanted to know about the conservation of whales and how they can help protect them.
"Zoos and Pseudo-Sanctuaries." PETA. PETA, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/zoos-pseudo-sanctuaries/>.
The article “Zoos and Pseudo-Sanctuaries” on the PETA website touches on the cons of having animals in captivity and the negative intentions of zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, marine parks, circuses, etc. It states that the sanctuaries do not have good living conditions because they are filthy and restricting. Even some of the most well-kept and large facilities are harmful to the animals because it is not their natural habitat. These confinements often lead to abnormal behavior of the animals which the keepers try to fix with drugs. The website tears each of the captivities apart little by little and talks about the horrors behind the parks and facilities.
The article is tells about all the horrendous things that occur to animals in captivity and it definitely appeals to the emotions of the audience that is reading it. The true but saddening information is vivid yet it is not so vivid that it pulls away from the facts. Seeing as thought the web page talks about all the bad things about sanctuaries and is written by PETA, it is obvious that it is a one sided argument. This could be best used by an individual who wants to know about the horrors of zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, marine parks, circuses, etc.