SeaWorld - where the Sea stands for Cruelty

Faced with a growing backlash from entertainers and others responding to a documentary film claiming mistreatment of whales, SeaWorld, who have been battered in recent weeks since the television premiere of the documentary "Blackfish" on CNN, bought full-page ads in newspapers nationwide yesterday to call the accounts inaccurate and paint its employees as "true animal advocates." "The truth about SeaWorld is right here in our parks and people," the company said in the ad, which appeared in The New York Times and other papers. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) immediately issued a statement challenging the accuracy of the ads and encouraging people, "Please don't fall for it." I agree with them. The whales suffer from boredom and stress there, and are unsuitable for that or any life in captivity. Because of that, a number of entertainers - including Heart, Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, and country music singers Martina McBride and Willie Nelson - have done the right thing by cancelling appearances at SeaWorld. A Malibu school recently cancelled its annual overnight field trip to the park after students spoke out in opposition, and a San Diego high school cinema class posted a video to YouTube with students pledging to spend no more money at SeaWorld until the company changes its practices. Social media sites critical of SeaWorld also are filled with comments from people vowing they'll never go to the parks again after viewing the film. I don't blame them. The imprisonment and exploitation of marine mammals under the guise of "science" is not acceptable. Click here to download your very own copy of the documentary and find out the hard-hitting truth about Seaworld's evil operation.