Marineland Protest
The capacity of a human lies in the introspect we possess, and the duality we call intelligence has evolved giving us the ability to look inward. This predatorial edge positions our species at the top of the food chain but has left us at risk, being the prey of our own species for the opinions we formulate and coerce on others. Introspect has created contrast in what was once a (comparably) flat social structure. It’s been millions of years in the making but at one point we were Neanderthals or ‘just animals’, which a superior species or extra-terrestrial would likely classify us as, had they beaten us in the evolutionary battle. In these millions of evolutionary years where we’ve been fighting for equality, it’s known that humans will find a way to segregate beings for any reason. Human trafficking still hides itself around the world, but humanity has claimed slavery abolished from historical crimes such as the Atlantic slave trade, one of many examples of racial segregation. To keep things short, slavery is not yet abolished. African descendants still find themselves a slave to systematically biased social, economic, and other structures. As well, you may think slave trades as primitive as this would be impossible in 2023 but alas, it thrives. Justifying their capture and torture with speciesism or the ideal that they’re ‘just animals’, Marineland has brought you entertainment in the exchange of livelihood; all for about $50. Sound Reasonable? Good. Bring your family, friends, and kids, and leave your morals at home.
As history would write it, we find the most common themes fuelling this modern-day enslavement: money for entertainment or work, at the expense of being marginalized. When Kiska died on March 9th 2023, it symbolized the last of captive orcas in Canada, one symbol too many. On May 20th 2023, a peaceful protest was organized to fight back against the marginalized speciesism which Marineland upholds. Orcas have now escaped their slavery in Canada, but only through death; more death is coming too. It enters outside the park, transporting itself to the lot where it’s met by overgrown grass, which clings to the small light of hope the sun brings, and peeks through cracked pavement from years of neglect. Like a welcome tour, death follows the trail of neglect past the yellow corroding walls and pays its measly fee, prepared to be entertained in exchange of life. Once more, it finds neglect upon arriving at the exhibits. Scars, scratches, sadness, neglect, all presented around and on the animals Marineland imprisons.
Death comes back each day to visit these animals and follows the same path while paying the same price. As long as you’re entering Marineland, you are killing these animals by supporting their imprisonment. The species which symbolizes death for the captive animals, were gathered in numbers outside of Marineland, symbolizing life for the animals that deserve it in the form of a peaceful protest.
Saturday’s protest came, and my plans to capture the protest were solid, but upon waking up, I found one of my greatest weaknesses as a photographer waited outside for me, rain. I knew that I’d be attending the protest either way, and after quarrelling with myself about risking my gear, there was no question I had to capture the protest I was so passionate about. I was worried the rain would dampen the fire in our hearts and dilute the number of attendants fighting for this cause. Happy to be wrong, there was a great amount of support. When asked about the rain, Phil Demers described it best, “The animals are uncomfortable in there, it’s nothing to us feeling a little uncomfortable out here”. This was all too true, and from the looks of everyone outside, it was hard to believe anyone was uncomfortable. There was no shortage of laughter, dancing, or conversation, and if the rain did wash out any passion, we soaked it right back up through the puddles we stood on. The protest gathered a diversity of people who weren’t afraid to fight for what was right, kids or adults. Sacrificing their play time, cameras, phones, speakers, and even a passionate supporter exposing their motorized wheelchair to the rainfall. Individuals with words of support projected them through megaphones, and started chants for us to follow along to. Among the noise we made, cars driving by joined us by honking their horn and flashing the occasional thumbs up in affirmation. At the peak of the action, protestors even managed to enter Marineland with their megaphones and signs ablaze. The day remained peaceful as police promptly escorted the individuals out, and as 2 o’clock came, the protest finished.
To put my realism in perspective, I align introspective questions with my faith and the old saying that ‘everything happens for a reason’. To accept this more broadly, I can say my ideology aligns with an optimistic view on the butterfly effect. So realistically, how could this peaceful protest make a change? Peaceful protests are about taking action to spread awareness and conversation, large gatherings such as this draw attention and move fast in such an era where media travels in an instant. Participants with similarities in causes are more heard when they come together. Just like social media, the more people that see it, the more likely you’ll see it too. News stations did manage to come out, and by 11:45pm that night I got to see myself on TV. Being just 1 person, I informed everyone I knew about the cause, with hopes they could reciprocate in some sort of action. Being an individual talking this much about it made a lot of people think. If we can multiply that by the number of people at the protest who went home and talked, the ones who drove by, and the news stations who broadcasted it to hundreds, is it really possible that nothing changed? My answer is no.
I know that every time we get together those animals are one step closer to being free. In a much bigger picture, we’re one step closer to humanity being in a better place. Among the evils of money and humanity we’ve fallen to a place where we put a value on other lives and our own. I can assure you that your voice is just as valuable as the next, or just as valuable as those without a voice. So, as someone on the introverted side of society, I encourage you to join a protest and fight for the causes you believe in; it’s fun and effective. I understand this might not be for everyone, so realistically there’s only one thing you need to do to help these animals.
Please, boycott Marineland.
