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Hayden Panettiere takes on SeaWorld: Whales not meant to be in captivity
"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere has been a whale and dolphin activist since she was 15.She even appears in the amazing Oscar-nominated doc, "The Cove," about a Japanese dolphin mass slaughter where thousands of dolphins are trapped and brutally killed. She was filmed paddling out in the water and being chased away by angry, violent Japanese fisherman.
The Dish Rag caught up with her at the "Cove" premiere at HAVEN 360 Wednesday (Mar. 3) in Hollywood. The "Heroes" star talked with us about the recent death of a SeaWorld trainer caused by Tilikum, a male Orca who has been in captivity for almost three decades .
"Honestly, it¹s horrible what happened," she says. "Three deaths by the same whale, by an animal that should be not be in captivity in the first place.
"Have you ever seen a parrot pullout it¹s feathers? It¹s from depression.
How do you put an interactive, social animal, one of the smartest
animals in the world... and you're going to stick them in a tub and make
them do tricks? How do you do that? Because they make money? It's
disgusting and Sea World is absolutely wrong. This is a big wake up call.
How many more people are going to have to be killed? When are we going to
realize that these animals are not supposed to be there?"
Producer/manager Keith Addis, chairman of the board of Oceana, an
international conservation agency, added, "There is something wildly
inappropriate about having these majestic, powerful, gorgeous
creatures being made prisoners and taught to be doing stupid pet tricks.
This practice needs to be stopped completely and immediately."
Hayden is also working hard to make changes in US whale and dolphin policy.
"I've lobbied in Washington, " she tells us. "I've talked to President Obama about it and have met with Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator John Kerry. I¹ve held protests, we¹ve done aerial whales on the lawn of the capital. I've even had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Japan and the Minister of Fisheries at the Japanese Embassy in Japan when there was a warrant for my arrest. I could have easily been arrested or detained."
Keep up the good work, Hayden. You're a real hero. If you want to be a hero and help Hayden save the whales, go to whaleman.org.
-- Reporting by Leah Sydney
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You know, not that I disagree with her cause or anything, but it must be nice that you can make a mint starring in a crappy TV show and automatically get access to the president, or a foreign prime minister, or pretty much anybody else you want.
I think we have to use what we can to help those who can't speak up for themselves and if being famous gives you access to the people with the most power why not use it. I for one am very glad that animals have champions like Hayden!
10 years ago the Mexican Govt along with a combined effort of US and Mexican environmental groups, like IFAW, NRDC, and WildCoast stopped Mitsubishi from expanding their salt plant in Laguna San Ignacio, the nursery of California Gray Whales. That effort started with just one person who had passion, understanding, and a commitment to something besides themselves. Best Fishes in your efforts Hayden.
Heres the tale of the orca Whale allies of the ocean being enslaved by man. They say it is for me that the whales cant swim free they lock them in a tiny cage.
You cannot steal the ocean and I know it isn't right. To capture these beauteous creatures and deny them of there rights.
Let the whales swim freely the ocean is there home here lets let them wander and here lets let them roam! peace
Hayden, you are a joy . God Bless you.
Keep on keeping on. You're using your celebrity for truly the right reasons. I so admire you. As does the rest of America.
Thank you people for once seeing the point of her statements about Whaling. As for the first comment yes with fame and popularity comes power. As the others said it is nice to know that she is using that power correctly and to attain a higher and better goal in life. We should be considered lucky to having such a person in our brief lives.