The 2nd Ordinary Meeting of the 166th Session of the Literific took place in the Senate Room on the 9th of October 2014 and was attended by 45 members.
President Naomh Gibson presiding, questions were heard by Ms Gibson from Sophie Stratfull, [Alexandra Philpot], and Niall Robb before announcements about the society were made.
Guest Chair, Professor Jean Allain made his opening address thanking the house for his invitation. He stated that we owe something to animals and that we need to treat them better than we do currently. He welcomed our speakers and told the house he was very much looking forward to the evenings debate, announcing the motion THIS HOUSE WOULD BOYCOTT SEAWORLD.
Miss Emma Chadwick opened for the proposition with her two reasons in favour of boycotting seaworld: firstly orca well-being, and secondly, human safety. Miss Chadwick stated that a boycott would mean a complete halt on ticket sales and criticised seaworlds exploitation of orcas for profit. Miss Chadwick called for a movement banning any more orcas being born in captivity. She went on to give examples of how these creatures are treated by the company and how SeaWorld was to blame for the animals violent behaviour and apparent psychosis. The deaths and injuries of trainers were, according to Miss Chadwick the direct result of bad treatment, and she concluded by criticising SeaWorld for trying to deny responsibility.
Fionn Rogers then opened for the opposition… we think. He stated that yesterday he knew nothing, today he knows next to nothing. He said that SeaWorld was unjustifiable in its lack of protection for its trainers, and the animals in its care stating that it was in violation of all sorts of rights. SeaWorld is bad, but boycotting, alone, doesn’t work, was the speakers point. Probably. Mr Rogers went on to explain to the House that they wouldn’t buy potatoes from Israel. I don’t know about you, but I get mine from ASDA. Mr Rogers said that this house should instead picket SeaWorld as it is more effective given its tourist attraction nature. Yes, I know, we thought we were getting somewhere too. Mr Rogers then went on to talk about President Emeritus Kydd running around on acid. He made some awfully witty comment about what the secretary could do with a pen and concluded with the idea that certain politicians should get beaten over the head with a baby seal, handy given there’s probably a tank full of them beside the orcas.
Just as the house was loosing all remnants of sanity Mr Craig Miller closed for the proposition. He rebutted that boycotting does more than picketing. He made the point that the world was shocked and horrified that Harry Potter lived under the stairs, but reminded the House that he got to fly a broomstick. He also said that we despair at humanity when we think of Anne Frank trapped in an attic, so why don’t we care as much when it happens to animals. I’m not saying you should all go home and check your roof space for rogue killer whales, but the fact that so many creatures are kept in subpar conditions to disgust us into action. Mr Miller stated that these orcas are slaves and that ending sponsorship and ticket sales for seaworld is the best way to combat this.
Mr Robbie Whitehurst in his Maiden speech then closed for the opposition with a shed load of puns and talk of his free willy. He used the example of Tillicum, a SeaWorld Orca and said that SeaWorld cannot solely be held responsible for this animals fatal attacks as Tillicm had come from another company SeaLand, whose conditions were far worse and that surely tillicum was better off where he is now. Plus, Tillicum was the only one who had killed 3 people…. The other orcas never killed more than one each… Good little orcas. He asked the house why we should boycott seaworld now when its safer than ever due to safe reforms on how they interact with the animals. He spoke of the rescue and rehab centre that would suffer as a result of a boycott, who have helped 23,000 animals. Does this outweigh the downsides? He criticised the proposition for being idealistic, not realistic and concluded with the point that re-admittance to the wild would end in orca death and a lot of sadness.
Professor Allain made his closing statements on the speeches saying that we fail to consider animals in their own right, that the oceans need to be saved for the animals sake, not simply for our own. He welcomed the analogy of slavery to describe animal mistreatment and reminded the house that boycotting seaworld would have far reaching effects.
The debate moved to the floor and points were heard from Brendan Kelters, Brendan Kelters, Josh Milburn, Michael Beales, Henry Adams and Richard Gallagher.
The house went to a vote and the motion was passed with 30 ayes, 3 neighs, and 5 abstentions.
Can I pass the minutes?