Jenny Holzer Living series at the MOMA.

└ “You know, they try to get to him and he’s just bigger than them.” 

The Vancouver Aquarium has announced it is pausing all public programming and closing its doors to the public as of Sept. 8 in order to transition to a new model of operation.

In a release Monday, the organization said this has been one of the most financially challenging times in its history, including an almost 80 per cent decline in ticket sales due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The animals who live at the aquarium will continue to be cared for by a team of 75 staff.

More than 200 full-time, part-time and casual staff will be laid off.

Other programs, such as Ocean Wise Research, Ocean Wise Education, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Arctic programs, Ocean Wise Seafood, Marine Mammal Rescue, and others – will continue without interruption.

The focus going forward will be to transition to a new model that is both financially viable and also accelerates ocean conservation programs.

Continue Reading.

If the Vancouver Aquarium is shut down, hundreds of injured animals could die every single year.

The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s only marine mammal rescue facility, and every year they end up releasing about 150 injured animals back to the wild (who would otherwise die).

Rehabilitation is done away from the aquarium in most cases, so unless the Animal is permanently injured, they would not be visible in the Aquarium.

The Aquarium is also phasing out Cetaceans in Captivity.

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak has called for the partial removal of a mural in Bastion Square.

The mural, which reads “More Justice More Peace” was painted by a group of Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) artists weeks ago.

The main message itself is not the issue for Manak. It’s a smaller more subtle one within that led to his request for removal.

“There’s a mural that was painted with all the best intentions, unfortunately, it did have an acronym that was apart of the mural which was insulting to members of the Victoria Police Department,” said Manak.

The acronym was located within the letter “S” and read ACAB, which stands for All Cops Are Bastards.

Continue Reading.

jake virtanen???? and adam gaudette????

wearing HDA merch??????????

here’s a suicide hotline for if any of you are in need of immediate support (x)

here’s a thread of black cancer fundraisers/research fundraising (x)

I’ll admit my last post had a bit of misinformation but since everyone has so much to say about what’s happening in Alberta I’d thought I’d put together a post with the correct information.

Right now Alberta Canada is being run by the United Conservative Party or UCP for short and the current premier is Jason Kenney.

On June 17 the Alberta government passed Bill 1 “Protecting Critical Infastructure.” This Bill was created too “protect[s] essential infrastructure from damage or interference cause by blockades, protests, or similar activities...”

What does this mean? The act defines essential infrastructure as a vast array of things such as pipelines, highways and railways BUT the act also states that it “allows regulations to expand the definition of essential infrastructure in the future if necessary”

Jennifer Koshan, Lisa Silver, and Jonnette Watson Hamilton from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law break down Bill 1 and explain what actually falls under Alberta’s vague list of essential infastructure.

Highways, for instance, are defined as “any thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway or other place or any part of any of them, whether publicly or privately owned, that the public is ordinarily entitled or permitted to use for the passage or parking of vehicles” and include sidewalks, boulevards and adjacent ditches...”

Now, let’s take a look at what is considered interfering with an essential service: “wilfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the construction, maintenance, use or operation of any essential infrastructure in ways that make it dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective.”

So what does this mean for people in Alberta? Indigenous people and their allies will NOT be able to protest the construction of pipelines on site, and gathering to protest police brutality and marching down roads and sidewalks is now punishable with a fine of up to $10 000 or 6 months in jail for a FIRST offense.

When I say Albertians have lost their basic human rights I mean it! The article I have been referencing goes in depth on exactly how and which rights are being compromised!

“freedom of expression (s 2(b)), freedom of peaceful assembly (s 2(c)), freedom of association (s 2(d)), the right to liberty (s 7) and the right to equality (s 15).”

It’s no secret that Jason Kenney and the UCP introduced Bill 1 to silence the voices of Indigenous peoples, First Nations and anyone else who challenges their government. So what can you do to help give Albertians their voice back?

Petitions

Rally Against Alberta’s Critical Infastructure Defence Act

Repeal The Critical Infastructure Defence Act

Oppose Alberta Bill 1

Support Wet’suwet’en in stopping the pipeline (it’s in BC but still so important!)

Unist’ot’en merch 100% of proceeds go to the Unist’ot’en

Educate yourself with a video

Educate yourself with an article

resources and ways to supoort blm

I’ll admit my last post had a bit of misinformation but since everyone has so much to say about what’s happening in Alberta I’d thought I’d put together a post with the correct information.

Right now Alberta Canada is being run by the United Conservative Party or UCP for short and the current premier is Jason Kenney.

On June 17 the Alberta government passed Bill 1 “Protecting Critical Infastructure.” This Bill was created too “protect[s] essential infrastructure from damage or interference cause by blockades, protests, or similar activities...”

What does this mean? The act defines essential infrastructure as a vast array of things such as pipelines, highways and railways BUT the act also states that it “allows regulations to expand the definition of essential infrastructure in the future if necessary”

Jennifer Koshan, Lisa Silver, and Jonnette Watson Hamilton from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law break down Bill 1 and explain what actually falls under Alberta’s vague list of essential infastructure.

Highways, for instance, are defined as “any thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway or other place or any part of any of them, whether publicly or privately owned, that the public is ordinarily entitled or permitted to use for the passage or parking of vehicles” and include sidewalks, boulevards and adjacent ditches...”

Now, let’s take a look at what is considered interfering with an essential service: “wilfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the construction, maintenance, use or operation of any essential infrastructure in ways that make it dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective.”

So what does this mean for people in Alberta? Indigenous people and their allies will NOT be able to protest the construction of pipelines on site, and gathering to protest police brutality and marching down roads and sidewalks is now punishable with a fine of up to $10 000 or 6 months in jail for a FIRST offense.

When I say Albertians have lost their basic human rights I mean it! The article I have been referencing goes in depth on exactly how and which rights are being compromised!

“freedom of expression (s 2(b)), freedom of peaceful assembly (s 2(c)), freedom of association (s 2(d)), the right to liberty (s 7) and the right to equality (s 15).”

It’s no secret that Jason Kenney and the UCP introduced Bill 1 to silence the voices of Indigenous peoples, First Nations and anyone else who challenges their government. So what can you do to help give Albertians their voice back?

Petitions

Rally Against Alberta’s Critical Infastructure Defence Act

Repeal The Critical Infastructure Defence Act

Oppose Alberta Bill 1

Support Wet’suwet’en in stopping the pipeline (it’s in BC but still so important!)

Unist’ot’en merch 100% of proceeds go to the Unist’ot’en

Educate yourself with a video

Educate yourself with an article