ACRES To Hold Dolphin Concert At Singapore’s Hong Lim Park

To raise awareness about the 27 dolphins caught for Resorts World Sentosa, on 28 August 2011, ACRES will be holding a free concert at Hong Lim Park’s Speakers’ Corner in Singapore.

AsianScientist (Aug. 9, 2011) – Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike since its opening in 2010.

It attracted 15 million visitors in its opening year alone and hopes to increase that amount in the future. It is already home to the world’s tallest dueling roller coaster and now sets to house the world’s biggest oceanarium, the Resorts World Marine Life Park.

The marine park is currently being built on the island and is marketed as having a strong focus on research and education. The star attractions of the park are live dolphins that are scheduled to be showcased in their aquarium.

But that may be where the marketing ends.

Since they were captured from the Solomon Islands for RWS, 2 out of the 27 dolphins have already died from bacterial infections due to undesirable living conditions in their holding areas.

Even Chris Porter, the dolphin-trader responsible for catching and selling the dolphins to RWS, is not convinced of RWS’ purported goals.

“RWS is using the animals primarily to make money while telling the public that its aim is to educate the public on marine conservation,” he said.

Many concerned individuals have petitioned to let the remaining dolphins go. Ric O’Barry, the original dolphin trainer of the movie ‘Flipper’ and star of the movie, ‘The Cove’, along with Dr. Jane Goodall, NGO’s, university groups, and members of the general public have written in to RWS asking for the dolphins’ release.

The cumulative effort has resulted in over 100,000 signatures on change.org and 677,000 signatures on avaaz.org pleading for the dolphins’ freedom.

A Singapore-based group, the Animal Concerns, Research and Education Society (ACRES), has been actively campaigning for the release of these cetaceans.

To raise awareness of the plight of these dolphins, on 28 August 2011, ACRES will be holding a free concert at Hong Lim Park’s Speakers’ Corner in Singapore. The concert will start at 4:30 PM and will be featuring some of Singapore’s well-known local artistes, such as Michaela Therese, Jack & Rai, Alicia Pan, Sixx, Zal Empty, and D’Fusion, who are volunteering their vocals in support for the dolphins.

Therese, a one-woman band of vocalist and pianist rolled into one, explained why she volunteered to sing at the concert:

“I am so glad to be a part of this movement because I couldn’t stand by and watch these beautiful fellow creatures of my world be kept in captivity merely for the sake of entertainment. Let’s do all we can do set them free,” she said.

Louis Ng, Executive Director of ACRES, also the lead organizer of the event, said:

“The lives of the remaining 25 dolphins lie in our hands and we need to take action. We need to remember that these are 25 sentient beings who were quite recently living wild in the vast open oceans.”

“We hope that everyone will join us at Speakers’ Corner and show our solidarity with the dolphins. We will make our voices heard and urge RWS to make a moral and ethical decision to let the dolphins go.”

Two years ago, the resort canceled a whale shark exhibit due to a public outcry. The organizers hope that with enough public support, the resort may decide to abandon the dolphin exhibit as well.

“The dolphin’s smile is nature’s greatest deception, they always look happy,” says Ric O’Barry in the movie, ‘The Cove’. “You may think they’re happy to entertain us, but don’t be deceived.”

Concert details:
Date: August 28, 2011
Location: Speakers Corner – Hong Lim Park, Singapore
Directions: Exit A of Clarke Quay MRT station
Time: 4:30 PM

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Source: ACRES.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.