LIFESTYLE
DEEP SENSE an interview with PETA Foundation`s Director of Animal Law, Jared S. Goodman BY jOSHUA SEIBERT
The Ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth`s surface with billions of aquatic life unveiling new discoveries every day across the world. No matter what background you come from, the fact is that in order for us to continue thriving as human beings amidst the factual science of preservation, we must be more conscious of our environment and its inhabitants. In a sense, we have the choice to heal or hurt, and in all reality, a deep sense of intuition has often been a defining factor in turning a mess into a miracle. If you care about the impact that you’ll make in this world, you might pay attention to what drives you. Upon reading this, would you consider yourself full of optimism or rather a cynical person? According to an article at nationalgeographic.com, the Federal Government listed a captive orca at a Miami aquarium as an endangered species and this is but one example of the many cases where ocean life is diminishing. Statistically speaking there are countless mammals that are endangered since 2015. 10,000-25,000 blue whales remain in the environment surviving the harsh climatic conditions.
tions, as well as celebrities about the treatment of Orcas under captivity in their facility. Conan Obrien, the American television host, cracked a hilarious joke hinting that the best place for captivity is the ocean alongside this recent tweet, @ConanOBrien: “Not sure about SeaWorld’s new ad campaign “You Either See Them Here or at Red Lobster, kind of makes you laugh doesn’t it? It does seem obvious that captivity is not the greatest choice and luckily for the helpless victims in this equation there are organizations making an impact on massive scales. Supported by a long list of celebrities like Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Bill Maher, Trent Reznor, Pink, Justin Bieber, and Kate Winslet, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have actively pursued Sea World in efforts to end what they know to be an active infringement on animal rights. PETA foundations Director of Animal Law Jared S. Goodman has intelligence and compassion for this situation like no other I have seen, and I personally believe he’s on the right track.
“Like other large whales, blue whales are threatened by environmental change including habitat loss and toxics. Blue whales can also be harmed by ship strikes and by becoming entangled in fishing gear. Although commercial whaling no longer represents a threat, climate change and its impact on krill (shrimp-like crustaceans), blue whales’ major prey, makes this cetacean particularly vulnerable.” See wildlife.org For me, ultimately this question will always remain close to my heart. “What can I do to make a positive change?” As far as humanitarian work goes, many individuals approach causes different forms of passion. For example, Leonardo DiCaprio, an American actor and film producer whose list of accolades seems endless, has made it obvious that he has chosen to be optimistic. In the past several years, making contributions to several organizations including recent donations of 2 million dollars to Oceans 5, the UN has designated him as a “UN Messenger of peace with a focus on Climate Change.” Over at kickstarter.com, Adrien Grenier and Josh Zeman have begun the “Lonely Whale Project” with world-renowned scientists to find the elusive ‘52 Hertz’ whale and fight Ocean Noise Pollution. At the same time, Habitat for Humanity has a vision starting campaigns to ensure everyone has a decent place to live and many feel that this very standard directly applies to the very creatures we so neglect going about our busy lives. Sea World has recently been a topic point for many activists, organiza-
When did you start your career at PETA?
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Goodman:
I’ve been counsel to PETA since 2009. As PETA Foundation’s Director of Animal Law, what would you say your greatest goal is? My greatest goal is to achieve enforceable, legal rights for animals. One example of our work toward that end is PETA’s lawsuit on behalf of the five wild-caught orcas at SeaWorld against the company for enslaving them in violation of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As we continue our efforts to break down that species barrier in the legal system, we push to have existing animal-protection laws enforced and improved. What is your point of view on capturing Orcas from the wild? Would you explain the effects of captivity on these whales? It is unquestionably cruel to capture orcas from the wild and subject them to a life of deprivation in tiny, virtually barren tanks, where they often attack one another as a result of being grouped incompatibly, sustain broken teeth and suffer from chronic pain from biting on metal gates and concrete, are pumped full of drugs, and die prematurely from stress-related diseases. The intense public opposition to this abhorrent cruelty is why we have not seen an orca captured in U.S. waters
