Say no to animal showsFebruary 23, 2011Dear Sir,I wholeheartedly agree with the letter written by Maureen Ware-Cieters regarding the wild tiger magic show that is currently taking place in Bermuda. We cannot call ourselves an enlightened society as long as we allow shows like this to come to our Island. There are so many entertainment alternatives that do not subject animals to degrading and inhumane treatment in the name of charity and education. This kind of exploitation has no place in our society.The Born Free Foundation says: “Thousands of wild animals are used worldwide in circuses, side-shows, within zoos, and in advertising, film and television, to perform demeaning and unnatural tricks to entertain the public. The animals can live life continually on the move, often travelling vast distances chained, tethered or encaged, and endure harsh training regimes in order to correctly perform in front of an audience or camera. This is no life for a wild animal. It is widely acknowledged that vertebrate animals can experience pain, suffering and distress. Research has shown that keeping wild animals in cramped conditions, in inadequate and unnatural social environments and subjecting them to repeated travel causes heightened stress responses that result in a serious negative impact on animal welfare. Many countries now have animal protection laws, and some have banned the use of some or all wild animals in circuses (e.g. Austria, Singapore).”We would be horrified and appalled if a person was subjected to this kind of treatment, so why do we allow it with animals? I certainly hope that in the future anyone else considering a show involving animals will think twice. It’s not about education; it’s about profit-making. Let’s set a precedent and say no to this cruel treatment of animals who cannot speak for themselves. Wild animals belong in the wild.ERICA MARTINSmith’sSave Survivor endingsFebruary 25, 2011Dear Sir,Memo to Bermuda Broadcasting Ltd: Can you please stop cutting off the last two to three minutes of Survivor. There is plenty of time during the show to place local commercials, why you cut off the last two to three minutes and insert a bumper of commercials is perplexing. Please in the future rectify this situation for all Bermudian fans of Survivor.SURVIVOR FANPembrokeSad day for BermudaFebruary 28, 2011Dear Sir,It is a sad day indeed with the news that the Tucker’s Point SDO has been approved. Oh I guess we all knew it would pass. The jobs created will not last forever sir, you know that and I suspect many others do also, perhaps even our MPs if they were to be honest with you (yeah right). What could have lasted forever was that huge parcel of land and the benefit it had to all of us in just being left alone. In today’s paper on page 24 the headline reads “HSBC’s profit rises to $19b …” Good for them! Do you remember when HSBC planted trees down at Cooper’s island and then did not go back and water them? The tree planting was touted as a great thing and we were told that they were giving back to Bermuda, gee thanks guys! Try again with some trees that are already established.HSBC made a bad decision lending to TPC so why should we all lose? Why can’t a global bank that has announced a $19b profit take care of its’ own mistakes? I don’t know, perhaps an SDO is easy to get if you know how to wine and dine and restructuring a loan or taking a financial hit just seems too unbearable. This government has failed everyone miserably on this as they have so many times before on so many issues that I have lost count. It is becoming more than a little embarrassing. I see also in today’s paper that the Hustle Truck is getting the axe but Zane DeSilva would like the private sector to step up and foot the bill. Nice idea , Zane, why don’t we do away with Government entirely and leave it to people who have successfully conducted their affairs and managed to save some extra cash and you could go back to whatever you do and things would be grand.Could I suggest that you not make a big deal of the ground breaking? Or would Madam Premier like to chop down the first tree?BAILEY’S BAY