Five Ringed Circus: Police State v. Eagles

AllThe(Stupid)RulesThatFit
VANOCVille


Have you ever gone to Squamish to watch the swooping and diving of the bald eagles?

If not, you may want to check out a volunteer program by the Squamish Environment Society called Eagle Watch.

Except.....

You'll have to do that online before you leave, because this year, unlike past years, you will not be able to get any information while on the road from Eagle Watch's banner that they normally put up on the Sea-To-The-Pie-In-The-Sky Highway.

Why not?

Because VANOC, which now apparently controls everything, won't let Eagle Watch put up their banner.

I kid you not - Zoe Szuch, in the Squamish Chief, has the story:

The spectacular sight of hundreds upon hundreds of bald eagles descending on local waterways to feed on salmon will soon return to the Government Road Eagle Viewing Dike – and this year, eagle count numbers are expected to surpass disappointing numbers of the past.

“It is a totally amazing sight,” said Bruce Matthews, a co-ordinator for the Eaglewatch Volunteer Interpreter Program. “This year, we’ve had a really good pink run, Coho run and a good chum run, so this is the first time in three years that we’re going to have good eagle numbers.”

Typically, upwards of 7,000 visitors could also be seen at the Eagle Viewing Dike across from the Easter Seal Camp over the most intense two-month period of eagle activity. However despite the anticipated increase in eagles, Matthews fears visitor numbers could be significantly lower than the past because of curtailed marketing options.

He said VANOC and the Ministry of Transportation, would not allow the non-profit organization to hang an eagle-themed banner over Highway 99 for the month of January to inform travellers of the spectacular sight.

“It doesn’t make any sense that they have the right to say that there can’t be any banners along the side of the road,” he said. “It’s not an advertising banner. It says ‘The eagles have arrived,’ December to January.”

Matthews has not been given a reason why the banner can’t fly, but he believes it could greatly hinder the amount of tourists who stop in town for the day....."

Hmmmmm.....

Is it possible that a corporation, say a corporation that sells, I dunno, clothing for the smart-set, has signed an exclusive 'Eagle' contract with the Circus?

Set the birds free!

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Original link source: The always standing on guard for both we and thee, Great Aunty Bertha.

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