Jul31
PETA Lighthouse?
Posted at 02:08 PM | Permalink
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Comments (6)
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There are a few old lighthouses on the East Coast being offered up free of charge to a nonprofit or other qualified entity under the Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. So—of course—we’re applying for them. What international animal protection organization doesn’t need a lighthouse or two, right?
The first of the lighthouses we applied for is called the Penfield Reef Lighthouse—it's about a mile off the Connecticut coast, near the small town of Farifield. Here’s a story about it.
In all seriousness, we're applying for the lighthouses to serve as the international headquarters of our Fish Empathy Project, where we would install interactive displays promoting the protection of fish. Plus, it would be the perfect place to house the world’s first Fish Empathy Quilt.
After we submitted our application for the Penfield Reef Lighthouse, we found out that an official with the City of Fairfield—backed by the local Historical Society—is trying to obtain the lighthouse. So we wrote to him offering to bow out of the competition (which, incidentally, is just between us and him right now) if he can ensure that no cruelty to fish (such as angling or fish sticks) takes place on lighthouse grounds. Here’s the letter we sent. I’ll be sure to let you know if we get a response, but I wouldn’t start making vacation plans to visit the PETA Lighthouse just yet . . .
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fish lighthouse
Comments
Wow - this is a great idea! I'm a big lighthouse fan and i like the idea about Peta owing this beautiful symbol of heavenly protection! So you could also observe dolphins and whales and other sea creatures! As the sea is a wonder on earth it's normal and welcome that Peta could start this great additional adventure! It could even become a place of pilgrimage for the peta-members with a vegetarian restaurant - there are so many ideas to be inspired and developed!
Posted by: Wu Cheng | July 31, 2007 05:52 PM
The article you linked to said that the lighthouse has a dim (ha-ha) chance of being open to the public. Was this plan up your sleeve the whole time?
Posted by: sam | July 31, 2007 08:03 PM
I think this is a great idea. I grew up in NH and lighthouses are such a beautiful sight.
I'm not quite sure I understand the parameters. It sounded like the decision-makers were saying it would be to look at, not to visit. Confusing. I think it would be great if a building IN SIGHT of the lighthouse could be purchased that was a fish awareness building or something.
That way boats would not have to carry people back and forth over the water, which may disturb the animals anyway. Many possibilities here.
I wonder if the decision-makers would give the lighthouse to PETA if it had public support? Should letters be written?
Posted by: Maya | July 31, 2007 08:15 PM
THIS IS GREAT MAD PROPZZZ
Posted by: ../../../../../ | July 31, 2007 11:03 PM
If you say "fish empathy" really fast...well, it sounds cool.
Posted by: KathyF | August 1, 2007 04:06 AM
It's important to note that a letter of interest has been submitted, not an application. The actual application is very lengthy and complicated, and the review process is very stringent. Also, Penfield Reef Lighthouse (as well as Whaleback Lighthouse, for which PETA has also submitted a letter) is inaccessible to the public, and the stated plans for the site are unrealistic.
Posted by: Jeremy | August 7, 2007 03:59 PM