Animal-welfare activists keep trying to force a vote by SeaWorld Entertainment investors on sending the company’s killer whales to seaside sanctuaries.
SeaWorld is looking for avenues to avoid it.
In December, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals submitted a resolution calling for the retirement of SeaWorld’s orcas to ocean pens.
PETA owns SeaWorld shares. Investors that own enough stock in a public company can place such resolutions on its proxy statement. Investors vote on them at the annual shareholder meetings.
Companies sometimes seek exceptions, though.
SeaWorld has written to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission asking whether the staff agrees the proposal can be excluded.
In its letter, SeaWorld argues that PETA’s proposal is vague. Also, the company says, “it is well-known to the proponent that no `seaside sanctuaries’ currently exist.”
PETA has tried several times to get SeaWorld investors to vote on the issue. The group had to withdraw one resolution after SeaWorld said its shares didn’t meet the minimum value needed. PETA said the value fell beneath the minimum required because of SeaWorld’s stock decline. PETA’s original resolution was blocked in 2014 because federal rules require shareholders to have held stock for at least a year before submitting resolutions. SeaWorld had been a publicly traded company for less than a year, so no stockholder could meet that threshold.
"Rather than investing in improving the lives of the 22 long-suffering orcas who are held in small concrete cells at SeaWorld, the company is seeking to exclude PETA’s resolution from its proxy materials and annual meeting,” PETA attorney Jared Goodman said in a news release Wednesday.
SeaWorld said in a statement that putting orcas in untested sanctuaries poses a risk to their health and their lives.
Disney plans hotel expansions
Walt Disney World on Thursday unveiled expansion plans for its Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach resorts.
Coronado Springs Resort will get a new 15-story tower with 500 rooms, featuring suites and concierge-level services.
The new tower overlooking Lago Dorado, the resort’s centerpiece lake, will allow guests to experience rooftop dining with views of fireworks from Disney theme parks.
The hotel will also refurbish its rooms.
Disney said on its blog it also plans to transform Coronado Springs’ landscape. There will be “floating gardens and an island oasis that connects the resort through a series of bridges.”
Also Disney will make additions to the Caribbean Beach Resort, including new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas at the Centertown marketplace. Disney said in a blog post “this centralized location will offer the resort’s guests more convenient access to services, amenities and dining.”
A coalition of activist groups thinks Mickey Mouse and Donald Trump are not a magical combination – and they organized a rally Tuesday to say so.
The groups including Organize Florida and the Council for Popular Democracy Action are calling for The Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger to resign from Trump’s economic-advisory group, President’s Strategic and Policy Forum. The reason: Trump’s controversial statements and policies, particularly on immigration.
Almost 400,000 signatures have been collected on online petitions calling for Iger to dump Trump, an Organize Florida representative said. On Tuesday, activists dropped off printed copies of the petitions’ electronic signatures at a Disney corporate office.
Disney World representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
Organize Florida says it plans to continue the campaign calling for Iger to disassociate himself with Trump.
Trump appointed the forum, consisting of about 15 present and former corporate leaders, last year shortly after his election.
Pressure has been on some of those executives to quit after Trump’s executive order temporarily banned nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States,. Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick announced his departure this month after complaints from employees and customers.
Iger skipped the council’s first meeting this month. Disney said he had to attend a previously scheduled company board meeting.
People attending Tuesday’s event pointed out Disney is a company that celebrates diversity and is seen as a symbol of American values.
spedicini@orlandosentinel,com or 407-420-5240; Twitter, @SandraPedicini
Matt Englett, an Orlando attorney who has been disciplined twice previously, has been suspended by the Florida Supreme Court for three months.
Matt Englett, an Orlando attorney who has been disciplined twice previously, has been suspended by the Florida Supreme Court for three months.
Matt Englett, an Orlando attorney who has been disciplined twice previously, has been suspended by the Florida Supreme Court for three months.
Matt Englett, an Orlando attorney who has been disciplined twice previously, has been suspended by the Florida Supreme Court for three months.
The House bill that would eliminate Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida would have another result: Getting rid of the urban high crime district program that has been used to avoid millions of dollars in taxes by Universal Orlando.
The House bill that would eliminate Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida would have another result: Getting rid of the urban high crime district program that has been used to avoid millions of dollars in taxes by Universal Orlando.
A group affiliated with California-based Ilbak Investments purchased the Oviedo Mall, anchored by Regal Cinemas and Sears at State Road 417 and Red Bug Lake Park in Oviedo.
A group affiliated with California-based Ilbak Investments purchased the Oviedo Mall, anchored by Regal Cinemas and Sears at State Road 417 and Red Bug Lake Park in Oviedo.
Judges have rejected attempted deals to turn four health insurance companies into two.
Judges have rejected attempted deals to turn four health insurance companies into two.
This is the sixth consecutive record-year for Florida, breaking last year’s record of 106.6 million.
This is the sixth consecutive record-year for Florida, breaking last year’s record of 106.6 million.
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