the project "Azores Aquarium", an initiative that, according reported by the media, will have an investment of 15.5 million euros and will be, currently in the licensing phase. Also according to the same news, the project is a private initiative but will apply for EU funds, ie all the money and all of us. My message is opposed to this project because: - Of what we know today about the sentient animals, we know that life in captivity is absolutely incompatible with welfare levels equivalent to what they would in their natural habitat; - The mere principle of profit from captive animals seem to me as a perversion of what should be respect for nature and the inhabitants of the planet; - Animal exploitation sites, such as zoos, aquariums or whether others are, increasingly, to be controverted by the world, either by citizenship or from the scientific community. These sites aim to bring joy to humans profits to investment firms and a possible regional promotion, but at what cost? The truth is that the fun will come from an anti-pedagogical perspective than are those animals and how they should be maintained. The international community will join to challenge this project millionaire, and the region will have a negative promotion. I come, therefore, ask V. Excellencies. to consider reviewing V. priorities. Surely for companies who write and financially benefiting from these places there will be great interest in my opinion, however, I believe this may be of interest to the Government and also to local authorities, because, guaranteed, if this project forward, leave to visit your beautiful island and I will advise all my friends and acquaintances to do the same. Certainly there will be many other ways to invest 15.5 million euros in economic and social development of the island (as well as own the Azores) and that do not involve the capture, acquisition, exploration and exploitation of animals.
