51 years, all work and no play
LOLITA’S LOST TIME – ONLINE WORLDWIDE EVENT ORGANIZED & HOSTED BY UNTIL LOLITA IS HOME
Sunday, August 8th, 2021, marked the 51st anniversary of Lolita’s capture from the wild. She now swims in endless circles in the Miami Seaquarium, the smallest orca tank in North America.
51 YEARS AGO, LOLITA’S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER
Once free, Lolita is without her family, without the feeling of the changing seasons, and without the turning of the tides. Unable to swim great distances, unable to catch fish. She has had everything was taken away from her, everything but her strength and determination.
51 YEARS. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN THAT TIME?
This year’s virtual event focused on time, 51 years. That’s 612 months, 2661 weeks, 18,628 days, 447,072 hours, 26,824,320 minutes, 1,609,459,200 seconds. Think of all your life experiences while Lolita circled her tiny barren tank. Where have you been? What have you learned? What have you seen? What have you done?
A GIANT WAVE ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA
Compassionate people worldwide advocated for Lolita using our online actions that covered all social media platforms. These included signs to take selfies and videos with and share, which proved to be very successful, a Facebook profile frame used by thousands, a tweetstorm with over 150k exposure, educational videos widely reposted over the web, and graphics for awareness. Our goal was to flood social media with her name and to tell her heartbreaking story. Every action taken to share Lolita’s story makes a difference. It is the least we can do. Together, we are #United4Lolita
ON REFLECTION
One of Until Lolita is Home’s goals was to reach out to people unaware of Lolita, along with hopefully changing the minds of those who believe that captivity is fine, or at least make them think. Using ‘time’ as the theme and asking people to think about what they have done during Lolita’s confinement seemed to hit home; we read some incredibly moving comments. When people can relate to an animal, they make a connection; and a light switches on.
In the weeks leading up to August 8th and on the day itself, hundreds of new faces joined our movement and the campaign for Lolita. Our social media stats were incredible; we also put effort into Instagram posts which proved to be equally beneficial in reaching a wider audience. Onwards we go. Please say no to captivity, don’t buy a ticket, join the fight to help those who desperately need our voices. Thank you. Jo – Until Lolita is Home.
View Jo’s Instagram story highlights ‘Tokitae ’21’
Read International Indigenous Leaders Join Call for the Return of Orca Relation
Watch Penn Cove Orca Capture Commemoration by Orca Network
“As I celebrate my 51st wedding anniversary, this really put this into perspective, made it tangible. During that time, I have had 2 children, 3 grandchildren, lived in 4 countries, and visited every continent. Meanwhile, Lolita has swum in endless circles, deprived of everything she should have experienced in the wild, all for man’s greed. Truly heartbreaking.”
G. Greenland
“This really hit home. I’m 51. All the things I have done in my life and she has been languishing in a revolting prison. It’s absolutely disgraceful. I honestly don’t know how/why people would pay to go to these hideous places?!”
N. Jane
“I have lived a full life for 49 years. So unlike this poor girl held all these years in that tiny tank. I’ve had freedom and choices – I have seen the world. What has Lolita seen and done? Heartbreaking.”
S. Greatorex
