Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Well, a giant pineapple shouldn’t be under the sea in the first place.
American children’s television network Nickelodeon has announced that it plans to build a 400-hectare underwater theme park in Palawan, the country’s “Last Frontier,” known for picture-perfect pristine beaches.
Environmentalists expressed their alarm about the project which will allow fans to “interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love.”
The underwater attraction will feature restaurants and lounges six meters below sea level. It is set to open in 2020.
According to Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, Palawan was chosen because it “is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today.”
Nickelodeon says that the project will “advocate ocean protection,” but environmentalists have their doubts. They are telling Dora and the rest of the Nickelodeon gang to explore elsewhere.
“It’s sad and alarming because a theme park that big will not promote environmental protection by building those structures,” Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP. “Why build a viewing deck when you have the whole paradise to enjoy?”
Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.
Anna Oposa of Save Philippine Seas has created an online petition calling on the Local government of Palawan and Nickelodeon to junk their plans.
“For a channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible example to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources. We don’t need an underwater theme park —our underwater life is fascinating, entertaining, and educational on its own,” the petition said.
As of writing, it has reached about 10,000 signatures.
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved. —with reports from AFP
