Anti-Sealing Movement Losing Credibility

[Animal 0]

Quel salopard !

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/higgins040906.htm

Atlantic & East Coast Report
Anti-Sealing Movement Losing Credibility
By Myles Higgins
Sunday, April 9, 2006

After decades of suffering the misguided and sometimes corrupt
anti-sealing protests that reach Atlantic Canada every March and
April, it finally looks like progress is being made in getting the
truth out there. Looking back on the 2006 harvest some might even say
that this season (which is only about half over) has been a turning
point in that effort.

There was a time when animal rights groups like Greenpeace and others
provided strong resistance to the hunt and caused great concern in
this Country. That time seems to be over or at the very least the
effectiveness of such groups seems to have been severely limited.

Why do I say this? Well, let's review the animal rights campaign so
far this year and see just how ineffective it's really been. The first
big offensive, launched by the Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS), was perhaps the strongest and at first it looked like this
year would see a bigger battle ensue that had happened for some time,
however their campaign quickly fizzled.

HSUS began with the standard white coat photo op when they air lifted
Paul and Heather McCartney to the ice flows off of PEI. This made a
bit of a splash, but one that was at least partly mitigated by an on
air debate with Newfoundland and Labrador's Premier who pointed out
that the McCartney's knew so little about the situation that they
didn't even know what part of Canada they were in. Follow this with
Heather McCartney's later attempt to ban milk (that's right, milk)
from public use and much of this couple's credibility has gone up in
smoke.

The next big effort saw the geriatric and frail Brigitte Bardot arrive
in Canada fully expecting that her 1960s star status would cause the
doors of 24 Sussex drive to swing open so our newest Prime Minister
could welcome her with open arms. Instead of a warm welcome, the
misguided Bardot was relegated to holding a small press conference in
her hotel before taking a long lonely back to France. Not exactly a
major splash.

Next, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) found a voice
in Pamela Anderson when she hosted the Canadian Juno Awards. (I
suspect her selection was the doing of an ARA mole inside the Juno
committee but that's another story). How did that attack work out? Not
well. After making a couple of snotty comments during her opening
monologue, Ms. Anderson was nearly hooted off the stage by the
audience. Instead of continuing with her political statements she then
opted to gyrate around the stage half dressed for the next 2 hours,
which did little to improve public perception of her intellect.

The most recent attack came from an old adversary of the harvest, even
though he is a minor player. Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Society
began proudly thumping his chest last week and taking credit for
convincing retail giant Costco to remove seal oil products from their
shelves. Now, a mere week after that announcement we learn that Costco
is distancing themselves from Watson, denying (although to deaf ears
in Atlantic Canada) that they ever backed him. As of Wednesday seal
oil capsules are returning to Costco shelves. I wonder what Mr. Watson
thinks of that?

I have to wonder what happened to the organized and sometimes
effective tactics employed by such protest groups in past years. I
never thought I'd actually say this but I find myself almost nostalgic
for the type of battles that used to happen this time of year. It's
gotten to the point where these groups don't even put up a real fight
anymore. Instead they do themselves more harm than good, which is
great for the sealing industry, but tough on those of us who like to
write about the issue.

Some people believe the lack of effectiveness these groups have
displayed this year is simply an aberration. Others believe it is a
symptom of the fact that animal rights groups have gotten so rich
playing their game that they have gotten lazy. I have another theory.
I believe that groups like HSUS, Sea Shepherd and PETA have come to
realize that they don't really want the harvest to stop. Why would
they? By tacitly allowing the harvest to continue, and only offering
token resistance, they can ensure that the gravy train of donations
they receive continues to flow unimpeded to their front doors. Not bad
work if you can get it.

There are a few weeks left in this year's harvest and maybe we'll see
some truly big offensive by one of the major groups. Somehow though I
suspect we won't. The upcoming phase of the hunt moves off the shores
of Newfoundland to what is known as the Front and that poses a problem
for protestors.

The Front is a much more dangerous and expensive place to operate and
going there means protestors would have to spend a lot of time onboard
ship. You can't simply helicopter back to your $200 a night luxury
suite at the end of the day like you can after a photo session in the
Gulf area. As I see it, these groups have spent as much money as they
care to this year. Any new offensive might cut further into their
funding and after what's happened so far, they're likely concerned
that another fiasco will only lower their credibility and erode the
effectiveness of their real cause, fund raising.


Myles is freelance columnist originally from the central region of
Newfoundland. He now resides with his wife and a terminally lazy
Terrier named "Molson" in the beautiful town of Portugal Cove - St.
Philips, "Where the sun meets the sea".


Myles' interest in Newfoundland and Labrador political and social
issues is obvious in his writing for several publications and on his
own web site, Web Talk - Newfoundland and Labrador. A site where Myles
dedicates his time to providing an open commentary and discussion
forum on newsworthy items of the day.

[Animal 0]

et encore un autre ! Du Haut Commissaire du Canada cette fois

Apr 11, 2006
Canadian High Commission Responds To Seal Hunt Story - Brunei (Borneo Bulletin)


BruneiDirect.Com

Letters to the editor can be send via "WRITE TO US" on the right hand side.

Canadian High Commission Responds To Seal Hunt Story

http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Apr06/110406/nite32.htm

Bandar Seri Begawan - In response to the Weekend Bulletin story
"Canada clubbed over seal hunt" published April 8, 2006, the acting
High Commissioner of the Canadian High Commission in Brunei, Mr
Leopold Battel, has issued the following statement yesterday.

The Saturday April 8 edition of Borneo Bulletin reproduced on page 44
sensational images and an article from Canadian Press on the seal hunt
(Canada clubbed over seal hunt). It is unfortunate that old myths are
perpetuated in a melodramatic argument that shows a deep
misunderstanding of sealing and its importance to many coastal
communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Nunavut and the Northwest
Territories.

Many press reports concentrate on the public relations campaign of
opponents to the seal hunt, especially if these come to the world of
show business; these reports tell a selective, biased and often false
story about the seal hunt. Based on misleading rhetoric, they fail to
present objective facts, notably concerning the people who rely on it
for a living, who are undeservedly cast in a negative light by a few
organisations putting their own agendas ahead of the truth. Most media
reports put forward that the hunt is unsustainable and that it is
conducted in an inhumane manner.

For these reasons, I encourage readers of Borneo Bulletin to form
their opinions based on the facts.

Humane hunt

The seals hunted are self-reliant, independent animals. Hunting for
harp and hooded seal pups is strictly prohibited, as is the trade,
sale or barter of the fur of these pups.

To prevent inhumane treatment, seals are killed quickly and according
to strict regulations. Canada's seal hunting methods have been studied
and approved by the Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing, which found
that the methods used compared favourably to those used to hunt any
other wild animals, and those used to slaughter domestic animals -
like cattle and poultry - for human consumption.

A Special Report-on Animal Welfare and the Harp Seal Hunt in Atlantic
Canada, which was published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal (Vol
43, No 9, September 2002), reported on the findings of veterinary
professionals. Their report concluded that virtually all harp seals -
fully 98 per cent - are killed in humane manner.

Economy and Industry

The seal hunt is an economically viable activity and it is not
subsidised by the Government of Canada. Seals are a valuable natural
resource that provides income to between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals
and their families in remote towns and villages at a time of year when
few other economic opportunities exist.

Seals have been harvested for food, fuel shelter and other products
for hundreds of years. They are also an important source of food - and
a focus of social and cultural life - for Aboriginal communities
throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Nunavut and the Northwest
Territories: Seal products generated by this industry, such as pelts
and oil, are valuable commodities sought after by consumers in Canada,
Europe and Asia.

Enforcement

Fishery Officers closely monitor the hunt to ensure sealers comply
with Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations. They monitor catches, ensure
humane harvesting practices and enforce regulations and licence
conditions.

Infractions are taken seriously and those who violate the Marine
Mammal Regulations are prosecuted.

Canada's enforcement of sealing regulations is thorough and
comprehensive. Regulations and licensing policies stipulate hunting
seasons, quotas, vessel size, methods of dispatch, as well as
instructions and training of seal hunters.

Sustainability/Conservation

The Canadian seal hunt is a sustainable and economically viable
activity based on sound conservation principles. Canada's seal
population is healthy and abundant. Current estimates put the harp
seal herd - the most important herd for the industry - in excess of
five million animals, nearly triple what it was in the 1970s.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has strict conservation methods
in place, and is committed to the careful management of all seals to
ensure strong, healthy populations in the years to come.

We conduct comprehensive scientific research to build on our
understanding of seals and how they interact with the marine
ecosystem. This kind of research not only promotes a better
understanding of seals and their marine environment, but will help
ensure balance on Canada's ongoing resource management following an
ecosystem-based approach.

For further information, readers may wish to review the seal section
of DFO's website, www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. I urge you to consider these
facts carefully before forming your opinion on Canada's seal hunt.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

[Animal 0]

et encore un autre...


Tue Apr 11, 2006 Hunt hypocrisy woofeywalkers


Calgary Sun
Sealing opponents should declare they're against killing of all species

By Paul Jackson

An avalanche of appeals from American friends, both Republicans and Democrats,
are asking how they can help fight the Canadian seal hunt.

Well, frankly, I find the hunt abhorrent, just as I found the bear hunting
season in Alberta abhorrent.

I'm not sure whether there are actually six-million seals and they will destroy
entire cod fish swarm unless we cull 325,000 of them this year and a similar
number every year.

Yet, it's a horrific scenario, especially for an animal lover, which I surely
am, but there is a another side to the story.

Newfoundland's Tory Premier Danny Williams insists the seal hunt is economically
essential -- as does former federal finance minister and Newfoundlander John
Crosbie -- a Conservative.

Another fellow I greatly respect is Senator Colin Kenny, who is a Liberal, and
crusading chairman of the Senate committee on national security and defence.

Kenny, as I recall, once pointed out to the Sun editorial board Newfoundlanders
get involved in the hunt out of desperation.

I paraphrase him here, but believe this is the gist of what he told us: "Why
would someone go out in small boats, on treacherous waters, clamour over
slippery ice flows, often in bitterly cold temperatures, and kill seals, unless
they were absolutely no other means to make a living?"

Which sounds pretty rational.

But I still find the hunt sickening.

That said, there's a lot of hypocrisy by many of its opponents.

Take Sir Paul McCartney -- a billionaire -- and his sanctimonious wife Heather
Mills.

They're high-profile protesters of the hunt -- but why doesn't McCartney pour
some of his staggering fortune into Newfoundland and build a new industry there
to create safe and decent-paying jobs?

You can manufacture anything in Newfoundland -- clothes, furniture, electronic
products or whatever -- just as you can manufacture anything anywhere else.

If McCartney and other publicity seeking celebrity hounds such as Brigitte
Bardot and Pamela Anderson -- put their fortunes where their mouths are and
created jobs for jobless Newfies, you wouldn't be able to drag them onto the ice
flows.

In his column "Origins of hunt forgotten," (April 3) Crosbie pointed out the
likes of cattle, sheep and pigs -- calves, lambs and piglets -- are slaughtered
everyday in much the same manner as seals.

They are given blows to their heads -- or their throats slit.

The difference is they are brutalized behind doors in abattoirs, not in full
public view.

Ponder the terror of hundreds of thousands of chickens having their throats slit
every single day.

Yet I'll bet the vast majority of seal hunt opponents have no qualms about
eating a hefty steak, pork or lamb chops, or fried chicken.

Or gobbling down a hamburger or eating bacon and eggs for breakfast.

Hence, there really is hypocrisy in this scenario.

Those opposed to the seal hunt should at least refuse to eat any meat produced
from animals that suckle and wean their young.

Personally, I've been increasingly avoiding any meat from mammals, and turning
to sea food.

I even find it unappetizing to eat duck -- for I find ducks to be beautiful
little creatures.

Hunting for sport -- whether bears, moose or deer -- also increasingly disturbs
me.

These animals don't stand a chance.

If the bear hunt in Alberta is ever opened up again, then the hunters should be
put on a level playing field with the bears -- no guns -- the hunter gets a
knife and the bear its claws.

How many hunters would then have the bravado they do now?

On bear hunting, a ridiculous argument is to say they are invading our land or
threatening us.

In actuality, we are invading their land -- and always have.

To kill a bear simply because it attacked someone who wandered into its
territory is also shameful.

Anyway, the anti-seal hunt people should add strength to their arguments by
ensuring no one can accuse them of hypocrisy.

They should oppose the killing of all species.

And kiss their spare ribs and chicken nuggets goodbye.
Have a letter for the editor?

[animo-aequoanimo 0]

Citation :

Sealing opponents should declare they're against killing of all species

C'est pourtant le cas d'une grande majorité !

[Animal 0]

ils font semblant qu'ils ne savent pas !

[animo-aequoanimo 0]

Ils me font penser à ceux qui avancent l'argument de la sensibilité des plantes.

[Animal 0]

ça me fait aussi penser aux arguments de l'institut de la fourrure du canada

[animo-aequoanimo 0]

Ce ne sont que des minables