On Seals
One of the challenges of being a Newfoundlander abroad, for me personally, is the recurring question “Bash any seals lately?” This is asked in jest, of course, but let me answer it here.
No. I haven’t bashed a seal today. Kicked a puppy on the way to work, strangled a squirrel or two, but no seals. Today, anyway.
This question is due in no small part to the amazing success of the animal rights groups’ decades old public relations campaign against the Canadian seal hunt. I don’t know much about sealing at all. I hear that the population of seals is off the charts, but I also hear that our sealing industry is an exercise in unparalleled barbarism, and this latter voice always muffles supporters of the hunt. Most of the information I have ever gotten on the seal hunt has come from people who have a distinct and clear motivation: to end the hunt. Always, when I hear their arguments, I can’t help but see them as hypocritical: why didn’t they put their efforts behind ending the decimation of the north Atlantic cod stocks? Where were they then?
They were out ogling cute seals, who are certainly easier on the eyes than a cod. Isn’t there some hypocrisy there?
March 15th will be a global day of action to end the Canadian seal hunt. In Washington, there will be a major demonstration at the Canadian embassy. Internationally, our province will be portrayed as perpetrators of another holocaust in the animal kingdom, and as this slide show suggests, sealers will be colored as merely indulging an an-off season activity to make a little extra money.
I would be hard pressed to kill a seal, or anything for that matter. Unquestionably. But I’m equally hard pressed to put blind faith in the “facts” from groups who base their activism decisions on the cuteness of animals. Ever see a kid cuddle a baby cod?
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Here is a google search page listing a few articles on the atter:
Comment by ZS — 3/5/2005 @ 7:30 pmhttp://www.google.com/search?q=Lucien+Beauregard++churchill+falls
ZS, Glovertown
Thanks ZS.
Comment by Kevin McCann — 3/5/2005 @ 7:34 pmReal Seguin.
Globe & Mail
Mar 3,2005
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050303/POWER03/TPNational/Canada
Comment by Greg Locke — 3/6/2005 @ 9:44 amMost of the anti-sealing campaigns I have seen serve no purpose other than as a cash cow for the groups that conduct them. They represent the true hypocritical nature of many popular animal rights groups. At present, by both government and private estimates, there is hardly a seal shortage, quite the reverse actually. The Northwest harp seal population is healthy and abundant, and since 1970, has nearly tripled in size to 5.2 million based on the latest peer-reviewed survey in 1999. Sealing is a generally very humane activity as compared to any number of activites that go unnoticed by these numbskulls. A recent report published by the Canadian Veterinary Journal concluded virtually all harp seals are killed in what veterinarians describe as an acceptably humane manner.
These campaigns have been ongoing since the 1970s. They are used to vilify Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. They also harm others in the fishing industry.
Here are some facts on the subject:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/faq_e.htm
I already own 3 tanned pelts, keychains, a seal leather wallet and many other items from many different retailers. They are all durable and top quality. Seal food priducts are also excellent.
I encourage everyone to purchase some sort of seal product on this “day of action” to show support for first nations people and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are involved in the harvest.
here is a link to place where you can purchase seal oil capsules (an excellent bio-filtered source of Omega 3) http://www.tidespoint.ca/health/sealoil2.shtml
Vogue Furriers also used to sell seal products.
http://www.wordplay.com/vogue_furriers/
The Downhomer is also a great source for some excellent products.
seakskin bookmarks
http://www.shopdownhomer.com/pgi-ProductSpec?26366
seal leather bracelets
http://www.shopdownhomer.com/pgi-ProductSpec?28574
seal leather coin purses
http://www.shopdownhomer.com/pgi-ProductSpec?28572
to everyone else – please add any links you find…
Sealing as an industry is part of our heritage. There is nothing wrong with it. On the “Day of Action” I will be taking action to defend Newfoundland and Labrador sealers….
Comment by Liam O’Brien — 3/6/2005 @ 9:53 pmWell, Kevin. This would seem like a great opportunity to mobilize those Newfoundland and Labradorians abroad and at home, yet again with a letter writing campaign.
Personally I would have a lot more sympathy for the views of these folks if they were consistent.
The sad part about the slide show you directed me to is that is is almost totally about how awful the seal hunt is. Has anyone ever seen the damage doen by modern trawlers to the sea bed. I have seen a underwaer shot of it and it is horrible, yet these same folks aren’t saying very much about that. How about decalring the nose and the tail of the Grand Banks nursery areas and off limit s to fishing? Why can’t we get the same folks who love the cute white coats to love the cod?
I viewed a fishery documentary on PBS a couple a weeks ago that barely mentioned the Grand Banks but talked about how Alaska has managed to successfully rebuild its threatened fisheries.
The seal hunt is ugly. So is butchering cows.
So who do we write?
Comment by Randy Raymond — 3/7/2005 @ 9:26 amThe difference between cows and seals is one is done behind closed doors while the other is out in the open. The problem is all about perception. I mean lambs are fairly cute and most Europeans, kiwis and Aussies have no trouble eating lamb.
While beating a seal on the head with a club may be the most humane way of doing it - it doesn’t sound or look it.
Maybe European etc attitudes need to be changed but maybe the seal hunt has to be modified as well. It is no good ignoring their perceptions and saying they just don’t understand and screw them, which was happened 20 years ago. I know bugger all about seal hunting so really can’t comment on ways of making it more consumer friendly. Mind you it maybe just a bit easier to just go after the Asian market – empathy with animals is not much of a factor.
Comment by Gary — 3/7/2005 @ 9:26 pmI couldn’t agree more with your comment on the fact that the cuteness of the baby seal is a major component of the ability of these protest groups to raise revenues.
I don’t argue the point that it is effective and many non profit agencies or charities use similar techniques effectively.
There is one major difference In the valid charities and these con artists however. When the World Hunger organization or UNICEF use a cute little child (rather than a less attractive one) to push their campaigns, there is some truth to the matter. Cute kids go hungry too. The difference here is that by using the cute little white coat these groups are continnuing a lie. White coats are not hunted.
BIG DIFFERENCE!!!
Comment by Myles — 3/17/2005 @ 9:17 amSTOP THE CRUELTY!
Comment by Jamie — 3/31/2005 @ 1:27 pm