Seal hunt protesters will be charged, Hearn says (too close to the slaughter)

[Barrett808]

Source: The Canadian Press

ST. JOHN'S — Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn says charges will be laid in connection with an alleged incident involving the seal hunt protest vessel Farley Mowat.

Sealers contend that the vessel came too close to them on the ice north of Cape Breton last weekend, even after being warned away by the Coast Guard.

Mr. Hearn asserted in an interview with radio station VOCM that the conservation groups broke a law that requires them to maintain a specific distance from the hunt.

“They've been very cute. These people are smart. They've been around. They know the law. They know how they can flaunt it,” Hearn said.

“However, they push it and in some cases, recently, they've broken it. They cannot approach within half a mile of our sealers. They have done that.”

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080403.wsealprotest0403/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

[flvegan]

1. Good luck with that, Loyola.

Looking forward to the trial, you frustrated little monkey.

[IntravenousDemilo]

2. Silly duffer doesn't know the difference between "flaunt" and "flout'. Typical illiterate Tory. n/m

[HuffleClaw]

3. good

this is no different than abortion clinic protesters crossing the line.

[InvisibleTouch]

4. Gods only forbid that there should be DOCUMENTATION...

...of this annual atrocity. That's why the killers don't want anyone getting too close. It's not doing them much good, though, because world opinion has been against them for decades. I hope this is the last dying gasp (pun intended) of a vile practice, and in this case I can only say, any added publicity is good.

[mbperrin]

9. Heavens yes, they need secrecy and elbow room!

Poor babies might duff their swing and have to take a mulligan. Then after a rousing day of violently killing animals and creating almighty suffering, they can go home and knock the bat and kits about a bit, eh?

Man's entitled to 'is privacy, ain't he? Bleedin' protesters got no respect, no respect at all.

And Gawd help you if I need to include the sarcasm tag...

[Doctor_J]

5. Orwell was an optimist

The animal torturers go on with their annual bloodfest, while peaceful protesters are prosecuted.

:crazy:

[SteinbachMB]

6. The Farley Mowat crew

...should feel lucky that I wasn't driving for the Coast Guard.

[ret5hd]

7. i just feel lucky that your mother has confined you to your room until you clean it.

Maybe when you are done you may have some cheezy-puffs or animal crackers.

[SteinbachMB]

8. What?

I always keep my room spotless, clean! (Mommy told me to.)

[mbperrin]

10. And a boy's best friend is his

mother.

[tallydem]

11. You are kidding right?

Just to be clear. You have no issue with people who crush the skulls of a baby seal pups that have no chance of defending themselves or even running away, but you have a problem with Sea Shepherd (of which I’m a long time active member) taking photos of this? To the point of ramming FM again?

[SteinbachMB]

12. The Canadian Coast Guard claims The Sea Shepard

...was in the wrong. I support my government.

[tallydem]

13. The cost to your fellow Canadians

I have no problem with Canada (I have visited many time and love the country and people), but it's not just Sea Shepherd they have gone after. The Human Society of the United States also has been threatened as well as numerous other smaller private groups. The end result of this $25million (projected total revenue from seal products) is your fellow Canadians are suffering horribly. Canadian Seafood is slowly being banned in many parts of the United States. Here in Florida the second largest Canadian seafood importer (Publix Supermarkets) have now given into the pressure and have stopped selling Canadian Seafood. Red Lobster is being pressured from all sides and will eventually give in. The EU is putting more and more sanctions in place. The support of a horrible practice gives your great country a black eye in public relations and is costing your seafood industry ten times the revenue of what the Seal Hunt gains (thats not even including the millions in cost to Canadian taxpayers to support this badly managed operation) It’s great to support ones country, but as we well know here in the U.S. there are many times when we have simply elected the wrong people and they support dumb ideas.

[Barrett808]

14. Welcome to DU, Tally!

:hi:

[tallydem]

17. Thanks

From the sunny state of Florida

[SteinbachMB]

15. Well I for one would never kill a seal pup.

I wouldn't kill any animal for that matter. However, I support the killing of animals for commerce, provided it's well regulated. Yes, clubbing a seal is brutal, and I think the industry would be a lot better off if it could come up with a better way to kill. Maybe the public pressure will force it to to so. But, if EU and US bans of of Canadian seafood et al. continue, maybe we will see changes.

My support for the seal industry is on principle.

[InvisibleTouch]

16. "My government right or wrong"...

...has caused all sorts of horrendous problems in the world. And "claiming" Sea Shepherd was in the wrong is a far cry from them actually being in the wrong. Once upon a time, laws supported the discrimination, torture, and killing of various groups of people. Would you have supported these too? Are they "right" just become someone with an agenda has written them into law? And was it "wrong" for protesters to "illegally" oppose them until they were overturned?

[mbperrin]

18. Wilfred Owen, anyone?

The Parable of the Old Man and the Young

So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,
And took the fire with him, and a knife.
And as they sojourned both of them together,
Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father,
Behold the preparations, fire and iron,
But where the lamb, for this burnt-offering?
Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,
And builded parapets and trenches there,
And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son.
When lo! an Angel called him out of heaven,
Saying, Lay not they hand upon the lad,
Neither do anything to him, thy son.
Behold! Caught in a thicket by its horns,
A Ram. Offer the Ram of Pride instead.

But the old man would not so, but slew his son,
And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

[Algorem]

19. Boycott Canada.