Canada Not Hopeful it can sway EU on seal pelt ban

[Annces]

A member of a Canadian delegation, Kathy Dunderdale, that appealed to European Union members not to proceed with a ban on seal products conceded Wednesday that Ottawa will have a tough time convincing foreign leaders to avoid the punitive trade measure.

On the final day of a five-country sweep through Europe, Newfoundland’s minister of natural resources admitted that animal rights groups have swayed public opinion with their message that the sealing industry is inhumane and cruel.

"There’s a groundswell of opposition right throughout Europe to the seal hunt," Kathy Dunderdale said from Vienna. "We certainly haven’t been as proactive as we ought to have been around this issue."

Dunderdale said they wanted to convey how devastating a wholesale ban would be on remote communities in Newfoundland, which has about 6,000 people in the industry, and Canada’s northern populations that rely heavily on the seal hunt.

Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources




http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1048841.html

Good news for the seals. The media coverage is having a good effect.

Humane society video - baby seal hunt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s75MHzof3nk

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R! Some good news on this, finally!

I've signed petitions and sent e-mails on this as long as I've been on the internet... I just couldn't believe that this cruel and inhumane horror show is still allowed to go on... It's long past time that this was stopped, forever... ;(

[Annces]

2. Ya

These Canadian politicians might be good at hoodwinking their constituents, but not the outside world.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Thank you! Lovely site!

Did you ever see the movie "The Secret of Roan Inish?" Beautiful film, set in Ireland, about a magical legend of the seals. :-)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111112/

Also, took part in the "action" on this site and sent on to 20 friends...:hi:

[Annces]

9. You're welcome

Yes, I did see that movie. It was fantastic.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. I thought so, too, one of my all-time favorites,

both because of the magic of the seals and the legend and because I also love Ireland...:hi:

On edit: oops, typo...:blush:

[Toilet]

3. As a Canadian...

I think it's important to understand the details and ramifications.

Believe me, Canada would ban the hunt if they could.

However, there are other important issues in play.

The seal hunt is a way of life. This is how these people feed their families and survive. It's a whole new different world up north.

Baning the hunt will only lead to mass unemployment, welfare, crime, increased alcoholism (possible), drug abuse (possible) etc.

It's very easy for us down south to tell others who live differently than us what they can or cannot do. We live in a rather sheltered life of plenty. These people do not.

There are not alot of employment option available.

Personally I don't feel I have a right to play with their lives. Because I don't live in their shoes.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Thanks for another perspective that we've never thought of.

It's obvious that you know more about this than I ever will. But you've got to admit that it's pretty horrible. I can't even bear to watch the videos that I receive from the animal protection groups...x(

Welcome to DU, Toilet! (Despite your user name, LOL.) It's not very often that I catch a new DUer on their very first post! It's great to have you with us!:toast::hi:

[Toilet]

6. Thank you

Glad to be aboard :)

[Annces]

5. It is a cruel slaughter

of baby seals. There are creative solutions that no one is bothering with. Thank goodness most people abhor this practice regardless of how stuck in a rut the Labrador people are. They are just stubbornly holding on to this barbarism. Paul Watson and Friends for Animals tried to get them going on the idea of a factory that made toy seals, that would have brought in more money, but the Canadian Sealer Assoc did not want it.

People will buy and sell people to make money too. But then you probably think animals are just commodities, numbers, and statistics.

(article by a reader on ending the hunt - the Coaster)

"I came to Canada 23 years ago from Eastern Europe as a first generation immigrant and worked for minimum wage. For a few months I was on social assistance. I came with two suitcases and a few hundred dollars in my pocket, and more importantly I did not speak any English or French, but I was motivated and determined to not take the path of least resistance. I was not looking for easy solutions to my problems and I am a success story. You can do the same. There are opportunities for you in other provinces where jobs are lasting and meaningful.


Work for the future and leave the job of seal hunting for the tales of Canadian history. The sooner you start "clubbing" your local politicians the sooner they will start helping you.
"

http://www.thecoaster.ca/index.cfm?sid=124270&sc=319

[Toilet]

7. Well...

As I said. This something these people only know.

Making toy seals is fine. But since when would that make more money? Says who exactly. And why is Ottawa in the business of handing out alternative jobs?

I don't like Wal Mart (not really. Just making a point). They're blood suckers, sell chinese products. I don't like them, so let us put you in Zellers (Canadian retail chain)

quote/But then you probably think animals are just commodities, numbers, and statistics./quote

Well, you really don't know me enough to even assume that.

But no. I don't think animals are a comodity, numbers, or stats. But neither are human beings who are just trying to feed their families.

[flvegan]

11. Good.

Let the govt spend the money it uses to underwrite the hunt to support/train the people that stand to lose income.