Canadian MPs put seal meat on parliament's menu in rebuff to EU

[babylonsister]

Canadian MPs put seal meat on parliament's menu in rebuff to EU

Seal meat banned by the EU will be served to Canadian MPs in Ottawa to show public backing for the country's annual seal hunt


Spotted seals swim in a partly frozen lake at Dongpaotai Park in Yantai

Spotted seals. Canadian authorities say seal hunting provides valuable income for isolated communities. Photograph: China Daily/Reuters


Canadian MPs will be served seal meat this week in support of hunters fighting an EU ban on products from the animals.

A Liberal MP, Celine Hervieux-Payette, said Wednesday's seal meat menu in the parliamentary restaurant would allow politicians to show their backing for the annual hunt.

"All political parties will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the international community the solidarity of the Canadian parliament behind those who earn a living from the seal hunt," she said.

The EU ban on seal imports was imposed last July on the grounds that Canada's annual hunt was cruel.

The east coast seal hunt, the largest in the world, kills about 275,000 harp seals between mid-November and mid-May. The seals are either shot or hit over the head with a spiked club called a hakapik.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/08/sealmeat-canada-ottawa

[WillParkinson]

1. Disgusting...

I can think of no other words.

[HeresyLives]

2. A stupid last-ditch stand, and bargaining chip,

and I say that as a Canadian.

[RedCloud]

3. Bring in the orca to deal with the buffet patrons!

[ensho]

4. stupid, uncaring men

nt

[SidDithers]

5. Here's Michaelle Jean and a bunch of other women eating seal meat...

Care to re-think your sexist comment?

Sid

[HeresyLives]

6. Yes, the whole govt is backing this.

Including the Opposition and GG Jean.

[ensho]

9. disgusting, stupid women

nt

[proteus_lives]

8. Didn't see the name Celine?

Women support this too.

Why are you such a sexist?

[catbyte]

7. How nice.

What a bunch of barbaric, cruel shitheads. I'm glad I'm boycotting everything that comes from Canada Fisheries. Not that they care, but it makes me feel a bit better.

Diane

Anishnabe in MI

[HeresyLives]

10. Seal hunting in Alaska too.

As well as in Norway, Denmark..Namibia.. Greenland and Russia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_hunting