Animal Wrongs
Home » Animal Wrongs

Flimsy ribbons & flimsy promises: MP’s wear seal ribbons to show support

On Thursday, February 2nd, Canada’s Members of Parliament wore seal skin pins to show support for the Seal Hunt. Outside the Chamber, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, accompanied by cabinet colleagues Leona Aglukkaq, Peter Penashue and Steve Blaney, convened a seal fur ribbon “pinning ceremony” to “reaffirm the government’s continued support for Canadian sealers.”

Officially named ‘Seal Day on the Hill’ , members wore the pin for the entirety of Question Period and presumably for the rest of the day. As usual the Conservative government proclaimed their ongoing and continued support for the hunt as they simultaneously criticized the opposition for their lack of support, as proven by MP Ryan Cleary’s statements in January. The opposition fired back stating that if the government truly supported the hunt, they would not have let it deteriorate into the sorry state it is in, and would have fought for it during trade and economic discussions rather than let the international trade bans go practically unopposed and unmentioned.

The event took place after a day of trade shows that promoted the cultural and economic products of Northern and Eastern Canada. After which, members of the seal industry were supposed to meet with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale and the possibility of a meeting with the Prime Minister himself was even discussed. Later Dunderdale would cancel the meeting due to ‘lack of time and scheduling conflicts’ and the meeting with the Prime Minister would only include the politician members and not the representatives from the industry.

Frankly, after years of the same broken promises, the promises and words of these politicians are about as flimsy as the ribbons they tacked on to show ‘support’. If any of these politicians wanted to show their true support, they would grow a set of balls and stand up and fight for the industry, confront those who spread misinformation, and tackle the international trade bans in the same manner they would were it wood, oil or gas.

The market for seal products never dwindled; access to the market was blocked by international pressure. Considering Canada is one of the largest exporters of natural resources to these countries, why couldn’t the PM, if he truly supported the hunt, simply put his foot down and tell the other nations that if they want the oil, ore, water or wood that they will keep all trade open? Faced with a lack of materials and resources, they would have had no choice but to take it instead of leaving it.

admin 3 February 2012 The Seal Hunt No Comments

Inside Job: Seal industry back-stabbed by locals with influence

Not only does the seal industry have to deal with enemies in multimillion dollar animal rights lobbyists with celebrety spokesmen, now it also has to deal with a lack of support and discouraging public statements from locals with both connections to the industry and influence.

While on the radio program “The Fisheries Broadcast” aired on CBC radio, a program listened to by those in the fishing and sealing industries all across Atlantic Canada, one of Canada’s newest members of parliament Ryan Cleary made  a suggestion that made animal rights fanatics across the world drool. When asked by long time show host John Furlong (Who we will get to in a minute, don’t worry) about developments in the Seal Industry, Mr. Cleary stated that it was time we considered ending the hunt. Cleary who served as a journalist for The Independent newspaper for years was formerly known for his support and knowledge of the fishery. Immediately, press releases from anti-sealing animal rights groups stuck the internet praising Mr. Cleary stating that his outlook is the future for Canada. After cashing in on his past and being entrusted with the approval of sealers and fisherman alike, Cleary all but sealed their fate and that of their industries by publicly undermining its value.

 

It will be the lips of politicians like these that will see the death of rural Newfoundland & Labrador. However, who can be surprised given Mr. Cleary’s new political masters? Despite being thought of as the champion of the fisherman, Mr. Cleary’s elected riding is St. John’s South – Mount Pearl; an urban riding built on the wealth of the oil, retail and tertiary industries. His responsibilities lie with his urban constituents, who given global media such as television and internet probably have more in common with people living in Toronto, New York and Hollywood than their outport neighbours. Lets also not forget that on the other end of  Cleary’s leash is the federal NDP. A party which is provincially a labour party and stands as a pillar for those in the working class, but federally is breeding ground for socialists and hippies who probably consume more soy lattes and tofu than anything from the sea. It’s politicians like these who have let the industry slipped from the million dollar industry it once was, to the shadow of its former self it now is by letting animal rights groups, misinformation, and international trade restrictions carry on without a fight.


Read more…

admin 1 February 2012 Celebrities / Spokesmen, Fur, Hunting / Fishing, The Seal Hunt No Comments

Writers & Contributers Wanted!

Animal wrongs is looking for motivated individuals who are passionate about Animal Rights topics as featured regularily on our website. Currently, the amount of AR propaganda to debunk is too much of a workload for the current, small group of writers to handle, and we need you, to help us!

Just fire an email to animal wrongs at admin@animalwrongs.com with a brief description of yourself, experience in the field of AR topics and writing, and you’ll be on your way to writing front page material!

admin 10 November 2011 Site News No Comments

Ellen anti-seal hunt and anti-Newfoundland?

Ellen DeGeneres, daytime talk show host and former sitcom star decided to speak out against the seal hunt recently. On both her show and website she has made a plea for fans and viewers to speak out against the hunt and to donate to groups such as the Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Groups that we here are animal wrongs know are not really concerned for the welfare and well-being of animals, but about making controversy and raising enormous sums of money.

Ellen came out and said “Seal hunting is one of the most atrocious and inhumane acts against animals allowed by any government. Canada is allowing the slaughter of a record number of seals in their 2011 hunting season, which is going on right now. The seals are often younger than 3 months old.” DeGeneres then continued, “This has to stop. To my friends and fans in Canada: please help put a stop to this.”

Although Ellen clearly has a love for animals, a subject which she devotes large portions of her show to discussing, we here at animal wrongs can’t help but wonder if Ellen also has some sort of dislike towards Newfoundlanders? On her 90′s sitcom show, one episode featured a character who trying to make a career at stand-up comedy in Canada made several jokes about Newfoundlanders, including coming straight out and saying “It’s so true. Those Newfies are so stupid…”.

First she calls them stupid, then she attacks one of their traditions and industries. We’d like to know what you readers think.

Links:

Ellen  - Warner Bros. Official Webpage about the Seal Hunt

CANADIAN BROADCAST STANDARDS COUNCIL – Complaint on Newfoundland insulting Episode

admin 16 April 2011 Campaigns / Propaganda, Celebrities / Spokesmen, The Seal Hunt 7 Comments

Christmas Card Controversy

Despite all the joyous holiday celebrations taking place around the world it seems the propagandists and spin doctors of the animal rights movement took no time off. PETA once again did not fail to make some headlines again this year in their effort to raise last minute funds in the 2010 fiscal year. This year their target is holiday related, the Christmas card of a well-known and well respected Canadian politician.

The Christmas card in question features a picture of liberal politician Justin Trudeau and his family, bundled together under a fur blanket and wearing Canada goose down jackets with fur trim.

PETA argues that the picture is an ugly portrait of death and the suffering of animals, which is contradictory to the messages of “love” and “peace on earth” which are associated with the holidays. The majority of responses coming from the general public suggest that Trudeau is simply being a Canadian politician and promoting canadian history (which was founded by the Northern fur trades) and products, or that they believe it was just a Christmas card with fur used to help portray the winter them and that there isn’t any ulterior motive.

PETA Vice-President Dan Matthews appeared on the show ‘Power and Politics’ on CBC debating Alan Herscovici, of the Fur Institute of Canada. Matthews refered to the card very little and instead chose to use most of his airtime to denounce the use of fur in general. xxx called out Matthews several times for using outdated and false information, and pointed out the PETA is group aimed at stopping the use of animals in every aspect, including pets, dairy production, etc. Herscovici also stated that Canada is leading the way for humane and ethical trapping standards, and that the fur industry works closely with veternarians in developing their animal welfare standards and practices. Matthews refused to acknowledge the majoprity of Herscovici’s points, and in true animal rights spokesman fashion chose to focus mainly on speaking in several short, general soundbites.

The jackets themselves are a well-known product of an internationally regarded Canadian company, Canada Goose.

Links:

Video: CBC’s Power and Politics – PETA Debates Fur Institute of Canada on Justin Trudeau’s Christmas Card (Video is from 22:00 min to 37:00 min)

admin 3 January 2011 Campaigns / Propaganda, Celebrities / Spokesmen, Fur, PETA No Comments

Enforced vegetarian-ism, an issue of Rights?

A Ham Sandwhich. A typical workplace lunch containing meat.

A Montreal based handbag company, Matt and Natt, have been the subject of a complaint before the human rights commission.

The company, who has been making Vegan handbags for the  past 15 years, have a strict no-meat policy on premises.

The company’s founder and creative director, Inder Bedi, said the no-meat policy has been around since he started the company in 1995 as part of a school project for Concordia University in Montreal. Employees are told upfront in the job interview that the company is a meat- free zone.

“This is very much a vegan company, and we just felt it would be odd if we had meat and fish floating around the premises,” he said in an interview. “So meat and fish are banned. Employees are free to eat lunch at the dozens of non-vegetarian restaurants in the area, or eat their meat on street benches in front of the company’s head office.”

Most of the company’s 18 staff are not vegetarian. A former employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that she was forced to sneak meat into her purse and hide it in her car to get around the company’s strict no-meat policy.

“It’s a free country,” she told the broadcaster. “I think we should eat what we want.”

Companies have a right to protect the safety of their workplace and the integrity of their product, but the issue becomes murkier when a business requires an employee’s commitment to the philosophy of the brand, said Cara Zwibel, director of the fundamental freedoms project at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

The Human Rights Commission said the employee’s complaint is an “interesting” issue, it has no plans to investigate it as a human rights complaint.

So what do you, readers of animal wrongs, think? Is it a human rights issue, a bad corporate policy that would be better handled by the better business bureau, or is the complaintant nuts and should employees have to change their entire lifestyle, diet and philosophy to match that of their employer?

admin 1 December 2010 Misc, Vegan-ism / Vegetarianism 4 Comments

PETA Bribing Celebrities.. Again!

If you’ve donated to PETA lately, your dollars which you originally though to go towards the protection of animals is going to help protect the reputation of drug addicted, millionaire celebrities.

Peta has offered to pay $20,000 of the $50,000 rehab bill Lindsay Lohan recently racked up during her 3 month stay in the Betty Ford Center. In a desperate attempt to get another celebrity added to their poster and billboard collection of hypocritical spokesman who claim to be Vegan during their afternoon photo-shoots PETA seemed to ignore mathematics, social sympathy and basic business skills. Offering a celebrity worth $90 Million, $20,000 in one of the lowest and most embarrassing times of their life to change their entire lifestyle while simultaneously fighting drug addiction makes absolutely no sense in any aspect.

Obviously this must be just another publicity stunt. I wonder what happened for PETA to forgive Lohan for wearing the fur coat in Paris last year? Where one PETA supporter smashed a bag of flour over her head.

admin 10 November 2010 Celebrities / Spokesmen, PETA 2 Comments

How pig parts make the world turn



Check out this interesting and informative lecture given at a TED talk. Christien Meindertsma, author of “Pig 05049″ looks at the astonishing afterlife of the ordinary pig, parts of which make their way into at least 187 non-pork products, from bullets to artificial hearts.

admin 21 September 2010 Misc, Vegan-ism / Vegetarianism, Video No Comments
« Older Entries