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.

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 6 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

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

Tax evader Pamela Anderson curious as to how everyone else’s money is spent

Actress Pamela Anderson, celebrity spokeswoman for People of the Ethical Treatment of Animals tries a political approach in her way against the Canadian seal hunt. Pamela, who has been a U.S resident for over 20 years, has filed a series of access to information requests to gain knowledge of how much the government spends on the annual seal hunt.

“We’re wasting millions of tax dollars every year to prop up the violent, dying seal slaughter,” Anderson wrote in an email to The Canadian Press. “It’s no longer an issue of concern just for animal advocates but for any Canadian disgusted by government waste. And for the many Canadians who travel abroad, like me, it’s a huge embarrassment.”

Anderson filed three access requests with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The hilarious twist to the story can be found in Ms. Anderson’s own tax history. Pamela was recently found to owe over $1 million dollars in unpaid taxes to the U.S government, and is facing legal battles regarding millions of dollars of unpaid fee’s owed to contractors who performed work on her multi-million dollar Hollywood home.

Celebrities with a cause, and without a clue

The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, has once again chosen the Canadian seal hunt as its main cash grabbing campaign this year. Although winter is just setting in, PETA has already armed its media arsenal with celebrity support, posters, full page ads and T-shirts in their latest campaign against the seasonal spring industry. The main spokesperson for the campaign is once again longtime PETA supporter Pamela Anderson who claims that she is speaking on behalf of disgusted Canadians.

Other celebrities supporting this campaign include Playboy porn stars Holly Madison and Jayde Nicole, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, and ‘Jackass’ star Steve-O, who in his latest film featured a person defecating in a helmet that someone was wearing. The rest of the celebrities -Â including Kelly Osbourne and Sarah McLachlan – can be found on PETA’s website. The question we asked ourselves here at Animal Wrongs was, what do the individuals featured in this campaign have in common? The answer was simple: they are celebrities, porn stars, singers and actors – not experts.