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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.


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admin 1 February 2012 Celebrities / Spokesmen, Fur, Hunting / Fishing, The Seal Hunt 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 6 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.


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admin 31 March 2010 Celebrities / Spokesmen, PETA, The Seal Hunt 6 Comments

A pie for a pie, PETA gets its just desserts

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A supporter of the radical animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals got her Just Desserts and a taste of the group’s own tactics Friday afternoon in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The seal-hunt protester who had been following the Prime Minister around the country with with a fellow PETA member dressed as a seal received a cold welcome and a pie in the face in response to her protest.

After arriving in the capital city, Emily Lavender, 21, of Vancouver Island, B.C. began to protest outside of the Delta Hotel, where the PM would be giving a speech along with several other government officials to the construction industry association. She was accompanied by who she thought was another PETA member in a seal costume, however it was in fact an intern at the local radio station who later removed the seal suit and started protesting against and denouncing PETA on camera.

Ms. Lavender, after being left alone with no support, eventually put on the costume herself where she was later joined by another costume wearing mascot. Salty Dog of the Newfoundland tourism and cultural ‘Downhome’ shop, greeted her with a cream pie in the face in front of a cheering and energetic local audience.


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admin 31 January 2010 Media, PETA, Protests / Events, The Seal Hunt, Violent Attacks No Comments

PETA pieing Canadian Fisheries Minister

admin 29 January 2010 Campaigns / Propaganda, PETA, Protests / Events, The Seal Hunt, Video No Comments

Celebrities with a cause, and without a clue

pam_sealThe 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.

perez-hiltonOther 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 -  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.


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admin 3 November 2009 Campaigns / Propaganda, Celebrities / Spokesmen, PETA, The Seal Hunt 5 Comments

Exploding seal population devastates fish stocks

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(Click images to enlarge)

Despite what animal rights organizations and radical activists would have you believe, the harp seal is not an endangered animal nor is it’s population on the decline. Since the 1970′s the population of harp seals in the North Atlantic has not only increased, it has tripled. The last survey conducted by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans reported the harp seal population at a record high 5.8 million animals.

With worldwide attention being brought to the collapse of the North Atlantic fish stocks by the media and by documentaries such as ‘The End of the Line” , it is crucial to identify one of the largest consumers and threats to the recovery of the stocks. Each harp seal consumes between 1 and 1.4 metric tonnes of fish each year, and with the exploding population of 5.8 million animals that translates to a consumption of at least 6 million metric tonnes of fish each year. This means that now while the fish stocks are in crisis, the record breaking seal population is consuming more fish than ever before in recorded history, and is not only a threat to the fish, but to its own sustainability.


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admin 12 September 2009 Animal Welfare, Hunting / Fishing, The Seal Hunt 4 Comments
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