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The Written Word: Rafe Mair August 4

By Rafe Mair

Saturday, August 04, 2007 03:45 AM

    I see that Loyola Hearn, our east coast Minister of Fisheries, is talking to Belgium about their banning of baby seal pelts. What kind of people are we anyway? How can anyone support the slaughter, often in the cruelest of manners, of baby seals so that ladies can have soft fur coats?

We’re told that this is the “way of life” for those who delight in the annual massacre. The government likes to call it a “cull” which is what they prefer to call an outright slaughter. But it goes further. News people and others aren’t allowed to get near enough to this murderous scene to take pictures.

Some, including the redoubtable Paul Watson, have gone to jail for the heinous offence of aiming a camera at bludgeoning sealers. I wonder why this law is there and is enforced? Could it be that the sealers, Loyola Hearn and the government are ashamed at what’s happening and don’t want the public to see?

Baby seals for rich European ladies’ backs – what a noble enterprise that is!

It does raise the entire question as to what, if any, animals should be used for what purposes – something I struggled with for years until 3 years ago I stopped fishing because I saw I was tormenting animals. I long ago gave up veal and I now pass on lamb as well. I haven’t stopped eating shellfish wearing leather shoes. To that extent I suppose I’m a hypocrite.

But at least I’m a hypocrite that’s ashamed as hell at the sight of killing baby seals so that fashionable ladies can be properly attired at the opera.


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Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 03:45 AM in Views by Rafe Mair

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Chadermando on August 4 2007 7:04 AM
That's nothing Rafe, you ever see what KFC does to some of their chickens. The ones with broken bones are the ones that were able to miss the automated hammer to the head only to have burning hot oil de-feather them alive.

There has got to be a better way, cause it tastes so good that its a shame. Those are jobs I don't envy and like to think about. The ones that don't even do it for food you would have to question their sanity.

BTW Most vegans have cats and cats eat mostly meat bi-product foods, so how do they square that one. Do they cuddle up to cats made of dead animals or do they have selective application of the rule?
Comment Posted by: diplomat on August 4 2007 8:47 AM
"Baby seals for rich European ladies’ backs – what a noble enterprise that is!"

Here we go again! The Europeans should clean up their own act first before they pick on our traditional seal hunt!!!

The European Union allows the *bullfights* in Spain to continue because it is considered to be a *cultural heritage" of Spain!

What kind of a proud cultural heritage is it to torture a large warm blooded animal slowly to death with hooked lances inserted into its neck to paralyze it and then execute (often poorly) the exhausted blood covered creature with a stab of a sword?

And all that in front of a jeering cheering crowd of so-called fans of the *sport*?

Unless the Belgian and British and other European activist go next door to Spain and stop this insane animal cruelty they have no moral, ethical or other rights to tell us over here how, when and where we can conduct a hunt for seals.

There are reputedly also festivals in Spain where live goats are thrown from church steeples and where the necks of live geese are ripped off by horse riders.

I say ban any activist from any country where such bloody sports are allowed to take place from entering Canada!

Perhaps we shouldn't be killing baby seals, but others who are champions at torturing animals for entertainment should clean up their own act first before throwing stones at others.