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| Last updated at 1:38 PM on 08/04/08 |
Reader is against the seal hunt 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Coaster
Dear Editor:
To my fellow Canadians living in Newfoundland and Labrador.
I am asking you at take a hard look at yourselves and your leaders. Why are you allowing a barbaric act such as the clubbing to death of baby animals in the presence of their mothers to take place in your community? Babies that have not yet had a chance to take their first swim.
It is not going to provide you with any long lasting solutions for your life long problems: for example; high unemployment, lack of training and opportunities. Rather "clubbing" your local politicians will bring about these positive changes. If politicians started to do their job, think creatively and work, it would help you to find dignifying work and repair Canada's image.
As long as you keep your silence the local provincial and federal governments are off the hook and continue to do next to nothing for you and your families. They are only giving you so called "lip service". Your politicians, seems to me, are a bunch of fellows with no insight, not much different from these high maintenance bimbo women wearing fur coats. It is all about them and no price is too big to pay to get what they want as long as they do not pay for goods. They both like to take a path of the least resistance.
As for you fisherman, I have a piece of advice. The world is changing. Very few people are not required to adapt and make changes in life. The money generated through the killings of animals will not secure the future of your families. I came to Canada 23 years ago from Eastern Europe as a first generation immigrant and worked for minimum wage. For a few months I was on social assistance. I came with two suitcases and a few hundred dollars in my pocket, and more importantly I did not speak any English or French, but I was motivated and determined to not take the path of least resistance. I was not looking for easy solutions to my problems and I am a success story. You can do the same. There are opportunities for you in other provinces where jobs are lasting and meaningful.
Work for the future and leave the job of seal hunting for the tales of Canadian history. The sooner you start "clubbing" your local politicians the sooner they will start helping you.
Danuta Sobczyk
Thornhill, ON.
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08/04/08
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Mike from NL writes: 95% of seals killed last year were shot not clubbed.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 08/04/2008 at 4:34 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Dana from BC writes: I agree with Danuta. Seal hunting has no place in the 21st century. I did not move as far as Danuta but i did leave my home province to seek out work in another. It's not all that difficult and you can write the moving expenses off.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 08/04/2008 at 5:54 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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sunya from Nanaimo, british columbia writes: Excellent article.I salute the Coaster for printing this, and I want to add some thoughts.
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For the Sealers, it just is not worth risking life and limb out there clubbing baby seals for a living.It is high time you stood up for your rights and asked for a buy-back licence program from the Canadian Government.It is a dying and embarrassing job, you should not have to continue to do.Seal pelts will be banned and soon this type of barbarism will be illegal.Why not get a large lump-sum payout and end the hunt now.With the cost of fuel, the risk to your own lives and for the sake of your reputations and honour.
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It's time for NL to shut down the seal hunt and offer marine mammel sightseeing tours and other tourism related services.
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The people of the world would be so happy to visit a place where there was no killing of baby seals, and a place where morals were stronger than the dollar ..and a 30$ a pelt..it's just not worth it anymore boys.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 08/04/2008 at 6:57 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Joshua Bernstein from Brooklyn, New York, USA writes: Excellent Letter to the Editor . Thanks, from someone who visited the seal nursery on the I de M during one of the years that the seal hunt had stopped during the mid-nineties and who continues to be actively involved, both as a protestor, as well as a donor, in the anti-seal hunt movement. If the seal hunters would learn to become seal nursery guides they would do very well financially - far better than the blood money they receive for killing baby seals ! Eco-tourism is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide and would be a multi-multi-million dollar business for the Maritime Provinces IF AND ONLY IF killing baby seals, or adult seals for that matter, were permanently stopped. The Internet may very well spell the death knell for the seal hunters. Never before have such graphic images of the clubbings been broadcast around the world with lightening speed. The EU is on the verge of banning all seal derived products, an important factor in the roughly 50 percent decline in seal pelt prices from a year ago. Conversely, the cost of diesel fuel for the boats which transport the hunters has skyrocketed, making the hunt an economic folly. For that reason, alone, I am very, very happy to be paying a much higher price for gasoline - if it helps the seals, no problem ! I was delighted to learn yesterday that Russia has announced, what I believe will be, an end to baby seal killings in that country, though it may, depending on when an order thereon is issued, be too late to save them this year. The preliminary announcement, which is on a very fast track, was reported yesterday by a number of sources, including Pravda, and I can forward the email I received on this, as a Yahoo alert, upon request to my email address, although it should be readily available via Yahoo or Google/news using the keywords Russia seal hunt White River, or equivalent.
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Joshua Bernstein
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joshbern1@yahoo.com
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 08/04/2008 at 8:26 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Paul from Ontario writes: Thanks Mike for the insight. On this basis, perhaps shooting rather than clubbing 95% of the politicians is more appropriate if you want good results. I sure would not miss them! That may be one thing the sealers and protestors can agree on. The other 5% can still just be clubbed.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 08/04/2008 at 9:55 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Mark from USA writes: Evidence shows that 42% of the seals that were being killed did not die immediately and suffered slow lingering deaths. The seal massacre and the greedy fisheries that perpetrate it is why the canadian government has acquired such a terrible worldwide reputation and why so many people are boycotting canadian fish and other products. If Canadians can think of nothing more worthwhile to do than destroying the environment, exterminating the wildlife, and flushing the reputation of Canada into the sewer than they don't deserve either jobs or an economy
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 1:47 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Peter from California by way of B.C. writes: This is a very good article. People like Hearn and others in power sometimes abuse their positions.
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Thank you very much for speaking out, Danuta
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peter
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I will post this article on my websites. Check www.myspace.com/waterhammocks
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tomorrow, and thank you to the editor.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 2:05 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Carolyn Lever from New Zealand writes: Shot or clubbed, whichever method is used, the seal hunt is a disgrace to humanity and the sooner it is banned the better.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 2:57 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Mary Bastien from Sarasota, Fl writes: Danuta Sobczyk,
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Could not of said that better!
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Club the Politicos that are doing nothing right for the constituents.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 9:35 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Kim L. from Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, NY writes: Excellent article. Could not agree more, its time the seal hunters find another source of income. Clubbing any baby animal to death is just not acceptable in this day and age. It is heartbreaking that tclose to 300,000 helpless babies are clubbed to death every year. Think about it, 300,000 it is just sickening.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 12:01 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Shane Simms from Hermitage, Newfoundland writes: Wow. Just wow. Its people like you that give us a bad name. You are taking something, a lifestyle that we have adopted for hundreds of years, and streching it to unimaginable levels. '300,000 babies are clubbed killed a year'. Sir, I'd love to see where you got that information. Anywho, being from Newfoundland, you may think my opinion is biased, but it sure as hell overrides such opinions that surely have no reasoning whatsoever. Purely basing your arguments on what you've heard on television, or whatnot, makes you look so ignorant and unintelligent, its sickining. First of all, times have changed, and we Newfoundlanders have evolved with that time, contradicting your 'The World is Changing' line. Back it the 'glory days' if you will, the world was much more aggressive and unaffectionate. People were tough, and yes they did kill seals with clubs. Its an embarrasing fact, sure. But as I said, we are evolving now. Seals are hardly if at all, clubbed anymore. And for the whitecoats, the babyseals, they arent even killed at all, only at the hands of poachers. Canadian law has regulated the Seal Hunt preventing such inhumane acts. If the whitecoats werent such cute and loveable animals, all you bashers wouldnt even give a dam. How do you kill spiders? You squish them. Why? Because they are ugly. Organisms are organisms. If you disagree with that statement, then don't compare seals to humans. Who here has expericened the seal hunt first hand? Who here has witnessed the death of seals via clubbing, specifically whitecoats. Please then, don't bash it, because it makes you look like a complete a-hole. And on one final note, If you say that Canada needs to 'repair their image', then why exactly did you come here in the first place. Canada is one of the best countries in the world, part of the Commonwealth, and you should be dam well proud to have the oppotunities that have been granted to you. And thats my opinion, take it, leave it, bash it. 90% of Newfoundlanders are with me, along with people who tend to look at things rationally, rather than taking things right out of the book.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 7:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Nikki Willmott from Sandyville, Newfoundland writes: Obviously, majority of society today have no facts straight. Being a young, 16 year old, Newfoundlander, I myself, along with my fellow Level 1 class, know the facts that live in the tradition of the Seal Hunt. First things first, clubbing is no longer used. Get over the idea that the sealers on the ice flows bash the white coats over the noses, slash and sculpt the seals to drag the pelts back to the boats, baby white coats are NOT killed and haven't been killed for many many years! a rifle is now commonly used in todays society. Northern Newfoundland depend on the Seal Hunt for money as well as food. It has become a deep cultural aspect in our Newfoundland culture. I, along with my classmates, after reading Death on the Ice by Cassie Brown, laugh at the comments made by people who actually believe we still club the white coats. Both false. The Seal hunt is also called the Seal Fishery. Its a renewable resource people! As long as it doesn't end up like our Cod fishery, we will continue to hunt them.
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Yes, the Seal hunt is a grueling, and perhaps disturbing to the weak stomached, but it it much more humane.
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It's pretty bad when a 16 year old to have to list the facts for others outside the provience of Newfoundland.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 8:06 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Shane Simms from Hermitage, Newfoundland writes: 'There are opportunities for you in other provinces where jobs are lasting and meaningful.'
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The seal hunt has been in existance for hundreds of years, and it is a part of our culture, therefore, that completly contradicts your statement.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 8:23 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Robert Skinner from Harbour Breton, NL writes: Are there any people out there besides myself that feel that the seal hunt may in some ways be more than just a A slaughter of baby seals ??? Just about everyone who has made a negative comment towards the hunt has had no direct involvement or has never had any involvement with fishery or marine hunting industry ever in their life. I for one dont like to see the ways other things are carried out such as hunting Bear , Moose, Deer, Caribou etc. with a Bow and Arrow. Watching a man or woman shoot an animal using archery techniques where you see an animal shot with an arrow and then tracking most of these animals for sometimes upto an hour or more. You can't tell me that those animals don't suffer more than those seals that are shot (((NOT CLUBBED))) but you don't see me or anybody else out there crying to the public or on the news protesting every second day. And ban the seal fishery and see what happens to the cod fishery...(((Then again, there won't be any cod fishery anymore))). What is so different about a group of people going out in their boats and trying to make a living? Not everybody is ready and able to uproot and just move to other parts of Canada or the world just because some people don't like what they are doing for a living. These people are not simple minded in anyway. They do know and understand the risks, expenses of fuel, etc involved. They don't need to be reminded. Most of these men find this job hard enough and don't need all this negative feedback bringing them down.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:28 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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john la berge from burlington, ontario writes: re the letter from Ms. sobczyk of april o8/08.
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i congratulate you on your success as an emigre to canada and appreciate your position on the barbaric seal hunt.
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i would ask you though to ask yourself what will your options be when at some point in your life should you be in the same postion as i am, with multiple acquired brain injuries treatable in two ways, by the medicines i recieve as prescription that have proven to cause the lower jaw's bone and tooth sockets to turn effectively to mush so that i must face existing only a diet of pureed foods. or, will you choose as i and many other persons with acquired brain injuries have to use the omega 3-6-9 e.p.u.f.a's which are more readily available in the form of seal oil? the third option in the human breast milk is for myself and other persons with acquired brain injury one we are not generally able to find a source of.
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in closing this response to your statements i ask you and other persons opposing the seal hunt to consider how fortunate you and they are to have been able to develop and maintain a very good state of physical and mental health then: i ask you, to, reconsider how you would imagine your life's success's would have evolved without such a being able to develop and maintain that state of good health.
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now i challenge you and them to ask yourself how could someone justify taking what I need to maintain my health away from me?
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thank you for changing your position on the hunt after you have red this letter.
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john la berge
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 2:34 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: This article scores ten out of ten!!! Well written!
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 1:01 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Gaby Dogru from Switzerland writes: Excellent article, could not agree more! If this is part of your culture, shame on you, then you have no clue what culture is !
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There is enough evidence from this year showing that clubbing the seals to death is even worst than other years - THAT IS FACT !
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and we know the Canadian Gouverment is only telling lies. No surprise.
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And Shane from Newfoundland and all other 90% from there - Canada needs to 'repair their image', I don't think there
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is anything that can be repaired. I was never in Canada and I will never visit this silly folks.
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Hey to most Canadian commentators, wake up - we know the facts and it has to STOP NOW.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 1:31 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: Just a note to the people here who try to convince others that the seal hunt is justified, humane and sustainable and that seals are not clubbed but shot and that Canada introduced new rules that the seals have to be 100% dead before skinned..... BIG BIG LIES..!!! SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY, IFAW, FRANZ WEBER, PETA, HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US, CANADIAN ANTI-SEALING COALITION proved that this is all wrong!! Look at their videos/photos. This is the cruel and barbaric reality! Why is or was a delegation from Canada travelling Europe currently to convince the EU not to ban seal products? With their pathetic lies they try to brown-nose the EU! The seal massacre has been going on for too long and Canada should do something about it's cocked up reputation and get back to a civilized country. Seal products are certainly not needed and the fishermen should ask themselves who is responsible for overfishing the ocean....
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 1:52 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Matt McDonald from St. John's, NL writes: Why are there so many foreign anti-hunt protestors here? Oh I know why.. because it was linked by IFAW as an example of support in the press.
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Until people get both sides of the story and stop believing the propaganda, the hunt is going to continue to get a terrible name. All the videos that are posted on the rather fanatical animal rights groups' websites... well, who is to say that they didn't film one hundred deaths and show us the two that suffered?
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Also I find it hard to believe that so many people around are ecstatic at the tragic loss of some of the sealers. Like Paul Watson, for example. That pirate captain should leave Canada and never come back - well, he can't go back to St. Pierre anyway.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 2:10 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Gaby Dogru from Switzerland writes: Canadian Gouvernment can't hide the actual facts and the people around the world are NOT BLIND.
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The seal hunt is a disgrace to humanity and it must be banned!
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I really like that from Danuta, you Canadians should rather clubbing your local politicians.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 2:15 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Melanie Loveless from Hermitage, Newfoundland writes: For those people cheering and giving grade of 10/10 for 'such a great article', step back and take a look at yourselfs for god sakes. Mr. Robert Skinner from Harbour Breton said the truest words that could ever have been said. To quote him, Just about everyone who has made a negative comment towards the hunt has had no direct involvement or has never had any involvement with fishery or marine hunting industry ever in their life. People, think about that! You are bashing us and calling us barbarians without ever having any first-hand experience of the situation at hand. This is ridiculous. You dont see Newfoundlanders running around everywhere calling people barbarians because they slaughter cows that are exported worldwide to every cove and cave in the world, do you?
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 4:10 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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frank blackwood from Richmond Hill, Ontario writes: I think that those who oppose the seal hunt in Newfoundland really don,t understand the reality of the hunt in the first place. They are so preoccuppied with the dictionary,s description of our vocabulary outlook on life, they never get to take a real look out The Window of Survival.
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If our ancestors had to listen to such inappropriate remarks, we would not even be here to attack the well being behind the hunt today. All of us have grown up in the world of hunting and fishing for centuries that have nourished our souls to survive.
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If we had to share the seal meat with Third world countries, a lot of people would not go to bed at night with empty stomachs. The seal population has multiplied and more children are starving at this moment , more than ever before. How many people who crave hamburgers, bacon, chicken horse meat, turkey, realize where it all comes from?
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I remember eating shark and porpoise with some Greenpeace supporters in Ottawa in 1970. They wanted to see what it tasted like? When I told them that I supported the seal hunt, they almost spat in my face what they were eating.I also discovered that they were livinh it up on funds collected while in Ottawa.
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Today, many of the same supporters have executive postings with Greenpeace, wallets and bank accounts padded with scam dollars received through their money order and cheque returns..
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I think those who oppose the hunt should really tell the people to their face what they beleive in, not by just jumping in front of media cameras to have their angry faces displayed.
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Greenpeace organizer Paul Watson is a shame to Canada, plus he is a threat to the animal kingdom of this universe. Why? because he is a dishonest scammer who is fooling the people to tighten his own welfare needs. He has never done a good days work, and is living of the tax dollar of bleeding hearts.
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I beleive that God gave us an abundance of nature to be dined upon for our well being, and noone should go to bed at night hungary, as long as the great sea and land have plenty to offer us. I would like for my Neighbourly friend in Thornhill, Ontario to think wisely before talking about the uncertainty ahead of us, the future..
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Frank Blackwood,
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Richmond Hill, Ont.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 5:18 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: And here's a message for Shane Simms from Hermitage, Newfoundland + Nikki Willmott from Sandyville, Newfoundland and all the rest of Canadians who support the seal hunt:
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Stop being so stupid and stop taking the world for a ride like the Canadian Government does by travelling Europe trying to persue the EU to put a ban on seal products!
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We Europeans are not that blue-eyed... Canada is not ruling this world and it's reputation because of the seal slaughter is so badly damaged that it will take a long long time to recover, if at all. Luckily, there are animal welfare societies documenting the reality! Thanks to Paul Watson! I admire his strong commitment and I am proud to be a member of his society! A person Canada should be proud of! Canada is a disgrace to this world by allowing the killing of baby seals every year!
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 10/04/2008 at 8:02 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Angelika Netzer from Bad Säckingen, Germany writes: Since ore than 25 years I become actively involved in stopping this terrible seal hunt and I hope that people will finally accept that this terrible, unnecessary cruelty to animals must be stopped immediately. This kind of action is really dishonourable for mankind! Nobody needs to wear a coat or boots produced of sealskin!
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 11/04/2008 at 4:03 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Gabriela dogru from Switzerland writes: Just an update what I read this morning...
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“Canada is falling behind countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines
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and the Ukraine in protecting animals from cruelty.” NO SURPRISE - it's well known !
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Are you still in the middle ages ?? Hey have you overslept the last centuries ?
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One comment is stating, this is part of your culture. Sorry, but you don't know
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what culture is as you have not yet realized that we are in the 21st century.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 11/04/2008 at 8:23 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: Just a little note to Melanie/frank blackwood/Matt M
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You are surprised that so many foreigners comment here? Sure it's because of SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY + IFAW + PETA + HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US + FONDATION FRANZ WEBER + CANADIAN ANTI-SEALING COALITION. They keep us foreigners up to date and we are grateful for this. Where would we be without them...?! And you ought to stop putting lipstick on the pig.... The whole world is upset about this scandalous slaughter of the seals. And stop telling us foreigners that the seal hunt is essential! And Paul Watson is a man to be greatly admired :-))))))) And many thanks again to Danuta for writing this wonderful article!!! Best wishes - Ines from France
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 11/04/2008 at 4:25 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Shane Simms from Hermitage, Newfoundland writes: Where have you guys gotten to in the last forty-fifty years of protesting? Get all the famous people you want to walk out on the ice, to see the seals. What have you accomplished? Your bitching and complaining has probibly caused more hardache than what the 'supposed' seal hunt does. Stop wasted your time and money worrying about our culture. There are children in China working in sweatshops, and no one is stoping that. There are children over in Africa starving because they are the unfortunate ones who don't live beside an ice flow, so they can't eat seal meat ;) But yeah, you guys are pityful. For god sakes i'm surprised you aren't over grabbing Olympic torches from little girls so that you can make a pityful attempt to stop the Olympic games. You people are that pityful. Hearing your arguments make me smile, because it really brings the human intelligence level to a new low. Can you guys first come to Newfoundland first, then argue? Oh wait, you guys may end up pulling a Paul MaCartney, and landing in PEI, and claim you are in Newfoundland. Boy oh boy, intellence.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 11/04/2008 at 7:02 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: A note to Melanie/frank so-and-so and my beloved poet Matt M:
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Danuta's article surely scores 10/10 because she is so right with what she is saying.... But you of course see it in a totally different light and didn't read her article properly because you don't want to understand why everybody is so upset about this traditional, commercial seal slaughter. Like the rest of all pro-seal-hunt ignorant bunch of people. Why, do you think, are so many foreigners here to post a comment? Because the whole world by now is so upset about this cruel slaughtering of seal and thanks to all animal welfare societies! They keep us informed. And there is not anybody sorry for the 4 sealers killed. They say they got what they deserved a long time ago. I am not surprised. You have to get away from Neanderthal's thinking. Fashion fur is out and killing baby animals in the most barbaric and sadistic way as well. Stop putting lipstick on the pig by saying this hunt is humane! No hunt is humane. Especially with this species having absolutely no chance to escape.
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And thanks to Paul Watson! I am a great admirer of his society SEA SHEPHERD and a very proud member too.
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Stop BSing us, it's a waste of time.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 12/04/2008 at 9:50 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Lanny Cox from Harbour Breton, Newfoundland writes: Anyone notice a prevailing trend among many of these comments? The same biased, uneducated viewpoint, the same use of 2 or 3 basic buzzwords and ideas, lack of external sources of facts. (fyi: PETA, Sea Shepherd, etc. is probably not the best place to get your cold hard information from, although sometimes even they don't lie, which I'll get into in a minute.) What I see here is nothing more than a bunch of cookie-cutter statements from a section of radical far-left activists brainwashed and guided by a small controlling interest group with their pockets well-lined and hands deep in the vegetarian food, cotton and rubber industries, among others. Animal rights groups have been destroying their own good name for years despite what their public relations spin-doctoring and hysteria-inducting propaganda would have you believe. The heads of these groups prey upon the narrow-minded and the easily influenced. Many, such as the Earth Liberation Front, have been marked by the FBI as domestic terrorist groups for their reprehensible campaign of death threats, arson, property destruction and vandalism. They obviously don't care a whole lot about human lives, and judging from a report straight from PETA itself stating it has killed over 14,400 dogs and cats at it's Norfolk, VA headquarters from 1998-2005, animal lives aren't as highly respected as they'd have you believe either. Only the human race could be this narrow minded and disrespectful of it's own nature. It'd be funny if it weren't so sad. They attack the American Cancer Society for animal research towards a cancer cure. They believe in outlawing pets (!!!), including seeing eye dogs. They've compared Jewish victims of the Nazi holocaust with the plight of farm animals. Need I go on? This goes way beyond baby seals, or even animal rights in general. It's this kind of misguided, deliberately directed lemming groupthink that is reponsible for some of the greatest atrocities and wrongdoings in the history of human civilization. Unlike some who have already commented, I can't speak for anyone but myself.. but I'm willing to bet that more than a few of us would club pups until our arms fall off to reverse this. Still don't believe me? There’s nothing wrong with being a terrorist, as long as you win. Then you write the history. - Paul Watson, Animal Rights 2002 convention, June 30, 2002. Look that one up. And while you're at it, forward this to everyone you know who takes pride in being an intelligent human being capable of forming our own opinion instead of being molded and bullied by these ill-guided poorly-disguised lobbyist groups. We resent being attacked by those who would love to see us lose our faith in our own traditions and convictions. We're not falling behind as Canadians in any respect! In fact, we're way ahead of these guys.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 12/04/2008 at 5:11 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Julie from Quebec writes: Thank you very much for writing such an article. You are totally right. I'm sure you worked very hard when you arrived in this country. These people are trying to find short term solutions to their problems.
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I hope that this barbaric hunt will stop soon. Canada spreads a very bad image of itself. The Ministery of fisheries has just arrested the boat of the Sea Shepheard Society. They must be very desparate to try to do everything to hide this very cruel and brutal hunt. It is a sad world, really.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 13/04/2008 at 12:15 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: A note to Melanie/frank so-and-so and my beloved poet Matt M:
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Danuta's article surely scores 10/10 because she is so right with what she is saying.... But you of course see it in a totally different light and didn't read her article properly because you don't want to understand why everybody is so upset about this traditional, commercial seal slaughter. Like the rest of all pro-seal-hunt ignorant bunch of people. Why, do you think, are so many foreigners here to post a comment? Because the whole world by now is so upset about this cruel slaughtering of seal and thanks to all animal welfare societies! They keep us informed. And there is not anybody sorry for the 4 sealers killed. They say they got what they deserved a long time ago. I am not surprised. You have to get away from Neanderthal's thinking. Fashion fur is out and killing baby animals in the most barbaric and sadistic way as well. Stop putting lipstick on the pig by saying this hunt is humane! No hunt is humane. Especially with this species having absolutely no chance to escape.
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And thanks to Paul Watson! I am a great admirer of his society SEA SHEPHERD and a very proud member too.
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Stop BSing us, it's a waste of time.
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'I can't think of anything that defines helplessness and fear more than a seal pup on the ice that can't swim or escape as it is approached by some cigarette smoking ape with a club.'—Paul Watson
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I fully agree with Paul Watson. What a low class proletariat they are .....!!!
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 13/04/2008 at 9:42 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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frank blackwood from Richmond Hill, Ont. writes: Canada is still one of the greatest countries in the world where people live in Harmony and peace. We don,t tell other countries how to live and certainly not how to manage their wildlife. Paul Watson, your great admirer of your hard earned dollars, and not yourself, has gone to other countries many years ago saying he was an Ambassador from Canada when really he was trying to gather up supporters for his scams.
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If people did a little more research on their own, they would get to understand a little more as to what is happening behind their backs. I want you to know that our minister of fisheries is doing an excellent job at protecting the rights of canadian fishermen while Paul Watson is drinking it up at a posh hotel in New York..he is being followed now, and he cannot hide. The media is making him look more and more like a disturbed character looking for some kind of identity, and canadiand don,t want him around..
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Frank Blackwood,
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Richmond Hill, Ont.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 13/04/2008 at 10:25 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: Oh sure franky-boy. Canada has become famous for cruel seal clubbing/murdering. This is how the world sees it. And as I said before, stop putting lipstick on the pig.....
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Here we go again:
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http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/proposed_eu_ban_04132008.html
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SHAME ON YOU!!!
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 14/04/2008 at 9:56 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from Ranspach-Le-Haut, France writes: The only good thing I remember coming from Newfoundland is this:
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The Newfoundland is a large, usually black, breed of dog originally used as a working dog in Newfoundland. They are known for their sweet dispositions, loyalty, and natural water rescue tendencies. It is widely opined that this breed has greater physical strength than any other dog species. The newfoundland dog is known to save many people who are drowning because they have webbed feet and amazing swimming abilities
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 14/04/2008 at 11:22 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Melanie from Hermitage, Newfoundland writes: Okay, Ms. Ines Ress from France, and I say this with the utmost respect, but I did not come here to have my intelligence insulted. If there is any area in which I am experienced in, it is the area of debate (basically all aspects of english in general) and FAIRNESS in these debates. If i can speak my mind and give a fair, respectful argument, then I dont deserve to have my intelligence insulted by telling me that I can not read properly. For a while, the comments on this article were tasteful, but now they've become bothersome. I will agree with the fact that in a grammatical and organizational sense, this article is well-written, but to truly focus on the seal fishery, you can't simply call people barbaric and insult their government, and expect to have what can be considered a valid argument. As for animal welfare societies? I have no problem in saying that they are a complete joke to me. Despite the occasional correct word, majority of these sites and organizations exaggerate every detail of the seal hunt beyond recognition of its actual being. Before you wish to debate a topic, you MUST educate yourself in all aspects of the subject and take on the problem from both points of view. I'm not saying that you need to support the hunt, you just need to understand it to give a fair and valid argument. And, ma'am, it is truly hurtful to be referred to as barbarians, neanderthals and cigarette smoking apes with clubs when we are neither. You really need to be more respectful when you are responding to comments. I do not believe I have ever truly said that I support the hunt, and this is because I am on the fence. I understand the hunt, but I do not necessarily support all aspects of it. With that being said, I think if everyone UNDERSTOOD this vital piece of heritage, they would debate this topic while using a little more respect for those involved.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 14/04/2008 at 8:52 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ines Ress from France writes: Nobody who supports this cruelty or is asking me to understand this barbaric act deserves respect, Mrs. Melanie....... And now I am really busy in helping and supporting my animal welfare societies in achieving a ban of seal products and I say goodbye to this thread . Thanks for listening to me and my colleagues' comments here. I am sure there is no sequel next year. Look for other markets to make an income. Slaughtering helpless animals is the past as well as wearing fur.... And good luck to Paul Watson, a man who will have an enormous impact to stop this scandalous hunt.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 15/04/2008 at 12:14 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Gaby Dogru from Switzerland writes: Canada has become famous for cruel seal clubbing/murdering all over the world. That's fact.
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And I totally agree with the statement that those murders are barbarians, neanderthals and cigarette
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smoking apes with clubs. Yeah they are.
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The whole world is upset about this scandalous slaughter of the seals. And stop telling us that the seal hunt is essential. The human intelligence of those murders is below zero and the Canadian Gouvernment is
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not able to support them in getting another job. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS SLAUGHTER.
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 16/04/2008 at 8:35 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Peter Paul De Leo from Dania Beach, Florida writes: I am pleased to know there are many people who oppose the seal hunt. When I first heard of this atrocity I immediately boycotted Canadian Fish and all Canadian Fisheries Products. However, I found this difficult to do not knowing where the seafood was caught. Distributers should ( by law ) label such products. This I believe would put pressure on the canadian government to end the seal hunt and put the fear of economic loss in the hands of those with the clubs. Sincerely, Peter Paul De Leo
Matthew Molloy:
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| Posted 27/05/2008 at 11:41 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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