so, i got sent this link from the SAFE group im involved with and thought it was pretty gross, emailed the dudes in Cananda and thought some of you'se would wanna dot the same. the following is taken from the www.boycott-canada.com website. You can go to the website and voice your dispproval too. Peace.
"In 1983 the European Union banned the import of products made from 'whitecoat' harp and 'blueback' hooded seal pups.
As a result, in 1987, a Canadian Royal Commission recommended that the killing of these very young seal pups be prohibited. In 1993, Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations were amended to prohibit the trade in whitecoat and blueback seal pups - this was intended to prevent the killing of these seals. In reality these measures just caused the goal posts to be moved.
It now means that a harp seal can be legally killed as soon as it begins to shed its whitecoat at around 10 or 12 days after birth. Hooded seals can be killed when they shed their blueback pelt at about 15-16 months of age. Products from this slaughter are not covered by the EU ban and the fur trade, amongst others, has been quick to exploit this loophole. Many leading designers use seal fur in their collections and seal meat and oil is imported into Europe.
The annual seal hunt in Canada has been subject to 'management' since the 1970's but the annual quota has been based more on market demand than scientific evidence. It has steadily increased since the mid 90's during which time new federal subsidies have encouraged sealers to kill more seals.
The killing of what most would consider still to be 'baby' seals is offensive in itself but the methods of slaughter are horrific. Early in the season harp seals are still killed with clubs or hakapiks, later in the season they are shot both on the ice and in the water. Because much of the seal hunt takes place on shifting ice floes, or from a moving boat, many animals may be killed (or fatally injured) but not retrieved. As the quota is based on 'landed catch' the number of seals actually killed is far greater.
The Canadian Government claims that the commercial seal hunt is humane and well regulated but independent veterinarians disagree. In 2001 a team observed sealers at work and examined carcasses left on the ice. They found that 79% of sealers did not check to see if an animal was dead before skinning it, in 40% of cases the animal had to be struck or shot a second time and that a staggering 42% of seals were probably conscious when skinned. Despite evidence of this cruelty being passed to the Canadian authorities no prosecutions have resulted."
"In 1983 the European Union banned the import of products made from 'whitecoat' harp and 'blueback' hooded seal pups.
As a result, in 1987, a Canadian Royal Commission recommended that the killing of these very young seal pups be prohibited. In 1993, Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations were amended to prohibit the trade in whitecoat and blueback seal pups - this was intended to prevent the killing of these seals. In reality these measures just caused the goal posts to be moved.
It now means that a harp seal can be legally killed as soon as it begins to shed its whitecoat at around 10 or 12 days after birth. Hooded seals can be killed when they shed their blueback pelt at about 15-16 months of age. Products from this slaughter are not covered by the EU ban and the fur trade, amongst others, has been quick to exploit this loophole. Many leading designers use seal fur in their collections and seal meat and oil is imported into Europe.
The annual seal hunt in Canada has been subject to 'management' since the 1970's but the annual quota has been based more on market demand than scientific evidence. It has steadily increased since the mid 90's during which time new federal subsidies have encouraged sealers to kill more seals.
The killing of what most would consider still to be 'baby' seals is offensive in itself but the methods of slaughter are horrific. Early in the season harp seals are still killed with clubs or hakapiks, later in the season they are shot both on the ice and in the water. Because much of the seal hunt takes place on shifting ice floes, or from a moving boat, many animals may be killed (or fatally injured) but not retrieved. As the quota is based on 'landed catch' the number of seals actually killed is far greater.
The Canadian Government claims that the commercial seal hunt is humane and well regulated but independent veterinarians disagree. In 2001 a team observed sealers at work and examined carcasses left on the ice. They found that 79% of sealers did not check to see if an animal was dead before skinning it, in 40% of cases the animal had to be struck or shot a second time and that a staggering 42% of seals were probably conscious when skinned. Despite evidence of this cruelty being passed to the Canadian authorities no prosecutions have resulted."
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