Bridget Curran, Director of the Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition

Article Posted in the Barrie Examiner



(Re: "Seal hunt talk one-sided" in the March 4 edition of the Examiner)
Susan Moore criticizes Carolyn Breen Morton for urging an end to Canada's cruel East Coast commercial seal hunt.
Ms. Moore then devotes the entirety of her letter to the northern Inuit subsistence hunt.
Clearly, Ms. Moore is confused and is unaware that the subsistence and commercial hunts are two separate hunts.


The East Coast commercial seal hunt is the large-scale, industrialized slaughter of pups aged as young as 12 days for their skin, conducted by white men from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
The northern Inuit hunt is a subsistence hunt conducted by northern aboriginals, utilizing the entire seal.
Commercial and subsistence hunts are separate and distinct.
The Canadian government has been running a campaign to hide the sins of the commercial seal slaughter behind the Inuit subsistence hunt, blurring the lines between the two in an attempt to make the commercial slaughter appear necessary, and playing on the general public's acceptance of subsistence hunting.
I would suggest Ms. Moore spend a few hours researching the commercial seal hunt to learn about the difference between Inuit subsistence hunt and East Coast commercial hunt before she criticizes anyone else for voicing their opinion on the subject.
Bridget Curran
Director, Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition Halifax, N.S.

Article Posted in the Barrie Examiner

Give Up On The Seal Hunt

Re:Tastes like chicken,

Photo, March 11

Again, the Canadian government embarrasses itself and the Canadian people with its blind support for the seal hunt, a dying industry known worldwide for barbaric treatment of these mammals.

The EU had been gathering evidence for more than a decade to prove the hunt is inhumane before going ahead with their ban. The government protest to the WTO will cost Canadian taxpayers millions, take years to settle and will accomplish nothing.

Most Canadians are ashamed, embarrassed and angry that the slaughter continues.

William Chemko, Nanaimo, B.C.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/779255--give-up-on-the-seal-hunt

Letter By River Song Foundation

Letter: Save the seals
The largest marine mammal slaughter in the world, the annual Canadian Seal Hunt, is about to begin. Nearly 300,000 baby fur seals will be cruelly bludgeoned (or worse) to death. There is no excuse for this barbaric practice, or any other, except to line the wallets of a few people.

For years, many people, businesses and organizations worldwide have supported a boycott of Canadian seafood in an effort to raise awareness of this issue. The boycott has been very effective in raising global awareness. The European Parliament just voted in favor of a ban on trade in seal products and Russia is following suit with a similar ban.

This year, a brave Canadian senator, Mac Harb, has introduced a bill that would forever end the hunt. He needs help, however, in the form of e-mails and letters, to get this bill passed.

If you to go to www.ifaw.org or www.hsus.org, you can read more about this grisly practice. Take 30 seconds to sign an online petition, send an e-mail or perhaps take the time to write a personal letter. You can also find there which companies are still supporting Canadian seafood, and urge them to support the boycott until the hunt is ended. We are their voice.

Rita Smith, director
Jackie Beerger, co-director
Katy Gallagher, chairwoman
River Song Foundation, Advocates for Animals and People
Astoria