Will these sanctimonious nut jobs ever realize that culling animals in balance is actually what keeps packs and herd health plus ecosystems from crashing?? Seal culls are actually good for sealers, ecosystem & for seals, as such culls stave off starvation & contagion that are associated with over abundance of a species. Then again the anti hunters are making considerably more then the hunters & they could care less if our Marine Ecology collapses. NOTE: Comments needed on this article at
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=124704&sc=506------------------------------------
The Western Star
ST. JOHN'S
Anti-sealing group takes gentler approach
09/04/08
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=124704&sc=506 Three representatives of the U.S.-based Friends of Animals interest
group are in St. John's.
The group says it takes a less confrontational approach compared to
other animal rights groups over the East Coast Canadian seal hunt.
Friends of Animals says it is trying to organize a public meeting with
the city's mayor, animals rights activists, pro-sealing advocates and
provincial officials, with a focus on finding other options for
sealers.
"We're here to call on the city and Newfoundland to find better
employment opportunities for people on the ice killing seals," said
group member Dave Sishkoff. "It's dangerous work. Four people have
died this year. It's our opinion that the government is throwing
people to the ice instead of providing other employment."
Shishkoff says Friends of Animals takes a gentler approach to opposing
the seal hunt and criticized Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Society,
who last week reacted to the death of four sealers during this year's
hunt by calling the slaughter of seals a "greater tragedy." Watson
described sealers as "sadistic baby killers" and cigarette-smoking
apes with clubs. Sishkoff disagrees with those comments.
"I think that's inappropriate because animal rights groups are about
peace and respect for other animals and here we have people out there
threatening humans," said Sishkoff. "I think that's wrong. I don't
think you're going to get your message across and encourage any
change."
That said, Friends of Animals are no friends to the hunt.
"It's a brutal and degrading way of life for everyone involved - and
Friends of Animals thinks it's time for this tragic, senseless
practice to end," says a group press release.
The group describes itself as a non-profit, international animal
advocacy organization.
The Telegram
09/04/08
Comments: Paul Watson from Friday Harbor, Washington writes: WHo is Dave
Sishkoff? Never heard of him. I do take exception to his accusation
that we have threatened people. We have never done any such thing.
Friends of Animals appears to be wanting to cash in on an issue they
have not had much to do with and I question their motivation. I have
nothing to apologise for saying that the deaths of 325,000 seals is a
greater tragedy than the deaths of 4 sealers.
Captain Paul Watson
Point to be made here. Watson seems to think wearing a silly hat that says he is Captain is what makes him a captain but in reality he never passed a Captains exam and thus he is NO CAPTAIN. Posted 09/04/2008 at 11:09 AM
Mike from New Brunswick writes: If anything the Canadian government
and the Coast Guard have been the aggressors and the agents of gross
incompetence. The seal slaughter becomes conveniently less transparent
every year.
Why is there such an outcry about activist groups when the government
risks lives by letting sealers venture out in non-ice class boats?
Thankfully, the EU seems to be on the verge of doing what the States
wisely did back in 1972—banning all seal products.
Posted 09/04/2008 at 12:03 PM
Jane Dough from NL writes: ....but where will I get my Seal Oil Capsules?
Posted 09/04/2008 at 1:00 PM
Thomas Buiter from Emden, Germany writes: What was in the years
1984-94 where did the sealers live from in that decade?
It has been talked over years and nothing happend. Last year over 1
million seal pubs died due lack of ice the year before over 600.000.
You really whant to discuss that with the sealers ? The annual harp
seal hunt isn´t sustainable anymore (when it ever was).
An international animal advocacy organization should do much more than
just talk a bit (btw. the name was written wrong, it has to be : Dave
Shishkoff ).
FoA should stay on their neutering programs, there they might doing
something right. Or do something for real before criticizing a hard
working man and his activists.
I don`t understand why enviromental groups have to weaken themself by
do a little bit for everything. Do what you can do but than do it
right. Keep the focus on the problems you can solve and stop working
against other which are doing a good job.
The lives of the sealers have been sacrificed by the canadian
government. Sure it is a tragedy, but I agree with Captain Paul
Watson, that the dead of hundreds of thousand other lives is a greater
tragedy.
Thomas Buiter
Posted 09/04/2008 at 1:08 PM
Lee Hall from For FoA - BC writes: Writing on behalf of Friends of
Animals (FoA) BC as Dave Shishkoff is over at the East Coast...First
it should be known that FoA has actively opposed this kill completely,
not just the way it is carried out, not just until it is done by some
different method, but because killing seals is an affront to the
interests of these beings who are killed, the parents who try to
protect them, and the integrity of the entire, interconnected
community of marine animals. FoA's view is well known and
longstanding. FoA has indeed "confronted" the kill since the Alice
Herrington and Priscilla Feral were up in the late 60s and early 70s.
Tragically this commercial kill still goes on. The question is not
whether the "sealers" are cigarette smoking apes (we need no degrading
references to nonhuman apes and humans), nor can this be reduced to an
argument between people paid to kill these seals. Yes: The government
decision-makers are the aggressors and are responsible for the mass
slaughter continuing. As are people who buy fur – that's the industry,
and FoA has opposed it consistently for over 50 years.
At least one Canadian citizen (Shishkoff) is on the East Coast working
to address this; may other Canadians citizens and residents get up and
make a stand!
Posted 09/04/2008 at 2:27 PM
Topcat from Bay of Islands, Newfoundland writes: Anyone have any idea
how you go about starting one of these animal activists groups? Maybe
Captain Watson could help.
I'm hearing a lot of hype now, over the upcoming lobster fishery. For
those who don't realize, all these lobsters are caught and boiled
alive before they are good to eat. What a tragedy that these poor
creatures have to meet their end like this. Something should be done
about it.
Maybe Captain Watson can help me get a group organized. We'll start
here in Newfoundland and take it to places like Boston and other areas
that kill these poor little creatures. We'll boycott all fish products
from these places until they stop murdering the lobsters by boiling
them alive. Apparently you can hear them scream when you drop em in
the pot of boiling water.
Maybe there's an alternative way to kill them. Maybe lobster fisherman
could shoot the lobsters before bringing them ashore.
Posted 09/04/2008 at 2:36 PM
Thomas Buiter from Emden, Germany writes: @ Topcat
organize yourself. Anyone can do soemthing. Dont stand there and cry
like a baby. Like Nike says Just Do It
If anyone makes a little bit... it could be a big little bit
Posted 09/04/2008 at 5:13 PM
RP from Living in NB from NL writes: I think you all need to get a life.
It makes me sick to my stomach to hear a person say that the life of a
seal is more important than the life of a human. Why don't you ask the
families of those poor sealers who died last week what is more
important to them!
Have any of you ever seen a deer or moose get shot...it is the same
thing. People enjoy eating seals and hunting them like any other
hunting sport.
Why don't you start getting on the cases of slaughter houses killing
cows, pigs or chickens. Now that is a horrible sight and way more
inhumane than what any sealer does.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves for your lack of humanity
where human beings are concerned.
I support the seal hunt and hope it continues to grow!! And I think
you all should find something better to do with your lives!
Posted 09/04/2008 at 5:18 PM
Topcat from Bay of Islands, Newfoundland writes: @ Thomas
Thanks for prodding me on. I've already started to organize.
There's a new kid on the block when it comes to animal rights -
L.O.L.A. - Leave Our Lobsters Alone. I hope I can count on you for
joining our group.
I've got plans to go to the next Boston Seafood Show. Tentative plans
are for a group of us to remove all retaining devices on all the
lobster claws, and let them all out of their holding tanks. War of the
Worlds will have nothing on - Lobsters on the Loose.
In time we will rid the world of these lobster boiling murderers. Good
thing there are laws that make it illegal to keep those cute lobster
babies.
Posted 09/04/2008 at 5:48 PM
Mike M. from Cr. Bk., NL writes: Money is the soul root to both sides
of the seal hunt. Plain and simple.
Posted 09/04/2008 at 6:56
Teresa Platt from Coronado, California writes: These comments are just
as insulting as Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd's comments on the
fishermen's seal hunt:
It's a brutal and degrading way of life for everyone involved - and
Friends of Animals thinks it's time for this tragic, senseless
practice to end, says a [Friend of Animals'] press release.
Providing food and fiber from renewable sources is a noble, worthy and
necessary endeavor that deserves respect.
Every child should be offered the opportunity to grow up to be a
fisherman, whaler, sealer, farmer, logger or cowboy! These are
important, vital jobs.
Society should value, protect and celebrate the hard work of all those
providing us with food and fiber.
See
http://www.sealsandsealing.net for more info.