Seal hunt must end

Posted by John under Animal Cruelty, Clothing

People have complained for many years about the seal hunt in Canada and elsewhere but it still goes on. Seal pups are clubbed to death mostly for their fur (their oil and meat is also used). Inuit people may need the meat to eat and the fur to keep warm but the oil and fur pelt is not a need for anyone outside of these indigenous communities. You can help stop this.

It is largely a fashion want that these seals are killed for not a genuine need around the world. Sometimes the pups are shot while other times a hackapik is used. Animal rights groups have witnessed what they describe as the cruelest hunt ever earlier this year in Canada (so many violations of the regulations). This inhumane treatment must end and you as a responsible consumer can help. It starts with ignoring the spin from hunters and the government because almost all of this is proven nonsense (more about that shortly).

Then, never, ever, buy clothing or other products made of seal fur. The European Union banned products made from seal fur in 2009. However there is an exemption for trade in fur from subsistence hunts. It has to stop entirely, no exceptions! This applies to all countries that import fur products, including seal fur products.

In addition to boycotting retailers that sell seal fur products there are other actions you can take also. Do not travel to any country conducting a seal hunt at given times of the year. It will not hurt their tourism industry all that much but lower tourist numbers sends a message just the same.

Then use the media to get your point across. Use social networking sites, especially the Facebook and Twitter of your favorite Canadian celebrities for example, to post an anti-hunt message. If you are a business owner, do not buy goods or services from Canadian companies or those of other countries that conduct seal hunts. Do not buy advertising time from television networks during times when shows filmed in Canada are airing.

There are other ideas you can probably think of too and you can post them in a comment post below if you like. Responsible consumerism gives you the right to exercise your free choice. Take advantage of it! The market for fur seal is very small around the world. Only ignorant fools buy seal fur products and they need to be educated in responsible consumerism.

Governments in countries that conduct mass seal hunts will have you believe that there is a market for seal fur. They say that it is humane to kill hundreds of thousands of seals and that there are even regulations on how to kill them (these are often not followed). They will tell you that it is to protect fish stock but the fish they mention are not part of the diet of seals. So this is all mostly a lie!

What these governments are trying to do is open up a market for a dying industry. Animal rights groups have clearly failed over the years to stop this happening. The onus then is on you and everyone you know to spread the word to boycott any aspect of this industry that you can think of.

Seal hunters that have admitted they do it for the sport and members of governments that openly condone this industry should be imprisoned ideally, along with those that buy seal fur products. We can only dream about that but we can collectively make the right choice to boycott buying, traveling to those countries and then spread the word online and in your local community. It is your right!