03-04-2006, 02:27 PM
Okay, this is going to be a long one, but it's about something that's very important to me, so I think it's justified. It's about my province.
I love my province, a whole fuck of a lot. I think it's an amazing place to live. But, like anywhere, there are things that happen here that we probably wish wouldn't, and every so often, they become public issues. And, like any public issues, celebrities inevitably become involved.
In case you don't know what I'm talking about, then I guess you missed Larry King live this evening. He was hosting "Sir" Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills McCartney in a discussion about the seal hunt, intending to speak with our dubious Prime Minister, Steven Harper. Instead, this honor was passed to someone much better informed on the subject, our Premier, Danny Williams.
Just a quick not about Premier Williams: he's an absolutely fantastic man, despite being a Conservative. He's the epitome of the self-made man, quite a success as a lawyer and business owner. On the whole, our province really likes him.
Ok, so now it's time for the main points raised by the McCartneys, then what the truth actually happens to be. Trust me, as a Newfoundlander, you can trust my information on every one of these points as being well-researched and accurate. I've not done it myself, but I can guarantee you that I'm at the most 3 degrees of separation from someone who has.
McCartneys
-the seal hunt is inhumane, as seals are clubbed to death or injured to the point where death is imminant and then left to die. They are often skinned alive
-the seals hunted are pups, or "whitecoats", seals who are only a few months old for only their pelts, used in the fashion industry
-the seal hunt does not generate a significant enough amount of revenue to condone its continuation
-our government is bribing UN officials to state that our hunt is humane and well regulated
The truth
-the seal hunt, though unpopular, is well regulated and very humane. At least 90% of the seals hunted are hunted with guns and shot. Even if the seals are clubbed, the club is heavy enough to crack the skull causing instant death very near to 100% of the time. Also, seals being skinned alive is a sensationalist reporting of seing a seal being skinned shortly after death. Much like anything else shortly after it is killed, the brain sends out electrical impuleses at random throughout the body, causing spasms that may look similar to the physical reaction to pain. This is merely the report of a weak-stomached journalist who doesn't know the facts.
-the seals hunted are not, in fact, pups. Harp seal pups have white, fuzzy coats for the early stages of their life and are termed "whitecoats." When they moult and lose this coat, they are considered to be adults and pups no longer. The cute, fuzzy, white, pleading look of a harp seal pup is again the work of a media trying to vilify people trying to make their way in the world. It is illegal in the extreme to hunt them for their pelts. This isn't to say that it doesn't happen, but it is not condoned by the government or our people.
That aside, seals are hunted for more than their pelts. We eat their meat as well as sell their pelts, and also use their blubber to extract Omega 3 fatty acids, a compound with varied medicinal uses.
-the seal hunt doesn't provide a large amount of income only if you put it in context of richer provinces or countries. If you look at the conservative figure that CNN offers, $14.5 million (even though it's actually about $17 million or so), it's actually a very large amount of money for our province to make for only a few weeks of work. This province is very poor, and we have an overabundance of fishermen that are too old to retrain to do something else. Hunting for food is what they've done since they were teenagers. It's what they do to survive. Unless these free-thinkers can come up with a viable solution to provide as much income for as little work, no one will ever swing for it.
In short, the seal hunt is a very important part of this province's economy and at this time, we cannot justify its liquidation.
-the idea that our government is bribing UN is ludicrous. Given that the UN, while quite useless in a miliatry aspect, is the champion of all things good and just, bribing a high placed official would be an insanely costly venture, one not easily made by a government plagued with money issues. Even the implication that our goernment would stoop to such an act was a despicable low blow that I found it difficult to stomach.
Our Preimer raised a very curious point which cause the rather shrill Heather McCartney to raise this point. He mentioned how several environmental analysts working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) who had determined that the seal hunt was being done humanely, were fired upon the release of their findings. It seems that it's not only the McCartneys who are only interested in figures that support their causes.
Also, the pictures you see of the McCartneys rolling on the ice with whitecoats...well, they've doomed those pups to starvation. Until they learn the necessary suvival skills, they are heavily reliant on their mothers to bring them food. After handling the pups, their mothers will reject them. Great job, McCartneys.
Basically, my friends, I ask for understanding on your parts. In a perfect world, no, there would not be a seal hunt. But please, don't judge my province solely on the propoganda of a celebrity who doesn't know what they're talking about. Actually take the time to learn both sides of the issue and then decide where you stand before you turn your nose up at us and scoff "barbarians."
Thank you.
I love my province, a whole fuck of a lot. I think it's an amazing place to live. But, like anywhere, there are things that happen here that we probably wish wouldn't, and every so often, they become public issues. And, like any public issues, celebrities inevitably become involved.
In case you don't know what I'm talking about, then I guess you missed Larry King live this evening. He was hosting "Sir" Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills McCartney in a discussion about the seal hunt, intending to speak with our dubious Prime Minister, Steven Harper. Instead, this honor was passed to someone much better informed on the subject, our Premier, Danny Williams.
Just a quick not about Premier Williams: he's an absolutely fantastic man, despite being a Conservative. He's the epitome of the self-made man, quite a success as a lawyer and business owner. On the whole, our province really likes him.
Ok, so now it's time for the main points raised by the McCartneys, then what the truth actually happens to be. Trust me, as a Newfoundlander, you can trust my information on every one of these points as being well-researched and accurate. I've not done it myself, but I can guarantee you that I'm at the most 3 degrees of separation from someone who has.
McCartneys
-the seal hunt is inhumane, as seals are clubbed to death or injured to the point where death is imminant and then left to die. They are often skinned alive
-the seals hunted are pups, or "whitecoats", seals who are only a few months old for only their pelts, used in the fashion industry
-the seal hunt does not generate a significant enough amount of revenue to condone its continuation
-our government is bribing UN officials to state that our hunt is humane and well regulated
The truth
-the seal hunt, though unpopular, is well regulated and very humane. At least 90% of the seals hunted are hunted with guns and shot. Even if the seals are clubbed, the club is heavy enough to crack the skull causing instant death very near to 100% of the time. Also, seals being skinned alive is a sensationalist reporting of seing a seal being skinned shortly after death. Much like anything else shortly after it is killed, the brain sends out electrical impuleses at random throughout the body, causing spasms that may look similar to the physical reaction to pain. This is merely the report of a weak-stomached journalist who doesn't know the facts.
-the seals hunted are not, in fact, pups. Harp seal pups have white, fuzzy coats for the early stages of their life and are termed "whitecoats." When they moult and lose this coat, they are considered to be adults and pups no longer. The cute, fuzzy, white, pleading look of a harp seal pup is again the work of a media trying to vilify people trying to make their way in the world. It is illegal in the extreme to hunt them for their pelts. This isn't to say that it doesn't happen, but it is not condoned by the government or our people.
That aside, seals are hunted for more than their pelts. We eat their meat as well as sell their pelts, and also use their blubber to extract Omega 3 fatty acids, a compound with varied medicinal uses.
-the seal hunt doesn't provide a large amount of income only if you put it in context of richer provinces or countries. If you look at the conservative figure that CNN offers, $14.5 million (even though it's actually about $17 million or so), it's actually a very large amount of money for our province to make for only a few weeks of work. This province is very poor, and we have an overabundance of fishermen that are too old to retrain to do something else. Hunting for food is what they've done since they were teenagers. It's what they do to survive. Unless these free-thinkers can come up with a viable solution to provide as much income for as little work, no one will ever swing for it.
In short, the seal hunt is a very important part of this province's economy and at this time, we cannot justify its liquidation.
-the idea that our government is bribing UN is ludicrous. Given that the UN, while quite useless in a miliatry aspect, is the champion of all things good and just, bribing a high placed official would be an insanely costly venture, one not easily made by a government plagued with money issues. Even the implication that our goernment would stoop to such an act was a despicable low blow that I found it difficult to stomach.
Our Preimer raised a very curious point which cause the rather shrill Heather McCartney to raise this point. He mentioned how several environmental analysts working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) who had determined that the seal hunt was being done humanely, were fired upon the release of their findings. It seems that it's not only the McCartneys who are only interested in figures that support their causes.
Also, the pictures you see of the McCartneys rolling on the ice with whitecoats...well, they've doomed those pups to starvation. Until they learn the necessary suvival skills, they are heavily reliant on their mothers to bring them food. After handling the pups, their mothers will reject them. Great job, McCartneys.
Basically, my friends, I ask for understanding on your parts. In a perfect world, no, there would not be a seal hunt. But please, don't judge my province solely on the propoganda of a celebrity who doesn't know what they're talking about. Actually take the time to learn both sides of the issue and then decide where you stand before you turn your nose up at us and scoff "barbarians."
Thank you.