« Why No One in Canada Is Talking About the Sea Shepherd and the Seals »

I've been following the brave adventures of the Sea Shepherd, ever since the Canadian seal massacres started this spring out east. The coverage in Canadian media has been spotty at best, and more often than not, simply one sided. The surprising long arms of the Canadian government have seeming silenced objective journalism when it comes to the Canadian Seal Hunts.

Last week, the Canadian Coast Guard attacked and boarded the Farley Mowat, the Sea Shepherd's vessel, resulting in arrests all around. The folks aboard the Sea Shepherd aren't your average conservation folks. They are some pretty bright, respected individuals who volunteer from around the world, spotlighting the utter ridiculousness of the Canadian Seal hunt.

There's lots of global attention, and yet very little is being said within the Canadian media industry, until today. Yesterday, Farley Mowat joined the volunteers from Sea Shepherd in the media spotlight.

The Sidney Herald has one doctor's account of the terrors of the Canadian Coast Guard Attack.
CTV covers Farley Mowat donating half the bail needed for the crew of the ship that bears his name.
Atleast the Ottawa Citizen has a bit of decent coverage.

At some point, the government and folks in the east will realize that times have changed, that *ways of life* do NOT necessarily need to be preserved (at some point, people thought slavery was an acceptable way of life). The seal hunt is an antiquated, inhumane practice. Had the Canadian government spent as much on the hunters in re-training, relocation or creating a new industry as they did this year on *marketing* and coast guard operating expenses, the Canadian Seal hunt would cease to be a big deal.




Technorati Tags: Sea Shepherd, Farley Mowat, Canada, Seal Hunt

Comments

[jules]

Adrian! :-)
I would imagine there are various ways to skin a cat (or a seal, for that matter). Perhaps the Sea Shepherd folks have exhausted all avenues, and their tactics... well, drastic times.....

[Adrian L]

I know why I'm not talking about it.

My feelings about sealing are deep and complex. It's relation to the human rights arm of the United Nations could get me upset enough that I won't sleep tonight.


That said, my feelings about the ship, given my knowledge of maritime law and the situation, I think the protestors were out to instigate a response and they got one. Protesting the seal hunt the way they were was guaranteed to be a spectacular failure, and frankly, I think they deserve what they got.

[Veronica]

I blog just about every day, and I have been following the seal hunt since I am strongly against it. I follow several of the animal rights groups, including www.seashepherd.org/seals2008/ and while I follow a lot of the links to get back story, it is interesting to see how little is written in Canada about something so internationally anti-Canadian. I also like to read some of the comments to the stories in the different blogs, newspapers, and find that the writers who are Canadian are very vocal no matter what side they are on. You would think their would be more written on the matter in your press.

Nice blog.. may visit again soon.... V

[Jorge]

I think that to really understand this situation, you need to go back and read about the exploits of the Farley Mowat.

If memory serves correctly, you may want to look up references ti rancid cherry pie filling and concrete reinforced hulls. :)