Posted on 04/02/2005 1:52:22 PM PST by QwertyKPH
A former New Zealand resident involved in a violent clash with sealers in Canada is calling on Kiwis to help stamp out the "barbaric" hunting of marine mammals.
Lisa Shalom, 23, and 10 other crew members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Farley Mowat were arrested yesterday while trying to take pictures of seals being killed.
Speaking from the Farley Mowat, off the coast of Prince Edward Island in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Ms Shalom said the crew had been assaulted on the ice by eight sealers carrying clubs and pickaxes. "The moment they saw us they threatened us with their hak-a-piks, they were verbally abusive, and their fists were flying," Ms Shalom said.
"They knew we were opposed to what they were doing and they were completely indignant about it."
The sealers were not arrested, but the anti-seal hunt activists, who Ms Shalom said stayed non-violent, were charged with violating seal protection regulations by approaching within half a nautical mile of a hunt.
The activists were released without bail to face a later court appearance. They face a $1000 fine or a three-month jail term. Some of the anti-hunt protesters were treated for minor injuries.
Canadas harp seal hunt, target of protests since the 1960s, began last week when thousands of sealers headed for the ice floes off eastern Canada. The seal hunt brings in millions of dollars for poor coastal communities, but is condemned by animal rights activists as barbaric. "The tools they use are primitive, hooks on the end of sticks, and they just bash the cubs over the head," said Ms Shalom.
"Some of them dont even die after several blows, theyre just dragged across the ice to the boats where they are skinned alive and have their carcasses thrown back on the ice into a bloody pile."
Ms Shalom said New Zealanders could help by lobbying for an end for seal hunting. "Any energy that anyone can put into it is much appreciated," she said.
The Canadian came to New Zealand two-and-a-half years ago after a voyage to Antarctica and was active in peace, animal rights and environmental groups.
Whilst we may not agree with the methods of seal hunting, it is a traditional and legal activity for indigenous people of Canada.
"Activists" should stay away.
Agreed! If I was deer hunting and a group was doing that I would be greatly aggravated.
OK, that was my seal of approval.
club peta.....
Well done!
The Judiciary of Florida tortures and executes the innocent, and the handicapped in ways illegal since Nuremberg. Want proof:
(*) Florida subhuman murderer Judgenfuhrer Greer is uncertified.
I needs to be pointed out that it is more of a cull of the herd than a hunt.
Without the cull, the fishing would be endangered, the seals would be overwhelming, and the economy would be devistated.
Seals are NOT an endangered species, the only thing going for them is that they are so darn cute, with the big eyes and the silver coat.
I remember a fishing trip off the coast of Mexico, after hours of fishing I finally tied into a yellow fin tuna, only to have a seal take the fish, line and all and run with it. If I could have seen that seal, I would have clubbed it myself.
Thank you.
Whack, whack, "squawk, squawk," is that a seal, no, a Kiwi, whack, mox nix, whack.
Where they clubbed? :)
I understand they skin them alive. Don't care if it isn't a popular opinion here, I don't like it.
The activists were skinned alive? That's pretty hardcore :)
For example, look to the deer population in New England or the brown bears in New Jersey.
Wile E Coyote came in and chased him out. The coyote was also just outside of firing range, else he would have been taken out instead and turned into a pelt.
Save the rat.....
Yeah, but what could you do with the skins?
That is just plain wrong..
I hope those sealers beat the crap out of them!
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