Yummy Wakame

10 things were said

1. nykki:
   March 26th, 2007 at 5:06pm

   if you really want to stop the insanity…stop wearing lipstick

2. Joe:
   March 27th, 2007 at 5:39pm

   People have a knack for being cruel. Thanks for posting that Olivia so I can now try to take part in seeing it end.

3. Ms. Wakame:
   March 28th, 2007 at 2:10pm

   Thanks for your help Joe.

4. Cait:
   March 28th, 2007 at 9:18pm

   You can work at it, but part of the problem is that seal is the primary food of native peoples in Canada. Every time there’s an effort to stop the seal killing, the hue and cry goes up about racism and so forth.

5. Ms. Wakame:
   March 29th, 2007 at 2:42am

   I didn’t know they were picky about the colour of the seal.

6. kevin:
   April 1st, 2007 at 7:41pm

   Something that should be noted: the commercial hunting of the bluebacks (baby hooded seals) and the whitecoats (baby harp seals, such as the one in the image above and the ones used so effectively in the video) has been banned in Canada since 1987.

7. olivia:
   April 1st, 2007 at 8:01pm

   Wikipedia:

   The commercial hunting of infant harp seals (whitecoats) and infant hooded seals (bluebacks) was banned in Canada in 1987 under pressure from animal rights groups. Now, seals may only be killed legally once they have started moulting (from 12 to 15 days of age for harp seals), as this coincides with the time when they are abandoned by their mothers.

8. kevin:
   April 2nd, 2007 at 5:10am

   Isn’t that what I said? Albeit my plagarism from Wikipedia is a bit more front and centre now.

   My point was more that, while I am ambivalent towards the seal hunt (live in Atlantic Canada), I do take issue with the use of the more photogenic whitecoat seals as the ‘poster seals’ for the anti-hunt movement. Granted it is only a two week difference (although usually sealers wait until 25 days have past and the seal is fully moulted and called a ‘beater’ for pelt purposes; coincidentally, the spring peak of the hunt is about two weeks long; the hunt itself, of course, goes from November to May, as that Wikipedia article also mentions).

   I understand the tugging on heartstrings purposes of the cute whitecoat seals being slaughtered, but that image is simply no longer true. Personally, I am not a big fan of that deception, because unfortunately it leads to people being ill-informed about the seal hunt. I think that ultimately weakens the position of the anti-seal hunt side, making them look like they don’t know what they’re talking about (local media had a field day ripping into Paul McCartney when he didn’t know what province he was in last spring).

   Personally, I think that the anti-seal hunt needs to go about this a different way, deflating the market as opposed to attacking the workers. The economic climate in Atlantic Canada is very precipitous at the best of times and it can’t be expected that people of the area would just turn their back on what amounts to a decent chunk of their income.

9. Ms. Wakame:
   April 2nd, 2007 at 1:34pm

   The picture I used of the seal for this post is just my favourite seal pic of all time. But I do see your point.

   Personally though I don’t want to see or imagine any seal, grey, purple, white or spotty, adult or baby being bludgeoned with a spiked club en masse. The idea that they are babies and white doesnt pull on my heart strings any more than it would otherwise, but it is possible that Im alone in that. No creature should be allowed to die like that at the hands of any human, and that it would somehow be ok.

10. Marty:
    July 10th, 2007 at 7:53am

    I have to agree with Ms. Wakame that no creature should die by bludgeoning with a spiked club and not even have a fair chance of defending themselves or getting away.

    I also appreciate the concern of Kevirr that the issue can suffer a loss of public support if it is seen as an attack upon local communities and seal-hunters. However, the films speak for themselves.

    It is not about workers; It is about the cruelty of how these seals are killed, theier age and the fact that they are defenseless. It is NOT about tricking people with cute photos or pulling on heart strings.

    I hope those who are beginning to understand the issue will let go of the callousness outlook if this is how they are feeling, and see what is really going on. Unfortunately, these hunts MUST be filmed so that people everywhere can have the opportunity to face the truth and make a change.

    I hope Kevirr and folks who have a similar attitude will take a less negative and suspect approach to this issue and help make a change for the better. It’s not about the workers or wanting them to starve or have a loss of income; It is not about Paul McCartney. No one is going to represent the perfect image or have every answer but at least people can try their best and be authentic and be proud of trying.

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