If there was ever any doubt in your mind about Welfarist organizations like the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND supporting animal exploitation, including associated suffering and cruelty, then read about it in their own words! I've printed their "Position Statement" on the Canadian Seal Slaughter below. Please note their unabashed Welfarist mindset that condones of the "use" of natural resources, i.e. animals, as an "important part of (our) economy, culture, and heritage." Please note their unabashed Welfarist mindset that refers to the killing of innocent living creatures (young offspring in this case) as a "harvest" to be "managed"!
Just as distressing, I recently wrote to all Canadian Senators appealing to them to support Senator Harb's Seal Bill S-229 to end the commercial seal hunt. I've also printed the reply I received from Liberal Senator Percy Downe of Charlottetown, P.E.I. below. You will see a virtual parroting of the same Welfarist sentiment. And in a press release issued by the Liberal Party of Canada on March 3, 2009, Liberal MP, Hon. Gerry Byrne alleges that the World Wildlife Fund supports the commercial seal hunt and uses their alleged support as justification for the Liberal Party supporting the hunt.
It seems obvious to me by now that successive Liberal and Conservative governments are absolutely confirmed in their support for this example of abhorrent animal slaughter in their exploitation of Nature... and Welfarist organizations, who aggressively vie for your donation dollars in the name fighting animal cruelty, are among their biggest and wealthiest champions!
Please let the WWF know you don't support their advocacy of cruelty and let the Liberals and Conservatives (all linked or listed on this post) know you hold them electorally responsible for the continuing massacre of innocent animals and you will not stand for it next election. And while you're at it, let the Green's, NDP, and Bloc know as well. They all have Welfarism in their platforms!
The time is long overdue for society to recognize the abolition of ALL animal exploitation as integral to our survival and this planet's survival.
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WWF Position Statement:
Harp Seal Hunt in the Northwest Atlantic Ecoregion
March 2009
"WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. To achieve this mission and to ensure lasting success, conservation efforts must take into account cultural diversity as well as historical and economic realities. WWF recognizes that local communities play a significant role in, and benefit economically from, the sustainable use of natural resources.
For over 40 years the Canadian harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) hunt has been controversial. Many people have strong objections to the commercial harvesting of wildlife, and of marine mammals in particular. Animal welfare organizations both inside and outside Canada continue to press for improvement of humane hunting methods and tighter monitoring, while some oppose the seal hunt altogether. In the past, largely due to considerable international pressure, several measures were taken that affected the Canadian seal hunt. In 1972, the United States prohibited the import of seal products under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In 1987, the Canadian government prohibited the hunting of the harp seal pups, at the “whitecoat” stage. More recently, there has been a movement to impose a trading ban of seal products altogether particularly at the European Union.
The long history of controversy reflects both the diversity of individual values and the diversity of cultural and national experiences with wildlife and wildlife harvesting. WWF respects this range of diversity. As well, WWF recognizes that hunting seals is an important part of the local economy, culture and heritage of many coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, the Arctic, many other maritime nations.
Most importantly, from the perspective of a conservation organization such as ours, the harp seal population is at a near record high with more than 5 million individuals and current harvest practices pose no apparent threat to the long-term health of the species.
While there are no conservation grounds on which to end the seal hunt at this time, vigilant monitoring of the impacts of harvesting and environmental conditions will be important. Climate change may affect the availability of sea ice, which plays an essential role in the birth and weaning process of harp seal pups. WWF will continue to work on an ecosystem-based management approach in the Northwest Atlantic Ecoregion that will take into account the overall health of the marine environment and the role of all species, including harp seals. Furthermore, WWF has launched a global campaign to reduce the effects of climate change which poses a major threat to all Arctic species.
An important component of WWF’s work in the region includes reducing the ecological footprint of nations fishing on the Grand Banks. This means reducing bycatch and habitat impacts of all fisheries and ensuring all quotas are sustainable, including those in high seas areas adjacent to Canadian waters. These are critically important changes in order to secure the recovery of this overexploited ecosystem. It is also key to securing the long-term sustainability of coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador."
World Wildlife Fund Canada
245 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 410
Toronto, ON M4P 3J1
Tel: 1 - 800 - 26 - PANDA
(In Toronto) 416 - 489 - 8800
Fax: 416 - 489 - 3611
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Senator Percy E. Downe:
March 5, 2009
"I am writing in response to your recent correspondence regarding Canada's seal hunt.
The seal hunt is regulated and closely monitored to ensure that it is conducted in a humane manner. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has assigned Officers to conduct surveillance by aerial patrol, and further, do inspections at buying and processing locations to ensure that the Marine Mammal Regulations are respected.
In 2008, Fisheries and Oceans Canada implemented several new management measures for the seal hunt including the implementation of a three-step process, as a condition of licence, to hunt seals. One of the other many monitoring measures taken was the appointment of an independent reviewer to assess regional shares of the harp seal total allowance catch in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, therefore maintaining a balanced and sustainable approach to the seal hunt.
The abundant seal population is a valuable natural resource. The harp seal herd, estimated to be in excess of five million animals, has nearly tripled in population since the 1970's. The seal hunt is also an economic mainstay for numerous rural communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the North supporting many coastal families who can derive much needed income from the commercial seal hunt.
I believe that the Canadian seal hunt is being conducted in a safe and humane manner, and therefore, my support remains unwavering.
Thank you for taking the time to write."
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