One more year of Pixaxes to the head

Canada's seal hunt serves as a model for other wild hunts around the world. The hunt is closely monitored and tightly regulated. Hunting methods have been proven humane. An independent veterinarians' report published in 2002 in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that the large majority of seals taken during the hunt are killed in an acceptably humane manner.

The seal hunt is a significant source of income for individual fishermen and for the economy of Atlantic Canada. It also supports many other industries through the supply of protein through its use as food; its medicinal use, through the production of omega-3 oils; and its use in the garment industry to supply fur and leather.

We speak of animal liberation no differently than human liberation. One cannot “enslave,” “dominate,” or “exploit” physical objects, nor can they be “freed,” “liberated,” or “emancipated.” These terms apply only to organic life forms that are sentient – to beings who can experience pleasure and pain, happiness or suffering. Quite apart from species differences and arbitrary attempts to privilege human powers of reason and language over the unique qualities of animal life, human and nonhuman animals share the same evolutionary capacities for joy or suffering, and in this respect they are essentially the same or equal.

Fundamentally, ethics demands that one not cause suffering to another being or impede another’s freedom and quality of life, unless there is some valid, compelling reason to do so (e.g., self-defense). For all the voluminous scientific literature on the complexity of animal emotions, intelligence, and social life, a being’s capacity for sentience is a necessary and sufficient condition for having basic rights.

"It will be more and more aggressive against them, I think," Hart told CBC News Tuesday.

"We come here to make business, it's normal business. We can pay you, not only to stop the hunt, but also there are other possibilities."

Hart believes the economic benefits of the seal hunt could be replaced by seal tourism and possibly a seal education centre on P.E.I. She'd like to see the Island, which only has about 20 active sealers, take the lead on this initiative.

In Strasbourg, France, the European Commission restated its opposition to an immediate ban on the import of Canadian seal products Thursday, but said it would proceed with a study to determine whether the centuries-old hunt is carried out in a humane manner.

The decision came as both opponents and supporters of the hunt, which is expected to start within days, pressed ahead with competing campaigns that saw rallies in cities around the world and a Canadian delegation bringing a pro-sealing message to the Hague.

The Canadian commercial seal "hunt" is the largest mass slaughter of marine mammals in the world. Canada intends to kill over 325,000 seals this spring with an additional 10,000 harp seal quota for an aboriginal allowance!

During the 3-year period of 2003-2005, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) allowed a kill quota of 975,000 baby and adult harp seals and 30,000 adult hood seals.

In 2004, 365,971 seals were slaughtered, and during the 2003 season 283,497 harp seals were killed. In 2002, the sealers slaughtered over 312,000 although the kill quota was set at 275,000. There were no legal consequences for the quota overkill. Instead, the Canadian government rewarded the kill quota violations with an incredible increase of 75,000 seals!