The clubbing to death of hundreds of thousands of young seals every year in Canada has not ended. They're still beating baby seals with spiked clubs called "hakapiks." I am so ashamed for not realizing that it's still happening. In my ignorance, I assumed this cruel treatment was over long ago.
STILL CLUBBING-TO-DEATH BABY SEALS
My confusion resulted because Canada banned the clubbing of the youngest pups (that is, until 15 days old), with pure white pelts in the 1980s. However, the majority of seals killed today are still no more than a month or two old, according to animal welfare campaigners quoted by the New York Times.
On Tuesday, May 5, members of the European Parliament -- representing 27 national governments --voted overwhelmingly (550 in favor and 49 against) to ban trading in seal products, "hoping that the collapse of the market will drastically reduce the massacre," reports the Guardian (UK).
The action to outlaw trade in seal products was aimed at Canada, where some 300,000 seals are killed every year and condemned as barbaric by many.
"The EU ban will enter into force by the time that next year's controversial seal hunts begin with spiked clubs and rifles on the east coast of Canada," says the Telegraph (UK). In addition to the trade ban on seal pelts are other seal products found in Omega 3 'fish oil' pills, gloves and other leather goods, and meat from the Arctic.
Inuit communities in the Arctic, and other indigenous communities, were exempted from the new ban. They will still be allowed to market seal products resulting from hunts which provide much of their subsistence.
INTERNATIONL MARKETS HAVE BANNED SEAL PELTS
Most other international markets have been eliminated as a growing list of countries, including the United States and Mexico, have banned most imports of seal pelts.
"The vast majority of people across the UK and Europe are horrified by the cruel clubbing to death of seals," said Arlene McCarthy, chairman of the European Parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee.
Director of the Humane Society International, based in Canada, Rebecca Aldworth said in a press release, reported by the Los Angeles Times: "The European Union has made history by ending its trade in seal products. This ban spells the beginning of the end of Canada's globally condemned seal slaughter."
Every year around the world nearly one million seals are killed by hunters, with Canada, Greenland and Namibia accounting for most of the cull. It is the biggest sea-mammal cull in the world and seemingly on the rise, says EuroNews, which reports on the claims that some seals are still alive and conscious when they are skinned.
IT'S A BLOODY INDUSTRY
"Russia has been influenced by the argument," continues EuroNews. "Seal hunting is now banned, with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin describing it as a "bloody industry."
By Sharon McEachern
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