People are always protesting something. This disgruntled looking woman is handing out flyers advertising the legalised annual seal cull in Canada.
Interestingly, the flyers stated in bold 'Oppose the Cull by NOT TRAVELING to Canada.'
I'll come back to that.
In spite of intense international pressure to stop the practice, Canada refuses to put an end to the chase-and-club cull of the very photogenic pups. It's been banned since 1983 in the EU. But it obviously brings in a lot of loot, especially among indigenous people, who rely on the commerical interests and government support for their livlihood.
The animals are used in total from pelts to blubber to meat off the bones. Neither are the hooded seals endangered, which leaves no strong conservation-based argument for the government to put a halt to it.
Indeed, it is a tragic and inhumane method of bludgeoning the furry little things, and I think we can all live without another fur coat. On the other hand, the meat and blubber is exceptionally nutritious and we could all use a helping in place of another big mac or industrialized hunk of corn-fed beef.
I'm not suggesting this practice is right and that it should go on. Rather, it should be kept in perspective. If the cow were as exotic, as cuddly or as cute as the seal, would more of us protest with such passion? Would we all stop eating meat? How much of the by products of a cow go to waste? How much damage has the domestication and mass rearing of cattle caused our land, our air and our own bodies? We need to pay attention to the bigger problems - the real issues - instead of diverting attention.
Don't tell me not to travel to Canada to protest the friggen cull. Tell me not to buy a fur coat. Tell me to board the Sea Sheperd and sail the seas with my arms flailing and my feet freezing, but my efforts going toward something that actually makes an impact.
