WORLD

- reported by Osiris.

Yesterday was the start of Canada's contentious seal hunt on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which has sparked up much controversy after the methods used to kill the seals were widely publicized. Reporters and activists tried to get as close as permitted but their presence angered the hunters, who attacked the group in retaliation.

One sealing vessel charged up to a small inflatable boat carrying protesters and a fisherman flung seal intestines at them.

"They threw carcasses at our Zodiac and they came rushing at us in their boat and tried to capsize us in the wake," Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society told the Associated Press. "This is standard behavior out there; the hunters feel that they're completely above the law."

The hunters prefer to use spiked clubs called hakapiks to crush the seals' skulls, rather than possibly damaging the pelts with a bullet to the brain. While the practice appears barbaric to some, veterinarians insist the pick is more humane and efficient?

Efficient? You guys are supposed to save animals and here you are saying that the pick is more efficient in killing seals?

Seals are an endangered species as a result of excessive poaching for their meat, skin and blubber. However the fishermen in the isolated island comunities of Quebec and Newfoundland say the hunt supplements their meager winter incomes, particularly since cod stocks have dwindled dramatically during the past decade. They resent animal activists, who they say have little understanding of their centuries-old traditions.




A seal pup.







Now I see, it's because of you old bastards' centuries-old traditions that killed off so many seals in that timespan of 500 years. Bloody Canadians.

The hunt brought $14.5 million in revenue last year, after some 325,000 seals were slaughtered. Fisherman sell their pelts, mostly for the fashion industry in Norway, Russia and CHINA, as well as blubber for oil, earning about $60 per seal.

The federal government maintains Canada's seal population is healthy and abundant, with a population of 6 million in the Arctic north and maritime provinces. That figure has yet to be proven by researchers. Don't you think 6 million is a ridiculous figure? How did they count all those seals in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic? They used mathematics similar to the method Mr Bean used to count sheep in "Good night, Mr Bean", estimating the number of seals per land area and multiplying it up. As if that way is very accurate. In fact, it seems that the number of seal pups are declining, as according to John Grady, an animal activist. He says he has seen fewer pups on the ice and many have probably died through drowning. Protesters are now calling for a decrease in the 325,000 quota to make up for the natural deaths.

The worse thing is that there are regulations in place for the hunting. Sealers are required to quickly kill the seals with a pick or bullet to the brain. The pups must also be over 2-3 weeks old and have shed their white downy fur before being killed.

Celebrities have even voiced their discontent with the seal hunting. Paul McCartney and his wife had travelled to Gulf of St. Lawrence two weeks ago to pose with the newborn pups. In a video message, the McCartneys proposed that Canada could end the slaughter by offering a license payback program to sealers. French film legend Brigitte Bardot went to Ottawa earlier this week and said she was stunned that a developed nation would let such a practice continue, three decades after she first came to Canada to frolic with some pups in an attempt to end the slaughter.

Rotters Int. was very fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to a seal and its hunter, but not before we were had some guts thrown at us as well. On an ice pan far from human activity, we spoke to Robert, a 2-week-old seal.






Robert the 2-week-old seal.









Rotters Int. : Hi Robert, are you afraid of the hunters?

Robert : Yes of course, that's why I'm hiding here where those bastards won't be able to find me. I've already lost my brother to them so I know what it's like to be captured.

Rotters Int. : Are you taking any preventive measures against being hunted?

Robert: Unfortunately, no. There's nothing which I can do except to be on the constant lookout for the hunters.

Rotters Int. : Do you wish to send a message to Mankind while you are still alive?

Robert: STOP KILLING US!

Rotters Int. : Very well...

Robert : Oh shit, I see one coming! I gotta go!

( Hunter walks up towards reporter with a pick in hand. )

Hunter : You see any seal around here?

Rotters Int. : Erm...no. Sorry.

Hunter : Don't try to fool me, you son-of-a-bitch. You think a old hag like me won't be able to see these tracks on the ice? You are what? Another one of those fucking activists?

Rotters Int. : No, I'm a reporter...

Hunter : Good! I would like you to quote me.

Rotters Int. : Go ahead.

Hunter : You all bloody animal-loving pussy-activists, stop disrupting our daily lives here! We're just trying to make a living. There's no fish here so we have to find other sources of food. Put your ass here for just one day and I bet you gotta find some seals to eat if you don't wanna die of cold and hunger. You hear me?

Rotters Int. : Yes sir, I've written everything that you've just said. Now I have a question for you, don't you think what you all do is very cruel?

Hunter : ( Suddenly bursts into tears ) Yes...actually I don't wanna kill them seals. Everytime I run to them and raise that fucking pick...I look down and see their cute little faces with eyes that plead to you not to hit their heads. But if I don't do what I do, then one day when I go home I won't be able to see those cute little faces of my children...'cause times would be even tougher.
Rotters Int. : Ok...

Hunter : ( raises his pick ) NOW WHERE'S THAT FUCKING SEAL, YOU MORON?

( The hunter spots Robert trying to reach the sea )

Hunter : There you are! ( runs over to Robert ) No no you're not going anywhere! ( Plunges the pick into Robert's head. Robert lies motionless on the ice floor. )

Hunter : Ah Ha Ha! Another sweet sixty-five bucks!






The hunter and Robert.












( Our reporter left the place in disgust. )

Rotters Int. also spoke to a fashion designer in China.

Rotters Int. : Is it true that seals' pelts are a fashion trend in China?

Fashion Designer : Noooooo.....

Rotters Int. : Really?

Fashion Designer : Stop wasting my time, you wang ba dan. I've got business to do.

Rotters Int. : Ok, sorry. Hmm... your clothes look quite nice. Too bad I didn't bring my credit card.

Fashion Designer : Never mind, you seem like nice guy, I give you a seal coat for free! Made with good quality fur from Ca..Ca...Car...

Rotters Int. : Canada.

Fashion Designer : Yes! Yes! Wow, you are so clever!




Chinese fashion designer and his mobile shop. Bloody cheater Chinese bastards...








Osiris is an animal-lover who does not eat shark's fin. He hopes that everyone will not buy products made from endangered animals and also stop eating shark's fin. He believes that when the buying stops, the killing can too.

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