The following is an E-mail this site is sending to all Belgian parliament members.
Dear Sir or Madame,
The recent decision to ban Canadian seal products is a great tragedy for democracy and truth. It would appear that the
decision was based on information obtained from one source, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). This
organization has repeatedly shown itself to be highly untrustworthy which has caused them to be refused entry into
the IUCN on two different occasions. It is truly disconcerting to see country after country banning products obtained
from a humane and conservation minded hunt such as the Canadian seal hunt based on a fabricated document like the 2001
IFAW report. A report which was paid for and written by the IFAW to supposedly suggest changes to the Canadian seal
hunt when only five years previous they were offered equal say in how the hunt was run.
It would appear that Belgium has done little more than take the easy road. You have made a decision based on the
demands of a vocal minority while ignoring fact based scientific evidence produced and distributed by a well respected
foreign government. This decision is an insult to the Canadian government and its citizens as well as those who
believe in informed decision making.
The ICUN, Greenpeace International, World Wildlife Fund and others all agree that sealing is not a conservation issue
and that sealing in Canada is humane yet the Belgian parliament has chosen to back an animal rights agenda driven by
propaganda and emotion. It would also appear that Belgium has ignored the multiple reports and studies which show the
Canadian seal hunt to be a humane endeavour.
The seal hunt is the most regulated and monitored hunting in the world. The harp seal population has grown for decades
and presently stands at almost 6,000,000 animals. For decades independent veterinarians have said the hunt is as
humane as any abattoir in western society. However, emotion and gory pictures (which could be obtained in any EU
abattoir) combined with an unquestioning, uncritical media have “sold” the animal rights message to European
politicians and public.
Canadians, Americans, Europeans and most other civilized peoples accept the idea of animal welfare (sound conservation
and humane killing) and reject the concept of animal rights (the end of man’s usage of animals for any purpose).
Despite this Belgium is supporting an animal rights agenda which is hiding its true goals behind a propaganda campaign
designed to make people think sealing, or any other animal use, is an animal welfare or environmental issue.
Through thesealfishery.com, citizens will be able to contact Belgian politicians and ask that they look seriously at
what is being done by the animal rights movement. Asking that facts rather than fantasy, that science rather than
emotion, that rational thought rather than propaganda be the guiding force behind their actions as parliamentarians.
You are not being asked to accept these views without question but simply that you investigate the question carefully
and fully before acting to condemn.
Sincerely,
TheSealFishery.com
|