Sick Canada Seal Cull

In the name of God !...We have to stop this sick carnage of innocent creatures by greedy and unscrupulous men .   Peter Paton   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4844008.stm Canada seal cull to get under way

Hunters and protesters have been making their way to cull Canada's annual harp seal hunt is getting underway amid furious debate over the controversial cull. Up to 325,000 young seal pups could be killed in the coming weeks. Celebrities such as former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife have joined animal rights groups in condemning the cull as barbaric and unnecessary. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada was victim of an "international propaganda campaign", and insisted the cull would be carried out humanely. The Canadian government insists the cull is necessary to control seal numbers - saying the seal population is now almost six million, nearly triple the level of the 1970s. HAVE YOUR SAY It is the market that is determining the amount of seals killed - if people didn't buy fur there would be no market Eric Hovius, Ontario, Canada Send us your comments It recently increased the total allowable catch by 5,000, to 325,000 seals. Local fishermen also defend the hunt, saying it gives much-needed seasonal work to communities hit hard by dwindling fish stocks in the Atlantic. Hunters and protesters have been making their way to the Gulf of St Lawrence in eastern Canada for the hunt, which is due to start at dawn. Some 90,000 seal pups in the area are expected to be killed before the hunt moves on to Newfoundland province where thousands more will be culled. 'Acting responsibly' Paul and Heather McCartney, who visited the region earlier this month to protest against the cull, made a last-minute video appeal. They urged Canada to consider a "win-win" plan that would end the hunt while compensating fishermen for lost revenue. Protests over the cull have been held around the world But Mr Harper, who previously refused a request to meet another celebrity campaigner, Brigitte Bardot, dismissed the suggestion. "Unfortunately, we're to some degree the victim of a bit of an international propaganda campaign," he said. "We believe the country is acting responsibly and we'll make sure all rules are enforced." Harp seals can be legally hunted once their white coats darken, at about two weeks old. The activity reportedly earns C$16.5m (£8.3m) in meat and pelt sales. Campaigners have called on US restaurant chains to boycott Canadian seafood until the hunt stops, and they plan demonstrations around the world. Correspondents say this year the hunt will be more difficult for both sealers and protesters because of melting ice floes, which means they will have to rely on boats.