The European Union has placed a “seal ban” which prohibits the import of seal products into the EU market. This greatly affects nations that have high Inuit populations which often rely on the seal trade. The Inuit nations call this act by the EU unjustified and cynical, according to SivuNews.
“All Inuit from Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland are standing in solidarity against the EU on this, as hunting sustainably and humanely is something we have done for thousands of years and continue to do so.” Vice President of International Affairs at Inuit Circumpolar Council in Canada says.
“The seal ban is an abomination because it directly attacks cultures, communities, and livelihoods that represent a basic means of living for many here in Canada.” President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and national leader of the Inuit in Canada, Mary Simon says.
However, not everyone is against the seal ban. The International Fund for Animal Welfare labels this ban as “a significant victory” in ending the commercial seal hunt in Canada.
come on people… the ban makes an exemption for inuit people that depend on seal commerce to survive. This article is totally biased or the author isn’t informed, which i doubt
For some strange reason I believed extreme northern
peoples, for one, Inuit people, ate to live and
clothing was from sick, or naturally dying animals.
and their hours thru daylight was filled with making
their clothing and preparing little food, and their
homes were igloos. If I am wrong, forgive me, but
then they are just like the rest of the peoples
wanting more and more. I live according to what little I have, and make use of every thing I have.
I do not waste anything. The slaughtering of God’s
living beings is unforgivable in my moral standing.
If I had to look into the frightened eyes of one of God’s living beings that I was about to kill for
profit, my soul would not allow it. Farm animals
should not have to suffer for humans greedy
gluttonous appetites either. I have been caring for
animals for about eighteen years now and for some
reason I have never been sick. Could it be because
I eat very, very little meat, the size of my thumb
three times a week, and pray that I may keep my
strength to care for these animals? I have learned
how to live thru the wisdom of animals.
It doesn’t matter if you use all parts of the animal, if you don’t have to do it, which nobody does in this modern age then it is immoral. Killing animals for taste and fashion is selfish and ignorant, no matter how you try and justify it. You’d just be lying to yourself to make yourself feel better. As for the Inuit people needing this for their lively hood, either those people eat like pigs or they’re dipping their hands into the white man greed train. If you were eating the seals to survive that’s one thing, but taking them out in high numbers to sell as a product to the white man? Good job you’re not Inuit anymore. That which does not change dies, it’s a fact as shown by evolution. If we do not change our ways drastically very shortly then we won’t be talking about the seal hunt much longer, because we will be facing major issues with our own species survival and well being.
Dear Inuit people,
please come down and settle in Iceland. The climate here is very mild, sunny and southern with excellent conditions for farming. Charming depopulated small towns and farms are waiting for you. Plenty of natural hot water. Plenty of normal solid land, not like the ice chinks you live on. Friendly and lazy Icelanders, who do not bother to do farming but live on credits, welcome you!
Awaiting you soon!
Thumb up, Balkanson :-)
I’m not sure about Inuit people but small towns here really need people.
For some reason this issue makes the idiots and loonies come out. THINK before you write people. And maybe do a little bit of research and throw your urban and colonialist attitudes out the window while you’re at it!
Hear what I have to say on this matter. http://jaretmanuel.com/i-propose-a-running-of-the-seals
learn your facts before your criticize the EU. First, the ban does not affect Inuit seal products. Thus, stop complaining!
The customer is always right – but if they want to be idiots, we can always refuse to buy their wine.
JUST LEAVE THE ANIMALS ALONE!!!!!
you guys really need to do some research.
the seal ban has devastated the inuit. even with this “exemption,” the market has been so annihilated that the inuit products are for all intents and purposes similarly banned. alright, sure, you believe that they should live on the ice for the rest of their lives? you believe they shouldnt evolve whatsoever as the world does? fine. unfortunately, they also live in canada, and have to pay taxes. so where do they get the money to do that if not from what they naturally already do as a culture? selling surplus seal product is the best plan for them in terms of maintaining both their culture and some form of modern livelihood.
furthermore, the inuit are extremely religious and highly respect the animal upon which they depend. thus extensive ceremonies and rituals are performed in order to give thanks to their version of mother nature for the gift of the seal. seals are killed instantaneously as well. it’s hard to call it animal cruelty, unless you’re also going to call polar bear maulings of seals examples of “animal cruelty.” plus, the inuit’s extensive respect for and awareness of their ecosystem extends into an idea of environmental interdependence integral to their culture (at any rate, waaay more integral to theirs than our screwed up, backwards “modern” society), and they are extremely aware of seal numbers and population health. their hunt is careful to maintain a healthy seal population, and in fact the inuit hunt is a seal population control – vital to the function of the polar ecosystem. removing the hunt throws off balance the entire cycle; it explodes the seal population, which kills all the fish, which then will kill all your seals and plenty of other animals up north.
this issue is not nearly as black and white as you think it is.