WELCOME TO THE WORLD

The annual Canadian Harp Seal hunt is underway as of dawn today. It's by far the largest mammal hunt in the world and the only commercial hunt in which the target is the infant of it's species. For 6 to 8 weeks each spring, the ice floes of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador turn bloody, as some 300,000 harp seal pups, virtually all between the ages of 2 and 12 weeks old, are beaten to death - their skulls crushed with a heavy club called a hakapik - or shot. They are then skinned on the ice or in nearby hunting vessels after being dragged to the ships with boat hooks. The skinined carcasses are usually left on the ice or tossed in the ocean.

Thousands of other wounded pups (estimates range from 15,000 to 150,000 per year) manage to escape the hunters but die later of their injuries or drown after falling off the ice (pups younger than 5 weeks cannot swim). The seals are hunted chiefly for their pelts, which are exported to NORWAY, FINLAND, HONG KONG, TURKEY, RUSSIA and other countries, where they are used to make expensive designer-label coats and accessories.

AMONG THE MAJOR VENDORS OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE THE ITALIAN FASHION WEAR COMPANIES, GUCCI, PRADA AND VERSACE.

For more information on the hunt and surrounding issues + how you can help stop it for good: www.hsus.org/introFlashProtectSeals.html


Thoughts...

In high school I was asked to debate the pros and cons of the seal hunt. I wasn't into debating or the contention so I 'resolved' this by shrinking my presence and appearing unprepared instead of just screaming bloody murder like I should have.

Is it really rocket science to get it that harp seal parents feel every bit as amazed and thrilled and caring and loving toward their newborn infants as people do? How does this awareness possibly resolve itself with the bludgeoning going on. Can you IMAGINE if it was your kid being disadvantageously bludgeoned to death with a pick axe by a 'civilized' grown man right in front of you? …I guess each of us has something that seems the most obvious thing in the world that relatively few others appear to embody. Explaining is the easy part, doing it without mirroring anger well that's another question that.

Today is a tough day, as a water sign I let the tears slip and flow as they will beginning with tuning into the protectseals.org site this morning. The hunt started at dawn and I feel the shock of this horrific scene to the core of my bones, while the site's counter flips steadily each second indicating the rising number of baby seals being killed. I can't even conceive that this evil count down is scheduled to continue for 2 more weeks, it's just way too much like it's been every year for as long as it's been going on; How might this situation play out otherwise where all of us survive and thrive, if not 1,000 kinder ways...and so I (must) stay open to Miracles.

It's really hard not to judge the soul-less nature of a man (hunter) who has it in him to brutalize a baby of any species. This is no sacred act. It is sickity SICK. When I hear that the government deems that a quota of killing 275,000 harp seals is acceptable, I ask by who's standards. These seals are international citizens like me, migrating through vast ocean waters: What right do Canadian hunters and their government allies have to spring up and start clubbing these wonderful, peaceful creatures just because they have the ill fortune of having their young near this country's coastline? It's no more than a basic issue of entitlement.

The hunters are acting in an exclusive, closed environment and it is incredible the lengths the government is going to to justify (read lie) defend this kruelty klub. Domination over Nature is over and we are only just beginning to to get a taste of the effects of this bygone era. The Earth is dying as part of her Rebirth and so are we. Persisting and trying to go back will only cause the pain we feel to be more acute… The only way I can possibly process such labourios atrocities (pick your story) is to know without a doubt that every cell in my being is a prayer and to put everything I am behind the *knowing* that this tragedy will end in my lifetime, which is not remotely close to soon enough.

The only way out is to feel the pain and DO. Alchemizing trauma is the norm for change agents, we should be used to it by now but we never quite are the only redemption now being that we are global in scope and on the ground in droves. Another name we sometimes go by is NGO's. …Witnesses and activists on the frontlines need our support, strength and prayers for they are perservering in a very hostile, environment that speaks violence and perceives listening and dialogue as a threat in stead of a doorway to expansion. My heart is fortified knowing some of my biggest heros on the planet are facing off the hunt, like Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd who is uncompromisingly dedicated to his 'clients' of the seas.

My thoughts and prayers are first with the harp seals and their families today, also present with all of the rainbow warriors planet wide… I have such profound grattitude for everyone's brevity and endurance. It truly is a privilege to be alive and there's nothing left but to make the MOST of it for the Good of All. ~*


CALL FROM THE KILLING FIELDS! “Please Stand With Us and Bear Witness”

Rebecca Aldworth has been documenting the seal hunt for 10 years, following is an excerpt from her blog leading up to this morning's events.

…I lay down a few feet from them and closed my eyes. They repeated the gesture. After doing this a few times, the seals were fast asleep. And so was I!

When I woke, the pups were huddled together just inches away from me. My two new friends woke as well, staring at me curiously. One slid across the ice to me, taking a moment to smell my face before he move on.

One of the most tragic things is the advantage held by the sealers. Not only are these pups just days of age and utterly defenseless, but they are absolutely trusting of people. The sealers betray that trust in the worst possible way.

I looked over across the ice, and saw one very young seal crawl up to Nigel's camera, staring at him in fascination as he took her photo. It never ceases to amaze me how charismatic these newborn seals are - and how utterly peaceful the ice floes can be …