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Monday, July 27, 2009
Europe and the seal hunt
Anytime I hear a blogger or a columnist or anyone else blindly attack Europe as being full of bleeding heart socialist plutocrats, I have always rolled my eyes. Europe is a dynamic continent full of diversity of opinion and attitude. Yet right now I'm in the mood for some good Europe bashing.
According to the Globe & Mail, the European Union has passed a resolution to ban the 'for profit' trade of seal products. This in an effort to end the seal hunt in Canada, Greenland, and Russia.
I fail to see how the seal hunt is any less humane than killing a cow. How many of these European politicians eat steak or wear leather? As far as I can see the only difference is they perceive them to be cuter than a cow. My girlfriend thinks that chickens are cute (the freak that she is), if these Europeans agreed with her would they be introducing a chicken product ban?
What we have to keep in mind is that these politicians aren't just doing harm to the people whose livelihood depends on the seal hunt. They may think that the seal hunt is wrong but the thousands of Europeans that freely purchase seal products obviously disagree. These politicians are taking away their own people's freedom to decide for themselves if the seal hunt is immoral or not.
It is clear that not all of Europe is in agreement with this ban. If they were then there would be no market and no need of a ban. So I take back my desire for Europe bashing and instead mourn for those who have lost their job and those that have lost their freedom to buy a nice seal coat.
Posted by Hugh MacIntyre on July 27, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Why not send G.G. M. Jean on a PR tour of Europe with a photo / video collection of her participation in the hunt. It would be worth it just to see the reception she gets from His Royal Twittiness, Prince Charles. Now there's a walking / talking advertisement for the dangers of incest. As for the rest of Europe, perhaps the attractive Governor General will come across as a classy promoter of the latest Canadian gourmet fashion statement.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-07-27 10:37:55 AM
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