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Seal hunting is one of the most atrocious and inhumane acts against animals allowed by any government. Canada is allowing the slaughter of a record number of seals in their 2011 hunting season, which is going on right now. The seals are often younger than 3 months old.
This has to stop. To my friends and fans in Canada: please help put a stop to this. Follow the link below to make a donation and send the message that killing innocent animals is wrong.
Thank you for your support.
Ellen I am a fan from Newfoundland and I was so disappointed to see this on your website. I can understand why people are drawn to the seal hunt sentiments but realistically when you consider the billions of animals that are slaughter every year. The methods that are used around the world are far more disturbing than what takes place in Newfoundland.
For example In the United States, around nine billion animals are slaughtered every year (this includes about 150.4 million cattle, bison, sheep, hogs, and goats and 8.9 billion chickens, turkeys, and ducks) in 5,700 slaughterhouses and processing plants employing 527,000 workers.
The slaughterhouse process differs by species and region and may be controlled by civil law as well as religious laws such as Kosher and Halal laws. A typical procedure follows:
1. Cattle (mostly steers and heifers, some cows, and even fewer bulls) are received by truck or rail from a ranch, farm, or feedlot.
2. Cattle are herded into holding pens.
3. Cattle are rendered unconscious by applying an electric shock of 300 volts and 2 amps to the back of the head, effectively stunning the animal,[10] or by use of a captive bolt pistol to the front of the cow's head (a pneumatic or cartridge-fired captive bolt). Swine can be rendered unconscious by CO2/inert gas stunning. (This step is prohibited under strict application of Halal and Kashrut codes.)
4. Animals are hung upside down by both of their hind legs on the processing line.
5. The carotid artery and jugular vein are severed with a knife, blood drains, causing death through exsanguination.
6. The head is removed, as well as front and rear feet. Prior to hide removal, care is taken to cut around the digestive tract to prevent fecal contamination later in the process.
7. The hide/skin is removed by down pullers, side pullers and fisting off the pelt (sheep and goats). Hides can also be removed by laying the carcase on a cradle and skinning with a knife.
8. The internal organs are removed and inspected for internal parasites and signs of disease. The viscera are separated for inspection from the heart and lungs, referred to as the "pluck." Livers are separated for inspection, tongues are dropped or removed from the head, and the head is sent down the line on the head hooks or head racks for inspection of the lymph nodes for signs of systemic disease.
9. The carcase is inspected by a government inspector for safety. (This inspection is performed by the Food Safety Inspection Service in the U.S., and Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Canada.)
10. Carcases are subjected to intervention to reduce levels of bacteria. Common interventions are steam, hot water, and organic acids.
11. Carcases (typically cattle and sheep only) can be electrically stimulated to improve meat tenderness.
12. Carcases are chilled to prevent the growth of microorganisms and to reduce meat deterioration while the meat awaits distribution.
13. The chilled carcase is broken down into primal cuts and subprimals for boxed meat unless customer specifies for intact sides of meat. Beef and horse carcases are always split in half and then quartered, pork is split into sides only and goat/veal/mutton and lamb is left whole
14. The remaining carcase may be further processed to extract any residual traces of meat, usually termed advanced meat recovery or mechanically separated meat, which may be used for human or animal consumption.
15. Waste materials such as bone, lard or tallow, are sent to a rendering plant. Also, lard and tallow can be used for the production of biodiesel or heating oil.
16. The wastewater, consisting of blood and fecal matter, generated by the slaughtering process is sent to a waste water treatment plant.
17. The meat is transported to distribution centers that then distribute to retail markets.
The things I could say have already been said by others here, but I'm very surprised by how ignorant and misinformed you are Ellen.
Instead of using your fame and celebrity to support the many wrongs in this world, such as helping struggling or damaged countries, supporting groups that actually care for their work and have good intentions, or even keeping sn open mind and unbiased opinion on subjects you obviously have no idea about.
You must have something against the province of Newfoundland and labrador, as you have made a horrible jokeon your old sitcom as well as voting a Newfoundlander for having the worse haircut. Not exactly hard to match up.
I was never a fan of your show, as the "humor" is mostly hipster non-sense in my eyes, but I could at least respect you for some strength of character for what you did. Until now. Jumping on the PETA bandwagon and letting them Use you like this is sad.
You have a talk show Ellen, I think it's about time you learned how to get all sides of a story before opening your mouth.
Samantha Lee, I don't know if you're talking about mice when you say "dumb animal" but have you ever seen a harp seal up close? Do you know how many seal coats you could get from 40 animals? A coat made of 40 seals would be too big to cover a king sized bed. You and Ellen should get to know each other. You have something in common. You're incredibly mis-informed.
Wow, You are so mis-informed, Ellen. I would have guessed that someone with your public experience would have the sense to do yoru research before endorsing such an Idea. Do you understand the magnitude of the community you are insulting? You're looking at a picture of a cute little round-eyed seal pup, and watching videos from the 80's, and basing your view on them. Time to step back from You tube for a while. Seals are shot in the head. Killed instantly. Not clubbed. Clubbing has been illegal for years as is killing young seals. If you had done accurate research you would have known that. How shooting an animal in the wild is any more inhumaine than farming it for years in a cage and then killing it it...(or shocking it to death while hanging upside down on a conveyor belt) I'm not sure. I'm so surprised at you and have to admit that I am no longer inclined to watch your show any more. I think you have sacrificed a large audience here based on incorrect information. You are a celebrity but that gives you no right to publicly judge a culture you know nothing about.
I know you do your best to help people every day
but..Thanks For Nothing!
A disappointed former fan,
Michelle
Ellen, I would love to see you come to Newfoundland and observe the seal hunt, talk to the first nations and rural fishermen who need the seal hunt to support their families and carry on their cultural heritage. Also please talk to those in charge of making the laws and restrictions for this highly regulated hunt. Finally I would like you to see how the Seal is used. Not for "fashion," but for food, traditional cultural clothing, boats, and tools. Nothing is wasted, not even the smallest scraps. I can tell you, because this is my lifestyle, and I have observed the hunt for many years. Before you jump on a misinformed celebrity bandwagon, do you research, come to Newfoundland, and look at every angle. You will learn that the hunt is needed for our survival.
For those of you that think this barbaric act is just fine and dandy then you don't know the facts. I don't care where you live, this is WRONG!!! Again, this is a fur industry not a food industry!
And though it is outlawed to kill an all white seal, they are still killing babies, all it takes is a speck of black and they are fair game, that is wrong.
Learn your facts don't believe the myths and lies the Canadian government is trying to get you to believe.
Once again the American media glamorizes a "cause" and all the mindless drones are on board. Big surprise.
Why don't you people get minds of your own, and do a bit reading once in awhile instead of allowing your celebrities to tell you what's right or wrong, and what causes to support.
Ever think about the poor chickens that KFC serves up? They were alive once ya know? If you can call it living when they are crammed in a coop where they can't even move and have no quality of life for their entire existence.
Oh but they're not cute enough....I forgot.
Well what about bloody whale slaughter that the Faroe Islands take part in every year? Whales not fuzzy enough? Don't tug at the heart strings....
Smarten the eff up. I'm all for animal rights. I hate the fact that we slaughter animals for any reason and that they suffer. But I don't believe in distinguishing between which ones are ok to kill and which ones aren't based on how cute they are.
The fact is, seals live their lives in the wild, and are killed more humanely than most livestock. They at least get to live a natural existence and every part of the animal is used.
AND if you are all hung up on appearances, which the American media clearly is, dogs in South Korea are tortured before they are killed because it gives the meat a better texture. Anyone care about that?
Not sure if you guys realize this or not, but they DO NOT kill 3 month old seals. They kill adult seals and they use every single part of the seal. The oil is used for medicine, the pelt is used to make clothing, the meat is used as food for people and the unusable parts is kept for dog food. The way the seals are killed is no worse then the way a cow is slaughtered in a slaughter house. I for one cannot believe that you Ellen of all people would NOT try to get both sides of this. Why tell this without trying to talk to someone from Canada who actually knows what is really going on?
When is someone gonna stick up for the poor lobster? you realize they boil them alive, right Ellen? Oh, wait... they aren't cute. When someone has the parts to stick up for the lobster, maybe then I'll take them seriously.
Very disappointed, Ellen.
Get over it newfies, no one likes your little baby seal slaughter. Quit crying about it and tell your politicians to get off their rear and attract some real jobs if you're so worried about employment.
Oh wonderful, another person from a sunny place concerned about something thats cute. Remember when you wear or use any dyes its in part made from crushed beatles, but nobody cares about that. Or how about the fact families will go hungry without the hunt, the seals that would go hungry from over population, and the ecosystem already ravaged by over-fishing of past generations ravaged even further.
By the way, PETA? The same people who slaughter thousands of dogs and cats every year? The same people who have celebs who hate leather but sit in leather chairs? I dont see PETA going after the Swiss cat hunt.
-Proud Maritimer.
Ellen,
I am so disappointed:( I am a huge fan of yours and your show and I think you are a truly kind and generous person. Which is why I am so surprised and disappointed that you would support the campaign against the Canadian seal hunt. I strongly urge you to stop this campaign until you do your research and educate yourself and your staff on this topic. There are a few questions in particular you should ask yourself:
- do you know the Canadian laws related to the seal hunt? The Canadian government regulates the hunt closely and ensures the humane manner of the harvest.
- do you have any idea of the life style of rural Newfoundland? Look it up. There are wonderful people living in rural communities in Newfoundland with very harsh weather who depend on the hunt for food, clothing, and financial support.
- do you know what would happen if the hunt stopped?? Seals are overpopulated as it is - there is not enough food for them all. If the hunt were to stop, overpopulation would become even more of an issue and hundreds of seals would suffer a long, horrible death of starvation.
- where are you getting your information now?? If it is from PETA or other uneducated celebrities like Paul McCartney?? If so, look elsewhere for your information. They embarrassed themselves when they chose to speak out before learning the facts first. Don't let that happen to you - you're better than that.
I hope you read all of these posts and rethink your actions. Newfoundlanders, and Canadians for that matter, are kind, generous people and don't deserve the bad reputation you and other uneducated celebrities are giving us. Come to Newfoundland for a visit, and we will prove it to you.
A very disappointed fan,
J from NL
Ellen,
I am saddened to hear that you have jumped on the stop the seal hunt bandwagon. I have been a fan of your show for a while now, and am shocked to learn you are the newest celeb to put your name forward. Information you (or whoever is in charge of passing it on to you)have is greatly outdated and could be further from the truth. Im assuming any topic as great as this, you would put your time in and learn the facts before agreeing to let your name be plastered over the world with. Ellen, I urge you to become aware of the seal hunt as it is today, and not go by infomation that is used by Peta and anybody else looking to keep their funds going. I am sure if you were correctly up to date with the information you would drop this topic before it really makes yourself look like true blonde.
First of all...
Not everyone in Canada is running around with a mallet beating up baby seals. This hunting is done by a very small group of hunters.
Second or all, those who really need to hunt, our Aboriginals, are somehow left our of this dialog. Not only are they Canada's poorest group, not only are they struggling to keep their traditions alive, they are being bullied by groups like PETA to needlessly change their culture. The issue of the seal hunt had received more attention by PETA than most other issues so strongly tied to the rights of a specific race. The reality is that most cultures eat meat, and thus have to kill animals, and often in bloody ways. Moreover, seals provide vital fur, oils and meat to Aboriginals, making them a staple in their life.
This argument has racist undertones that rarely come up in PETA's discourse. Ellen and PETA really should be ashamed of themselves for putting the rights of an animal over those of a struggling human race.
Being from Newfoundland, I really hate to see people so misinformed about the seal hunt... especially all the Americans! What you see on television is the worst possible case scenarios! You can't judge an entire hunt by a select few video clips. Seals are hunted with guns - the same as bears, moose, deer, caribou and all other animals are hunted globally; you do not see so much activism around those acts.
Hi Ellen Just wanted to add to my earlier post!! When I referred to Peta misusing your celebredom it was because I felt you were more cerebral than say some other "celebs" such as Pamela Anderson!!
To Samantha Lee Yes girl we are all up here wearing seal fur coats... NOT!! I have seen them thogh!! On TV!! Do I eat seal meat??? No!!! But then again I don't like eating baby cows either. Neither is my cup of tea but I do know that the over population of seals are destroying the cod stocks and other marine life!! And I also know that these seals could feed the starving populations of the world!!
Dear Ellen!! You are horribly mis-informed about the annual seal hunt in Canada!! I cannot believe that you are reporting on false,decades old, documentation. It is against the law to kill white coats/baby seals and has been for as long as I can remember. If you do have evidence of any criminal activity then the onus is on you to report it!! I would surely be at your side if it is found to be true. Peta and "other" so called animals protectors are reporting half truths and send a false message to the general public by abusing your very own stardom. I know that you are not the first celebrity to be taken in and you will not be the last however it is up to you to investigate and report the facts before jumping on the band wagon!!
Ellan, just to let you know, not every Newfoundlander supports the backward b*llshit tradition of seal slaughter. The Canadians that have done the research know that mercury levels in seal meat and in cod not to mention the pollution in the Atlantic oceans are a contributing factor to alot of the instability in the fishery. People need a scapegoat for their own mistakes and its easy to blame another species. After all you won't see a harp seal in a court room or in front of the press blaming the humans for dumping pollution into the very waters that their precious Cod come from. I have been researching the seal slaughter and the cod fishery for about 25 years and I can tell you that overfishing both by Atlantic Canadians and foreign overfishing are the biggest culprits. Seals aren't the only ones eating fish. Whales, bears and other mammals eat Cod too. Seals are just easier to access and easier to blame. Fishermen that were responsible for the overfishing will never accept responsibility for the damage they did to the ecosystem in the oceans. Other industries that have been dumping waste and other crap into the oceans won't take responsibility either. People that blame animal rights activists or conservationists don't want to see the whole picture. They don't want to see the human problem that contributed to the gradual destruction of their unstable resources. The questions to be asking, when the seals are low in number and the cod still haven't repopulated, who will they blame then. I can almost guarantee it won't be themselves. When the other industries (like oil) have gone past the tipping point that we are at, will they finally admit that humans are responsible for the destruction to the planet and their own way of life?
There is nothing wrong with standing up and speaking up for another species that have been used as target practice for low caliber guns or Hakapik. What's sick is that the people who have used these weapons, have used them with smiles on their faces and laughed about it. It's rather disturbing to see it and to hear it.
But don't look away or ignore it or be intimidated by them. The more activists witness and educate, the more the world will know.
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Comments (210)
Ellen is the face of Cover Girl. A company of Procter and Gamble, which is one of the largest animal testing companies in the world. While Cover Girl has reduced it's animal tested products by 80%...what about the other 20%?
Posted by Newfoundlander | April 7, 2011 7:45 PM