The seal hunt is digusting and cruel. Canada can turn this cruel event into an Alaskan type setting to attract people and probably make more money in site-seeing than killing innnocent baby seals. I have been following this for years and am so proud that Nigel Barker and Tyra have brought this public. Global warming is destroying the ice where the seals are born/raised and that itself is destroying them. Global warming is also the main cause of the slow fish industry around the entire world. We should be banning this cruel event and working with Canada to get the fish industry money in a more humane way.....If I hit the lotto, I will pay big bucks to end this for good. Canadians should not take this blog as a personal attack against them....the time has come to work with the environment, not against it. Save the SEALS!

OMG! and THAT is why i REFUSE to have anything to do with canada. and YEAH; we kill cows; and whatever else; but its a little thing called HUMANELY KILL THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! that is sooo bogus; when they SQUINT there eyes and just get hit in the head thats bogus. Its the people like that, that i HIGHLY wish something bad to happen to them in the same CRUEL manner. YOU WOULDNT LIKE IT DONE TO YOU SO WHY WOULD YOU DO IT TO THEM!! LIke there isnt SERIOUSLY other food options. I dont care what anyone has to say about it; CAMERAS DONT LIE; so you can stop protecting people who are being vicious murderers for some freekin money. i love animals; so i DONT CARE what EXCUSE you have for it; i dont care to listen. it just seriously needs to stop. if you cant do that to a human than you shouldnt be able to do it to something thats scared of you already. just bak the heck away from it and let it LIVE! bunch of jerks!!!!!!! NIGEL is doing the right thing, if YOU people can kill them, then DONT MIND NIGEL AND COUNTLESS OTHERS who are trying to do the RIGHT and HUMANE thing to save them.

hey tyra
i have been looking into the seal problems. ITS BARBARIC HOW THEY KILL THEM. ill help in anyway i can.

Hi, having been a vegetarian for 6 years-(but no longer--too hard with a family that demands meat, but we do eat vegetarian 3 or 4 days week) I am sympathetic to all our planet's animals.
However, my mother was born at Paradise River, on the coast of Labrador...a really beautiful place, but very remote...very hard to eak out a living there. The people, many of whom are originally from England, married into Inuit (what you call Eskimo) & Mikmac/Micmac Indians partly out of necessity....many women died in childbirth & the native women were stronger in this beautiful, but often harsh inviroment. Indians and Inuit have always fished & trapped...no MacDee's here, )but maybe now in Happy Valley/ Goose Bay.)
I was raised on stories about the Mission School, a British boarding school my mom went to. All their Inuit children got sick and died that they took from their parents in efforts to educate & integrate "the people." They were used to a raw diet mainly of fish, seals,& occasionally small whales. This was not Canada-but a Britsh Colony, till 1949.
Remember, till we showed up in what is now Canada & the U.S. this was a totally different landscape--a completely natural one. While some Indians-Aboriginal peoples had crops (read about The People of the Mound-a novel based around facts & theories of North America in the 12th & 13th century. Very interesting, wonderful read.)Mostly, however, they were hunter's & gatherers.

What Canada has inherited are an amazing group of beautiful people--if you'd ever met the Inuit, without bringing an agenda, you'd see a very talented, warm, affectionate people. They never forget you...if they meet you as a chid, and see you 40 or 50 years later, they will call you by name. Personally, I think that is amazing. I have never, ever met a more loving sweet people.
I have spent two summers in Labrador, and it remains in my heart. I saw fishing going on, but never the hunt. They only take what they need, and the know no different. They wouldn't survive as vegetarians, they'd get sick, and perish. We have no right to judge these people. If you really cared about baby seals, as I do, & I'm sure you do also, you might also care for a small group of people, who have little materialy, but big hearts, and lots of talent. You are not attacking Canada--when you raise this issue--you attack the Inuit--quite possibly more endangered than the animals you are protesting, and fightingt o protect...taking away their livelihood may put their survival in greater jeapardy.
I personally am far more concerned about the polar bear. Global warming is shrinking their habitat at an alarming rate--and Canada & the U.S. perhaps should co-operate to put a plan in place--with action, to save these majestic animals. Many are drowing, & starving to death. 75% of these live in Canadian territory--& American photographers keep filming their plight, (Canadian's too-) but this does nothing to rescue these poor creatures. There re so many seals--they are everywhere-I still care for them--but they bite the heads off fish, and leave the rest-something men who fish for a living find disheartening. Do I try to look at this comlex issue from all sides, please try to o the same, and look into what I have mentioned. This involves honest research, and not just reading spin.

I also just seen the show where Nigel said all that incorrect information about the seal hunt and I am so shocked to find Tyra allowed that to happen! She is so against racism that I can't believe she didn't research this group and discover how they have used photos of Newfoundlanders and Native peoples calling them barbarians, baby killers and worse! Newfoundland is a beautiful place with iceberg tourism, the people are unique in Canada. The sealers are hard working people with a unique lifestyle, they have the right to protect their culture and lifestyle of living off the land and being in harmony with the sea and life cycle of all creatures.

Tyra had top model contestants posing in a meat factory, actually wearing meat underwear so I just don't get it? I think she also wears fur so why the double standard? Why use a poor people struggling to survive to promote photography of someone as famous as Nigel?

Atlantic Canada denied Paul McCartney a venue this summer - he will never be welcome here, I hope Tyra gives Nigel the boot because I love Top Models and Tyra is so awesome!! I challenge Nigel and Tyra to do a show on the life of the sealers... try reading the online story "My Ancestors Were Rogues and Murders" - a good place to start learning about these wonderful people. Thanks.

Omg, I just finished watching a re-run of this show on tv. Now, don't get me wrong I [i]love[/i] Nigel and the Tyra show but everything said on the show was completely false. I was literally screaming at the tv while this was being said. Its amazing how people will believe everything they hear when they don't even have there facts right. I live in Newfoundland and i know for a fact that clubs [b]are not used[/b] and whitecoats [baby seals] [b]are not killed[/b]. I was extremely sadden when I heard Nigel say this because he really does NOT know what he is talking about. People see this as a horrible awful thing but other animals are killed [cows, chicken, etc] each day. Seals are just cute, and thats why people want so bad for them to be saved from these "murders". I was profoundly disgusted with Nigel's comments. I hope he gets educated on this topic a little more before speaking out.

I'm a Canadian, living in San Diego. For the record, yes we hunt seals. Why? Because he have far too many! They are not killed as pups, only as adults, despite what the world is told. It's been a hunt that's been done in Canada for decades, if not centuries and if we don't cull them, they will over grow and destroy the habitat and the fish! I'm glad Nigel has a cause, but really... get over it.

Holy Moly,

Sealers don't sit in their boats waiting for days for the seals to turn brown. The seals don't turn brown. They lose their white fur to reveal darker, spotted fur underneath. And the sealers show up once this has happened, which is when the seals are about 12 days of age.

And THEY USE HAKAPIKS. That is a fact. Look at www.protectseals.org for recent footage.

It is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet and needs to end.

Good for Nigel for spotlighting the seal hunt!!

Holy Moly,

You amaze me. You have been soooo brainwashed!! We know the truth and it is very sad to think you think they do not use hakapiks, you think they do not kill whitecoats - no they kill ragged jackets at the age of about 3 weeks of age.

Where do you get your informaiton from because if it is from Canada, you are sadly fooled and the truth is, this is a very cruel and unnecessary hunt and SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN THE 21ST CENTURY!!

Please read more and learn the truth about this and if you truly have a compassionate heart and care about the cruelty of this, then help end it instead of spreading all of these lies on this blog.

thanks

YAY SAVE SEALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE POWER TO YA!

This discussion makes me so angry. People will believe anything they are told.

Sealers haven't killed those "cute" white seals for 4 decades! They don't even use clubs anymore. IT IS ILLEGAL, and they don't sit out on their boat and wait for days until suddenly, the seal begins to turn brown. Who has time for THAT!? Holy Moly. Activists use the white seal pictures to make suckers like you think that they are killing poor, young, innocent, baby seals.

I agree with the cod comment, personally. The population of seals has exploded in the past decades, not decreased. In result, they HAVE contributed to the depletion of the cod population.

and Jenn H. I appreciate your comment, but please, don't use the term "Newfie." "Newfoundlander" is mush more suitable.

Who cares if it is someone's livelihood? Should one be permitted to engage in barbaric and cruel acts simply because it begets them money? Money is not an excuse. Find another job; earn a living using your intellect rather than line your wallet with the blood of innocents.

I am thankful for Nigel and Tyra for bringing this information on the air for me to see. I just went to hsus.org and I pretty much bawled watching the scene they posted. I am definetly going to try to do my best to try and stop this.

I agree with this last posting from "Jerry'. Being brought up in Nova Scotia, and still living here I don't necessarily agreee with the seal hunt. However, it is dificult to judge others (Fisherman), who, yes do realy often on the hunt for income. Little money for the hunt for the fisherman? probably, but that's the reality these days when most industry is very quiet locally. Many families have moved away thousands of miles away to Alberta to be able to raise their families. How can we blame these fishermen for trying to keep their home, especially when this is legal. This is an issue that should be raised in Ottawa (our nation's capital)
There is a deeper socio-economic rooted issue occuring than many 'outsiders looking in' may be aware.
And as a local, who is still torn between which views are 'correct', watching all these high profile "Americans" come to our area, and try to snuggle with the 'cute' seals (highly not recommended!) is very distastful in my eyes. If anything, it totally turns my views in favor of the hunt. More out of spite, than anything.
By the way, yes, some do eat the seal meat. however, I personally have never tasted it.
Why not come visit the area, anytime of year, get to know us local people and our history. and you may realize that we're not the 'murderous' crazy fishermen of the north after all...
This does not help Canada and US relations, because this makes us generalize all Americans into pompous, self absorbed fools. Which of course, not all of you are.

FYI: if you do not cook a lobster while it is still alive, it has to be cooked immediatley after killing it, so to aviod food poisoning.

omg nigels sooo hot

Canadian Seal Hunt Resolution: In Canada, fishermen are allowed to hunt and kill seals despite the fact that their population has been drastically shrinking these last few years thanks to global warming melting the ice caps! In 2007, more than a quarter of all seal babies died! Despite this, the Canadian government is planning to allow fishermen to kill 275,000 this year! This resolution will urge the Canadian government to end the hunt on seals!
Thats the real truth-so check out the Canadian Seal Hunt Resolution and vote for it! (from cosmogirlwebsite)

Canadian Seal Hunt Resolution: In Canada, fishermen are allowed to hunt and kill seals despite the fact that their population has been drastically shrinking these last few years thanks to global warming melting the ice caps! In 2007, more than a quarter of all seal babies died! Despite this, the Canadian government is planning to allow fishermen to kill 275,000 this year! This resolution will urge the Canadian government to end the hunt on seals!
Thats the real truth-so check out the Canadian Seal Hunt Resolution and vote for it! (from cosmogirlwebsite)

This barbaric act of cruelty is nothing but disgusting. There are other humane ways to to not inflict the pain that the coward sealers do to the babies.

As a food inspector for 20 years, I've witnessed the process that animals go through to be come our fancy plate of food.

Just to clear up some facts on what "just a thought" has said,"
THOSE CUTE LITTLE SEALS SEEN IN PICTURES AREN'T KILLED. THAT'S ILLEGAL. " The "rule" is that the coat cannot be white so they wait til it starts to turn brown, oh please, whats that, a matter of days, the pups are still pups.

I do agree the overabundance needs to be managed for the sake of the marine food chain, but there are humane ways to do it.

Chickens are NOT skinned alive. They are hung upside down by their feet and the neck passes over a large radial arm saw taking all feeling away IMMEDIATELY. If your head was chopped of, would you feel anything? That is simply the nerves, without a head you're not going to feel anything.

All animals taken to the slaughterhouse are rendered unconscious and bled so quick there is no possible way to regain consciousness or feel pain. No animals are shocked to death. Canada and US have such strict regulations governing this and if not done right liscenses to operate can be cancelled NOW.

Even the animals used to make your fur coats are "gassed" so they simply fall asleep and dont wake up. There are no electrodes placed up their anus, that could possibly burn the skin.

Rabbits have their head/neck dislocated, then cut off so quick, in a matter of 3-4 seconds or less.

Believe me, inspectors are right on top of the humane aspect.

I hope USA keeps up the pressure to stop the gruesome killing of innocent harmless babies.

........GO USA

Yes lobsters are boiled to death, I dont agree with that either.

I am a Canadian albeit Western Canada and I think the clubbing of harmless indefensable babies is absolutely disgusting.

I am embarrassed to be a Canadian when it comes to this barbaric regime. The "so called rule" is that the coat cannot be white, so they have to wait til the coat starts to turn brown, oh please, these are helpless babies that cannot possibly get away, they have no chance whatsoever.

Yes, I will agree that there is an over abundance of seals that depleat the marine food habitat that we depend on, yes I will agree that management of the situation is required. Bye the way, its not just the seals depleating our fish market, we need to look in our own and neighbouring backyards and realize giving "special" privledges to certain communities does not help the cause but thats a whole other email.

I am an inspector ( food) and have seen first hand the process all food animals go through to become a meal for humans.

I DO know that there are other ways to do what the cowardly pathetic sealers do without using the gross method of choice.

There are other methods that are humane and do not cause pain to the animal. I am glad seal products are being banned world wide, but its not enough. I honestly think these people like doing what they do and that's just plain sick.

I've heard from far Easterners and they seem to think its a good thing they are doing. I really hope something is done about this, all the power to you all.

How about doing a show on the market of horse meat plants in Canada, thats another avenue that is just plain wrong.

Please do not paint all Canadians with the same brush as there are probably more of us that are against the method of choice than are for it.

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE...GO USA

To: Sick Of The Debate

It is not that anyone is really pointing fingers or that they have NOT looked at the issue from the other side either. I completely understand all views of it, but that still does not mean that it should not be an issue left alone. If everyone is relying and hunting, then what does that mean for the seals? that they are soon to be no more? Income yes, I understand completely, but I am still 100% against hunting of any kind, even fishing.
What will become of the world if we kill off all the every species of every living creature?