Another anti-seal video launched

A new group in this province has released a video opposing the commercial seal hunt. Save Our Seals says in a news release it was formed early in 2015 “with an aim of bringing together Newfoundlanders who are tired of their culture being defined by the commercial seal hunt, an industry that is increasingly viewed as unnecessary and wasteful.”

A new group in this province has released a video opposing the commercial seal hunt.

Save Our Seals says in a news release it was formed early in 2015 “with an aim of bringing together Newfoundlanders who are tired of their culture being defined by the commercial seal hunt, an industry that is increasingly viewed as unnecessary and wasteful.”

The video features Save our Seals members in scenic Newfoundland landscapes.

Each begins by saying how proud they are to be Newfoundlanders — but their pride does not extend to the commercial seal hunt. They each take aim at myths around the hunt — making it clear that most of the meat is not used, that only a few hundred sealers still participate, and that most of the financial support for the industry goes to the processors and marketers rather than benefitting sealers.

They all view the commercial seal hunt as outdated, and would like to see an end to commercial sealing, just as the province stopped hunting whales in the 1970s.

“I made this video for multiple reasons, but mainly because I wanted Newfoundlanders and Canadians to know there is a safe place where they can discuss and ask questions about the commercial seal hunt,” said Renee Gosse, co-ordinator of Save Our Seals.

“I want to see more rational discussion about the commercial seal hunt; people should be able to discuss this issue freely without all of the emotion and anger associated with it.”

Gosse is hoping that raising the issue during the provincial election will show politicians that not all voters are in support of continuing financial support for the commercial sealing industry.

“The money going into the sealing industry isn’t helping those who need this financial support” said Gosse. “As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently noted — it’s 2015. It’s time to move beyond killing seals for their fur.”

The video can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jz3v8QB6lY.