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Today, PETA spokesperson Jena Hunt, along with local animal advocates demonstrated outside the Canadian Consulate in Phoenix. The reason? To ask consumers to purchase only American maple syrup until Canada stops its annual slaughtering of baby seals.
A quick background on the Canadian seal hunt…
Each year baby seals in Canada face a horrible death. Sealers hook the animals in the face, club them or shoot them before dragging their bodies across the ice. Oftentimes they are skinned alive in front of their helpless, wailing mothers. This is all done for their pelts which are made into coats, collars, cuffs and trinkets. The E.U. has already banned the import of seal products.
Why target Canadian maple syrup?
Canada produces approximately 85 percent of the world's maple syrup with the U.S. as its largest consumer. PETA believes that boycotting this product will send the message loud and clear that people will not stand for this cruel animal massacre. Essentially, advocates are telling the Canadian government that they won't support its product until they can support its practices.
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Animal rights advocates Jena Hunt and Veronica Soto
PETA has held demonstrations in the leading maple syrup-producing states of Vermont, Maine and New York. They continue the protests at Canadian embassies and consulates around the world.
Luckily, the seal hunt is quickly losing favor and support worldwide. This year, about three-fourths of the harp seals who were expected to be bludgeoned or shot to death were spared. However, PETA won’t stop until the slaughter completely ends.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
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Comments
For once I disagree with you. Putting innocent maple syrup farmers out of business for the actions of their countrymen is definitely not the way to deal with this issue. It is actions like this that make people think PETA is nothing but a bunch of wackos, despite all the good things that they do...
Actually, it's a historically common practice to boycott a country's distinguished product to send the message that consumers oppose something that country is supporting (in Canada's case, even subsidizing). The above comment makes so sense, because by switching to US-made maple syrup, we're simply supporting the independent maple farmers of states like Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New York, instead of sending more dollars up north where the government continues to allow barbaric cruelty on the ice floes.
Great campaign idea, this makes perfect sense. Its hard to keep this issue on peoples mind the whole year around, so this does just that. There's nothing wrong with supporting American syrup farmers rather than canadian. The hunt needs to stop immediately and I applaud PETA's clever tactics on this to contribute to its end.
Money drives the world. As a result, and sometimes unfortunately, boycotting products is the quickest and most effective means of getting a message out. If enough innocent Canadian maple syrup farmers start feeling the pinch, they will speak out against the Canadian Government's barbaric practices. When the Government starts feeling the heat from it's own citizens and losing tax dollars as a result of dwindling production and exports, they will more seriously consider the results of their actions.
I am completely against the seal trade. I am also against the cutting down of old-growth forests. Should I start a campaign to boycott American cars in protest? Should what they do in the Pacific Northwest have anything to do with companies based in the Midwest? In my opinion, no.
As an example, when U.N. economic sanctions are levied on a nation, all trade is affected. Period. Not just one commodity. So, I say let's boycott ALL Canadian products in protest. Doesn't that make more sense? Of course, it doesn't allow for the spectacle of smashing a bottle of bloody syrup...
I believe our demonstration was a great success as was evident by all the honking, thumbs up and waves we received. As for targeting Canadian maple syrup, I can understand BChil's point. It is a rather gray area ~ and I think that his idea of boycotting ALL Canadian products (not just one)until the slaughter of seals stops completely is a good one.
It sends an extremely strong message to the public when asked to boycott another country's product. Most people do care about animal rights but don't or can't want to get so involved such as protesting and leafleting. A lot of times people will feel like they are doing "their part" when they can simply and easily boycott a product. I think PETA has an effective campaign here. Thank you to all the people that were out in the AZ heat yesterday! You had a great presence and took an effective stance for our fellow sentient beings, the baby seals!
What sad and violent deaths for these baby seals. And to think that their mothers are nearby, having to watch their babies being killed like this, and defenseless to be able to do anything about it. :(
The seal hunt protest has been a long time fight for me. I was shocked that Canada silently brought back this brutal practice after outlawing it back in the 80's when America boycotted nearly everything Canada did to shut down this practice.
I'm so glad people are once again getting together to make a voice loud enough for the Canadian government to hear.
The fishing industry governs Seal Hunting in Canada and Nova Scotia, and one of the best things we can do is boycott any canadian seafood or suppliers... one of the biggest, Red Lobster, among many supermarkets. Don't buy Canadian Seafood and tell the Canadian Government exactly how you feel when you hit them in their hardest place,their wallet.
Seal hunting is an off-season supplemental income for fisherman, making less then 5% annual income.
Maple Syrup is a newer boycott, but if it will get the farmers to react to the Canadian government and make a big enough stink, we may see some changes. Thanks for fighting the good fi
What a great protest! Most people have no idea that in the USA we import more Canadian maple syrup than any other country, so this is where PETA believes we can send the strongest message.
Money talks, and governments are slow to change the status quo unless they are compelled by an overwhelming response from outside forces. Boycotting an iconic Canadian product, maple syrup, will send a strong message to the Canadian government that compassionate people around the world will not stand by while baby seals are beaten and skinned in front of their bellowing mothers.
People are compassionate, and when they find out that CANADA SUBSIDIZES THE SLAUGHTER OF BABY SEALS no one wants to send their dollars north. Until Canada stops the baby seal slaughter, buy syrup from the good ol' USA. Well done Amanda, Jena and co!
The protest was very well organized. Lots of excellent visuals and an enthusiastic group of people. The PETA spokesperson was very professional in dealing with the media. It was certainly time well spent -- thanks to all the good people who braved the heat. Hopefully, we can make a difference!
What an awesome protest! In my opinion, boycott all Canadian products until the cruel slaughter of baby seals stops. Hitting their pocketbook would get their attention fast.
What a great idea to boycott for such an important cause. Seal hunts have gone on way too long. It is time we were aggressive in our methods to let Canada know we will no longer support this type of cruelty. Thank you Amanda for writing about this.
Being self-employed, I really do hate to see a single unrelated industry chosen to carry the brunt of this protest and boycott. Anyone else posting here self-employed?
Consider the small, family-owned Canadian syrup farmer. If this is effective, they would be the first to fall, since larger corporations have investors to carry them through, etc. Sure he can voice his opinion to his government - but I bet that will be of little comfort when everything he has worked for is foreclosed upon...
Tosca- I can think of many things that are "historically common" practices. Slavery, apartheid, disenfranchisement, human sacrifice for example... Just because something has been done in the past does not give it merit as being the correct thing to do.
By the way, I could not find a list of maple syrups or companies that import Canadian syrup... Anyone? i would like to see the list.
I personally would much rather support the products and hard workers of the U.S. Supporting independent maple farmers here and buying the U.S. product makes more sense.
As the largest consumer of Canadian syrup, a strong nationwide boycott would send a clear message to their government that it's about time they gave this issue some seriousness and stopped subsidising the people that kill these seals. Thanks for the article.
Yup, as I see it, after several glasses of Canadian, uh I mean California wine this evening, we are all headed to the same destination but some of us see different routes as being faster, less traffic or somehow better. There are many ways/places we can hit Canada to hurt their wallet and stop the seal slaughter. Boycotting their maple syrup is a great start but let's not stop there! Maybe boycotting their sea food products? What else? There goes the Canadian Bacon on my pizza!
I know that you all mean well, but take a look at these statistics (cut and paste) - www.ats.agr.gc.ca/stats/4470-eng.htm - of the TOP 10 Canadian agricultural exports, three of the top 10 involve rape seed and the production of Canola Oil. The name "canola" was derived from "CANadian Oil, Low Acid" (notice the CAPS) in 1978. Maple syrup is nowhere near the top ten Canadian exports, probably not even in the top 100. If PETA really wanted to hit Canada in the wallet, they would target Canola Oil. It would be just as spectacular to destroy a giant bottle of bloody canola oil, no?! The Canadian maple syrup industry is about $200 million annually. The canola oil market is BILLIONS of dollars annually. The fact that it's made from RAPE seed makes it an easy tie-in to any negative marketing campaign!
Please know that I support this cause 100% - it's the tactics that I question. My wife wrote this article and I am her #1 fan...
Unfortunately, the majority of our society operates on the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. Instead of worrying about who is going to win the next - Dancing With The Stars or American Idol TV show competitions or who/what killed Michael Jackson, we should be more concerned with our humanity and the compassion we exhibit for ALL living creatures (human and otherwise).. The brutal and senseless killing of baby seals exists for nothing more than greed/money/profit. I believe any protest done that brings huge awareness to causes such as this - one that hopefully makes enough people angry enough to send a letter to the Canadian gov't voicing their opposition, then it is worth it. If someone adds that they will be boycotting specific Canadian products as well, or stopping all tourism until the practice stops, then all the better.
Maurna, That is what upsets me the most and makes me write my articles, volunteer at the pound and live a vegan lifestyle. The fact that most people don't want to see it, or see it and then forget about it...it really sickens me. I guess to some, ignorance is bliss. To bad it's only blissful for them, and not the bashed seals, the dogs and cats left to rot in a cage, the pigs, cows and hens that are looked on as nothing more than money-making machines, the wild animals who are forced to travel and perform... I'm just glad there are people out there who give a damn and practice what they preach, and most of all, dare to open their eyes.
If the Canadian maple syrup farmers are so upset, they should tell their government to stop the seal hunts.
Vermont makes the best maple syrup anyway!
I'm not sure this is the most effective way to establish the ultimate goal - which do not get me wrong is entirely necessary. However, by boycotting maple syrup there is a target put upon those who are not necessarily in control of the seal slaughter. The pressure in turn must be put upon the government of Canada to secure safety for the seals. While I understand that it is a typical procedure to boycott the distinguished product as stated by Tosca, the top 10 imports from Canada have never included maple syrup. If your desire is the attention, turn to lumber, aluminum, plastic goods, and especially canadian gas. These will produce a MUCH greater hit into the Canadian economy than boycotting maple syrup. View international trade exports between the US and Canada for more information on what is actually a highly imported product rather than harming a smaller industry, and having absolutely no effect on the safety of seals. Your efforts are greatly appreciated however. :)
I think it's truly horrendous what a forward thinking like Canada allows. The EU sees it as a pointless and barbaric venture the Canadians do for money. It's a terrible act done in the name of greed and profits, I do not mind helping spread the notion of cutting into one of their other cash crops...even if this one is "harmless". I have seen the videos..and I believe anyone else that does will be equally moved into taking some kind of action..through activism or through boycotts. It is truly very sad what they allow to happen and I hope it stops someday in my lifetime.
What a response, and nothing left unsaid!!! There are plenty of other syrups to consume.
i'd read some about this seal hunt before and after reading this article, i've decided to join in the canadian boycott - i am boycotting all canadian products until their government decides to do something about this massacre - it is unjust what is being done to these seals
Yes, I think boycotting Canadian products until the Seal Hunt is outlawed is a great idea...not good for the animals, the environment and the people. 99% of the hunters are not "idengenous' people either...seems like a crappy way to make money...leave the seals alone please
Attacking family Businesses in Quebec is hardly going to effect a seal hunt in Newfoundland
Sorry I support your ban on seal products but this is damaging to civilians in this fight,
not the government of Canada which is your true target. just My Canadian 2 cents
Please join us in boycotting all Canadian products until the Canadian Government does the right thing.
Director & famed photographer Nigel Barker filmed "A Sealed Fate?", a look into the Canadian seal hunt.
In answer to the comment that hunters do not like that he filmed their actions: "If someone was beating a seal to death on the streets of Toronto, there would be nation-wide outrage, but it is somehow okay to do this on the ice when nobody sees it. There is no 'hunt' – the seals are 12 DAYS OLD - they are babies still - they can’t swim and they can’t feed themselves. It is important that people understand there is no ‘hunt’. We saw seals being skinned alive, they were writhing on the ice - it was the most obscene thing. The weapons used are heavy clubs with a spike on the end. When they kill the seal pups, they hit them on the cranium, these small heads, the hunters are meant to check if they are dead, but I only saw one guy check a seal in the entire time I was there."
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