Seal Hunt Goes On, HSUS Photographers Are Chased
 Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been kind enough to share with ConnieTalk their exclusive coverage and documentation of the seal hunt in Canada, going on right now.  Both the HSUS and PETA, two of the top animal rights organizations worldwide, have been actively campaigning to end the hunt.  Nigel Barker, photographer and panelist on America's Next Top Model has joined the HSUS' ProtectSeals team, along with former Beatle Paul McCartney, to capture for the world the truth about the inhumane practice.  Pamela Anderson and Brigitte Bardot have been speaking out through PETA on the same subject.

Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society International created a video diary called Rebecca's Journal.  The most recent segment, A Seal's Eye View, is below.  There's nothing gruesome:  it's some of the adorable baby seals that the HSUS is working to save from thousands of the others' fate.

"These seals are not afraid of humans," Nigel said.  He stood next to them, photographed them inches from their faces, and they stared up inquisitively with doey eyes and flaring nostrils.  "The only humans they're seeing are us [here now]...and they come right up to you...the word 'hunt' is a farse.  They don't run away.  You're not hunting them...it's completely unnecessary, and it's inhumane."

Here are some of the photographs that Nigel Barker took over the span of the last couple of weeks.  Seeing them, there is no surprise as to why Tyra Banks reveres him as one of the most noted fashion photographers in the world.

Warning:  The photographs do not contain guts or brains or anything to make you lose your lunch, but may not be suitable for children or those that faint at the sight of minimal seal blood.  Nigel Barker has kept it pretty inoffensive and very artistically expressive, especially considering the gore these photographers had to witness.  I saw the raw footage - believe me, you are spared!

A few of Nigel's photos

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Newfoundlanders on the hunt did not want the HSUS there, that much was obvious.  They ran after them with their fists and even their hunting tools, screaming and attempting to intimidate the ProtectSeals photographers.  This video does contain some graphic footage (though no worse than Court TV after 9 pm...excuse me, TruTV).

Don't be discouraged and feel like there is nothing you can do.  You can.
1.  Sign the HSUS's pledge to boycott Canadian seafood until there's an end to the killing of defenseless seals for good.
2.  Sign PETA's petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take action to help stop the seal slaughter in and around the Arctic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
3.  Grab ConnieTalk's Help The Seals graphic for your MySpace, Facebook, or website.

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