Può un paese , come la Namibia, che punta sul turismo come risorsa economica , permettere una strage di

mammiferi marini che rappresenta una fonte unica di richezza?

La strage quotidiana non risparmia nemmeno madre con piccoli o a dirittura madre che hanno appena partorito.

Sulla spiaggia viene offerto al turista ( contro pagamento) lo scenario del dopo-massacro( al mattino presto, prima ,arrivano gli uomini armati di bastoni, poi i turisti) di tantissimi cuccioli in disperata ricerca della madre che non c'è più, e tantissimi altri cuccioli morendo o già morti di stento.

Questo spettacolo mi ha letteralmente sconvolto, faceva vomitare..... questo sarebbe turismo ecologico!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Firmiamo contro il massacro delle foche in Namibia

Firmiamo contro il massacro delle foche in Namibia la petizione della Humane Society International indirizzata al Primo Ministro del paese africano.
Il modulo da riempire è in una colonna sulla destra... sono sufficienti indirizzo e-mail, nome e cognome. Cliccare poi su "send this message".
Giulia da Persico Dosimo (Cremona)

P.S. Maggiori informazioni sul massacro: (dal sito della petizione)
Dal 1° Luglio al 15 Novembre ha luogo lo sterminio delle foche sulle coste della Namibia. Quest'anno il governo ha stabilito la "quota cacciabile" in 85°000 cuccioli.
Nonostante il calo nelle nascite e nella popolazione verificatosi negli ultimi anni, negli stessi la quota cacciabile è aumentata. La scusa sono le "solite" ragioni scientifiche...
(dal sito TutelaFauna www.tutelafauna/interna)
In Namibia una strage di foche seconda solo a quella in Canada mette a rischio l'otaria del capo. La Humane Society lancia una petizione internazionale.
Quella in Canada la conoscono tutti e suscita indignazione in tutto il mondo per la sua brutalità. Ma che dire della Namibia, dove ogni anno avviene la seconda più grande strage di foche al mondo? (10/10/06)
La Namibia è l'unico paese africano dove è ammessa la caccia commerciale all'otaria del capo (Arctocephalus pusillus, Cape fur seal in inglese); questa specie una volta abitava le isole al largo del Sud Africa, ma la caccia l'ha costretta ad allargare il proprio areale giungendo sino alle coste della Namibia dove si è installata in alcune colonie ben note ai turisti che visitano il Paese africano: Cape Cross e Wolf/Atlas Bay, dove vive il 75% degli esemplari e si concentra la caccia.
Dal 1 luglio al 15 novembre, cacciatore professionisti assoldano circa 160 lavoranti per abbattere le foche, principalmente cuccioli tra I 7 e gli 11 mesi di età, con bastoni chiodati Gli esemplari più grandi vengono abbattuti a fucilate. Nonostante la popolazione in declino (con un vero e proprio crollo tra il 1994 e il 2000) e un alto tasso di mortalità, la quota di prelievo delle otarie del capo continua a crescere di anno in anno. Nel 1993 era stata di 50.850 cuccioli sui 164.248 nati dell'anno. Nel 1990, benché la popolazione fosse calata nel complesso del 10%, la quota è salita a 60.000 cuccioli. Dopo la stagione di caccia è stato registrato un vero e proprio crollo della popolazione, ma gli appelli a sospendere la caccia sono stati vani. Nel 2005 la quota di prelievo stabilita è stata di 65.000 cuccioli e 5.000 maschi adulti, passati rispettivamente a 85.000 piccoli e 6.000 maschi adulti nel 2006.

La crescita di questa quota, associate a un tasso di mortalità dei cuccioli pari al 30% nelle prime settimane di vita può portare alla scomparsa di intere generazioni Le otarie del capo sono inserite nell'Appendice II della CITES il che significa che la sua sopravvivenza può essere garantita solo attraverso adeguate misure di protezione.

La Humane Society ha lanciato una petizione internazionale per chiedere la fine di questa barbarie che potete firmare collegandovi a questo sito: community.hsus.org
  Blog: Seal Alert in Namibia  

 

 

Testo che verrà inviato:
Dear Minister,

I have just learned from OIPA, that in July Namibia will begin its annual "seal hunt" of 60.000 plus, by method of clubbing baby Cape Fur Seal pups, who are still nursing on their mothers milk at 7 months of age, and the shooting of 7000 bull seals. Since the 1980's commercial clubbing of the nursing baby Cape Fur Seals has moved from the offshore islands to the mainland of South Africa and Namibia.
The opposition to Namibia’s seal hunt is truly global, OIPA International, its 138 members league and all the delegations throught the world condemn the seal killing (seals killed with one strike to the head and a quick stab in the heart with a long knife) in Namibia as cruel, inhumane and barbaric.
The seal hunt targets baby animals, a practice that is unacceptable.
Since the 1980's commercial sealing, over a million seals have been clubbed to death, the horrific images of the slaughter have been shown extensively around the world, and have seriously harmed Namibia’s image regarding animal welfare.
I urge you to make a firm commitment to do everything within your power to end this barbaric and economically unnecessary practice as soon as possible. There is no justification for the torturing and massacre such a massacre of these beautiful living beings.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

TRADUZIONE
Spettabile Ministro,
ho appreso da OIPA che a luglio la Namibia aprirà la sua annuale caccia alle foche, oltre 60.000 cuccioli di foche del Sud Africa di soli 7 mesi ancora allattati dalle madri saranno uccisi con colpi di bastone sul capo e 7000 maschi saranno uccisi con armi da fuoco. Dagli anni ’80 l’uccisione per fini commerciali dei cuccioli si è spostata dalle isole in mare aperto verso la terraferma in Sud Africa e Namibia.
L’opposizione al massacro delle foche è globale, OIPA International con le sue 138 leghe membro e Delegazioni in tutto il mondo condanna l’uccisione di queste foche in Namibia (foche uccise con un colpo alla testa e un colpo rapido nel cuore con una lunga lama) come crudele, inumana e barbarica.
La caccia alle foche ha come obiettivo cuccioli di animali, una pratica inaccettabile.
Dagli anni ‘80 la caccia alle foche a fini commerciali ha causato la morte di oltre di oltre 1 milione di foche, le orribili immagini del massacro sono state estensivamente mostrate in tutto il mondo e hanno danneggiato seriamente l’immagine della Namibia per quanto riguarda il benessere e il trattamento degli animali.
La sollecito a un impegno costante per fare ogni cosa in suo potere per porre fine il prima possibile a questa pratica barbarica ed economicamente inutile. Non c’è giustificazione per la tortura e il massacro di questi bellissimi esseri viventi.
Grazie per il suo tempo e per la considerazione per questa questione.

In fede,

EVENTUALE COMMENTO AGGIUNTIVO

FIRMA
COGNOME *campo obbligatorio

NOME *campo obbligatorio

CITTA' *campo obbligatorio

INDIRIZZO E-MAIL *campo obbligatorio

 

Questa mail verrà inviata al commissario europeo a questo indirizzo
Minister of Fisheries
Dr Abraham Iyambo
aiyambo@mfmr.gov.na

Ricordiamo che ai sensi del Decreto legislativo 196/03, le informazioni fornite sono raccolte e trattate per le sole finalità dell’OIPA Italia Onlus. In ogni momento potrete rivolgervi all’OIPA Italia Onlus per consultare, modificare, oppure opporvi al trattamento dei dati.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

link

 

http://www.sealalert.org/index.html

http://www.imma.org/namibia/namibia.html

http://www.sealalertsa.net/

 

 


 
Aluta Continua - the struggle continues

 


by Donna Collins (Photojournalist Namibia),

contact: donnanews@africaonline.com.na



"This message is for all you journalists out there who are knocking the relentless efforts of Seal Alert SA, in their desperate fight to see that justice is done for the seals - and that the inhumane mass killings of horrendous proportions are stopped and re-adjusted.



I am a Namibian journalist writing for the Windhoek Observer and live in Swakopmund. My paper, whose editor is the legendary Namibian journalist Hannes Smith, ran two stories so far on the seal culling operation. My efforts to interview Albert Brink on the seal issue, owner Sea Lion products factory in Henties Bay, fell flat yesterday when I was refused any access to the factory. He is orchestrating the cull or "harvest" at Cape Cross.



The Ministry of Fisheries is on the whole tight-lipped but stuck to their guns, as this is an annual event, and issued some releases and statements in Windhoek to the local media in defense of the initial anti-campaign attack. They stated that Namibia must utilise its natural resources, plus the people should acquire the taste for "seal meat." One reporter I know from a local coastal newspaper, who already told Hugo (of Seal Alert-SA) to "get lost", boasts having eaten seal meat which he claims is "delicious like game", and regularly drinks the oil.



No one has been allowed to enter into the "forbidden" area for fresh photo material, except the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation last week. I have just spent an hour on the phone (again) trying to get comment from someone at the Ministry regarding the issue, but was kept on hold, passed to the directorate of resource management, back to a PA, then the switchboard - then cut off.



Brink is the 'main man' who has many years of seal culling under his belt, and says he is carrying out orders on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries, who overnight increased the quota from 60,000 to a whopping 85,000. He is also running a thriving operation together with a couple of partners at the seal factory, pushing out seal products for the tourist industry. His wife runs a seal boutique in Henties Bay.



There is a Mafia type secrecy over the seal cull issue in general - an agenda that makes you wonder, if this killing is considered so "normal", then why hide it. They start to kill shortly before day break when all is quiet. Brink refused an interview with me at short notice yesterday (31 July), and blew his top when I suggested taking photos of the seals arriving at the factory, where they are offloaded every morning after the "harvest". "You people are just distorting the facts," he snorted over the phone. "I'm sick of the bad press, we kill sheep and cows, so why not seals."



I am scratching my head to find out what bad press. Aside from a few articles here and there, the subject is being relatively ignored. We have had no foreign press here. And the more a man like Francois Hugo who has balls to fight for this cause talks out, the more he is being challenged. Yes, he pummels us with information which cannot all be translated into articles, but the bottom line here is - there is an urgent message to re-address this seal plundering which cannot be ignored - and as journalists we shouldn't.



Funny how everyone dropped everything when Angelina Jolie arrived in Namibia to have a baby. People scrambled for the slightest crumb, paying fortunes for a smattering of information of this Hollywood star. Pages of papers, tabloids and magazines around the globe were filled with speculation, rumours, facts, non facts as the world hungered for more on the couple's every move. I know. I was there. Namibia was the new Hollywood.



Yet, when the same country a few weeks later embarks on the mass killing of the biggest quota of seal pups ever, no one has a word to say. It goes to show where the priorities of the media lie - no wonder all our species are dying out. I am not saying we all need to be the official mouthpiece for Seal Alert, but are you telling me that a seal slaughter story of this magnitude doesn't sell papers, doesn't make headlines and prick the consciousness? Every day over 600 seals are clubbed to death. Whether we are in favour of it or not. Where are you Carte Blanche????? Where are you Sunday Times, Beeld and all those powerful voices?



Today I spoke to a visiting Brit from a large animal rights organisation presently in the country. He previously went to the culling fields at the Cape Cross, and explained in gruesome detail how it works. "It's not a pretty sight". And to quote him he said, "The animals are chased into a corridor by two groups of clubbers who bash away at these creatures heads - and then plunge a knife into their hearts - hopefully to cause instant death - but I doubt that always.



"You can imagine how accurate the blows must be after swinging that club for a couple of hours - their arms get pretty tired I am sure," he said cynically. "This is still considered the cruelest method by world standards - and when they have finished their nasty business they cover the blood splattered beach sand with more sand so the tourists can walk in and view the lovely seal colony.



"I had the misfortune of stepping into one of these freshly covered area's and was up to my ankles in blood. Many people in Europe won't come to a place where the people are hammering their animals to death, so it must have an effect on the country's tourism I am sure."



There are those who believe that this slaughter is a solution to the mass starvation the seals have suffered in their thousands for years due to the dwindling fish stocks in the sea. And there are others who blame man for the interference in the first place.



But by excusing ourselves from putting pen to paper we as the media are justifying this killing.



I'll help where I can."



***********************************************



RELATED ACTION ALERTS:



 
Thanks to the work of Lejane Hardy of Animal Activist Network News, Katy Roberts and Chris Prestana a legal protest will be held outside the Namibian High Commission , 702 Church Street, Pretoria , South Africa, August 4th, 2006 between 12 and 2.


Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA urges all to attend this most important of protests, where the facts and letters of support will be presented to his Excellency Wibard Hellao of the Namibian High Commission.



Garry Sheen of Save the Seals (UK) will be arranging a second protest outside the Namibian High Commission in London, England, August 15, 2006.



 
For further details contact:



In South Africa, Lejane Hardy at 083 651 1120,

email: lejane@bunnyhuggers.co.za



In the UK, Garry Sheen at ESSEX ANIMAL FREEDOM

email: essex.a.f@btinternet.com.


 

 

 

 

 


From: SealAlert-SA
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:13 PM
Subject: Namibian Minister Just wants to kill Baby Seals

PRESS RELEASE
SEAL ALERT-SA 14th July 2006

[x]
hundreds of thousands of pups dying of starvation in
Namibia from human over-fishing policies

Seal Alert-SA attacks Namibian Minister directly

Finally, thanks to the minister's media conference yesterday to
pre-empt questions regarding his statements on the Seal Cull - we
now know exactly who recommend a 70% hike in the sealing quota
on a seal population at 73% pre-1993 levels, and still struggling to
cope with the mass die-off's experienced in 1994 and 2000, where
one half to one third starved to death - Minister Abraham Iyambo.
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200607120614.html

The minister describes a 70% hike in the sealing quota on a
recovery of just 73% pre-1993 seal population levels - as "minimal".

Does the minister have any scientific understanding of what he
is saying - the seal population is 27% lower than it was in 1993,
thirteen years ago, with two mass die-off's in-between and he
recommends a 70% sealing hike on 1993 sealing quota?

Based on the minister's statement, "There is no other
appropriate method" - than "clubbing (nursing) seal pups with
pieces of wood over the head". It is at least clear to Seal Alert-SA
that the minister can think of nothing else - except to kill seals.

Minister - is the mass die-off incident in 1994 or 2000, not
sufficient for you, I quota from the SAPANET - ANC BRIEFING
- NAMIBIA-SEALS - By Jonathon Rees. WINDHOEK July 13 Sapa.
Namibia's seals are slowly starving to death and West Coast beaches
are littered with dead and dying animals.At least 200000 are expected
to die of starvation by the end of September.Scientists say at least 90
per cent of this year's pups will be affected.More than 120000 seals
have already succumbed, crawling ashore exhausted and starving, to
where seagulls peck out the eyes of those too weak to move. Both
adults and pups are dying, piling up on the beaches from Luderitz in
the south to Cape Cross 600km away. The ribs of most show clearly.

Minister - are you further aware that in 1993 there were 164 000 pups
born on the sealing colonies of Wolf/Atlas Bay and Cape Cross, and
the sealing quota was 50 850. According to you the seal population in
2006, is 73% of that. Are you aware that is - 119 000 seal pups. Are
you aware that within weeks from birth the Cape fur seal pups suffer
a natural mortality of between 25% - 32%. That would leave at best,
come start of your lengthened sealing season on the 1st July -
84 000 nursing baby seals.

To which you propose in 2006 to slaughter all of them, with a
85 000 sealing quota.

Are you aware the US has banned imports of seal products from
Namibia, because you remain the only country and only sealing
country in the world, to still harvest "nursing baby seals" since other
sealing nations stopped in 1987.

Therefore Minister - it is unlikely you will receive "suggestions on
better methods" - as it is illegal to kill nursing baby seals. What part
of the world I L L E G A L - do you not understand. There is no
method to kill baby Cape fur seals - accepted it.

I refer to your other media comments, urging your fel

low Namibians -
"If culling seals is a problem, the solution is to eat them". Herewith is
some further info for you to read.

In a media release by yourself in 2000, you announced, "I hope that
many Namibians will find ways to increase the contribution of seals to
food security and health in Namibia ..... to assist in this direction I attach
a recipe for several seal dishes".

In the book "For the Love of Nature" by Chris Mercer and Beverley
Pervan - describing the goings-on at the world famous Harnas Lion Farm
in Namibia. There are a number of quotes that are interesting. Pg 87 -
"We have plenty seal meat. It is only Savannah the Cheetah who will not
eat it". Pg89 - "The amount of meat that has to be prepared .... and even
seal meat from the culling exercise at Cape Cross. The seal meat is very
rich and oily and not all the animals will eat it". Pg92 - "look at those
bliksem jackals...., ignoring the seal meat that she has put down for them.
If you go to Cape Cross, you will see plenty jackals feeding on the seal
there. But my jackals, oh no, they are too proud to eat it".

If you go back even further into the hardened lives of these first
explorers to this country, exploits which are contained in the book,
"Before Van Riebeeck" written by Major Raven-Hart - John Jourdain
in 1608 describes the following, "and having brought our boats laden
with these seals, we cut the fat from them for oil, and the rest was
thrown a good distance from the tents because of the 'noysommness',
which even after seven or eight days caused such a stench that the tents
had to be moved from there, and which neither the wolves nor other
ravenous beasts would touch".

So Minister, when you stated yesterday "there are children going to
bed without food every day", perhaps you will understand that if
"ravenous beasts, wolves, jackals and cheetah's do not want to eat
seal-meat - that perhaps starving children shouldn't either - accept it.

For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
021-790 8774

__._,_.___


pearl wrote:
 

From: SealAlert-SA
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:13 PM
Subject: Namibian Minister Just wants to kill Baby Seals

PRESS RELEASE
SEAL ALERT-SA 14th July 2006

[x]
hundreds of thousands of pups dying of starvation in
Namibia from human over-fishing policies

Seal Alert-SA attacks Namibian Minister directly

Finally, thanks to the minister's media conference yesterday to
pre-empt questions regarding his statements on the Seal Cull - we
now know exactly who recommend a 70% hike in the sealing quota
on a seal population at 73% pre-1993 levels, and still struggling to
cope with the mass die-off's experienced in 1994 and 2000, where
one half to one third starved to death - Minister Abraham Iyambo.
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200607120614.html

The minister describes a 70% hike in the sealing quota on a
recovery of just 73% pre-1993 seal population levels - as "minimal".

Does the minister have any scientific understanding of what he
is saying - the seal population is 27% lower than it was in 1993,
thirteen years ago, with two mass die-off's in-between and he
recommends a 70% sealing hike on 1993 sealing quota?

Based on the minister's statement, "There is no other
appropriate method" - than "clubbing (nursing) seal pups with
pieces of wood over the head". It is at least clear to Seal Alert-SA
that the minister can think of nothing else - except to kill seals.

Minister - is the mass die-off incident in 1994 or 2000, not
sufficient for you, I quota from the SAPANET - ANC BRIEFING
- NAMIBIA-SEALS - By Jonathon Rees. WINDHOEK July 13 Sapa.
Namibia's seals are slowly starving to death and West Coast beaches
are littered with dead and dying animals.At least 200000 are expected
to die of starvation by the end of September.Scientists say at least 90
per cent of this year's pups will be affected.More than 120000 seals
have already succumbed, crawling ashore exhausted and starving, to
where seagulls peck out the eyes of those too weak to move. Both
adults and pups are dying, piling up on the beaches from Luderitz in
the south to Cape Cross 600km away. The ribs of most show clearly.

Minister - are you further aware that in 1993 there were 164 000 pups
born on the sealing colonies of Wolf/Atlas Bay and Cape Cross, and
the sealing quota was 50 850. According to you the seal population in
2006, is 73% of that. Are you aware that is - 119 000 seal pups. Are
you aware that within weeks from birth the Cape fur seal pups suffer
a natural mortality of between 25% - 32%. That would leave at best,
come start of your lengthened sealing season on the 1st July -
84 000 nursing baby seals.

To which you propose in 2006 to slaughter all of them, with a
85 000 sealing quota.

Are you aware the US has banned imports of seal products from
Namibia, because you remain the only country and only sealing
country in the world, to still harvest "nursing baby seals" since other
sealing nations stopped in 1987.

Therefore Minister - it is unlikely you will receive "suggestions on
better methods" - as it is illegal to kill nursing baby seals. What part
of the world I L L E G A L - do you not understand. There is no
method to kill baby Cape fur seals - accepted it.

I refer to your other media comments, urging your fellow Namibians -
"If culling seals is a problem, the solution is to eat them". Herewith is
some further info for you to read.

In a media release by yourself in 2000, you announced, "I hope that
many Namibians will find ways to increase the contribution of seals to
food security and health in Namibia ..... to assist in this direction I attach
a recipe for several seal dishes".

In the book "For the Love of Nature" by Chris Mercer and Beverley
Pervan - describing the goings-on at the world famous Harnas Lion Farm
in Namibia. There are a number of quotes that are interesting. Pg 87 -
"We have plenty seal meat. It is only Savannah the Cheetah who will not
eat it". Pg89 - "The amount of meat that has to be prepared .... and even
seal meat from the culling exercise at Cape Cross. The seal meat is very
rich and oily and not all the animals will eat it". Pg92 - "look at those
bliksem jackals...., ignoring the seal meat that she has put down for them.
If you go to Cape Cross, you will see plenty jackals feeding on the seal
there. But my jackals, oh no, they are too proud to eat it".

If you go back even further into the hardened lives of these first
explorers to this country, exploits which are contained in the book,
"Before Van Riebeeck" written by Major Raven-Hart - John Jourdain
in 1608 describes the following, "and having brought our boats laden
with these seals, we cut the fat from them for oil, and the rest was
thrown a good distance from the tents because of the 'noysommness',
which even after seven or eight days caused such a stench that the tents
had to be moved from there, and which neither the wolves nor other
ravenous beasts would touch".

So Minister, when you stated yesterday "there are children going to
bed without food every day", perhaps you will understand that if
"ravenous beasts, wolves, jackals and cheetah's do not want to eat
seal-meat - that perhaps starving children shouldn't either - accept it.

For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
021-790 8774

__._,_.___
 


Have been ARA it seems forever.

Am sad you have honored the killfile against me.
Of course, it never was or will be about 'me'.

Every day the humanoids get more greedy, more torture-loving and more
disgusting.