Inuit reject call for European union wide seal ban

Faced with escalating environmental and economic concerns, Inuit leaders say their people are relying more than ever on seal products in the pursuit of their basic livelihood, while an uninformed European market rejects the import.
Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, is calling upon the Canadian government to step up its actions against the European Union to the ban. She commends leaders for taking action in Sept. 2007 at the World Trade Organization against any jurisdictions that legislate against Canadian seal products, but says "swift and aggressive action" is once again needed.
"The arctic is being hit on two fronts-while we are vulnerable to climate change impacts, we are also quite vulnerable to increasing economic costs of basic items such as fuel and the costs of hunting, travel, transport and heating is becoming more prohibitive," Simon said.
According to Duane Smith, president of Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada), " people in Europe are shown photographs of seals being harvested in the wild and recoil in shock at the images, and send what can only be described as `guilt money' to animal rights groups." These well-funded lobbyists "make millions on the back of the seal hunt". Their misinformation contributes to the fact Europeans "don't see the people, the communities, or the way of life they are ruining as a result of their misguided donations. They don't question the information being presented, much of it incorrect."
Simon concurs, adding, "Inuit will continue to hunt seals, develop modern sealskin fashions, and create new markets for these products. We will not have our way of life dictated by European leaders who we believe are being duped by animal rights activists who have little regard for rational, reasonable debate, or for the truth on this issue."