Boycotting Canadian maple syrup is about as logical as boycotting Canadian television, Canadian music and any form of Canadian food. In fact, it is about as logical as boycotting anything from China because of their cruel fur industry. By boycotting Canadian maple syrup we are attacking an industry that has little to no relation to seal hunting. The maple syrup industry is not only vegan but it is also environmentally friendly. Also, by attacking an innocent industry we (the animal rights community) are alienating the international community and destroying our credibility. I recognize that PETA does not represent the entire AR community but in the eyes of many PETA does and PETA should be concious of that. Don't take so much pride that you can't admit you made a mistake. It would show real character if PETA ended this campaign and apoligized to maple syrup farmers. Perhaps PETA would gain more support if they did this.

Posted by: Andrew | May 29, 2009 05:32 PM

Andrew,

Do you have a better way to pressure Canada into banning the seal massacre?

The boycott of maple syrup is symbolic because the world associates it with Canada. More importantly, the boycott is practical.

The average citizen won't be able to boycott major canadian industries like chemical or mining companies.

Posted by: Brad | May 29, 2009 05:44 PM

Enlightened and humane animal lovers must stridently accentuate that the seal cull must be halted. We can't give up ! Press on vehemently !

Posted by: Brien Comerford | May 29, 2009 08:17 PM

so what if maple syrup is sustainable and vegan? this is about causing a reduction in Canadian gross revenue. If Canada produced 85% of the worlds beans then we would be boycotting beans! it doesn't matter what the commodity is. the goal is to impact gross revenues, that's why personally, i will boycott everything Candian.

BTW, did it ever occur to you that since so many vegans and animal lovers use maple syrup that this is probably the best choice for us to boycott... a product used heavily by those who care about animals. we buy a gallon every month.

i support the boycott.

Posted by: Missy | May 29, 2009 09:55 PM

It kind of seems as if we are at war with Canada (Imagine what the trolls would think of that!). But, if they refuse to stop the seal slaughter, let's give 'em hell!

Posted by: Jacob | May 29, 2009 10:37 PM

This would make sense if there was one giant industrial park in Canada that literally made all of the 85% of maple syrup.

But since its mom and pop operations I'm pretty sure alot of them are already against the seal hunt and would appreciate it if you didn't try to cripple their business.

Posted by: Pepsi One is Fun | May 29, 2009 10:57 PM

No Andrew, you've got it wrong, your too short sighted. I boycot EVERYTHING canadian and will continue to do so until this horrifc practice stops! The day you actually spend time witnessing what happens to a seal when it's head is crushed to death and then sliced open still breathing is the day you will wake up to the torture that you perpetuate by buying canadian.

Posted by: amber | May 30, 2009 12:40 AM

C'mon Peta...drop this campaign. The overwhelming sentiment is that it is misguided!

Please keep doing what you do best, but don't damage your reputation and alienate your supporters. We all need to work together to improve the welfare of animals.

Posted by: Karen M. | May 30, 2009 08:21 AM

>>Won't you join us?

No.

Posted by: Ed Anger | May 30, 2009 09:27 AM

Boycotting Celine Dion could do better... At least, it would save our ears too...

Posted by: Jo | May 30, 2009 09:50 AM

I agree with Andrew, this makes so little sense it's painful. The maple syrup industry is environmentally friendly, usually run by smaller farmers and mostly run in Quebec, not all of Canada. Grab a map for a second (Canada is to the North, FYI). It's a big country. Seals aren't in the same areas as maple farms (I'm sure someone can explain it to you.) Canada's economy isn't all going to one bucket, either, so it's the little guys you'll be hurting (I'm sure someone can explain that to you, too.) And Canada won't burst into economic flames because a few don't buy its syrup, as it's not that huge an export (ask someone about that too). PETA is really annoying with its misinformed and downright stupic practices. Make your stand if you must, but stop hurting others who have nothing to do with seal hunting.

Posted by: Marie | May 30, 2009 10:01 AM

I am a Canadian that strongly believes in animal rights. Yet I no more oppose seal hunting than I oppose large scale cattle or pork farming. I cannot for the life of me understand why a relatively marginal industry garners so much attention when other practices entail so much more cruelty and have huge ecological consequences. Is it the blood? Is it the "sexiness" of the issue? Is it because a seal hunter is an easier target?
It's one thing to send an ex-Beatle to the arctic to make him hug a seal but it's an other to attack a non-related innocent industry. Such an absurd tactic must be met with equal absurdity. I am thus launching the "Great Greenpeace boycott of 2009". Until PETA backs down and leaves our maple-syrup alone we will not contribute to,or
support and promote Greenpeace. What's the relation between PETA and Greenpeace? There is none. We're just going to hit someone else to get to PETA.

Posted by: Fred | May 30, 2009 12:14 PM

You know what? This maple boycott might make just about as much sense as hearing about Canada's Governor General eating a piece of raw heart from a freshly-slaughtered seal IN ORDER TO show her support of the seal hunt.......

With that being said, so yes, I will join you PETA. I will boycott Canadian maple syrup.

When has PETA ever been one to shy away from a little controversy, even if it's from their own supporters?! ;)

Posted by: Tamra | May 30, 2009 12:52 PM

No, I won't join you because you are trying to get your way by making innocent people and companies suffer for an apparent "wrong" of another industry. As a Canadian, I can tell you will lose support from many other Canadians.

Posted by: SQ | May 30, 2009 02:47 PM

OK this is completly ridiculous,

First there is surpopulation of seal on the atlantic ocean. The human had over the years interfered with the natural cycle of the nature and we now need to control the seals populations in other to have a right ecosystem balance.

This brings us to the cod problem which PETA never talk about. In Canada they introduce quotas in other to protect this fish and to help to population growing. But in the other hand you have the seals that are eating mostly only cods in the ocean, we talk about thousand of kilograms a day.

So right now what is a direct consequence of all that; a surpopulation of seal that are eating all the cod, because organism like yours only take into account a part of the problem not all of it.

We need to kill all these seals each years because their main predator is disapearing!

Please think beyond the way they kill them, think about the overall benefit of seal hunting, whatever it is for the nature, the tradition or the economy.

Im not complaning about what you; Peta does a very good job on many other topics but on the seals one your skipping a lot of factors in other to promote your organisation.

Felix Rioux

Posted by: Felix Rioux | May 30, 2009 02:51 PM

I hate it.. this makes me disguisted that I am a Canadian :(

Posted by: Kelsey <33 | May 30, 2009 03:03 PM

I totally agree with the previous comment by Andrew. I usually support most (if not all) campaign from PETA. I'm a Canadian and I strongly oppose the seal hunt. However, this maple syrup boycot bear the risk of being really harmful to a lot a innocent families that make a living producing maple syrup. They have nothing to do with the seal hunt nor any animal cause. Why punish them? Why risking to put them out of business? This is not a big chain like McDonald, we're talking about families here! But most of all, why target an industry that have nothing to do with the cause in question?

This is only going to tarnish PETA's reputation to the eyes of many supporter in the population, especially here.

Please reconsider this! I, for one, will not participate in this and I will urge any one I know not to!

Posted by: Dominique | May 30, 2009 03:33 PM

This makes no sense. PETA should be unequivocally calling for a permanent boycott of animal products and exploitation. We need to send the message to go vegan! The world is filled with exploitation, not just of animals, and to pick on a particular industry in a particular country just because of one species is illogical. I am just as opposed to the hunting of seals as PETA is, but veganism is the way to go, not boycotts of vegan products. Every country on Earth tortures exploits animals in horrible ways, and PETA is just targeting baby seals because they're cute and that's what the non-vegan public feels it can support.

Posted by: Nick | May 30, 2009 03:37 PM

I agree with Andrew's comment above. PETA loses credibility with this Canadian maple syrup boycott.

Posted by: Ly | May 30, 2009 05:44 PM

Do you know what makes me really sad? the corporate mindset.

Even if they are PROVEN wrong, corporations will never ADMIT that they are wrong.

And do you know what makes me sadder? When activists adopt this mindset.

I have been wrong many times in my life. In fact, in order to change my lifestyle and become vegan I had to ADMIT that I was wrong about MANY things.

I will be wrong again and I pride myself at admitting when I am wrong because that is how we learn and change. And change is good.

It reminds me of the scene in the movie "Spanglish" when the Paz Vega character simply "concedes the point" to the Adam Sandler character and he is shocked by it.

Because MOST will NEVER admit that they are wrong in the moment.

Oh sure years later they may LOOK BACK and admit that they WERE wrong but that's EASY.

When it comes to this situation, I can understand why PETA would want to "stick to their guns." After all energy, effort and money was spent in developping this campaign, setting up the website and making posters, etc...

and PETA would have silken tofu on their faces if they admitted that they were wrong...but that silken tofu can be made into a delicious vegan cheesecake called HUMILITY.

It makes me VERY VERY sad when I realized that groups that I admire behave EXACTLY like big corporations who will NEVER under any circumstances admit that they were wrong.

I am not one of those dramatic people who will say that I will "never support PETA again" because of this.

My wife and I will still proudly display the PETA sticker in our window, and still support most PETA actions in the future.

BUT YOU ARE WRONG.

And you had the opportunity to show your humility and admit it, but instead you "spun" it in the post above.

and what a spin!

Maple syrup has nothing to do with the seal industry.

Yes it is a distinctly Canadian product but it is not IN ANY WAY our largest export to the U.S.

To boycot Maple Syrup to stop the seal hunt is as arbitrary as doing demos at all Mike Myers movies until the seal hunt stops.

Plus Maple Syrup is a vegan product.

Why not ask people to boycott a non-vegan product, like Canadian Beef?

Why not partner with Canadian organizations to host educationnal outreach events in Newfoundland?

Why not go back to the drawing board? or better yet turn up the heat on the great campaigns that you already have in place? (Olympics, boycott of Canadian Seafood, bloody seal demos, etc)

The seal hunt is horrible, it must and it WILL be stopped.

But punishing hard-working farmers who are making a sustainable VEGAN product is just plain mean.

Posted by: Antoine | May 30, 2009 07:50 PM

I am a canadian, and I am agaist the seal hunting. BUT you guys are missing the target. I totally agree with Andrew. Please you guys, change your mind on this.

Posted by: Guillaume | May 30, 2009 11:18 PM

I totally agree with Andrew I don't ever want to be responsible for a totally innocent industry suffering.

Posted by: Allison Willis | May 31, 2009 04:02 AM

Dolphins are still tortured in floridan zoos and sea-parks. Do I have to boycott american orange juice?

The large majority of canadian maple sirup producers are owners of SMALL farms far from seals hunting area bye thousands of kilometers.

Posted by: Pierre | May 31, 2009 08:53 AM

Boycotting maple syrup for the cruelty against baby seals makes about as much sense as boycotting American lumber for the same reason. Instead of helping to stop the slaughter, the only thing you are accomplishing, is the promotion of U.S. products, and damaging the lives and income of a CANADIANS !!! If you want to Help Stop The Slaughter, why not boycott products from both American and Canadian companies. To suggest that hurting a part of the Canadian economy, which like all other world economies is already in serious trouble, will force the Canadian government to act against a specific industry that is still helping the economy is absolutely foolish. The only thing you will do is hurt Canadians, and push more people away from supporting PETA and its world actions. Next time, you may want to take a closer look at what products you boycott, aiming for impact on the industry itself. instead of harming Canadians !

Posted by: hy gold | May 31, 2009 11:45 AM

your disinformation campaign needs to stop. you are hurting innocent people as well as yourselves.

Posted by: Johnny | May 31, 2009 11:58 AM

I agree with Andrew's comment. Maple sirup has nothing to do with seal. PETA has already loose a lof ot credibilty for the past years by releasing false facts about seal hunt. For example,PETA still refers to BABY seal hunt, but this hunt of illegal in Canada for almost 25 years. We always need to check the validity of the PETA arguments and I regret they are often false (regarding seal hunt). However, blood sells...

Posted by: Sylvain | May 31, 2009 01:32 PM

Know you facts: Baby seals hunting is proscribed in Canada since the 80s.

Posted by: Jack the hunter | May 31, 2009 02:03 PM

Canadians official also know all the lies PETA are saying about the hunting of baby seals. One day, people will see all the lies PETA are saying about the seal hunting.

Why boycott Maple Sirup, when it comes mainly from 1 province? Canada as 10 provinces and 3 territories, you won't hurt a lot of the economy. The majority of the maple sirup produced in Canada is for Canadians so it won't even hurt that much.

Posted by: Georges | May 31, 2009 02:45 PM

As a canadian, i don't approve the seal hunt at all and i agree on PETA but not by boycotting Canadian maple syrup. By doing that, PETA is losing all credibility to our eyes. Maple syrup industry is environmentally friendly and does not make any crualty to animals. So it is not too late for PETA to retract and end this stupid campaign before they lose all of its credibility.

Posted by: Dave | May 31, 2009 02:50 PM

This campaign negatively impacts the credibility of PETA, and unfortunantely, the entire animal rights movement. The leap in logic is so far fetched, that very few are likely to take it seriously. How is maple sirup related to the seal hunt? Its not. Even if evey American stopped consuming Canadian maple sirup (which they won't), this would have such a marginal impact on the Canadian economy that political postions on the seal hunt would not change. What's next, are we going to boycott French wine to stop the production of foie-gras?

PETA, end this ridiculous campaign and come up with something credible that the non-activist american (e.g. 99% of the population) can relate to and understand.

Posted by: Brett | May 31, 2009 03:37 PM

It's the stupidiest thing I ever heard. Andrew is wrigth PETA is attacking an innocent industry. What a waste. You are doing a big mystake and it is your credibility your are puting on the line.

You should apologised to the canadian's maple syrup farmers.

Posted by: Robert | May 31, 2009 03:45 PM

When will peta boycott american products that are not related to animal cruelty? It makes perfect logical sense to boycott american grown tomatoes to pressure congress to end horse racing.

Posted by: lisa | May 31, 2009 04:18 PM

I say boycott everything canadian until they stop their murderous ignorant inhumane cruel seal slaughters. im sure that would get their attention.

Posted by: mitchell | May 31, 2009 05:25 PM

I see absolutely no link between the seal slaughter and maple syrup. The maple syrup is an honest industry and should not be condemned simply because it's Canadian. This is an insult to all Canadians. I am boycotting PETA from this day on.

Posted by: Anna | May 31, 2009 05:28 PM

Well it's you're problem if you don't want to taste our good maple syrup, and by the way, it's surely the besat way to put pressure on our government, it will only affect one province in all the country, and it's the one they don't care because of their separatist tendency. And have you ever heard of "foie gras de canard" and the way the French kill ducks for their livers?

Posted by: Le Québécois | May 31, 2009 05:42 PM

I don't agree with this boycott and will keep supporting Canadian maple farmers. Actions like this is why many people think animal rights activists are nuts and irrational.

Posted by: XX | May 31, 2009 06:29 PM

i support peta but still i dont see how this works maple syrup isnt really connected to the seal hunt were pretty much boycotting things just cause there Canadian and Canada mainly gets the seal hunt and bear hunt here as a Canadian i know no one who actually supports the seal hunt.lots of good things happen too like veg fest all vegan food and many animal rights stands. soo this is a reallu pointless campighn

Posted by: pepper | May 31, 2009 07:35 PM

As a PETA member and as a Canadian, I am disgusted that you would target the maple syrup industry. It has NOTHING to do with seal hunting! I do hope you will remedy to the situation quickly by publicly apologizing. I for one, will not renew my membership until such a thing is done.

Posted by: Susie Grondin | May 31, 2009 08:09 PM

Boycotting Canadian maple syrup has nothing to do with fur. This is illogical, incoherent and simply a bad idea. Please, stop it.

Thank you.

Posted by: Brompton | June 1, 2009 12:09 AM

Wrong target.

Posted by: JF | June 1, 2009 12:33 AM

I don't get this... PETA is supposed to be "people for the ethical treatment of animals" and so why would they resort to such low tactics?

I would understand a boycott of the Maple Industry in Canada if all Canadians supported the seal hunt. The fact is, not all Canadians do. And so, by boycotting maple syrup you could end up hurting the same people opposed to the seal slaughter.

Fact is, most maple syrup producers have nothing to do with the seal industry. In fact, they promote farming and growing of commercial goods. They do not harvest livestock but instead grow, maintain and raise trees from which they extract the sap.

This boycott is pointless, it will not do anything but hurt an industry that has nothing to do with the Seal hunt.

I do not like Guantanamo Bay or the way people are handled there, am I right for calling a boycott of American cars because of it?

Posted by: HC | June 1, 2009 02:52 AM

Are you insane, Andrew? Seals are being clubbed to death in the cruelest way possible every year and you expect us to apologize???
Thats the last thing I would do in this situation. You need to get your priorities sorted out. If you think some stupid "innocent" industry is more important than the painful death of babies annually then theres something wrong with you.

Posted by: livi | June 1, 2009 08:39 AM

So, what does Maple Syrup contribute to Canada's GDP? I've got to imagine less than %1 & I be willing to bet it is less than %.01. Meaning this is only going to harm and industry that supports Vegan Values.

I agree with some people, make it a whole Canada boycott. But Maple Syrup is the wrong focus and I think you're only toying with people's emotions.... you're not coming anywhere near to solving the problem.

Of course the whole Canada Boycott would be impossible -- you'd have to quit driving your car and using electricity just avoid using their oil (which I guarantee contributes more to Canada's GDP in 1 month than the Maple Syrup does all year)

Posted by: Patrick Y. | June 1, 2009 11:06 AM

Follow-up.
To all those who are preaching the horrors of the seal hunt to those of us who are against the MAPLE SYRUP boycott:

Most of the people (Canadians) who posted here against the Maple Syrup boycott also stated that they were against the seal hunt.

I performed as the Harper Seal at the big anti-seal hunt Rally in Toronto. I have been actively against the seal hunt for years, and we protested in a huge rain storm for PETA2.

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/05/peta_marches_on.php

so you know what? you can stick your judgement where the sun don't shine.

I am a Canadian and am actively working to end the seal hunt FROM WITHIN CANADA.

BUT THIS BOYCOTT MAKES NO SENSE.

And PETA should show that they have some humility and admit that it is not a good boycott.

I will not repeat any of the reasons why it makes no sense, reread my post above, and Andrew's and many others.

As for others who are using this as an opportunity to promote pro-seal hunt propaganda, to bash PETA and to say that PETA has poor facts.

YOU ARE the ones who are WRONG. Check YOUR facts. PETA has acurate information, and it is the Canadian government and the pro-sealers who are spreading lies, NOT PETA.

I get my facts from people who were AT THE SEAL HUNT this year!!!

and I saw footage of baby seals being killed THIS YEAR.

And I saw the bodies dumped on the ice after being killed THIS YEAR.

the commercial seal hunt does not kill mature adult seals.

They do not use ALL the animal (just the skin)

and the "accepted, humane" practice is bludgeoning with a hakapik, which is basically just a stick with a hook in it.

I have seen HORRIBLE cruelty from THIS YEAR's seal hunt.

and those who say that the seal hunt is humane are ignorant and misinformed.

Yes there has been a regulation in place that white coats (less than 3 week old) are not to be killed.

But considering the conditions of the seal hunt, there is no real way to enforce that.

It is true that MOST of the times the white coats are not killed, but seals lose their white coats at around 3 weeks old.

and guess what? at 3 or 4 weeks old, they are still babies.

so the commerical seal hunt IS killing BABY SEALS.

And the commercial seal hunt is NOT done by the Inuit and does not help their economy and EVERYONE in the Animal Rights Community in ALL of Canada is outraged at the Governor General's idiotic and obviously political stunt.

Yes veganism is the goal and ALL animal exploitation needs to stop. But the seal hunt can stop NOW. No one NEEDS seal products (and yes no one NEEDS any animal products, but the point is that they THINK that they do)

Horrors like the seal hunt, animal experimentation, dog and cat breeding, those are things that we can STOP NOW. TODAY.

And then we can focus on stopping all other animal exploitation (notably animals raised for food purposes)

In other news, I bought a nice can of Québec Maple Syrup this weekend and I also mailed in some letters in support of Senator Harb and sent some emails to other senators and my MP.

I am a Canadian: I am against the seal hunt and I am for Canadian Maple Syrup.

Posted by: Antoine | June 1, 2009 01:05 PM

Well I think it's a shame and has nothing to do with seal slaughter...

Posted by: Philippe | June 1, 2009 01:15 PM

HC, I think you need to get your priorities straight. You Peta activists scream bloody murder in the sake of animals. Well, you know what the seal hunt does? It controls the seal population? Do you know what that does? It means less seals eating salmon? Do you know what that does? Means more salmon for other wildlife like bears, eagles, etc.

Beyond this, many people rely on the seal hunt for substance. How can you sit in your warm, urban home and critique the people who rely on this food when all you have to do is walk to the super market.

Let's just assimilate the Inuit...hey it's the American way! Shame on you.

Posted by: StephfromCanada | June 1, 2009 02:01 PM

Dear PETA,

While I do support everything you do for animals, I don't support this. It's sad how you have neglected to tell everyone ALL the facts. Maple Syrup and Seal Slaughter are TWO different things, and are completely unrelated. You aren't benefiting the seals, you are just trying to put a damper the Canadian Economy. Which is probably doing as horrible as ours is. And thats cruel. Look at Americans who suffer from our economy. Would you like to know that PETA caused some poor farmer to become homeless just because he makes maple syrup and is Canadian. If you ask me youre asking for other people to commit abuse agianst another human. I thought PETA was for all things right. Well, PETA you are no longer a creditable organization in my eyes. I think this is wrong and it needs to end. Why don't you try doing demonstrations or something more proactive agianst the killing of seal instead of punishing innocent farmers.

Sincerely,
Jess

Posted by: Jess Nicole | June 1, 2009 03:39 PM

Antoine, I agree with you except for one point:

*No one NEEDS seal products (and yes no one NEEDS any animal products, but the point is that they THINK that they do)*

I for a fact know MY OWN BODY and know what I went through going strictly vegan (and not by choice). I got too thin (borderline anorexic), and was malnourished. Many people told me that doing it was unhealthy - even some who are vegans, and told me to put meat and animal by-products back in my diet. And, I'm much healthier for it now.

There are elements you simply CANNOT get from just vegetables and protein replacements. My blood type also has to have a diet that includes some of these proteins. Simply put, there are things PETA shouldn't try to be a know-it-all about - people do know their own bodies.

All this said, that doesn't mean I want to go kill every animal in site and eat it (sometime I feel some PETA members feel omnivores do). I maintain we need a balance - we don't need to overfish or slaughter too many animals - only what is needed. We don't need challenges such as a four pound burger or 72 ounce steak dinner, just small portions.

That's one reason I feel that seal hunting is wrong on many levels. Like with fox, mink, ermine, and other exotic animal pelts, seals are only killed for one thing - their fur a lot of times. We don't need to kill any animal for their skin. I condone leather and suede (and to a point rabbit), because those animals are also used for food. I don't even support deer hunting - even if it's to thin out overpopulation in a city (which does happen, thanks to some people handfeeding deer, making them dependent on humans), if they're killing it only for the head and horns. If they also eat the venison and don't overshoot, then I don't mind it.

Posted by: Mel | June 1, 2009 03:52 PM

well Mel, this is WAYYYY OFF-TOPIC, but...there is always someone ready to post your kind of anecdotal evidence whenever veganism is mentioned on a forum.

and it always sounds like this: (Millions of people live healthily on a vegan diet), but "I (or a close friend of my mother-in-law's second cousin twice removed) felt weak and sick when I was vegan so that means that veganism doesn't work...so am I now "allowed" to slaughter innocent terrified animals and it doesn't count as "selfish greed"?"

bottom line: if YOU were sick when YOU were vegan, then maybe YOU did something wrong.

To claim that because YOU became sick, that the entire diet is unfeasible is absolutely irrational and self-involved.

PETA and myself get their facts from doctors and nutritionists.

WE personally don,t need to be specialists, we get our info FROM the specialists.

meanwhile you get your info from your own misguided opinion and form the meat and dairy industries.

There is NO nutrition that ANYONE can get from an animal product that you can not get from a vegan source.

AND YES THIS INCLUDES B-12.

I urge you to try going vegan again and to this time do it well (and make sure you are really vegan, btw: fish and eggs are not vegetables ;-)

a good book to help you in your dietary change is "Becoming Vegan" by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis.

Also the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine has some good advice for anyone wanting to go vegan: http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/

PETA has some good advice on goveg.com, but PETA is an animal rights organization so their goal is to make veganism easy.

therefore they rely way too much on mock meats to simulate the standard american diet of burgers and fries.

If you were sick and weak when you were vegan you were probably not eating a not complex carbs (VEGETABLES!)

and not enough fresh fruit.

and not enough dark green leafy vegetables (kale, collards, swiss chard, etc) and seaweed is very good too for iodine (often people feel tired when they don't have enough iodine)

As well you were probably eating way too much protein (If you have a soy burger, with a side of lentils and rice and some hummus, that is WAYYYYYY too much protein)

Also most probably you were not drinking enough water, and probably you were consuming lots of sugar and caffeine (pop, tea, coffee)

feeling weak is mostly caused by too much caffeine, sugar and not enough water and sleep.

but of course it makes you feel soo much better about yourself to blame the vegan diet.

1st. Health: vegans on average live 15 years longer than meat-eaters. No one lives longer on the WRONG diet.

2nd: Ethics: Why did you become vegan? If you became vegan for ethical reasons, have they discovered a way to produce animal products without killing animals?
NO? So the animals still die horrible and painful deaths to produce the meat that you claim that you "need"?

so what happened to your morals? have they dissapeared?

many millions of people live extremely well on a vegan diet, but you got sick. Instead of trying to live healthily on a vegan diet, you decided to give up your entire moral belief system and start killing animals again?

really?

and please don't give me the "it was for my survival" argument, I have met A LOT of people who told me that they "felt" bad on a vegan diet and none of them looked like their actual LIVES had been at risk ....EVER...we are not talking about the images that we have seen of people dying in famine conditions...

(PLUS 99% of the time when I probe into it, those who claimed that they were sick on a vegan diet, were not really vegan, or they were vegan for like a week)

AND for all of those people, I have met hundreds more who feel MUCH better on a vegan diet.

Consider veganism again, if you need help go to a vegan organization close to where you live, meet other vegans and ask them to help you.

Posted by: Antoine | June 1, 2009 05:12 PM

THANK YOU Antoine! Nice post..

Posted by: Anonymous | June 1, 2009 06:42 PM

Antoine, the answer is NO I did nothing wrong. I know my body, I know what I went through and frankly more power to you for being a vegan.

I ate plenty of veggies and fruits and water. Also, I had very little protein in my diet. My budget forced me to also go vegan.

Some points:

1. Eating SOME meat doesn't mean you live shorter lives. You are assuming I eat red meat, chicken or fish every day, and that's false.

Now, what does affect your life span as well are factors such as smoking, drinking, exercise and heredity. You can be a vegan and die at 31 and an omnivore and be an centarian (over 100 years old). As I do not know if they'd allow me to give specifics, I will say that I am in the proper weight for my height and build because I exercise and eat a balanced diet for ME.

(Oh, I don't get my info from the dairy/meat groups - never have. Just like PETA, those groups have their own agendas - and sometimes very wrongly directed. I go by my doctor thank you very much.)

People feel tired when they have little IRON. Iodine is only beneficial for the thyroid, which controls metabolism. The ONLY way I would give you a point here is if that made me have hypothyrodism, causing me to lose too much weight.

I find any claim that a vegan diet over an omnivore diet is better to be quite funny. If we were meant to be just vegans, we'd have a set of teeth similar to cows, horses and other herbivors. And probably four stomachs as well.

2. I became a vegan because I had no choice - my pay was such where even eating out anywhere was a luxury. So, I was vegan for about 18-20 months. I was lucky that lentils and such gave me some of it, but it was not enough in the end and I lost too much weight.

3. Sorry - I never trust any sources on the Internet claiming to be professional doctors and such. This has also saved my life, but for other cases non-related to diet.

This goes double for a group that supports boycotting a vegan product to stop seal slaughter.

4. Explain to me this - if by some chance that PETA ever got its way and no animals were killed, would you also be the first to protest the methane levels in the air? Cows do produce methane and other greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere.

What bugs me most about people such as extreme PETA members is that if you even eat a small amount of meat a day, you are considered fat, ugly and lazy. If they do go vegan and can't do it, it's their fault.

People over the course of centuries and millenia have had all sorts of diets and been beautiful, healthy and trim. They've also lived long and healthy lives. I think that PETA, and other thoughts on the subject, need to relize that instead of saying "Go Veg" all the time.

Then again, I have trouble with that claim when I read PETA supports COntrolled atmosphere killing of chickens for food, but then supports the vegan diet.

Posted by: Mel | June 1, 2009 08:30 PM

you know what's funny...these guys who are against a boycott of Canadian maple syrup don't even buy Canadian maple syrup! whine whine whine. look if u guys got a better idea, you are free to start your own international most effective animal rights group in the world.

Posted by: missy | June 1, 2009 08:48 PM

Businesses, governments, and individuals all over the world have reached out to Canada requesting that it stop the seal slaughter immediately, but nothing has worked and thousands of seals are dying.

Luckily, they will not be able to ignore this boycott since it hits them where it hurts--their wallet! So please, join PETA and compassionate people like me and boycott maple syrup. We're not doing this to hurt the maple syrup industry, we're doing it to save seals lives.

Posted by: Mark | June 2, 2009 11:31 AM

I think this is the best idea for AR we've had in a while. It worked for South Africa, why wouldn't it work here?

It wouldn't do any good to boycott something related to the seal slaughter because we're already not buying fur or seal meat or anything.

This is the perfect idea to get the government to listen up in Canada!

Posted by: Lily | June 2, 2009 11:57 AM

Welcome to the HARDLINE folks.

PETA, I think you're on to something here. They sure seem awfully incensed about that mable syrup, don't they?

In NYC where I shop for groceries the owners son flirts with me. Maybe we could make a deal. A little sommem sommem for a little sommem sommem.

Sorry Canada, It's a good ole American tradition. We call it sanctions. Trickle down economics. If the mable syrup farmers have less money they spend less, on EVERYTHING including meat.

ANIMALS WIN.

Posted by: Saucy | June 2, 2009 01:56 PM

Well Mel it is YOUR life and YOUR soul, and if you wish to lie to yourself there is nothing that I can do about that.

The bottom line is that your email is filled with misinformation.

It is funny how people like you always claim that they KNOW everything and did things well and then their ignorant comments in their own defence proves the opposite.

Your comment about human teeth and four stomachs proves that you know nothing about basic biology and how the body digests food.

I suggest educating yourself:
This is a good place to start:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2062/ana.HTML

I also recommend reading "the China study".

In your first email you stated that there were nutrients that you were not able to get on a vegan diet, conveniently in this email you did not expand any further about WHICH nutrients one CAN NOT get on a vegan diet.

You did bring up iron. But the Canadian and American dietary assoications as well as MOST specialists in nutrition have stated that ALL nutrients (including iron) are available in a vegan diet.

check out the chart on this website: http://www.soystache.com/iron.htm

And you refuse to visit the "Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine" website? because you do not trust medical sources on the internet? Okay well we are in 2009, EVERYONE is on the internet, and ALL their sources are validated by peer-reviewed studies and recognized medical evidence.

Meanwhile the book by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis "Becoming Vegan" also clearly lists all its sources.

As for meat and dairy industries haveing an agenda "like PETA" well... PETA is a not for profit, and the meat and dairy industries are large private mega corporations, so I think there is little that they do "like PETA"

their agenda is clear: to make money.

PETA's agenda: to help animals (including human animals)

I tend to trust the not-for-profit volunteers over the greedy corporation.

As for the amount of meat that you eat...well whether you eat an once or 3 pounds of the pig's flesh, he still has to die for it, so he really doesn't care how much of his body you eat.

Of course eating less is better than eating more, but it's still murder.

YOU said that you became vegan. If you became vegan out of a desire to do no harm to the animals, what happened to your morals? Do you just not care anymore?

Posted by: Antoine | June 2, 2009 01:59 PM

Wow, this maple syrup boycott has really gotten Canadians' attention! Judging by the ire expressed by supporters of the seal hunt, it looks like this fledgling boycott is already starting to have its intended effect.

Posted by: Lacey Matthews | June 2, 2009 03:09 PM

Antoine you're comments are falling on deaf ears. I went round and round with this poster and I BEGGED her to stop telling people she knew "basic biology"!

Funny, aren't you supposed to take notice when more than one person starts telling you the same thing??

Posted by: Tamra | June 2, 2009 03:33 PM

I think that this boycott is just what the Canadian government needs to get its butt in gear and do something about the sealing 'industry'.

This isn't a personal attack on the Canadian farming industry. If this barbaric hunt were taking place in the US I'm sure PETA would protest an iconic product of the States too.

This is a way to get the Canadian government to wake up. When I think of Canada, I think of the maple leaf. When I think maple, I think syrup. By boycotting Canada's most recognized symbol we will show them that everyone's view of their country is tarnished by the seal hunt.

Posted by: Annie | June 2, 2009 05:20 PM

How would a boycott of an industry like lumber allow your average Joe to participate in the boycott?

It wouldn't.

Syrup is a product everyone has easy access to and can recognize.

I just dumped my Canadian Maple syrup down the sink and won't buy another bottle until the seal hunt ends.

Posted by: T | June 2, 2009 05:28 PM

I have boycotted Canada. Everything!!!!!!! Until this barbarbic and sick tradition stops!!!!!!!

Posted by: carla | June 7, 2009 11:48 AM

I support boycotting any product Canada exports...the goal is to impact their revenues & this tactic is the only one most governments recognize! Killing seals, babies OR adults makes me physically ill. There is no need for it.

Posted by: cynthiaj.gauthier | June 15, 2009 07:57 PM

Seems pretty hypocritical to me... I am sure many of your supporting this boycott gladdy accept some product from animals on your dinner plate..... I am sure if we looked into how animals are treated accross North America it wouldn't be too different. Not saying it is right but those willing to point fingers should open their eyes throughly.

Posted by: Canadian and proud of it | June 16, 2009 11:25 AM

You may think that boycotting products like maple syrup is crazy. But I believe that we need to take the Boycott much further. Every day consumers vote with their money. They purchase products that bring prosperity to countries, and their citizens.
Refusing to purchase maple syrup or in my case all Canadian products is just a form of voting. I am using MONEY to express my total disgust with a country, its people and its government based on their actions.
If people have learned anything from recent events it is that money really makes the world go around. If you take it away it truely hurts.
Thats what I want, I want the people that support these cruel actions to hurt.
So I will boycott and I will encourage others to do the same.

Posted by: Lynn | June 19, 2009 08:07 PM

Dear Lynn,

I am a proud Canadian who is a supporter of PETA. I am aso a vergetarian. I am a city councillor in a small community and spend much of my spare time lobbying the provincial and federal governments to strengthen and enforce tough animal welfare laws. We have recently made headway in our efforts to end puppy mills. I also work with local dog rescue groups and am the co-founder, organizer and volunteer of an annual Animal Adoption & Pet Fair. Recently I have started to make efforts to fight against factory farms.

I am sure you can be more productive in saving seals than making the following statement:

... "I am using my money to express my disgust with a country, its people and its government, based on their action"...

I don't think it helps our cause. There are people all over the world who are fighting for animal rights. Lets stop throwing stones at each other, and creating unecessary divisions!
You have finally elected a wonderful, peace-loving president who is working hard to unify all nations. Let's give peace a chance and fight together for a world where animals are treated with compassion. I am optimistic that each of us can make a real difference, but let's work together, and focus our efforts where they can really make a difference.

Respectfully,

Karen

Posted by: Karen Messier | June 21, 2009 11:57 AM

Blame Canada...

Posted by: Hooberhobber | June 23, 2009 09:26 PM

There's a little too much of the sentiment of "Canadians support the seal clubbing" for my liking particulary from Lynn, and some others on here. Do you think we can tone it down a bit, I'm pretty sure the "hunt" will end pretty soon.

Posted by: Tim Smith | June 25, 2009 05:14 PM

Although canada produces 85% of the worlds maple syrup it makes up less than 1/5000th of the Canadian GDP

Source: Legatum Prosperity Index

Posted by: craigh | August 11, 2009 07:25 PM