Sep24
Brigitte Bardot Speaks Up for Seals
Posted at 10:04 AM | Permalink
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Comments (27)
The following is a guest post from actor and animal rights advocate Brigitte Bardot. A dedicated activist, whose foundation to help animals has tackled issues such as fur, horse slaughter, and companion animal overpopulation, Brigitte was the first celebrity to stand up for Canadian seals. Here, once again, she speaks out against the sinister seal slaughter.
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When, in 2003, some politicians and talk-show hosts called for a boycott of French products because of my country's politics against the war in Iraq, sales of French wine dropped by 26 percent in the United States in just a few days. This boycott may have cost French winemakers $112 million because of lost sales overseas.
There is little doubt that consumer boycotts hit where it hurts the most—in the wallet!
These massive ethical reactions from consumers can sometimes convince a government or a corporation to change the way that it does business. That is why I am supporting PETA's boycott of Canadian maple syrup until the Canadian government agrees to ban the slaughter of seals on the ice floes, the largest massacre of marine mammals on Earth, forever.
Canadian law authorizes seal pups to be legally killed as soon as they have lost their white baby fur, which happens about two weeks after birth. On the ice floes, the seals are bludgeoned, and some are skinned while still alive. Each spring, this vision of horror returns: The ice floes become an open-air slaughterhouse, where some pups are left in agony, their mothers trying desperately to revive their small bloody bodies.
This gruesome bloodshed has only one purpose: to fuel the fur trade!
Canadian officials are accomplices to these massacres and spend huge amounts of money to support this dying industry, which is a stain on their reputation in the eyes of the world.
This is why we must act and make Canada understand that it would be criminal, irresponsible, and economically suicidal to continue with the commercial seal slaughter.
The United States and the European Union have banned seal products, but Canada produces about 85 percent of the world's maple syrup―the maple leaf is even the symbol of this country.
As French wine was the ideal product designated by Americans to protest France's pacifist stance, maple syrup is the ideal product to boycott in order to protest Canada's aggressive stance.
Refusing to buy maple syrup so as to refuse to be an accomplice to the slaughter perpetrated on the ice floes can send a strong message to Canadian officials. That's why I am asking you to join PETA and boycott Canadian products to let the leaders of this country know that the seal slaughter is inhumane and disgraceful and that it represents a threat to Canada's economy.
I've been leading this fight for more than 33 years now, and I've already had some victories―with you today, we can win the final fight. I'm really counting on you!
Posted by Brigitte Bardot
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Comments
I really hope Brigitte can see the end of the seal hunt before her time comes. She is an angel for animals.
Posted by: NT | September 24, 2009 02:02 PM
I have always admired Brigitte Bardot for her long time compassion for animals. I know the people who run the Academy Award shows wanted her to come on to be a presenter and she said only if she can talk about animal abuse. They refused to let her talk about that so she has never appeared on the show.
Posted by: Rex's Mom | September 24, 2009 02:24 PM
Back in the day when presenters and recepients of the Oscar routinely got up and promoted their causes during their speeches, the Academy Awards was an interesting and fun show. It was the thought of something unexpected that made it that way. I have not watched the Academy Awards in years because the participants are no longer allowed to promote their causes. It became just one more boring excuse for a fashion show.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | September 24, 2009 04:45 PM
Ms.Bardot is a longstanding and valiant animal rights crusader who lives in a country that is not very keen in reference to animal welfare activism. She's also an animal rights pioneer.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | September 24, 2009 08:29 PM
I'll keep an eye on my maple syrup origins!!
Posted by: Pamela Ernest | September 24, 2009 08:58 PM
Brigitte is a hero in the animal rights movement and a great role model. Long may she fight the good fight. Merci Brigitte!
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | September 24, 2009 09:51 PM
Done Brigite.. no more canadian anything!!!!!
Posted by: carla | September 25, 2009 11:40 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: Kevin | September 25, 2009 06:09 PM
I'm in Brigite! You rock! You are one of my heros, you and Ingrid. I get so sad when the average person shows little regard to the precious innocent animals we have on earth. So to get a pick me up, I come to PETA.com. Thank you Brigit for posting today. It was another hopeful bright spot on the war on animal abuse!
Posted by: Jill | September 25, 2009 06:33 PM
Long may you live, lovely Brigitte! You are more beautiful now than you ever were, because your beauty shines from within. Keep on speaking for those who have no voice, dear one...And you are so right, the wallet is the place to hit!
Posted by: liliana | September 25, 2009 07:33 PM
Brigette has paved the way for the rest of us .........as Canadians we need to do whatever it takes to stop this senseless slaughter. As a Canadian who speaks for those who "cannot speak for themselves".............please spread the word and stand up for changing the Wrong into Right!
Posted by: Brenda | September 25, 2009 07:52 PM
I am a 59 year old Canadian who has been trying to get the annual seal hunt STOPPED for many years! It is very difficult when the politicians DON'T LISTEN to their citizens. Time and time again I vote for the politician who I think will do something to end the seal slaughter...but NOTHING EVER HAPPENS!!! Please help by doing what Bridget Bardot asks....boycot my country's products. Perhaps it is the only way to let Prime Minister Harper know that the world is watching and very unhappy with his decision to "INCREASE THE QUOTA OF SEALS TO BE SLAUGHTERED YEARLY" !!! Thank-you.
Posted by: Barbara-Anne Masson | September 25, 2009 08:58 PM
Thank you Brigitte for keeping up the good fight and following your values. I wish you all the best!
Posted by: Marie-Christine Husk | September 25, 2009 10:44 PM
I was blown away with Brigitte Bardot 30 years ago when I read about her in Paris Match, about the stand she was taking protecting the baby seals. It had a photo of her in the snow posing with a baby seal. What a pioneer. God bless you Brigitte!
Posted by: Carole Edmonds | September 26, 2009 12:30 AM
One more person here who is boycotting ALL Canadian products until they end this cruel and brutal practice. I will be checking country of origin for my Maple Syrup especially! Thank you Ms Bardot.
Posted by: Jacqueline | September 26, 2009 03:47 AM
I admire her and thank her for her remarkable work against animal cruelty. Go on Brigitte!
Posted by: Inès Stiénon | September 26, 2009 06:17 AM
Madame,
Bravo pour tout ce que vous faites. Et surtout de dire tout haut ce que les gens pensent tout bas. Je ne suis pas une fan mais une véritable amie. Demande qu'à vous soutenir!
Posted by: Paccaud | September 26, 2009 06:48 AM
She is still gorgeous inside and out. Animals are angels to me.
Posted by: peggy | September 26, 2009 11:02 AM
consider it done, no more maple syrup for me.
Posted by: emma | September 26, 2009 02:53 PM
If you take fish oil supplements, check the bottle.Some are produced in Canada.
Posted by: Nancy | September 26, 2009 11:04 PM
Couldn't agree more with the Rev Meg Schramm - issues people are passionate about are much more interesting than syruppy platitudes of vacuous strardom (eg "I love you all" said to audience of thousands). A great stand Brigitte!
Posted by: Darien Midwinter | September 27, 2009 12:59 AM
I would like to know what maple syrup production and the seal hunt has in common besides the fact that they are both Canadian.
Posted by: Diane | September 27, 2009 02:58 PM
C'est la fete a Brigitte !!
Phoque Bardot !!
Posted by: Jim Redmond | September 28, 2009 05:50 PM
I admire her personality and agree with everything that she said about the boicot, I wish everyone do the same and boicot not only the products from canada, else from China and other countries to encourage laws to protect the animals, finishing these barbaric practices.
Posted by: JHONSON BARRERA | September 28, 2009 11:04 PM
I always have admired Brigitte and her work for the animals rigths. Thanks for your support!!
Love from Costa Rica to you!!
Posted by: Gabriela Arguedas | October 1, 2009 05:57 PM
Brigitte Bardot is more beautiful than ever,she gives an example of life to those stars who only think of their physical appearance, money and affairs and forget about what they could do , how they could change the world by making use if their popularity. Brigitte did make a difference.
Posted by: Nanci Dagragnano | October 3, 2009 10:13 PM
Go Brigitte, I hope you will win this fight! I love You and I'm with You!
Posted by: Piotr/Pierre/Peter | October 4, 2009 02:00 PM