Thursday July 9, 2009, 10:52 am
There are the news:
Seal Alert-SA, Media Release, 9 July, 2009
It is now the 9th Day, and still the cull has not started, and with over 100 media articles around the world – no seal pups have been clubbed to death, although one news report claimed it had started today.

For those of you, who are not supportive of the buyout, please read the Examiner’s Amy Lou Jenkins article and view the slideshow for conclusive proof,
http://www.examiner.com/x-4002-Milwaukee-Green-Living-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Myths-keep-some-from-supporting-the-effort-to-stop-Cape-seal-slaughter

Latest article in Namibia, “Australian mogul asks for N$116 million to save seals” http://www.informante.web.na/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4396&Itemid=101

HSI ‘Offer’ Seal Alert-SA the $14 Million, and I mean NOW ! …

The ‘business’ of shutting down the Namibian Seal Cull gets ‘dirty’. These are the facts that need exposure to save a million endangered Cape fur seal pup lives.

HSI must do whatever it takes to immediately contact Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA and offer it the $14 million US dollars needed to buyout the Namibian Sealing Industry as per the written and signed offer Seal Alert-SA received in June 2009. HSI and Seal Alert should sit down with the Namibian Sealing Industry in Cape Town this next week, and start to deal.

Seal Alert-SA’s only demand in these negotiations. Is the the Seal cull must end immediately, and I want the factories, the sealing rights for a million Cape fur seals until 2019, the full sealing annual quota, and the consent of the Minister. The final price to be paid to end it and how, and buyout the industry completely, to be worked out between the Namibian sealing industry and HSI. The deal must be concluded this week legally.

The Facts :

In March 2006, Cathy Kangas sends a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, it reads, “If you stop this year’s hunt immediately, we will provide you with $16 million to be distributed at your discretion”, and goes on to say, “If this is really simply an economic problem, then take our offer. The money is being raised from animal protection groups worldwide including The Humane Society of the United States, which alone has more than 9 million members”. (see letter below)

No prior offer from the Canadian govt or sealers and with no guarantees $16 million was offered, Seal Alert demands the same for the Namibian Cape fur seals.

In August 2006, the Humane Society of the United States website, reads, “Namibia’s Commercial Seal Hunt Threatens Species Conservation”. It states further, “In 2000, Humane Society International sent a letter to then-President Sam Nujoma, urging him to reduce the quota and phase out the seal hunt. The letter was ignored. In 2000, the seal pup quota was 60 000, three years later, it is now 85 000. The website reads further, “In late 2006, more than 3 200 emails from HSI activists were sent to the Prime Minister. There has still been no response from government” . http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/namibian_seal_hunt.html and http://www.hsus.org/hsi/oceans/seals

Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Senior Scientist at Humane Society International is the person tasked by HSI to deal with the Namibian seal cull. Humane Society International – Australia, website in August 2006 reads, “EXTINCTION – Take Action, Action Alert – Please stop the Namibian Seal Slaughter” . http://www.hsi.org.au/?catID=442

In September 2006, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP (UK) co-writer of the Written Declaration to ban seal products in Europe, (that lead to the all seal species, full seal product import ban announced by the EU in May 2009), writes, “We are horrified that the Namibian authorities are culling 85,000 seal pups this year – an act of unjustified cruelty. The culls in Canada and Russia have been much publicized but until this week we were unaware of the plight of the Cape fur seals. We agree that any European ban must include all seal products and will do all that we can to help bring about an end to the unnecessary and inhumane slaughter of seal pups in Namibia”.

This declaration or ban, would have seen all seal species, including Cape fur seals, excluded for the EU, and only sort to ban the non-endangered Harp and Hooded seal species.

4 days later, Cath Miller assistant to MEP Caroline Lucas, mistakenly copies Seal Alert in an email to Caroline, it reads, “He is basically saying he intends to make a complaint against you to the Commission for deliberately lying in a written declaration, and if that is not successful he will campaign to get the written declaration withdrawn. Francois does have the resources to launch an international campaign to the Commission but basically he is a bully”. It reads further, “I cannot stress enough that your intention to complain to the Commission about the written declaration is misguided. You risk derailing the whole process and ensuring that legislation banning (just harp and hooded) seal products is never drawn up by the Commission. Caroline intends to use her considerable experience and understanding of the European political process to correct the original omission and argue for a ban that includes products from all seals, including Cape fur seals in Namibia”.

Caroline Lucas then writes, “I am not willing to accept any bullying of any member of my staff. I have indicated my willingness to do all that I can to ensure European Legislation includes a ban on the trade in Cape fur seal products, as the omission of this species from the written declaration (and all other 15 species of seal hunted around the world) was an oversight on the part of the co-authors. Please do not communicate with my office ever again”.

In July 2007, Prime Minister, Nahus Angela sends an email to Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA inviting him to a meeting with himself and Minister of Fisheries at his parliament offices in Windhoek.

On July 2007, following my meeting with the Prime Minister, HSI’s Naomi Rose writes, “We want to coordinate all our Namibian campaign efforts with Seal Alert because we recognise your central role in this campaign”.

Last year, 1 July 2008, Brussels EU. Press Release, supported by Eurogroupforanimals, IFAW, Humane Society International, GAIA, calls for a “International demonstration calls for strong ban on seal products”. The release reads, “The date of the demonstration was selected to coincide with the start of the French presidency and the start of the Namibian seal hunt, which is the second largest in the world”.
http://www.eurogroupanimalwelfare.org/news/pdf/prpredemo1july08.pdf

July 2009, taken from the Humane Society website, “HSUS is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organizations – back by 11 million Americans, or one in every 28. The Humane Society seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals – a world that will also benefit people. We are America’s mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the humane-animal bond.” http://www.hsus.org/hsi/about_us and http://www.hsus.org/about_us

It is time HSUS and HSI live up to their commitments and policy. Hundreds of millions of dollars has been donated over the past 30 years to these anti-seal hunt ngo’s, it is time they pay some of it back, to end their first Seal Hunt.

Why should American supporters support this buyout of the sealing industry in Namibia, simply because America was one of the country’s that started sealing in southern Africa, and directly caused the extinction of 23 seal colonies or 98 percent of the Cape fur seal population, that has never recovered and because the American govt was the first country to ban these imports in 1972, which unfortunately did not stop the seal cull?

Seal Alert-SA email to Naomi Rose of HSI, receives the following response, “I will on vacation July 3-5 and then away on business July 6-10. I will be checking emails regularly next week, but please be patient if my response is delayed. I will not be checking voice mail. Thank you”. Francois comments, “Is that not just typical first on holiday, no checking of voicemail, and then flying around on anti-seal hunt supporter donations, whilst the world largest seal cull starts”.

All emails, phone-calls and attempts to get HSI to answer questions, even on a radio station last night, for their complete lack of concern and inactivity, have received no response or even the concern of a reply.

HSI/HSUS has between 2006 and 2009 increased its membership by 2 million activists, if each of these new members, since HSI announced, “EXTINCTION – Take Action, Action Alert – Please stop the Namibian Seal Slaughter” on their website, each donated $7 just once, we would have the funds for buyout and stop the seal cull in Namibia and save 1 million Cape fur seal pups from clubbing.

If a single Cape fur seal pup dies this season I will hold HSI personally responsible, primarily due to their complete lack of communication in this matter.

For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA

Thursday July 9, 2009, 10:54 am
Had read this previously on the Seal Alert site, thanks for posting Joanna.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:04 am
SEAL HUNTING IS SO SICK !

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:22 am
Please send a pledge to Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA to donate 15$ (it's the "price" for 1 seal's life)
Write to Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA at sasealion@wam.co.za most urgently, stating clearly the amount of your financial pledge and your support (please be honest and keep your email short).

Please sign:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/433916724

Backgrounds:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/457397809/1179915


Backgrounds&updates:
http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com


please sign also the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/RobbenSA/petition.html


Please join Paola's group on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112496080882




If you don't know what the Namibiian seal slaughter is - watch the video to see the Namibian seal slaughter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzPcAvEARwIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzPcAvEARwI

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:27 am
Hear Francois' Plea Live Streaming Audio


Write/Fax/Email the South African government in protest about the ongoing sealing in Namibia, and about its practises re alienating the seals from their traditional island breeding grounds
==========================================================
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
Director: Media Liaison
Ms Nomfanelo Kota

Mail: Private Bag X152, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Union Buildings, Room 244, East wing, Government Avenue, PRETORIA
Tel: (012) 351 0174
Fax: (012) 351 0032 / 0165
Cell: 082 459 3787
E-mail: kotan@foreign.gov.za

Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs
Media Liaison Officer
Ms Linda Page

Mail: Private Bag X313, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: Sedibeng Building, 185 Schoeman Street, PRETORIA
Tel: (012) 336 8250
Fax: (012) 336 8664
Cell: 083 460 4482
E-mail: pagel@dwaf.gov.za

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Media Liaison Officer
Mr Godfrey Mdhluli

Mail: Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street: No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel: (012) 319 6843
Fax: (012) 321 8558
E-mail: GodfreyMD@nda.agric.za

The Presidency
Parliamentary Counsellor to the President
Ms Ayanda Dlodlo

Mail: Private Bag X1000, CAPE TOWN, 8000
Street: Tuynhuys Building, Parliament Street, CAPE TOWN
Tel: (021) 464 2121
Fax: 086 683 2121
E-mail: cchan@po.gov.za

Secretary to the National Assembly
Mr Mohamed Kamal Mansura

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Mail: PO Box 15, CAPE TOWN, 8000
Street: Parliament Building, Room E139, Parliament Street, CAPE TOWN
Tel: (021) 403 2600
Fax: (021) 403 3880
E-mail: kmansura@parliament.gov.za

SPEAKER AT PARLIAMENT
speaker@parliament.gov.za

HIGH COMMISSIONER - SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE IN NAMIBIA
High Commissioner
H.E. Mr EVG Komane

Mail: PO Box 23100, Windhoek, REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
Street: cnr Jan Jonker Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue, Windhoek, REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
Tel: 00 264 61 205 7111
Fax: 00 264 61 22 4140 / 8549 / 23 6093
konim@foreign.gov.za

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Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:36 am
Contact HSUS and HSI:
http://www.hsus.org/contact_us


http://www.hsus.org/hsi/about_us/contact_us/


and IFAW: info@ifaw.org

asking them for support for Francois Hugo

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:39 am
Great stuff Joanna. I know of other conservation organisations that have taken money from the public on causes, and then have done ZILCH for that very cause.

Francois is a hero, he is putting his life and his money where his mouth is. There are so many guilty parties to this Namibian seal culling that the threads become entangled, difficult to understand. One thing is certain, there are enough conservation societies and anit-cruelty animal leagues, not to mention HSI who have garnered millions of dollars for causes and who has done little to nothing for those causes.

Are they miffed that one man alone is blowing the whistle on this mess? If they really cared, they would let go of this one-man-upmanship and do what is needed RIGHT NOW!

I pray none of the seals have been clubbed yet.

Also, could everyone write a letter of protest to the South African goverment (yes, my country) for their cowardly silence on this issue?)

here are the email addresses:
konim@foreign.gov.za
kmansura@parliament.gov.za
cchan@po.gov.za
GodfreyMD@nda.agric.za
pagel@dwaf.gov.za
kotan@foreign.gov.za

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:41 am
Sorry, we must have been posting at the same time. I was just 'culling' the emails from my post with the SA government contacts, posted it here, and when the page reloaded saw you had already copied the post. Well, the more the merrier! Thank you Joanna!

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:45 am
Thank You all Care2 members and my dear friends who sent pledges to Francois Hugo, signed petitions and commented stories.

Special THANK YOU Eureka for help to keep the cause on the site, for finding infos, contacts, links, for all your comments about Francois on Tom's story and much more - thank you very much.

Special THANK YOU to Paola who keeps us updated posting on http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:55 am
Here is a sample letter that I've sent.
==============================
Subject: Namibian Seal Slaughter - Why the silence?

Dear Sir/Madam

I write regarding the seal culling to take place in Namibia, and perhaps as I’m writing a seal is already being clubbed to death.

Since the Namibian government is not going to ban sealing (it needs the income) and since those employed in the sealing will not stop (they need the income) and since a world ban did not include the Namibian seals (lax paperwork) the only recourse is to buy out the Namibian Sealing industry – lock stock and barrel.

This is eco-tourism at its best, not to mention preventing the extinction of the Cape Fur Seal.

The sealers have declared outright that they will not adhere to any ban, if such a ban is put in place, the operation will simply move the pelts to China, who is ready and waiting to fill the gap.

Since the world has now run out of time and options, a buyout is feasible, if the Namibian government sanctions the buyout. No one loses money, and seals keep living, with a chance to return to their natural habitat (which is NOT the beaches of Namibia).

Wildlife organisations have garnered huge amounts of money on behalf of the seals, and if their members truly believe in the organisation to which they profess membership, then surely there should be no problem to raise the fourteen million dollars for the buyout?

The South African government is alarmingly silent on this issue. And as this country had a major role to play in the initial and on-going displacement of these seals we would ask them to step in – using their influence to persuade their Namibian neighbour to find a sane and workable solution to prevent the seal culling.

In a nutshell, we ask all Conservation organisations and the South African government to support the proposed seal buyout, not just morally, but also financially.

Sincerely
[Your Name]
[Your Country]

Thursday July 9, 2009, 12:57 pm
Response I received from IFAW
========================
From: Info [mailto:Info@ifaw.org]
Sent: 09 July 2009 09:16 PM
To: Eureka Morrison
Subject: RE: Namibian Seal Slaughter - Why the silence?

Dear Eureka,

Ending Namibia's commercial seal hunt is an important step toward achieving IFAW's goal of ending commercial sealing globally.

The idea of a buy-out is appealing because they benefit seals and, ideally, fairly compensate individual sealers and sealing companies for moving on to other economic opportunities (see, for example, a recent economic study of Canada's commercial seal hunt that investigates economic mechanisms for ending it).

In order for a buy out to be successful, it is necessary to have a reasonable valuation of the industry, and the co-operation not only of the sealers and the sealing industry, but of the responsible government as well.

IFAW is currently monitoring the on-going discussions in Namibia and conducting its own evaluation of the proposed buy out.

At the present time we haven't yet secured adequate information to draw any definitive conclusions.

We are concerned, however, that there seems to be an unreasonable deadline associated with the current proposal. These sorts of proposals are complicated and require adequate time to work out the details.

Once we learn more, we will be in a better position to evaluate IFAW's involvement (if any) in the proposed buy out.

Best regards,

IFAW Supporter Relations

Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:23 pm
Noted & both signed. Thanks

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:18 pm
Thank you! You signed at 6:43 PM PDT, Jul 2, 2009

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:30 pm
What more needs to be said to stop this cruel, heartless and greedy industry? Anyone who can club a suckling baby seal has no soul and a heart as black as tar.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:36 pm
Thank you! You signed at 8:06 PM PDT, Jul 3, 2009
You can do more! Show me more petitions »

I am posting the letter to SA now.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:50 pm
Sick killing the poor Seals !

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:57 pm
he he IFAW has been sending the auto-reply from days so I reckon they don't do much
Thanks Eureka for the letter

Thursday July 9, 2009, 3:25 pm


Oh, how nice. Canada's seals finally get attention and are hands-off, so now it's suddently accept to massacre African seals?

It's always all about money and power.

And we all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely...just look at what humans do when they hold all the cards.

Ooops!

That's already happened, over and over and over and over and over again.....

Thursday July 9, 2009, 3:31 pm
THANKS !!! Noted... and take action !

Namibian Seals still in Danger
already signe à 10:55 AM PDT, Jul 1, 2009
signature goal: 10,000 / 309 signatures!

Saving The Cape Fur Seal From Extinction
3544. Camille Depayre (today)

Thursday July 9, 2009, 4:04 pm
All of the above Done ! And shared
Thanks Joanna

Thursday July 9, 2009, 4:10 pm
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed. konim@foreign.gov.za

Thursday July 9, 2009, 4:11 pm
Already signed both. Noted with thanks Joanna.

Thank you! You signed at 4:21 PM PDT, Jul 2, 2009

It appears as though you have already signed this petition. Each person may only sign a particular petition one time. Your signature number is 3266.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 5:11 pm
Yip Claudia, the email to the south african high commissioner in Namibia is bouncing. I noticed it too, but there is no other email address available on the internet that I could find. I'll call the government dept on Friday and get the correct email address and post it here.

Joanna, this is the second canned response (same as before) that I've received from IIFAW. One wonders if they are working behind the scenes or doing nothing.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 5:21 pm
THANK YOU WILL SHARE ALL

Thursday July 9, 2009, 5:25 pm
I was looking for other email address as well -
I'll try to find addresses to embassies but tomorrow I have to sleep a little to get up early
HUGS for AlLL

Thursday July 9, 2009, 5:28 pm
Alfready signed, emailed sent. I hope they take this offer in order to save the seals.. Certainly there are food sources avaible to them, for they are a poor country, thanks Cher

Thursday July 9, 2009, 6:19 pm
All of the above actions done, thank you Joanna for providing such a wealth of info and resources to help Save the Seals.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 6:32 pm
Wishing kind-hearted Francois Hugo success. Noted & signed ~ Thanks Joanna

Thursday July 9, 2009, 7:33 pm
Thanks Joanna for your ever so meaningful work.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 7:45 pm
Already signed and e-mail sent.
Noted with a lot of thanks Dearest Joanna.
Love,
Black Dalia:)

Thursday July 9, 2009, 11:08 pm
Petition noted and signed

Friday July 10, 2009, 12:59 am
noted and signed. Please stop this horrific practice before any more innocent animals suffer the same fate.

Friday July 10, 2009, 1:08 am
hope the evil monsters stop this murder

Friday July 10, 2009, 3:21 am
Francois Hugo looks and sounds like a really caring person for the seals. I am so glad the seal cull has not yet started and hope it WON'T - and that the buy-out goes ahead. The seal babies and mamas deserve to be safe and to live.

Friday July 10, 2009, 5:45 am
emails sent and still looking for others that can help with this dire situation. Thank you Joanna and Eureka for the wealth of info....watch this heartwarming video on "WHY WE SHOULD NEVER KILL THEM".....anyone who can raise a club after seeing this has no heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nin0spCH8YM

Friday July 10, 2009, 6:18 am
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/namibian-seal-slaughter/

Friday July 10, 2009, 6:18 am
http://www.harpseals.org/help/letters_and_emails/namibia_email.php

Friday July 10, 2009, 12:19 pm
Friends, if we can "kill" this seal clubbibg industry, then we have achieved a huge victory. Imagine how the rest of the world can follow. Add up all your internet money and time trying to oppose all seal clubbing. Petitions dont help anymore and we must now up our game and stop all animal cruelty forever. It will be wonderful to stop this seal clubbing here in South Africa. You know, this country is leading the crime industry of which I am not proud of.

Friday July 10, 2009, 3:03 pm
Thanks to ALL

there is a comment from Paola:


Thank you !! Every day new people join the group!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112496080882

1.578 members !!!!!

Friday July 10, 2009, 5:26 pm
Thanks Cristina for posting this:

Pressure the Namibian government to end the slaughter forever.
Write to Namibia today!
http://www.harpseals.org/help/letters_and_emails/namibia_email.php
 
Ask major animal protection groups to support this buyout with financial contributions and expert assistance in the negotiation process.
 
http://www.harpseals.org/resources/links/index.html

Friday July 10, 2009, 5:44 pm
Thanks for all the links everyone.

Friday July 10, 2009, 6:11 pm
Here is a link to where Sea Shepherd endorces the conservation work of Francois Hugo
Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd praises Francois Hugo

Friday July 10, 2009, 6:12 pm
Thanks Joanna - I've sent the email.

Friday July 10, 2009, 6:18 pm
Readers, please go to this link - and read this very informative article about Francois Hugo's mammoth efforts to save the baby seals washed up on our South African beaches - because of the South African government's reprehensible policy on NULL seal rescue and driving them away from their original habitat.

And this man still has the guts to take on the Namibian government too! I am ashamed of my country!!
African Conservation on Seal Alert

Saturday July 11, 2009, 3:43 am
Some orgs started email actions to Hatem Yavuz asking him to stop doing the bloody business as the seal skins market is collapsing anyway - but I found his reply written on 16 June where he states that WEST market is collapsing while EAST countries demand of luxury products (fur) is growing so if Yavuz give up then China will buy the seal hunt in Namibia.
So please write your own letter which will be response to this:

The Noises of Seal Fur Protestors - by Hatem Yavuz

19 June 2009

I have been dealing with skins, tanning them and producing high fashion materials for the world market for almost 15 years. However, our company established by my late father has been in this business for more than 35 years.

We come from a fishing town south of Turkey in the name of Karatas (Black Rock), and emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1970. Why do I mention where I am coming from? – A fishing town with many seamen we have greater knowledge on how the marine life works. This is where my knowledge on seal harvesting comes into place.

Our company produces one of the best leather and fur garments and materials in the world. Unique, quality - not quantity.

In 2001, I decided to take a trip to Canada and the Barent Sea. I witnessed many seals being harvested.

The scenery was in some way disturbing as the method of harvesting was not totally ethical. Non-ethical in a sense that many seals were culled, skinned and the carcass thrown or left on the ice, making the harvest turned into culling. Since only the skin was the main issue not the meat or even in some cases the oil.

However, it was legal and still is.

My trip to Namibia showed a different picture. The Ministry of Fisheries has imposed strict rules and methods and usage of the harvesting of seals in Namibia, which respects the fact the WHOLE animal is used, in some ways like a sheep or cattle, in addition properly controlled (if I had to compare it to the Canadians or others, whereby control was not in existence).

Since your last article on my company profile, I have been receiving many emails by seal protestors, saying, “I was the bad man on the planet.” I have nothing to hide. Yet ignorant approaches by the protestors have led me to write this article.

I spoke to a man from South Africa in the name I just heard of Mr Francois Hugo, who by all respect spoke to me appropriately.

My comments were very factual and in some way political.

FACTS: If I don’t buy these skins and oils etc., the monster economy CHINA will.......
. Due to the respect by the Namibian harvesters, they have not bent down to the Chinese. Even in the event that I don’t buy the skins, then the fishing industry will do what is necessary for their business. The difference is between the Chinese and I, is that I make a very nice value added product which does not require mass quantities.

The Chinese manufacturers will have to purchase the full quota and maybe ask for an increase on the quota to make up the same value that I have done in the past years. Eventually they will learn, and eventually they will approach our company and pay us top dollars to teach them, since the seal protestors will eventually play the so-called productive role in stopping my company doing this business. I would have to sell this section of my company to the Chinese. What happens then?

The Chinese are in negotiations with the Canadian harvesters to cull the full quota of harp seals. This is an example when you BAN.

The middle class Chinese are seen almost everywhere, elite shopping centres popping up like mushrooms throughout the country. The Chinese dominate the Mink, Beaver, Fox, Racoon and now the Seals?

Mink culling increased by 120%, Beavers by 65%, Fox by 72%.

I cannot wait to hear about the seals. They will sell masses for a fraction of its cost, while western manufacturers value add for a prime value which don’t require masses of skins. This is the catch 22 I am talking about.

It was also said that the pressure and lobbying by the seal protestors led to the EU ban this year.

Let’s face facts, the consumers of the EU (coming from a country that produces the world’s best leather garments - Turkey) are not even purchasing lambskins, let alone to purchase furs.

The EU is almost dead in the fur and leather trade. Look east, the new world. The new riches. The world which the west has downgraded for many decades. They will lead, not the west.

We are talking about Russia, China, India and the Turkic nations from Turkey which run to the border of China.
Like the west a century ago was in the same position as today’s east, thriving and thirsty for luxury and prime identity was it not the EU nations that prompted the mass killings of all types of species?

Walking down the streets in Beijing, Dalian, Vladivostok, Kalinangrad, Delhi, Istanbul, Madras, Moscow you will see what the west once thrived on a century ago – luxury demand.

Do you think the East is going to listen to the double standards led by the West? A new world order is definitely taking place, but by trying to push professional people like ourselves aside and seeing us as an obstacle, will only create unprofessional, hungry and uncontrollable moguls to take over.

NOTE: I also played a role in the reduction of culling American Beavers by having fur seals on the market.

Similar in texture, and being more diverse, the consumer has more to choose from.

The Namibian government has its problems with masses of fur seals on its coast, this is similar to the problems Australia has with the kangaroos of which some 1.1 million of them are shot every year.

Every country has its ecological problems, and their state has to do something about it. I do respect protestors, as long as the protestors themselves look in the mirror and calculate the outcome first before making noise.

The facts given by Francois on the number of fur seals, contradict the numbers seen across the Atlantic ocean from South Africa to Angola. Facts have to be taken up again.

Hatem Yavuz
Yavuz Group
http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=5038


contacts:
Yavuz Group Australia
Hatem Yavuz
4/43 A Ethel St. Seaforth N.S.W.
Sydney, Australia
61-2-9948 5366; fax: 61-2-9948 5377
email: hatemyavuz@superonline.com

Yavuz Group Turkey
Hatem Yavuz
Organize Deri Sanayi Boelgesi 11 Yol B-1 Parsel
Tuzla, Istanbul
ph: +90 (216) 394 27 20-21; fax: +90 (216) 394 27 22
email: info@yavuzgrup.com


You can use as a base a letter from antifursociety:
Dear Hatem Yavuz of Australia,

As a Namibian Cape fur seal buyer you have recently hit the press, but not in a way you ought to be proud of as you have now become the primary supporter of one of the most cruel and violent trade: Namibia's Cape Fur Seal skins. Since the Canada lost its seal trade in Europe because of the EU's seal trade ban, Namibia has now become the largest seal hunter in the world, claiming notoriety as the world seal pups killer. Whether you like it or not, you as the primary buyer is directly responsible for the continuation of the brutal killings of seal pups. If there is any doubt in your mind as to the exact cruelty involved in the killing of these infant animals, A report was compiled after extensive research done by the European Food Safety Authority and outlines welfare issues surrounding the killing of seal which concluded that the killings are unnecessarily cruel and unacceptable.

The skins are sold to you at very low prices, and the seal clubbers receive derisive wages, and are even forced to live in cardboards. You not only are being responsible for the cruel killings of seal pups, but are also contributing with labor exploitation. If you do not care for the welfare of the animals, you could at least consider the workers welfare. These seasonal workers are poor - not immune to emotions, and certainly the brutal killings will affect them psychologically. All the while those who profit from their trauma sit in luxury getting their hands dirty only by the immoral background of their income.

Footage of these dwellings is available here http://www.ecoeye.org/ecoeye/Film%20database/CF593352-3B8E-49EB-9029-C9D60D2A3A6A.html

Apart from the inhumane aspects of the brutal killings, the annual seal cull lasts for 139 days in Namibia, and it immensely disturbs the seal breeding behaviour in the colonies, causing them to collapse. This in turn destroys the seal viewing ecotourism. If the toursim industry is given a chance to grow, the then former seal-clubbers will be absorbed with permanent touristic jobs. You are currently receiving a lot of bad publicity, and it will not go away until you have reconsidered and pulled yourself out of such a bloody and cruel business. You are a very intelligent and ingenious man, and certainly can find other sources to continue acquiring wealth without getting yourself inside of such a despicable world: The bloody fur trade.

PLEASE HELP STOP THE BLOODY SEAL PUP SKIN TRADE!

Saturday July 11, 2009, 4:22 am
Namibia contacts:
HIGH COMMISSIONERHis Excellency Mr Philemon Kambalasecretary@namibia.org.za1st SECRETARY- POLITICALMr John Shifidisecpol@namibia.org.za1st SECRETARY- ECONOMICMrs Elizabeth V Vanheessececon@namibia.org.za1st SECRETARY- CULTURALMrs Adri Pillaycultural@namibia.org.zaCOMMERCIAL COUNSELLORMrs Bonaventura Hindacomcounsellor@namibia.org.zacomassistant@namibia.org.zaGovernment
http://www.grnnet.gov.na/grnabout.htmlOffice of the PresidentPresident Hifikepunye Pohambahpohamba@op.gov.naPM Right Hon. Nahas Angulanangula@opm.gov.naDeputy Prime Minister:Libertina Amathilalamathila@opm.gov.naSecretary: Nangula Mbakonmbako@opm.gov.naMinistry of Environment and Tourismnnandi-ndaitwah@met.gov.naljooste@met.gov.nakshangula@met.gov.nawamagulu@met.gov.naMinistry of Fisheries and Marine Resourcesaiyambo@mfmr.gov.naknguvauva@mfmr.gov.naftsheehama@mfmr.gov.na
Ministry of Trade and Industryhgeingob@mti.gov.natmushelenga@mti.gov.namlindeque@mti.gov.na

Saturday July 11, 2009, 4:22 am
Namibia contacts:

HIGH COMMISSIONER
His Excellency Mr Philemon Kambala
secretary@namibia.org.za

1st SECRETARY- POLITICAL
Mr John Shifidi
secpol@namibia.org.za

1st SECRETARY- ECONOMIC
Mrs Elizabeth V Vanhees
sececon@namibia.org.za

1st SECRETARY- CULTURAL
Mrs Adri Pillay
cultural@namibia.org.za

COMMERCIAL COUNSELLOR
Mrs Bonaventura Hinda
comcounsellor@namibia.org.za
comassistant@namibia.org.za

Government
http://www.grnnet.gov.na/grnabout.html
Office of the President
President Hifikepunye Pohamba
hpohamba@op.gov.na
PM Right Hon. Nahas Angula
nangula@opm.gov.na
Deputy Prime Minister:Libertina Amathila
lamathila@opm.gov.na
Secretary: Nangula Mbako
nmbako@opm.gov.na
Ministry of Environment and Tourism
nnandi-ndaitwah@met.gov.na
ljooste@met.gov.na
kshangula@met.gov.na
wamagulu@met.gov.na
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
aiyambo@mfmr.gov.na
knguvauva@mfmr.gov.na
ftsheehama@mfmr.gov.na
Ministry of Trade and Industry
hgeingob@mti.gov.na
tmushelenga@mti.gov.na
mlindeque@mti.gov.na

Sunday July 12, 2009, 3:05 am
Seal Alert media release 12 July:
(...)
Francois Hugo questions why the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) South African director of operations, Jason Bell, has not got back him to regarding IFAW’s decision to assist in the buyout or not. Francois Hugo is sure the Namibian Sealing Industry would accept $1,4 million as a down payment to secure the buyout. When considering IFAW spent a bequest of $10 million on building their new head office, and had $25 million dollar income from donations last year, plus a further $41 million in assets or cash in bank and 3 million supporting members.

It does not seem appropriate that IFAW stands by doing nothing. Whilst the world’s largest seal cull hangs by a thread. A thread a single individual is holding tightly. The largest cull of endangered seals, the last nursing seal pup cull in the world and the largest slaughter of wildlife in Africa and the first seal hunt, following the EU Seal import ban in May, is about to begin or begun.

Depending on who you support and believe.

IFAW needs to clarify its statement to a supporter of the buyout it made 9 days into the 2009 sealing season (see below).
(see Eureka's post)

Monday July 13, 2009, 10:36 am
Joanna, the world is sitting down, doing nothing. And the seals will die. I understand why Cid buggered off away from these so-called conservation non-profits. They start out with a good idea, then get too big for their boots, and forget why they were formed in the first place. Spending $10 milliion on a building? That is a shame. I know conservationists who operate from little more than a shack and make a huge difference.

Human greed is disgusting, IFAW's deafening silence is an indictment upon their commitment to the conservation of wildlife. As for the others? Shame on them. When this slaughter is in full swing, may God have mercy on their miserable stoogelike souls.

The human capacity for apathy and greed is quite extraordinary. This is so sickening.

Monday July 13, 2009, 10:44 am
Sealers Wait for the Media Attention to Wane, So They Can Begin the Slaughter of the Cape Seal

Please friends note Maria's story and leave a comment on examiner site - as the author writes media attention will buy Francois HUgo additional time to raise sufficient pledges and stop the killers "The sealers are expected to move their operations southward to the denser populations of seals once the media attention wanes. Then the mass killing begins."
Please forward!

Saturday July 18, 2009, 12:02 pm
Update:
Seal Alert-SA, Media Release, 17 July 2009
HSUS’s Genesis & Bridget Bardot ‘Green’ Award Winning Film-maker
Sits in Namibian Jail Charged for filming the US, EU & SA Banned Namibian Seal Pup Cull
According to AFP in Windhoek, Journalists Bart Smithers and Jim Wickens are being held in police cells at Henties Bay, following their arrest at 7am for filming a seal colony, and will appear in court on Friday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090716/sc_afp/namibiaenvironmentarrestseals_20090716181614 . France’s Le Monde newspaper also ran the story, http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-39876257@7-58,0.html
Although the Minister of Fisheries grants sealers the right to club seal pups. The Minister’s jurisdiction ends at the high-tide water mark. The seal-clubbers practice of driving seal herd’s inland away from the seashore to club them. Is what in fact contravenes the Fisheries jurisdiction. The Minister of Fisheries has no legal basis to charge the two journalists, as this land upon which the Cape Cross seal colony sits, is managed by the Minister of the Environment and Tourism. The Cape Cross Colony is open to tourists all year round. The arrest and charge is therefore unlawful, as is the assault and damage to very expensive camera equipment by the sealers.

Is any tourist safe in Namibia now ? Should foreign embassy’s not issue warnings advising their citizens to avoid visiting any of the remote seal colonies in Namibia. For fear of being falsely assaulted and beaten for mistakenly being journalists.

more:
http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/film-maker-sits-in-namibian-jail-charged-for-filming/

Saturday July 18, 2009, 12:02 pm
Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA also received the following email today from Hatem Yavuz, it reads,

“From: hatemyavuz@superonline.com . To: Seal alert Francios hugo .Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:23 PM Subject: Re: S-Day for Namibian Seals Begun. Hello Francios, Thanks for your email. YÓu may put it on record if you wish. I rcvd ur offer for halting anys seal harvest……..yet it is much more expensive than you think according to your calculation and may jeopardize my business and my relations with the fisheries. I have understood two issues here: You as seal alert-Francios Hugo is and seems to be the most legitimate activist I personally encountered, yet unfortunatley you have been left alone In your venture Which has receeded your influence worldwide. I personally have newly understood, the morale issues by the main activists are based on making NOISE for DONATIONS, rather than the real cause. This has shown YOU and WE, are alone on this planet since both sides of the extremes are not of value interms of ethics………those who see and believe sailing on flashy boats and ships are basically enjoying the tripple digit income and million dollar offices for the sake WE and companies like Yavuz to do what we do, for the sake of Seal Shephard, animal australia and what’s very ironic HSI.
We will do what we have to, you will proceed naturally( which the activists of naturellly would not know the meaning of ).Good luck, just remember that ‘no one is the real winner on any side of this battle except the battle itself’. ” Churchill”…..to have peace, you must be ready for war. “Ataturk” Peace at home, is peace in the world. Don’t forget, The TUrkish nation is adopting this rule by enforcing energy pipe lines( nabucco, btc, and others) through its territory to avoid future wars, we are also in this process and we don’t want to confront a wise persone like yoursself, yet you as an individual must understand States have an agenda, like it or not. We also have to deal with our situation and obligation(s). Regards Hatem YAVUZ YAVUZ Group.

What remains now to be seen, is whether HSUS, IFAW and WSPA will come to the immediate aid of these two journalists or ignore these two, like they have to date done with Seal Alert-SA’s attempt to buyout the sealing industry two weeks ago, which effectively ignored the plight of the Cape fur seals.

Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA’s also received the following email from Claire Bass of World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) at 11.05am, “Francois,I am very disappointed to see that – less than 48 hours after we spoke and I agreed to speak to my HSI colleagues and our legal people about your plans – you have reverted back to back-stabbing NGOs, including HSI and WSPA. Having spoken to Mark Glover we agreed that we would contact you to arrange a call but I’m afraid your latest outburst has destroyed any foundation we may have had to talk professionally or civilly about this. I especially resent your assertion that HSI (Rebecca Aldworth) runs a ‘PR’ anti-sealing campaign – having witnessed first hand HSI’s incredible and successful campaign to secure a ban in the EU this really could not be further from the truth. I cannot imagine how you think you can ask us to work alongside and support you and then just hours later launch a bitter (and unfounded) organisational and personal attack. Furthermore, in addition to several legal problems which have been identified with your $14million plan, your volatile and unreasonable behaviour would prevent us from collaborating with you on this. Please be advised that we are developing our own plans to address this horribly cruel and unnecessary hunt and will keep you informed as they progress. I’m sorry you have created this unpleasant situation. I would urge you in future to try to stop your passion and fury from making enemies with people who are on the same side as you.Claire“.

Saturday July 18, 2009, 12:28 pm
Joanna, thanks for the update. As my time online is limited (pc only going to be ready next week Monday) I can't do much right now. I'm following the saga in the South African Newspapers. Today there was quite a big article about the two journalist who were arrested. What a sad, sad, tale.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 6:08 am
noted joanna