Dr. Jerry Vlasak of California chooses jail over paying fine for seal hunt violation.
One of 11 seal hunt protesters convicted earlier this year of coming illegally close to the 2005 seal hunt has surrendered himself to authorities to begin serving a 22-day jail term.
Dr. Jerry Vlasak, a California trauma surgeon, has opted to serve time at the Provincial Correctional Centre rather than pay a $1,000 fine imposed by provincial court Judge Nancy Orr.
Vlasak, a highly controversial figure in the animal rights movement, said he would not pay the fine as long as the federal government continues to support and promote the seal hunt.
While awaiting transport to jail he took the opportunity to restate his opposition to the hunt, saying the hunt was both cruel and unnecessary and existed solely to provide pelts to make articles of clothing for the rich.
Vlasak is the first of the protesters to turn himself in and begin serving his sentence. John Mitchell, legal counsel for the high-profile animal rights activist, said he’s aware of plans by several of those arrested with Vlasak to turn themselves in and serve their respective sentences.
But none of those individuals have advised Mitchell when they intend to return to Charlottetown.
Vlasak and his co-accused were members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and at the time charges were laid they were serving as crew aboard the society’s ship Farley Mowat.
They were convicted of illegally coming within half a nautical mile of seal hunters in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on March 30,2005.
Seal Hunt in Western Canada? [SSCS]
On March 28th, Captain Paul Watson was interviewed by CBC television for his response to a call for a West Coast Canadian Seal Slaughter.
The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is making noises about setting a quota of 20,000 seals on the West Coast. There was no indication as to the targeted species – harbour seals or seal lions?
Captain Watson informed CBC that any move towards opening a slaughter of seals on the Pacific coast would be strongly opposed.
Croatia has joined Mexico, the United States, Greenland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, which have banned or are in a process of introducing a ban on import of pelts and other products derived from seals.
March 15, 2006: Zagreb - citizens protest against the slaughter of seals in Canada
News Release from Animal Friends Croatia: Zagreb, Croatia, March 29, 2006:
At the height of protests on six continents and with the opposition of the whole world, Croatian Nature Protection Division - Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Department with the Ministry of Culture bans the import of seal pelts and other products derived from seals!
According to the Directive of the Council of Europe, which came into force by being published in Official Gazette No. 34/2006 on March 27, 2006, Croatia banned the commercial import of skin and other products derived from skin and seals In this case, the word is about the Cystophora cristata - hooded seals and Phoca groenlandica - harp seals, the very species of seals that are now commercially being hunted on the east coast of Canada!
‘By taking this extremely important step, Croatia contributed a lot to endeavours of the Coalition to Protect Seals which at the moment has 47 member organizations from all over the world, but also to more than 70% of world and Canadian public which is opposing to this pointless and shameless slaughter', says Luka Oman, chairman of Animal Friends Croatia. 'We would like that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Croatia follows the bright example of the Ministry of Culture and implements the ban on breeding animals for fur in Croatia in their Animal Protection Bill Proposal. '
Animal Friends Croatia
Another anti seal hunt activist is on a hunger strike - April 2 [sscs]
Ottawa, Canada- Svetlana Fotinov is now in her 3rd day of a hunger strike before the Canadian Parliament Buildings, protesting the seal hunt in Canada.
Hunger Strike in Jail, Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island,Canada - April 2 [sscs]
Dr. Jerry Vlasak, the trauma surgeon from Los Angeles, is in his 3rd day of a hunger strike inside the jail where he has been sentenced to twenty-two days for approaching within a half of a nautical mile of where a sealer was killing a seal.
Twenty-two days for witnessing the cruel and brutal slaughter of a seal pup. Not only was Dr. Vlasak charged with this, he was attacked by sealers on the ice, struck with a sealing club, and his face bloodied. The Mounties refused to lay charges against his assailants.
Sea Shepherd crew member Lisa Shalom, to be sentenced on April 3rd for filming seal slaughter- April 2 [sscs]
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.-Canadian Lisa Shalom, who was arrested last March for witnessing a seal being killed, is scheduled to appear in court in Charlottetown, on Monday, April 3rd for sentencing.
Ten of the eleven Sea Shepherd crew have been sentenced to pay $1,000 fines each for approaching sealers engaged in the act of killing seals. The convictions are being appealed. Lisa Shalom was the only Canadian charged and was given a separate sentencing date. There is some speculation that because she is Canadian her sentence could be more severe.
HSUS Grounded in Prince Edward Island- April 2 [SSCS]
Canadian Rebecca Aldworth and her crew from the Humane Society of the United States have been grounded by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
After having seal guts thrown at them by sealers and after their inflatable boat was rammed by a sealing vessel, Rebecca, five other crew, and a reporter from Reuters were charged with approaching within 10 meters of the sealers who attacked them. The HSUS boat was damaged.
They all had permits to document the slaughter, however, the permits restrict the approach to the sealers to a distance of 10 meters. Alternatively, the sealers are not restricted from approaching the people with the permits. When a sealer approaches a person with a permit, the permit holder is required to withdraw and maintain a 10 meter distance. Therefore, when the sealers came toward and attacked the HSUS crew, the victims in the attack automatically were in violation of the regulations.
Of course, no sealers were charged with assault or damage to property (Obviously,the law is one sided in favor of seal killers in Canada).
Pamela Anderson sends 50,000 petitions to Prime Minister, April 3
Halifax, Canada- Pamela Anderson mails petitions to end the East Coast seal hunt.
She stopped in a Canada Post mail box and said :"Proud Mr. Harper," said the model and actor, opening the slot. "He said he didn't want to see me, so we're just sending him a bunch of letters."
Kissing one of the envelopes closed, Anderson said: "He can't refuse that. "Hopefully we're going to hear something positive from him and we'll stop the seal hunt."
At the Juno Presentation, she said sharp joke involving English musician Seal, who, according to Anderson, didn't come to the Junos because he was afraid he'd be clubbed.
Pam also said, "I don't mind a little blood on the ice when it's a hockey rink, but I hate seeing blood on the ice when it's from baby seals."
When some of the audience booed, Pam responded, “"I have high heels and they dig in deep."
This year has seen the strongest protests ever mounted against the seal slaughter. The clubbing of the seals has ignited protests around the world and has attracted high-profile opposition from Sir Paul and Lady Heather Mills McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, Pamela Anderson, Persia White, Martin Sheen, Richard Dean Anderson, Dan Haggerty, Anna Nicole Smith,Rutger Hauer and Morrisey.
Ice sculpture made by IFAW to protest seal hunt / Escultura de hielo hecha por IFAW para protestar caza de focas
Activista anti caza de focas, anuncia planes de irse a huelga de hambre - Marzo 28
Uno de 11 activistas quienes protestaban la caza de focas, Jerry Vlasak de Californa escoge carcel a pagar for multa por violacion a caza de focas
Se les acuso este ano por estar ilegalmente cerca a la caza de focas en Canada en 2005 y se ha rendido a las autoridades para empezar a servir 22 dias de carcel. Jerry Vlasak, un Californiano cirujano,decidio tomar carcel que pagar $1,000 US de multa.La controvertida figura del movimiento de derechos animalistas, dijo que no va a pagar al gobierno de canada hasta que dejen ellos de promover la caza de focas.
Mientras esperaba transporte a la carcel, Vlasak tomo la oportunidad para oponer la caza, diciendo que es cruel e innnecesaria y existe solamente para proveer pieles para hacer abrigos y adornar ropa de los ricos.
Vlasak es el primero de los activistas en entregarse para servir sentencia. El abogado de Vlasak, dijo que los otros activistas se van a entregar para servir sentencia tambien.
Vlasak y los otros activistas, son miembros del Shepherd Conservation Society y servian en el barco Farley Mowat cuando se les acuso. Ellos fueron acusados de venir ilegalmente a media nautica milla de los cazadores de focas en el Golfo de St. Lawrence en Marzo 30, 2005.
Paul Watson, presidente del SSCS, fue cargado con la misma ofensa, pero gano bajo argumento que el estaba en su residencia el barco Farley Mowat.
Los cargos se hcieron luego de una altercacion enetre cazadores de focas y miembros del SSCS que estaban documentando la matanza de las focas bebes.Croacia Prohibe la importacion de pieles de Focas -Marzo 29La Sea Shepherd Conservation Society aplaude los esfuerzos de Animal Friends Croacia, por el anuncio que el Ministro de Cultura de Croacia, se ha unido a Mexico, Estados Unidos, Groenlandia, Holanda, Belgica, Alemania, Reino unido, y Luxemburgo, quienes han prohibido o estan en proceso de introducir una prohibicion de pieles y otros productos derivados de focas.Noticias del Animal Animal Friends Zagrev, Croacia - March 29
Mientras el mundo esta batallando por las focas de Canada Croacia prohibe la importacion comercial de pieles y otros productos derivadosde focas, en este caso es de la Cystophora cristata - focas encapuchadas y las Phoca groenlandia - focas harp, las especies que estan ahora mismo cazando comercialmente en la costa este de Canada !
Animal Friends Croatia
Ciudadanos hacen huelga de hambre por las focas en Ottawa, Canada - Abril 2 [sscs]
En Ottawa, Svetlana Fotinov esta en su tercer dia de huelga de hambre enfrente del edificio del parlamento Canadiense.
Huelga de hambre en la carcel -Abril 2 [sscs]
En Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, el Dr. Jerry Vlasak, un cirujano de trauma de Los Angeles, esta en su tercer dia de huelga de hambre dentro de la carcel, donde ha sido sentenciado a 22 dias por acercarse a media milla nautica de donde un cazador estaba cazando una foca bebe.
Veintidos dias por ser testigo del cruel y brutal matanza de focas bebes.Twenty-two days for witnessing the cruel and brutal slaughter of a seal pup. No solo fue este Dr. acusado de ellos, pero ademas fue atacado por cazadores de focas en el hielo, golpeado con un palo-gancho (con lo que matan focas), y su cara terminar toda sangrienta. Los Policias montados no quisieron darle cargos alos cazadores por el asalto!
Miembro de la tripulacion del Sea Shepherd Lisa Shalom, va a ser sentenciada manana por filmar matanza de focas - Abril 2 [sscs]
La Canadiense Lisa Shalom, quien fue arrestada who was arrested hace un ano por ser testigo de la matnaza de focas, a a aparecer en corte, manana para su sentencia en Charlottetown, Prince Edward.
10 de 11 miembros de tripulacion del Sea Shepherd han sido sentenciados a pagar $1,000 dolares por acaercarce a cazadores que estaban matando focas. Lisa Shaloera la unica Canadiense con cargos y se le dio separada fecha para sentencia. hay especulacion que porque ella es Canadiense, su sentencia puede ser mas fuerte.
El HSUS esta castigado en Prince Edward Island, Canada - Abril 2 [sscs]
La Canadiense Rebecca Aldworth y su grupo de la Sociedad Humana de los Estados Unidos, estan castigados por el Departamento de Pescaderias y oeanos de Canada.
Luego de que se les tiraron intestinos de focas por los cazadores de focas y de que su bote inflable fue gopeado a proposito por un barco de cazadores, Rebecca y 5 otros del HSUS y un reportero del Reuters, fueron acusados de acercarse a 10 metrosde los cazadores en accion que luego los atacaron. El bote del HSUS fue danado.
Todos ellos tenian permiso de observantes, sin embargo, los permisos restrigen 10 metros la distancia entre ellos y cazadores. Lo contrario es para los cazadores, quienes no estan restringidos de acercarse a los observadores con permisos, pero los observadores con permisos, tienen que alejarse para mantener la distancia de 10 metros cuando los cazadore se acercan, , asi que cuando los cazadores vinieron a atacarles, las victimas automaticamente estaban en "violacion de regulaciones".
Claro, no cazadores d efocas fueron acusados con asalto o dano a propiedad. La ley en Canada esta en favor de los cazadores de focas en Canada.
Una Caza de focas en la Costa Oeste de Canada? - Abril 2 [sscs]
En Marzo 28th, el Capitan Paul Watson fue entrevistado por la CBC referente a una posible matanza de focas en la Costa Oeste de Canada.
El Departamento de Pescaderias y Oceanos (DFO), ha estado haciendo ruido hacerca de poner una cuota de 20,000 focas en la costa Oeste. No hubo indicacion de la especies que serian cazadas- focas de muele o leones marinos? There was no indication as to the targeted species – harbour seals o leones marinos ?
El Capitan Watson informo a la CBC que cualquier movimiento que se haga para abrir la matanza de focas en la costa del pacifico sera opuesto con gran fuerza.
Pamela Anderson envia 50,000 peticiones al Primer Ministro, Abril 3
Halifax, Canada- Pamela paro ante un buzon antes de la entrega de los Junos (Canadiense equivalente de los Grammy's), para enviar 50,000 peticiones que junto junto con PETA en la semana pasada.
El Primer Ministro rechazo juntarse con ella para discutir acerca de la caza de focas, por lo que ella beso uno de los sobres diciendo" el no va a poder rechazar esto", "esperamos oir algo positivo de el para que pare la caza".
Mas tarde, la presentadora de los Juno's menciono en el evento como broma, que el cantante Ingles Seal, no fue a la presentacion d elos Junos porque temia que lo iban a matar los cazadores de focas (Seal=foca). Luego ella dijo que no le importaba ver sangre en la arena de hielo en hockey, pero que odiaba ver sangre en el hielo de bebes focas, lo que atrajo mucho abuches del publico presente (Halifax esta abajo de New Foundland y Labrador y muchas gentes alla son pescadores), a lo que ella graciosamente replico diciendo que ella estaba usando tacones muy altos que pueden lastimar mucho.
Este ano es la primera vez que tantas celebridades estan tratando de salvar las focas, que van de Los Mc Cartneys, BB, Pamela Anderson, Richard Dean Anderson, Persia White, Morrisey, Martin Sheen, Dan Haggerty, Rutger Hauer y Anna Nicole Smith.
