The anticipated Olympic anti-hunting campaign by environmental groups and anti-hunting, anti-use groups has begun. Take a look at the list of supporters in the news release below. A lot of the usual suspects back again after the anti-hunting referendum in 1996. However this time they have returned with some big hitters with huge financial resources, namely the Humane Society of the United States. The difference this time is that they are trying to take a smaller bite and instead of going for a blanket ban on bear hunting are using First Nation representation to focus on closing bear hunting on the North & Central coast. Or the First Nations are using them: it’s a moot point.
This would be an opportune time to write to your local MP as well as the Premier’s office and tell them that it is time to stand up to these anti-hunting, anti-use activists and tell them that they cannot make the rules for resource use in British Columbia.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The “Sport” That Should Be Banned
Growing International Network Calls on B.C. Government to End the “Sport” That it Does Not Want people to Know About — The Trophy Hunt of Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
VANCOUVER, BC, February 16, 2010, –/WORLD-WIRE/–
In less than two months, the B.C. government plans to open the trophy hunt of bears in the internationally celebrated Great Bear Rainforest. Trophy hunters will be allowed to gun down vulnerable grizzlies and black bears as they emerge from hibernation.
A growing international network consisting of First Nations, conservation, animal protection and tourism groups — representing more than 15 million members and constituents from over 40 countries — is calling on the government to ban the trophy hunt for ethical, cultural, conservation and economic reasons.
“This is not a sport, it is a senseless slaughter,” said Art Sterritt, Executive Director of Coastal First Nations. “The trophy hunt goes against every moral teaching that we carry and is disrespectful to our culture and values.”
“When one looks at the diversity of groups calling for action, from First Nations and wildlife viewing businesses to some of the world’s leading conservation and animal welfare organisations, it is clear that the time has come to end this anachronistic blood sport.” said Ian McAllister, Executive Director of BC-based Pacific Wild. “With the 2010 Olympic games in town, the eyes of the world are on BC’s environmental practices, and this trophy hunt is tarnishing our reputation.”
“The international condemnation of this trophy hunt will continue to build until the bears in the Great Bear Rainforest are protected,” said Rebecca Aldworth, Executive Director of Humane Society International/Canada. “British Columbia residents and the world community stand united in their opposition to the cruel and needless trophy hunting of bears.”
“British Columbia should be celebrating our wildlife heritage, not killing it for sport or for a senseless trophy,” said Dean Wyatt, owner of Knight Inlet Lodge and a Director of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association. Our businesses depend on healthy bear populations and a positive international reputation.”
For More Information:
Rebecca Aldworth,
Executive Director,
Humane Society International
Canada phone: (514)575-6797
raldworth@humanesociety.org
Ian McAllister,
Executive Director,
Pacific Wild
phone:(250)957-2480
ian@pacificwild.org
Art Sterritt,
Executive Director of Coastal First Nations
phone: (604)868-9110
Dean Wyatt,
Coastal Bear Viewing Association,
phone (250)203-0353
Background:
– The Great Bear Rainforest, located on the BC central and north coast, contains the largest tracts of intact old growth temperate rainforest on earth.
– Each spring and fall season, the government of British Columbia allows trophy hunters, both local and foreign, to kill bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
– A 2009 Ipsos Reid poll shows that 79 percent of British Columbians oppose the trophy hunting of bears.
– Of the 430 grizzlies killed in 2007 in BC, 87 percent were killed by trophy hunters. Approximately 300 BC grizzly bears are killed annually.
– Bear viewing is far more lucrative than bear hunting in BC. One bear viewing lodge in Knight inlet alone generates more revenue than the entire combined grizzly bear hunting industry.
Signatories of ad campaign: For ad download go to: www.pacificwild.org (Ad in Vancouver Sun today, Feb 16 pgA13)
Pacific Wild
Humane Society International/Canada
Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society
Wildlife Land Trust
Coastal First Nations
Greenpeace
Sierra Club BC
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
David Suzuki Foundation
The Spirit Bear Youth Coalition
Valhalla Wilderness Society
Bears Matter
Forest Ethics
Animal Rights Sweden
Freedom for Animals – Croatia
Brigitte Bardot Foundation – France
Franz Weber Foundation – Switzerland
Global Action in the Interest of Animals (GAIA) – Belgium
Fundacion para la Adopcion, Apadrinamiento y Defensa de los Animales (FAADA) – Spain
Four Paws (International)
Respect for Animals – UK
Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia
Robin Wood Canopy
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BCWF ALERT
