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@ SJ
(sorry, I'm not going to cut and paste your response from the last thread)
Again, I am serious. It is believed that hunting was one of the factors in the extinction of the mammoths. Same thing for the giant sloth and a number of other large land animals.
It is a fact that they lived at the same time as modern humans, and the last only died out around 1600 BC.
http://www.itsnature.org/rip/dinosaurs/mammoth/
Of course there's a big difference between an unsustainable and a sustainable hunt like sealing, but my point is that there have been plenty of cases of people - not just complex developed societies - destroying habitat and driving species to extinction. And again, I realize that there are societies - particularly traditional societies - that have learned to live in a more sustainable way. The ones which were not sustainable are not around any more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8r8xJKciFc&feature=related
Once the public and the media become aware of just how high these toxicity levels are, any political leader that continues to permit consumption of dangerous meats such as seal, dolphin and whale by their citizens after being made aware of the hazard - will be committing a criminal act by endangering the lives and health of their people. This applies to Inuit and Dene leaders as well.
I suggest this go a step further by stating that the selling of meat known to have high levels of toxins will also become a criminal act - an intentional act of poisoning... An immoral and criminal act that the Canadian Government will soon be responsible for committing.
Uh, so we couldn't just establish safe standards like we do with anything else, and pass on the overblown drama?? Good grief.
Even as a kid I remember seeing guides that would tell sport anglers how many fish, of what type, they can safely eat from where. Somehow that worked just fine -- I don't remember classmates succumbing to Minamata Disease or anything.
They probably also told you that in fish, toxins accumulate in the fat. So you should be fine if you trim the fat from the belly.
As for seal and whale "meat" it is almost all fat. As well the further up the food chain they are the higher the accumulation. Not to mention toxicity levels in the environment are not the same as they were when you were a kid.
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/7/1/52
"Mercury is known to bioaccumulate and to magnify in marine mammals... ...Mercury (Hg) is a widely present metal in the environment, with a major natural source being provided by degassing from the Earth's crust. Its environmental level has also increased as a consequence of discharge from various industries, from medical and scientific waste, and from the processing of raw ores. Following the discovery in the early 1960s of the dangers to human health of Hg in the marine environment, there has been a steady reduction in the man-made discharge of Hg. However, despite these regulations, a decrease in levels of mercury in the biota, including marine mammals, is not obvious."
Uh, so we couldn't just establish safe standards like we do with anything else, and pass on the overblown drama?? Good grief.
Even as a kid I remember seeing guides that would tell sport anglers how many fish, of what type, they can safely eat from where. Somehow that worked just fine -- I don't remember classmates succumbing to Minamata Disease or anything.
Not a bad idea. There are recommended limits on tuna consumption these days or at least certain types of tuna. I forget which is which and don't buy any of it any more. And yeah I recall seeing the sport fishing guides that used to be in the Beer Store and LCBO every summer here in Ontario. Was always interesting to find out what lakes/rivers were full of crud.
Mind you, it's kind of tough for northern residents as jobs/cash are in short supply, prices tend to be high and so hunting is still a major source of food.
According to this article on the CBC website, there's a link between the higher levels of mercury in seals and climate change.
As for seal and whale "meat" it is almost all fat. As well the further up the food chain they are the higher the accumulation. Not to mention toxicity levels in the environment are not the same as they were when you were a kid.
Noted, but none of that is incompatible with setting guidelines like we do with fish.
The Inuit are being used as pawns by the Canadian government.
Firstly, the EU makes an exception for First nations.
Secondly, the Inuiit traditionally killed adult seals, and used all of the meat.
Thirdly, if the EU ban comes into effect, it limits supply (no NFLD seal skins). As I am sure you all know, when supply decreases, and demand stays constant, price goes up. This is actually a GOOD thing for the Inuit.
The Inuit are being used as pawns by the Canadian government.
Best you hurry and tell them then. And try not to make them sound too gullible.