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Seal hunt update

By 606 (Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 12:29:56 AM EST) (all tags)

No seriously,

Just heard on the CBC that Canada is petitioning the WTO for sanctions against Sweden and the Netherlands for banning seal-based products. They claim WTO rules make a ban like that illegal. Okay really:

Seal-based products are clearly a different class than cow-based products or endangered panda-based products (mmm... Ling-Ling Ona Stick). Can't countries ban whatever they want? Pretty sure I can't buy panda meat here.
Why doesn't Canada sell seal-based products domestically?! Why are we shipping all these soft furry pelts and tasty seal briskets to the nordics who don't seem to want it? There's enough rich idiots in Calgary into cruelty-based fashion and rare cuisine to make a significant dent in the supply. High-class restaurants across the nation could make a killing on filet du phoque*. Less cruel than foie gras or veal any day.

In other news, next time I'm in Montreal I simply must try foie gras poutine at Au Pied de Cochon. Nothing accompanies french fries, cheese curds, and gravy better than force-fed fatty duck liver. Goddamn.

* yes, "phoque" is Quebec-french for seal. And everyone learns the song "Le p'tit phoque" in elementary school, so we're over it.

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Seal hunt update | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

Don't think ban is illegal by anonimouse (4.00 / 2) #1 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 12:34:30 AM EST

..as long as the ban applies inside the country as well as outside.

An example of this is the WTO dispute between the US and Antigua. The banning of online gambling would be legal if the US banned its own firms from doing it, but since it doesn't, it's probably going to have to pony up a lot of money to Antigua (and a lot of other countries).

Girls come and go but a mortgage is for 25 years -- JtL

I thought by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #4 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 09:36:29 AM EST

That unless the US opens its borders to Antiguan gambling companies, all USian IP rights are forfeit within Antigua. I didn't think it would be fined; US would just pull funding from UN (have they paid recently, I forget) and take their ball home.

So Antigua can then knock off copies of any old USian thing and sell them on the open market. Which is going to hurt all USian companies, but not the USian government or country. I'll bet MS, Oracle et al will be right onto the Whitehouse forthwith to prevent that happening.

Yeah, but by yicky yacky (4.00 / 1) #5 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 09:56:32 AM EST

as I understand the problem, it's because gambling is, in some senses, legal in America that the WTO problems have arisen. There are already state-wide lotteries, and certain states have their own gambling rules (Hello Nevada ...). The American "ban" is largely on interstate and national gambling (with sport(s) constituting a problem field). If there was a carte blanche ban on gambling in the US, Antigua would have had a much tougher time with the WTO, as their essential argument is that they're not being allowed access to an already-existing ring-fenced market.

As such, I think Anonimouse is right. The ban is legal. The only instance in which it wouldn't be is where Sweden and the Netherlands were allowing the sale of seal products but not allowing or impeding Canada's products from sale.

If Canada succeeds, though, we can probably use the same precedent to end the drug war, which would be ... ermmm ... interesting.

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26 days left ...
[ Parent ]

Oh yeah. by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #11 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 02:18:39 PM EST

I'm just trying to recall what the punishment that'll be visited on the US is, if the US govt keeps it's own markets protected. It may ban gambling outright, or have to open up to foreign gambling organisations. But IIRC, if the US fails to comply, the WTo no longer protects USian industries' crown jewels.

: Except... by 606 (4.00 / 1) #13 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:22:46 PM EST

WTO punishments for the US never actually apply. See also: softwood lumber. Seriously, Canada got screwed.

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imagine dancing banana here
[ Parent ]

WTO and UN by anonimouse (4.00 / 1) #7 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 10:13:06 AM EST

AFAICT, the WTO is not a UN based organisation, although its ancestor was formed as a result of a UN resolution.

The "ball" in this case is extremely substantial. The US have got used to having their way on Free Trade and have been caught out being the bad guys in this (very lucrative) sector. The US daren't take the ball home as it would kill their trading relations with other countries.

Girls come and go but a mortgage is for 25 years -- JtL
[ Parent ]

Indeed. by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #12 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 02:19:20 PM EST

But is my recollection of the punishment offered by the WTO correct?

If tou mean by anonimouse (2.00 / 0) #19 Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 11:31:41 AM EST

this and this then you're correct.

Girls come and go but a mortgage is for 25 years -- JtL
[ Parent ]

Research by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #20 Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 04:24:56 PM EST

Shows that the US is now trying to get out of the "services" part of the agreement, and exclude gambling.

If all else fails - litigate!

It's the American way. Bless.

Services by anonimouse (2.00 / 0) #22 Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 08:50:41 AM EST

Include banking and finance. Lots of luck getting out of that one

Girls come and go but a mortgage is for 25 years -- JtL
[ Parent ]

: They're looking for a special exemption. by Breaker (2.00 / 0) #23 Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 09:30:43 AM EST

I hop the WTO hands them their arses.

[ Parent ]

The WTO rules against the US by theantix (4.00 / 1) #21 Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 05:24:42 PM EST

The US just doesn't give a fuck about the WTO when they lose. They use other leverage to make sure they get what they want, regardless of what rules they have agreed to or treaties they have signed. Mark my words, this will again be the case with Antigua.
____________________________________
I'm sorry, but your facts disagree with my opinion.
[ Parent ]

I see... by 606 (4.00 / 1) #2 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 12:45:18 AM EST

I don't think they do seal hunts in Europe, so I think the ban might be legal. Canada is just whining. The way the politicians make it out, the WTO has done nothing but screw Canada over since day one. But I don't really believe it.

Found an article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119081201260739932.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Norway is the number one consumer of seal products? Who knew?

Also, it seems you can buy seal meat in Montreal:

http://www.montrealfood.com/eatingseal.html

God, I love Montréal.

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imagine dancing banana here

flipper pie by misslake (4.00 / 4) #3 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 04:54:59 AM EST

while i was in newfoundland, i ate flipper pie. they call seals flippers there, and think it's an odd thing to use the term to refer to dolphins.

i don't know why you'd want to make seal meat into meatballs. the meat is black, dense, tender and fragrant, the texture is the best part so why spoil it with mincing?

where i was staying in gould (pronounced "the ghouls" for no apparent reason) they bake it into lovely meat pies, with heavy pastry and white sauce. it is fishy, but really quite lovely.

it might make an interesting husi recipe fun challenge: flipper pie
the winner gets a t-shirt with a baby seal on it, and the slogan "I club (like the playing card suit) SEALS"

Clubs by BadDoggie (4.00 / 1) #8 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:16:05 AM EST

I had a bunch of stickers printed with a picture of a playing card club which I would always place over the heart on bumper stickers.

I ♣ MY DOG (spade works well here, too, but I didn't get those made)
I ♣ MY GRANDCHILDREN
I ♣ MY HONOR ROLL STUDENT

Doesn't work for I♥NY though.

Tangent: I only ever had one bumper sticker. "FORTH ♥ IF HONK THEN ". I have been geek for a very long time.

woof.

OMG WE'RE FUCKED! -- duxup ?
[ Parent ]

: I <blank> NY by lm (4.00 / 1) #10 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:29:35 AM EST

not a ♣, but ...
There is no more degenerate kind of state than that in which the richest are supposed to be the best.
Cicero, The Republic
[ Parent ]

Goulds by glamorgan (4.00 / 1) #9 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:19:08 AM EST

You forgot the 's'. May I ask what the heck you were doing in Goulds? Visiting, I suppose.

You will a hard time finding a meal of flipper pie in Edmonton!

[ Parent ]

: cultural exchange by misslake (4.00 / 1) #17 Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 12:00:12 AM EST

my mom was overprotective and a little clingy in highschool. so whilst other kids got to travel overseas for thier exchanges, i was in goulds. it turned out to be my first time travelling the trans canada highway in the trunk of a car, but it wasn't my last.

[ Parent ]

What is a baby seal's least favorite whiskey? by georgeha (4.00 / 7) #6 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 10:03:26 AM EST

Canadian Club.

Thank you folks, I'll be here all week long, be sure to tip your waitresses.

: (Comment Deleted) by 606 (2.00 / 0) #14 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:25:19 PM EST

This comment has been deleted by 606

[ Parent ]
: All I can say is... by 606 (2.00 / 0) #15 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:27:39 PM EST

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imagine dancing banana here
[ Parent ]
: *RIMSHOT* by chuckles (4.00 / 1) #18 Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 01:58:31 AM EST

Skateboarding is a crime.

[ Parent ]

Seals! by Gedvondur (4.00 / 2) #16 Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:37:48 PM EST

One day, an eskimo was riding his snowmobile to work and noticed that it was running poorly. He stopped at the repair shop to have them look at it.

The repairman said, "We're kind of busy right now, but why don't you go across the street to the cafe and have something to eat, then stop back and see me in a few hours."

So the eskimo went to the cafe and returned to the repair shop two hours later. The eskimo asked the repairman, "What did you find?"

The repairman said, "I think that you blew a seal."

The eskimo replied (after wiping his mouth), "No, I just had ice cream!"
"It is virtually impossible to effectively aim a jellyfish, a creature created by God almost solely for the purpose of not flying."- CRwM

Seal hunt update | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback