Morrissey Boycotts Canada!
Posted: 3/28/2006, 9:48 am
Morrissey's own words from morrissey-solo.com
Here is a link to an article about the seal killing, if you don't already know about it http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/03/15/canada.seals.reut/index.html
I've seen some video of such hunts, and I'm no animal expert, but what they are doing looks truely barbaric. I certainly agree with the fact that Morrissey, and others, have chosen to protest the slaughter. However, not touring Canada seems like a strange way to protest. Sure, Canada will probably make some money in taxes or whatever from the tour, but (as Morrissey himself states) in the big picture, a Morrissey tour, or lack thereof, if not going to make or break the country. Morrissey is really not hurting the Canadian government to any measureable degree by not touring there. Who he's hurting is his Canadian fans - many of whom are probably opposed to the hunt themselves. Morrissey has played a few dates in the United States already (and I'm hoping for more...Philly?) and, of course, he's touring the UK extensively. I know for a fact that Morrissey is against many US and UK governmantal policies, but he's still touring in those two areas. Like I said, I support Morrissey's desire to protest the seal slaughter, but surely there must be a better way of doing so than not touring. I would be willing to bet that a lot of the fans that would go to shows in Canada are either not aware of the slaughter at all, or else just know the basics. I think that if Morrissey toured and said a few words about the hunt on stage and maybe had some people outside the shows handing out informational pamphlets or something would have a MUCH greater effect.
Thoughts?
We will not include any Canadian dates on our world tour to promote our new album. This is in protest against the barbaric slaughter of over 325,000 baby seals which is now underway.
I fully realise that the absence of any Morrissey concerts in Canada is unlikely to bring the Canadian economy to its knees, but it is our small protest against this horrific slaughter - which is the largest slaughter of marine animal species found anywhere on the planet.
The Canadian Prime Minister says the so-called "cull" is economically and environmentally justified, but this is untrue.
The seal population has looked after itself for thousand of years without human intervention, and, as the world knows, this slaughter is about one thing only: making money. The Canadian government will stream all of the pelts into the fashion industry and this is the reason why the baby seals are killed with spiked clubs that crush their skulls - any damage to their pelts is avoided. The Canadian Prime Minister also states that the slaughter is necessary because it provides jobs for local communities, but this is an ignorant reason for allowing such barbaric and cruel slaughter of beings that are denied life simply because somebody somewhere might want to wear their skin. Construction of German gas chambers also provided work for someone - this is not a moral or sound reason for allowing suffering.
If you can, please boycott Canadian goods. It WILL make a difference. As things stand, Canada has placed itself alongside China as the cruelest and most self-serving nation.
Here is a link to an article about the seal killing, if you don't already know about it http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/03/15/canada.seals.reut/index.html
I've seen some video of such hunts, and I'm no animal expert, but what they are doing looks truely barbaric. I certainly agree with the fact that Morrissey, and others, have chosen to protest the slaughter. However, not touring Canada seems like a strange way to protest. Sure, Canada will probably make some money in taxes or whatever from the tour, but (as Morrissey himself states) in the big picture, a Morrissey tour, or lack thereof, if not going to make or break the country. Morrissey is really not hurting the Canadian government to any measureable degree by not touring there. Who he's hurting is his Canadian fans - many of whom are probably opposed to the hunt themselves. Morrissey has played a few dates in the United States already (and I'm hoping for more...Philly?) and, of course, he's touring the UK extensively. I know for a fact that Morrissey is against many US and UK governmantal policies, but he's still touring in those two areas. Like I said, I support Morrissey's desire to protest the seal slaughter, but surely there must be a better way of doing so than not touring. I would be willing to bet that a lot of the fans that would go to shows in Canada are either not aware of the slaughter at all, or else just know the basics. I think that if Morrissey toured and said a few words about the hunt on stage and maybe had some people outside the shows handing out informational pamphlets or something would have a MUCH greater effect.
Thoughts?
