B!TC# IT OUT!

**IllynReaver** · 07-25-2015, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by AniaR

And honestly Canadian aboriginal groups are a hell of a lot different than other parts of the world. They hold the balance of animals and nature as paramount. Most of our Canadian activism groups are made up of huge amounts of various aboriginal groups. It is the militant thinking that you can't fight for nature but also utilize it that drives me nuts. I just find there is so much ignorance. In Canada we are taught in schools a lot about the cultures of others but it is not the way in other places.

I wish there was a way to "like" your comment on here Raina. Obviously I can't speak for the Inuits in Alaska and Canada, only try my best to bring awareness to the face some of the aboriginals are starving and the only source of food they have is what they can hunt. There are quotas in place actually, so many can be taken in a five year period for the groups that eat the meat for subsistence. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you're worried about the one, worry about the other as well. I'd be more concerned with commericial whaling and tourists trying to try whale meat. If there's a concern about aboriginals hunting whales, then make sure they have access to food with all the nutrients they need to live at an affordable cost.

**Princess Kae-Leah** · 07-25-2015, 10:04 PM

I actually agree with aspects of both Echidna and Raina's views, which I think shows how I try to balance my sense of fairness, justice, and respect of all with my personal strong animal rights beliefs.

I certainly have empathy for the Canadian Inuit's situation. The extremely high cost of store-bought food is unacceptable, something really needs to be done to reform that. People should be educated about their situation and culture, as most Americans have no idea that there's a population of people here in North America with levels of food insecurity comparable to Africa. If there was something I could do, like help donate to food to them, I would. I'm also concerned about their ridiculously high suicide rate. It goes without saying that suicide rate AT LEAST five times the national average is a very tragic statistic and something needs to be done to help them. I do not agree when activists like Paul Watson demonize the Inuit as sadistic animal killers who in they seem to think kill only because they enjoy it and their culture, not because their food situation is very desperate so they don't have much of a choice but to hunt what they can to survive. I'm not completely sure that they misrepresent on purpose as much as they're just not well-informed about that part of the world, and have a hard time imagining anyone in modern times genuinely needing to hurt to survive. Some people also seem to have a hard time grasping that the situation of Canadian Inuit in Nunavut is very different from to American Inuit in Alaska, who have access to a lot more conveniences in comparison.

With all that said, that doesn't mean I have to like the idea of killing marine mammals. Killing such intelligent and beautiful creatures as narwhals, seals, and polar bears is just not something I could ever be completely comfortable with. Where I think some activist groups have gone wrong with the issue of Inuit hunting is their approach. I think a lot of people in the animal rights and environmental community need to wake and realize that the old saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" is there for a reason. Instead of alienating them by telling them how horrible you think they are, try to work with them. Politely contact Inuit leaders and explain your concerns in a respectful, well-informed manner. Try to help them find alternative sources of food and income so they no longer had to rely on killing animals as much. I would let them know that I truly feel for them and want to help. I also think in respect to their soverignity(sp?), any petitions ending their hunts should be addressed directly to the native leadership instead of the Canadian government. Paul Watson claims Inuit whaling is illegal because it's not approved by the IWC, but considering the past I think it's important to respect native soverignity.

I see both HSUS and IFAW at least attempting to be more sensitive and informed about native issues, by even making infographics and posts clarifying the difference between the large-scale commercialized cull of seals in Atlantic Canada and Inuit subsistence hunting in the north. I've shared some of those posts on my mer-FB page. After the "Sealfie" campaign targeting Ellen DeGeneres went viral last year, I followed a thread on HSUS's page where some Inuit posted their concerns, and the admin politely explained that HSUS does not protest against native subsistence hunting. They handled the situation respectfully, without saying a single harsh word about the Inuit or their culture. I was actually really impressed.

The International Fund For Animal Welfare made this cool infographic explaining the difference between the two seal hunts

**AniaR** · 07-25-2015, 10:21 PM

great infrographic

and yeah, I dont like that they eat it either! but I understand, and I do understand the cultural identity aspect, even though they don't use it as an excuse, they are so multifaceted that there's a bigger picture here. I wish everyone could have taken the courses I'd taken!

**Cordelia** · 07-26-2015, 11:36 AM

Is it too much to ask that we be on time and not at least an hour late every time we do something?! F'ing hell! I love sitting around and watching you slowly eat cereal as the minutes pass by. not.

**Mermaid Clara** · 07-26-2015, 04:37 PM

Tests for me are hard. I get bad test anxiety and forget stuff I know. So I do bad on tests. I'm not doing so good in this math class, getting Ds and Cs on the tests. I should have dropped it and told dad before the drop deadline but he said no and that it was easy class. He's now denying that I ever told him. I'm scared. Cause I know that I'll not be able to pass this class with a C and that he'll be very mad at me and possibly hurt me mentally and maybe physically.

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**Cordelia** · 07-26-2015, 05:50 PM

Aww. Is there any tutoring center at your school? Is it high school or college?

**Mermaid Clara** · 07-26-2015, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Cordelia

Aww. Is there any tutoring center at your school? Is it high school or college?

It's college and we don't have the tutoring center open during the summer.

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**Mermaid Ciela** · 07-26-2015, 07:41 PM

What kind of math is it? Khan Academy might be able to help with the content, and as for your test anxiety - can you ask your professor if there's any extra credit work you can do? I'm sure he/she might he able to find some type of work you can do so that you can demonstrate that you know the material.

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**Mermaid Mystery** · 07-28-2015, 10:16 PM

I have 2 packages that haven't moved in like 2 days and one that was supposed to ship on Friday but still hasn't shipped yet and I just want everything to get here already

**Merman Chatfish** · 07-28-2015, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by KellyMermaid

Tests for me are hard. I get bad test anxiety and forget stuff I know. So I do bad on tests. I'm not doing so good in this math class, getting Ds and Cs on the tests. I should have dropped it and told dad before the drop deadline but he said no and that it was easy class. He's now denying that I ever told him. I'm scared. Cause I know that I'll not be able to pass this class with a C and that he'll be very mad at me and possibly hurt me mentally and maybe physically.

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Something that worked for me is having a teacher read it to you and you respond conversationally. Some places allow it, some don't.

**Mermaid Cascada** · 07-29-2015, 04:31 PM

I don't understand when someone (a guy at that) tries to tell me that mothers cannot lactate unless they are expecting or have recently had a baby. And if thy do it's because a doctor gave them chemicals to unnaturally produce hormones. I've tried explaining to him that adoptive mother can breast feed naturally. But noooo, it's "common sense" that they don't.

**deepblue** · 07-29-2015, 05:03 PM

Because he doesn't know the facts and can't admit that he doesn't? I don't think a lot of people are aware that adoptive moms can bring on lactation with natural methods. But if they're told this, without backed-up facts to the contrary, they probably ought to admit they don't have enough information and go get that information. Then admit they were wrong or misinformed. It just kills some people to admit they're wrong or that they don't know everything.

**Mermaid Cascada** · 07-29-2015, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by deepblue

Because he doesn't know the facts and can't admit that he doesn't? I don't think a lot of people are aware that adoptive moms can bring on lactation with natural methods. But if they're told this, without backed-up facts to the contrary, they probably ought to admit they don't have enough information and go get that information. Then admit they were wrong or misinformed. It just kills some people to admit they're wrong or that they don't know everything.

Yeah, he's definitely one of those people. He also had an argument with me that periods are not as painful as girls say they are. Yup, he's one of those...

**Mermaid Ciela** · 07-29-2015, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Cascada

Yeah, he's definitely one of those people. He also had an argument with me that periods are not as painful as girls say they are. Yup, he's one of those...

Oh, dear. That's unfortunate! If I were you, I'd try staying as far away from him as possible so as to save myself the headache of face-palming every time he opens his mouth (or near enough as makes no odds). Good luck!!

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**Keiris** · 07-30-2015, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Cascada

Yeah, he's definitely one of those people. He also had an argument with me that periods are not as painful as girls say they are. Yup, he's one of those...

He sounds like a F O O L.

**Kaila Mermaid** · 07-30-2015, 07:57 AM

Back on the politics thing. One of my favorite quotes was when they were interviewing a Senator in Religulous and the senator retorts, "you don't have to pass an IQ test to be a senator" and then realized what he just said and sits down.

**SeaGlass Siren** · 07-30-2015, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Cascada

I don't understand when someone (a guy at that) tries to tell me that mothers cannot lactate unless they are expecting or have recently had a baby. And if thy do it's because a doctor gave them chemicals to unnaturally produce hormones. I've tried explaining to him that adoptive mother can breast feed naturally. But noooo, it's "common sense" that they don't.

ugh. MANSPLANING. =_=

**PearlieMae** · 07-30-2015, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Cascada

Yeah, he's definitely one of those people. He also had an argument with me that periods are not as painful as girls say they are. Yup, he's one of those...

I would have to prove to him how testicles aren't as delicate as guys say they are.