Seal Spin, Part 2

I'm not trying to be an anti-sealer, even though the little things are cute as buttons, but the public relations fight over the 2006 sealing season is one Canada is just not going to win. With quotes like this from Canadian spokespeople appearing in foreign newspapers:

"The Canadian High Commission in London is aware that the damage done by pictures of the mammals being hacked to death. A spokeswoman said: 'The annual seal hunt is tightly-regulated, humane, economically viable and based on sound conservation principles. At 5.8 million harp seals, the herd is three times the size it was in the 1970s."

The Canadian message is a pretty good one, but in the face of cuddly little seals being clubbed and shot, their message is trumped. I think what this situation illustrates best is the PR adage that no matter how correct your position, there are some public relations fights you're just not going to win. I think the seal hunt falls into that category for Canada.