Thin ice might stall McCartney
Newfoundland premier says he's disappointed and annoyed by aging rock star's visit to seal hunt

Chris Morris, Canadian Press
Published: Thursday, March 02, 2006

CHARLOTTETOWN -- Paul McCartney won't have to worry about being mobbed by fans following his arrival Wednesday in Prince Edward Island to lend his star power to the campaign to end Canada's seal hunt.

People living in the island province have seen their share of celebrities who rush in, denounce the annual hunt as barbaric, and then leave.

Shoppers in downtown Charlottetown reacted with varying degrees of indifference and hostility when asked about McCartney's plan to view baby seals on ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"He should have stayed where he was," said Wheaton Gosbee, a retired fisherman from Murray River, P.E.I.

"He has got no idea at all about the seal hunt. I was a fisherman all my life and I've seen what damage the seals do."

Jeremy Watson, 18, of Charlottetown was perplexed when asked about the former Beatle.

"McCartney? It does sound familiar," he said uncertainly.

But Watson said that even if he doesn't know much about McCartney, he supports his cause.

"I sure am against seal hunting," he said. "They're animals and they have just as much right to live as we do."

The legendary musician hopes to take his wife Heather, a contingent of international media, and animal-rights activists to a barren stretch of ice in the Gulf on Thursday to catch a glimpse of newborn seal pups.

However, he may not be able to get close to the pups. The ice this year is unusually thin and may not be strong enough to hold the five helicopters involved in the excursion.

As well, the weather forecast for today includes a freezing spray warning, stiff winds of up to 55 kilometres per hour and frigid temperatures.

The poor ice conditions also may stop the seal hunt, which usually begins in the Gulf anywhere from mid- to late March.

"The fact is nature may do what all the Paul McCartneys can't do -- stop the seal hunt," said Island resident Jack McAndrew.

Organizers of the McCartney trip were prevented from flying over the area Wednesday because of bad weather.

The McCartneys, longtime animal rights supporters, have described the centuries-old hunt as inhumane, barbaric and one of the cruelest businesses involving animals.

On her website, Heather Mills decries the "brutal slaughter" of "pure white newborn harp seal pups, sentenced to death by the Canadian seal hunt."

"It is time for the people of the world to show they will not tolerate this barbarism."

Hunters no longer slaughter the whitecoat pups.

Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams said he's disappointed and annoyed by McCartney's visit, adding he would like to meet the aging rock star to correct misinformation about the harvest.

"I am assuming McCartney has never ... taken the time to be educated about the positive facts surrounding our annual seal harvest," Williams said in a statement Wednesday.

"I find it offensive and insulting that an individual with such international influence would come to our province and pass judgment on individuals who are participating in an industry that sustains their lives."

Protests on the ice largely disappeared after 1987 when Ottawa banned the killing of the youngest, white-coated harp seals.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006