Morrissey Launches Canadian Boycott To Protest Seal Hunt

Former Smiths singer and staunch vegetarian Morrissey became the latest celebrity to protest the annual harp seal hunt when he lashed out at the Canadian government on Monday in this statement posted on one of his fan sites:

"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."

"You Have Killed Me" is the first single from the 46-year-old Morrissey's new album, Ringleader Of The Tormenters, which will be released on April 4.

Moz joins the celebrity ranks of Sir Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, Martin Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Dean Anderson and Sara Quinn of Tegan & Sara, who have all publicly protested the annual seal hunt over the years. This year's hunt started on March 25.

The Smiths' 1985 hit "Meat Is Murder" featured this line: "This beautiful creature must die/A death for no reason/And death for no reason is murder."