Letters to the Editor

Use your spending
to save seals
Another year, another battle on the ice floes off Newfoundland.
I have heard that if you kill one or two you are a murderer, if you
kill thousands or millions you are a king, and if you kill them all
you are a god! Hunting of a species until none are left is still
extinction. Hunting with a stick and a pick is barbaric. Why should
we be appalled when harp seals are hunted for no other reason than
national pride (or, I’m not going to stop just because you say I
should), arrogance and greed. A group of Canadian delegates just
returned from the EU where they were trying to pedal their bloody
wares. Where is the compassion; more importantly where is the
worldwide outrage that Canadian officials should endorse, sponsor
and gladly pay for the killing and mutilation of baby harp seals in
their nurseries each year? Well, this must be where the
”
greed
”
part comes into play. Why else would the government of
Canada
”
look the other way
”
?
You can help end the largest commercial slaughter of marine
mammals in the world by joining the boycott of Canadian seafood
products. Talk to your local grocery store and favorite restaurant
to see if they have joined the Protect Seals campaign (you can
learn more by checking out The Humane Society of America’s
website). Economic pressure makes a very strong point when
appealing to the Canadian governments sense of compassion and
reason does not. That in itself is a very sad and telling statement
about how far mankind still has to go.
The promise made by Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Loyola Hearn that the hunt this year would be more humane must be
buried under the dead carcass of a baby seal bleeding out on the
ice while its mother remains close by trying to nurse her dead pup.
How important the members of the ministry must feel sitting in
their board room handing out quotas to the thugs who will do the
killing for them. Imagine having that kind of dominion over another
sentient species, how powerful, how arrogant, how frightening!
In my field we harvest crops, in their field they harvest lives.
Is this our enlightened future or the bloody past? Most of the seal
pups killed are under three weeks old and not even eating solid
food yet. They can’t escape. They need your help, please.
Linda Nolan
Hollister
Use your spending

to save seals

Another year, another battle on the ice floes off Newfoundland. I have heard that if you kill one or two you are a murderer, if you kill thousands or millions you are a king, and if you kill them all you are a god! Hunting of a species until none are left is still extinction. Hunting with a stick and a pick is barbaric. Why should we be appalled when harp seals are hunted for no other reason than national pride (or, I’m not going to stop just because you say I should), arrogance and greed. A group of Canadian delegates just returned from the EU where they were trying to pedal their bloody wares. Where is the compassion; more importantly where is the worldwide outrage that Canadian officials should endorse, sponsor and gladly pay for the killing and mutilation of baby harp seals in their nurseries each year? Well, this must be where the “greed” part comes into play. Why else would the government of Canada “look the other way”?

You can help end the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals in the world by joining the boycott of Canadian seafood products. Talk to your local grocery store and favorite restaurant to see if they have joined the Protect Seals campaign (you can learn more by checking out The Humane Society of America’s website). Economic pressure makes a very strong point when appealing to the Canadian governments sense of compassion and reason does not. That in itself is a very sad and telling statement about how far mankind still has to go.

  The promise made by Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Loyola Hearn that the hunt this year would be more humane must be buried under the dead carcass of a baby seal bleeding out on the ice while its mother remains close by trying to nurse her dead pup. How important the members of the ministry must feel sitting in their board room handing out quotas to the thugs who will do the killing for them. Imagine having that kind of dominion over another sentient species, how powerful, how arrogant, how frightening!

  In my field we harvest crops, in their field they harvest lives. Is this our enlightened future or the bloody past? Most of the seal pups killed are under three weeks old and not even eating solid food yet. They can’t escape. They need your help, please.

Linda Nolan

Hollister

Denham deserves to stay

The California State Sheriff’s Association recognized Senator Jeff Denham as “Outstanding Senator for 2007.” Senator Denham’s stand on the unbalanced state budget last summer had to influence their decision. Denham would not vote on the budget until it was balanced.

  Denham’s stand on the budget also influenced Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland) who instigated the Recall measure against Senator Denham.

  The Sheriff’s Association had it right. We need to keep Senator Denham on June 3.

Marvin L. Jones

Hollister

Open your eyes to China

The April 18 issue of The Weekend Pinnacle evidenced (at page C5) an oddly entitled full page (“Jayeffkay”), a feature apparently Just for Kids, or what a local might abbreviate “JFK.”

  The topic of this page was China, with particular emphasis on the upcoming Olympic Games. But what particularly caught my attention were the page’s several references to Tibet, which was characterized as one of China’s regions. In a bit of journalistic understatement, the feature noted “Tibet has been in the news a lot lately,” with no explanation why. Perhaps that is because this piece, aimed at our children, was admittedly prepared, at least in part, if not entirely, by the Embassy of China, which was acknowledged and thanked in small print on the bottom of the page.

  Tibet has been newsworthy lately, for as the Olympic Torch relay makes its way around the globe, outraged world citizens have expressed their dismay over China’s illegal invasion and annexation of Tibet over fifty years ago, and its continued human rights violations there. While I suspect this feature article was acquired wholesale by The Pinnacle, I think the newspaper should be more diligent than to present Chinese-generated propaganda to our unsuspecting children, or, for that matter, to their parents.

Nancy Aimola

San Juan Bautista

Editor’s note: JFK (Just for Kids) is a regular apolitical feature in the Weekend Pinnacle. This week’s edition deals with Children’s Book Week and exploring the environment.

Thanks for sharing community

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the students and staff at San Benito High School for hosting the Sedgehill School Band from London during their recent visit to Hollister. Special thanks to Principal Krystal Lomanto for her enthusiastic support and to Juan Robledo and Becky Doty for their tireless efforts to coordinate the welcome reception and hosting arrangements. Thanks also to Mr. Zuniga for his time and use of the band room and equipment. I would like especially to commend ASB officers Brooke Bainter and Jordan Archer for taking on this opportunity with a positive attitude, and for the countless hours they spent making this visit a huge success.

  I would also like to thank the Hollister families who opened their homes and hearts to the Sedgehill students and chaperones. I know their guests took many wonderful memories back to London. I am hopeful that some of the new friendships forged during five short days may lead to lifetime connections, such as the one I am fortunate to share with the band’s director, Tony Masters.

  Thank you also to Mayor Doug Emerson and the Hollister City Council for the Certificate of Welcome they presented to Tony and the Sedgehill School Band at the Council meeting of April 7.

  A final thanks to Mark Paxton, Daniel Cressman, and Melissa Flores of the Pinnacle for their interest in and outstanding coverage of this noteworthy event.

  The generosity of spirit shown by everyone in our community involved in the Sedgehill Band’s visit truly made me feel proud to be a resident of Hollister.

Marge Yarmuth

Hollister

AARP Tax-Aide

program a success

I wish to thank the Pinnacle for publishing information on the AARP Tax-Aide program, and also the wonderful volunteers who donated their time and expertise to offer, free of charge, personal income tax preparation.

Thank you: Harriet Brin, Vernon Escobar, Doris Figini, Jim Libby, Patti Mauerman, James Rodakis, Ed Rollins, Betty Stimson and local coordinator Lowell Shearin.

You are all the greatest! The AARP Foundation and the IRS thanks you very much as you have provided a community service which is greatly appreciated by the clientele served, namely low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older.

We are in need of more volunteers to help with the Tax-Aide program by this coming Sept. 2008. Please call me at 637-1980 if you or anyone you know can help.

Dolly De Vasier

District Coordinator