It’s not a day that ends in Y if Morrissey’s not outraged by something and this time it’s a whole nation — in case you weren’t aware, the whole country of Canada is now “fashionably dead.” Morrissey took to his fansite to call the country out on its seal hunt, which started on Monday. The annual East Coast event has caused an uproar in the environmental community and has been bogged down with legal challenges. Seal hunting only occurs in six countries nowadays, partly because of conservationist’s efforts but mostly because the demand for seal byproducts is at an all-time low: the United States, Europe, most of Russia, and China no longer allow seals on the market.

The seal hunt is undoubtably fucked up but Morrissey, of course, takes everything a step too far and takes aim at Gail Shea, the federal Fisheries Minister (they have those?) who says that the baby seals are killed humanely by high-powered rifles. “Would it make her happy to be shot by a high-powered rifle?” Morrissey proclaims. “If she considers such butchery to be so ‘humane,’ why doesn’t she place herself among the tens of thousands of grey-coated harp seals that will be slaughtered within the next few weeks. She could then test the humane aspect of having her head blown off for herself.”

The next time you think about hockey, make sure you also think about the seals too because, according to Morrissey, “killing baby seals with lightning brutality is now Canada’s primary global image.”

Read his whole letter:

This sorrowful Canada

The seal hunt in Canada is struggling to make a start this year due to almost no markets, and China especially is refusing to sell Canadian seal meat. Thank you, China!

China has stated that “animal rights protests” are the reason why they have dropped Canada’s custom.

The annual East Coast seal hunt/kill started Monday – against a strong wave of trade and court challenges. Europe continues its ban on seal products.

Gail Shea, the federal Fisheries Minister for Canada, says that baby seals are “killed humanely”, and explains how the baby seals are shot by high-powered rifles. Is this a death that Gail Shea would wish for herself? Would it make her happy to be shot by a high-powered rifle? If she considers such butchery to be so “humane”, why doesn’t she place herself amongst the tens of thousands of grey-coated harp seals that will be slaughtered within the next few weeks? She could then test the humane aspect of having her head blown off for herself. Only then could she be thought to speak with any authority on the subject.

Canada is a beautiful country, and the people of Canada are good people. But good people are often ineffectual. Internationally, Canada’s sorry image is due entirely to its seal slaughter – which is greedy and barbaric, and it is dismaying to witness such ignorance in 2014. Sound reason tells us that only those of the thinnest intellect wear animal fur, and because the Canadian government are concerned with animals only economically, killing baby seals with lightning brutality is now Canada’s primary global image. Until this annual massacre is abolished, Canada itself is regrettably fashionably dead.

Morrissey
16 April 2014
Los Angeles.

(via True To You)

In other news, Morrissey’s releasing a new album in July called World Peace Is None Of Your Business via Harvest.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Shea has responded to Morrissey’s comments:

Anyone who takes a careful look at the seal hunt will see that it is humane, sustainable, and well-regulated,” minister spokesperson Sophie Doucet said in an email to the Post. “In fact, the process used in the seal hunt was designed by international veterinary experts, and is the most stringent of any wild animal hunt in the world.

This is clearly just another case of a millionaire celebrity, desperate for a hobby, shamelessly regurgitating misinformation and myths that fringe animal-rights groups have been pushing for years. In the future, I would urge Mr. Morrissey to consider the impact that his ignorant and inflammatory statements have on the livelihoods of thousands of hard-working men and women in rural communities.”