A SEALED FETE

It was a celebration of the seals last night at Zune L.A. as “America’s Next Top Model” dashing judge, Nigel Barker, and the Humane Society of the United States hosted a showing of Nigel’s exhibit called “A Sealed Fate?” documenting the short-lived lives of baby harp seals slaughtered during the annual Canadian seal hunt. Many of the celebrities who attended vocalized their support for the cause as well as updates on their lives.

Concerning the recent nuptials of fellow co-stars on “The Hills” Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Brody Jenner joked, “Good for them. I think it has been the 3rd or 4th or 5th wedding they have had.” And on Spencer’s recent Twitter bash of Lauren Conrad, Brody continued, “That sounds like Spencer.” Brody’s girlfriend, actress Jayde Nicole agreed, “He does that to everyone all the time. So it’s like normal.”

Dazzling in a sparkly Robert Rodriguez dress that captured the light, Carmen Electra reminisced about the fun she had on “Dancing with the Stars,” but not as an actual contestant, just as a one time dancer. She said, “My heart goes out to the contestants. I don’t think I could put myself in that position. I am too sensitive. I would probably cry.” On her recent engagement, “I feel like an expert because I have been married a few times.” But she says she doesn’t want “any pressure” to set a date so she can enjoy this time.

A svelte Khloe Kardashian is getting pumped to star alongside her sister Kourtney in a spin off show from “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” set in Miami. Both recently broke up with their boyfriends and are ready to meet new men! Men-get your best game on because Khloe is officially on the lookout, “I am looking forward to all of the men. I don’t care what color. Just give me them. All of them!” What you don’t know that she divulged to me is that she will be hosting her own weekly radio show called “Khloe After Dark” on Y100 in Miami. So set your radios!

The night took a more serious turn as Nigel Barker assumed the stage and voiced his beliefs about his passion which is protecting seals from the barbaric slaughter they are made to endure in an annual seal hunt that continues in Canada-but hopefully not for long. And the celebrities in attendance were in agreement and admiration for all that Nigel and the Humane Society have done in creating awareness of this issue.

The Canadian seal hunt is the largest marine mammal slaughter on our planet. In fact, up to 250,000 seals were killed in a matter of 4-5 days. Nigel was filming in Canada for two and a half weeks, and of the footage he shot, only 5% of it was usable because the remaining 95% was so cruel and disturbing he feared that audiences wouldn’t watch it. Actually, part of the challenge for him was to edit the documentary into a version that the audiences could withstand viewing. He disclosed to me, “I saw many, many seals and I mean hundreds in a space of a few hours that were being skinned that weren’t actually dead when they were being skinned. They were just knocked on the head and they were still wriggling around and they were skinning them. They were trying to hold them with their foot and trying to skin them alive and they would roll off without their fur.”

You would think that this type of incriminating footage, once placed in the hands of Canadian authorities, would warrant criminal charges against these fishermen, right? Wrong! According to Nigel, because the fishermen are committing these atrocities on the ice and not on land, “they don’t fine them, they don’t take away their licenses, they just ignore them.” In fact, the Canadians brought a court case against the Humane Society for this “incriminating footage” in which the Humane Society won “hands down.”

So why does Canada continue to support this barbaric hunt? Nigel was adamant, “This isn’t an anti-Canada thing, because it does go on in other parts of the world. But perhaps they have been pushed into a corner and they feel like the world is telling them what to do. In this world, there might be a line that says this is Canada and this is America, but I think that animals belong to the world.”

The ironic thing is that the seal hunt isn’t even a large financial incentive for Canada. According to Patricia Ragan, Director of the Protect Seals Team, the hunt is only worth $7 million. She also shared with me, “the Canadian seafood industry into the United States is worth $2 billion a year.” Which is why the Humane Society has taken economic action in an attempt to get their point across to the Canadian government by calling on a boycott of all Canadian seafood. Since the boycott began in 2005, “the value of Canadian seafood imports (that have been boycotted) total $750 million.” That’s a pretty large chunk of change. And Humane Society is planning on inviting the citizens of European Union to join the protest against Canadian seafood as well.

Dr. John Grandy, Senior Vice President of Wildlife and Habitat Protection at the Humane Society, was vigilant about continuing on in order to halt the hunt even with the recent victories around the world. Those victories include: the European Union’s ban on the buying and selling of all seal products in every European nation, the Russian ban on the killing of harp seals under the age of 1, and the passing of the U.S. Senate resolution unanimously condemning the Canadian seal hunt. But don’t think the HSUS will relax on this issue. In fact, Dr. Grady reinforced, “These are steps on the way to the end. We have to redouble our efforts.”

The compelling reactions to the seal slaughter of many of the guests at the party defined the message of the evening. Animal lover Brody Jenner communicated his frustrations,” (the hunt) makes me want to club those people who club the seals. They should be treated exactly how you want to be treated and not slaughtered for their fur.” Canadian Jayde Nicole explained, “For Northern Canadians, it has been a way of life. But as generations get older and everyone starts to see the new way and how wrong it is, I believe it will eventually be banned.” Carmen Electra confessed, “it’s really easy day by day to worry about yourself and I think it is wonderful that Nigel has shot not only a documentary but photographs to help raise awareness so that people know what is going on and help make changes.” Khloe Kardashian remarked, “I love how I can bring awareness to animal causes. The clubbing of baby seals on a daily basis is something I never even thought of until they brought it to my attention. It doesn’t make sense.”

Dynamic duo and Co-Hosts of the soiree, Max Lugavere and Jason Silva of Emmy Award winning Current TV echoed the interests of the party-goers. Max stated,”When we heard what Nigel has done with his photos and documentary, we were just really taken aback that he chose to walk the walk whereas many celebrities would just put their name on something for the press opp that it entails.” Jason added, “And also the whole issue of bringing awareness to things like this is very much in line with what we embody and do everyday, working for Current which is extremely socially conscious, cutting edge. A generation of people that want to communicate and want to talk about the things that matter to them. And also giving a voice to the voiceless and there is no better example of the voiceless than these seals.”

So what can the public do? Boycott Canadian seafood. Ask your restaurant managers, fishmongers, waiters, friends, or anyone handling fish you might purchase or consume where it comes from. If they don’t know its origins, don’t buy it. Grady says that the boycott is “the biggest thing that an individual can do in America.”

Ultimately, Nigel and the HSUS would be elated to turn this unique seal nursery into eco-tourism for Canada where visitors could observe and learn from these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, much like what Canada did when the country outlawed commercial whaling and transformed it into an extremely profitable attraction without harming the animals. That and of course, a definitive end to this senseless, barbaric hunt.