January 14, 2010
Miss N.L. attacked by anti-sealing groups
By Christa Cram
“The photo was ridiculous and uncalled for,” said Sara Green, Miss Newfoundland and Labrador.
Last Friday, a photoshopped picture of the 19-year-old was posted on an anti-seal-hunting Facebook site entitled “Fuck off Newfoundland – Leave Our Seals Alone.”
The group took Jeremy Harnum’s picture of Green at the Santa Claus parade, “The Princess in the Punt”, in which she was wearing a seal fur jacket, and completely defaced it.
The photo depicted her covered in blood in the punt, surrounded by a gruesome slaughter of seals with a hackapik in her hand.
Many people were shocked to see the photo defaced, including Jeremy Harnum, who took the original picture.
“When I first saw the picture, I was caught off guard. I couldn't believe that someone had done that to her and it was even weirder that it was a picture I'd taken!” said Harnum. “I've never seen a photoshopped picture that was as graphic as that before, especially considering it was just an innocent picture. It was quite the shock.”
This picture has drawn much media attention and was finally removed from the group later that same day. However, this event is still making waves and has recently drawn international attention, getting news coverage from all over the world. It has also inspired Sean Panting to write a song. But the attention doesn’t phase Green's beliefs.
“I don't regret wearing a sealskin coat and supporting the seal hunt,” she said. “I was obviously alarmed to have seen the photo. I am a small town girl, never had this type of attention…It completely defaced me as well as the seal-hunt and fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I am still appalled by the photo, but I now look at it as an opportunity for myself and the people of this province to educate the world about the hunt, as well as to stand up for ourselves.”
Green continues to look at this media attention in a positive light even though it has caused much controversy, including a petition against her ever becoming Miss Canada.
“I have seen the petition against me attending Miss Canada. I am quite happy with Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, and although I am not commenting much about the matter, I can assure you it’s a title that satisfies me,” she said. “This story has been blown way up. I definitely feel like I handled the situation as well as it could be handled. Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?”
Harnum also believes that she’s handling the situation well. “She's standing up for what she believes. She's keeping a positive outlook on it all and, with the support of the people, I think she'll end up doing just fine with all of this,” he said.
Green has held a gun licence since December of 2008 and intended on joining her family in the seal hunt this year, but she feels that all this media attention has contributed to her enthusiasm about getting out on the ice.
“Before the story even broke, I had plans of heading to the ice for the hunt this year,” she said. “The story just made me more excited about going. It’s a family affair, it’s a big deal for us, and I personally can’t wait to take part in that tradition.”
Most Newfoundlanders are approving of her stand on the issue and offering many kind words throughout this event.
“I have never been so proud to be a Newfoundlander,” said Green. “The people of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Canada, have given me an immense amount of support, which has definitely assisted me in holding my head high, and handing the situation the way I did. The support has been phenomenal, and much appreciated.”
As of Thursday, the story was still receiving much attention and CBC’s "The National" was going to Winterton to get a closer look at the story and at the environment that Miss Newfoundland and Labrador grew up in.
