Judge Sides With Hunters

AB2506

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For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
SCI-Calgary
Phone: 403-651-9497
Email address: info@sci-calgary.org

Alberta judge rules hunting is ‘a legitimate commercial enterprise’; grants injunction against derogatory statements by activists

CALGARY, 24 JANUARY 2017 - SCI-Calgary is celebrating a judge’s decision to require anti-hunting activists to remove derogatory statements about hunters and hunting from their social media pages and messaging.
The hunting advocacy organization had sought an injunction against Michael Donovan and his ‘Ban African Trophy Hunting’ (BATH) organization following their attempts to prevent hunters from congregating at African Events trade shows in Toronto, Saskatoon and Calgary in 2016.

It is believed Donovan planned similar protests for this years events.

The bizarre and highly inflammatory statements by Donovan include comparisons to the ‘extermination of jews’ and hunting in Africa, moral comparisons between what the judge deemed to be a legitimate commercial business and Donovan views as akin to slavery. Donovan also claimed that the only countries where hunting occurs in Africa are those where authorities are ‘paid off’ by lawful hunters.

Michael Donovan has organized protests against hunting events in a clear effort to draw down interest in the lawful activity and presumably to support his own ‘photo safari’.

“We were highly offended that Michael Donovan has sought to use defamatory comments about legitimate commercial enterprises by invoking the horrors of slavery and the holocaust in what we believe is simply an effort by him to shore up customers for his own African focused outfitting business.” Said David Little, President of SCI-Calgary. “The court affirmed you do not have the right to make such derogatory comments about legitimate activities like hunting, simply because it suits your interest to do so.” Little added.

SCI-Calgary is pleased with the judge’s ruling and hopes it will pressure anti-hunting activists to actually make fact based arguments to support their opinion, instead of degrading the memories of holocaust victims and those who were forced into slavery in decades and centuries past.

“It is clear to me that Donovan’s brand of activism is led by his desire to grow his own competing business, despite photo safari businesses doing precious little to support meaningful conservation in Africa. Here is some free advice for Mr. Donovan that I’ve picked up in business: calling people you want to be your customers ‘wealthy individuals with a sickness’ isn’t nearly as good as demonstrating value and having a positive impact on animal conservation in Africa -- something hunters and outfitters do everyday.” Little added.

A copy of the ruling is available to media upon request.
 
Excellent news!
 
Excellent!
 
Now let's see if the judgement gets the same coverage the defamatory crap did! Any bets?

Congrats on SCI YYC for going after this dic*head in court and winning.
 
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Some nice news, thanks for sharing!
 
So what's this mean?

In other words, what happens if this guy ignores the judgment or who defines what is derogatory?

I know nothing about Canadian law, so I'm not sure now to interpret.

On the surface it seems positive though.
 
Ignore a judges order up here and you will not be a happy camper.
 
Very happy with this result. Sounds like a job well done by SCI
 
Our President has worked very hard at this issue and dragged everybody along with him. Against all odds, he has caused this resolution. Thanks David!
 
Very cool! Congrats to our northern brothers. Maybe the late 20 teens and early 20 20's will be the time of the hunters.
 
:A Big Hello: GOOD!
 
Ignore a judges order up here and you will not be a happy camper.

unless you are indian, OPP or RCMP then a judges order means nothing sadly
 
just visited his facebook page and wow looks like the ruling had zero effect on these crackpots
 
Only sane people obey the law.
 
As much as I support SCI (been a member for years, although not always a happy one, but that's another story), we need to take the claim of victory with a grain of salt.

If you ask me, SCI lost the lawsuit they started against the one protester. They really were asking for an injection preventing these people from demonstrating. They didn't get that. What they got was an order telling the protesters to tell the truth, or at least no lie outright. Alternative facts are OK though.

I do admire their ability or attempt to make a silk purse out of a warthog's ear.

So the protesters are back at the hotel.

The one good thing about all of this is that the Delta hotel didn't bow to the antis and punt the show, as so many have in the past.

Here is what the Calgary Herald had to say today (note the bold face type - emphasis is mine):

Members with Ban African Trophy Hunting will demonstrate at Delta Calgary South on the weekend of Jan. 27, saying the sport of trophy hunting goes against basic values and falsely claims to help conservation efforts.

“Killing animals for trophies just does not belong in a civilized society,” said Mike Donovan, spokesman for BATH.

“In Africa, where many countries are run by corrupt governments, you will see these countries report false population numbers for certain species, which are actually endangered, just so that those countries can make money.”

Donovan added that while hunters say their money goes toward conservation, he argues that “just as much money can be made through photo safaris, you don’t have to kill these beautiful animals.”

Donovan said BATH’s cause was ignited after the July 2015 killing of a protected lion by American dentist Walter Palmer.

The death of Cecil the Lion, a 13-year-old iconic attraction at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, sparked a criminal investigation and international outrage by conservationists.

“That was a turning point for us,” Donovan said. “It’s really made more people stand up and pay attention.”

BATH is also lobbying for legislation to prevent the transport of hunted animal parts into Canada and the United States.

“We are already seeing a lot of airlines refusing to move these animal parts,” Donovan said. “But we need regulations at the border to stop this practice.”

Birgit Johnstone, spokeswoman for African Hunting Events, which is part of the Calgary trade show, argued that groups such as hers are responsible in their hunting practises and contribute important funding to conservation and economies in Africa.

“When African communities know that animals in their countries are highly valued, they make an effort to protect them and their habitat, instead of just illegally poaching them and using the land for goats or chickens,” Johnstone said.

“Trophy hunters pay a very high price to these countries, it’s good for their economy and it creates a lot of jobs.”

Organizers of the African hunting trade shows, including Africa Events and Safari Club International, were recently denied a court application in Calgary to stop BATH demonstrations from occurring across Canada and have their social media sites taken down.

Johnstone argued that protesters have often been over-aggressive and unruly at demonstrations, forcing some hotels to cancel future trade shows.

“It is a form of bullying. They are screaming at people, interfering with the hotel and our right to hold a trade show.

“There was a situation last year where demonstrators screamed ‘psychopathic killers’ as a father and his young son walked into the hotel.”

Donovan said he won’t apologize for strong language, adding “if we are lying, they can take us to court.”

Marc Rheaume, general manager at Delta Calgary South, said their acceptance of various trade shows does not indicate support or endorsement of any particular group.

“While we respect everyone’s right to voice their opinion, we will be doing everything we can to minimize disruption to our guests and hotel operations.”
 
As much as I support SCI (been a member for years, although not always a happy one, but that's another story), we need to take the claim of victory with a grain of salt.

If you ask me, SCI lost the lawsuit they started against the one protester. They really were asking for an injection preventing these people from demonstrating. They didn't get that. What they got was an order telling the protesters to tell the truth, or at least no lie outright. Alternative facts are OK though.

I do admire their ability or attempt to make a silk purse out of a warthog's ear.

So the protesters are back at the hotel.

The one good thing about all of this is that the Delta hotel didn't bow to the antis and punt the show, as so many have in the past.

Here is what the Calgary Herald had to say today (note the bold face type - emphasis is mine):

Members with Ban African Trophy Hunting will demonstrate at Delta Calgary South on the weekend of Jan. 27, saying the sport of trophy hunting goes against basic values and falsely claims to help conservation efforts.

“Killing animals for trophies just does not belong in a civilized society,” said Mike Donovan, spokesman for BATH.

“In Africa, where many countries are run by corrupt governments, you will see these countries report false population numbers for certain species, which are actually endangered, just so that those countries can make money.”

Donovan added that while hunters say their money goes toward conservation, he argues that “just as much money can be made through photo safaris, you don’t have to kill these beautiful animals.”

Donovan said BATH’s cause was ignited after the July 2015 killing of a protected lion by American dentist Walter Palmer.

The death of Cecil the Lion, a 13-year-old iconic attraction at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, sparked a criminal investigation and international outrage by conservationists.

“That was a turning point for us,” Donovan said. “It’s really made more people stand up and pay attention.”

BATH is also lobbying for legislation to prevent the transport of hunted animal parts into Canada and the United States.

“We are already seeing a lot of airlines refusing to move these animal parts,” Donovan said. “But we need regulations at the border to stop this practice.”

Birgit Johnstone, spokeswoman for African Hunting Events, which is part of the Calgary trade show, argued that groups such as hers are responsible in their hunting practises and contribute important funding to conservation and economies in Africa.

“When African communities know that animals in their countries are highly valued, they make an effort to protect them and their habitat, instead of just illegally poaching them and using the land for goats or chickens,” Johnstone said.

“Trophy hunters pay a very high price to these countries, it’s good for their economy and it creates a lot of jobs.”

Organizers of the African hunting trade shows, including Africa Events and Safari Club International, were recently denied a court application in Calgary to stop BATH demonstrations from occurring across Canada and have their social media sites taken down.

Johnstone argued that protesters have often been over-aggressive and unruly at demonstrations, forcing some hotels to cancel future trade shows.

“It is a form of bullying. They are screaming at people, interfering with the hotel and our right to hold a trade show.

“There was a situation last year where demonstrators screamed ‘psychopathic killers’ as a father and his young son walked into the hotel.”

Donovan said he won’t apologize for strong language, adding “if we are lying, they can take us to court.”

Marc Rheaume, general manager at Delta Calgary South, said their acceptance of various trade shows does not indicate support or endorsement of any particular group.

“While we respect everyone’s right to voice their opinion, we will be doing everything we can to minimize disruption to our guests and hotel operations.”


sums up things nicely. we dealt them a blow but not a knockout
 
Ignore a judges order up here and you will not be a happy camper.

Ignore a Judge's order in Texas and you will not be a happy camper here too.

I agree that this a hollow victory.
 
sums up things nicely. we dealt them a blow but not a knockout
Pretty much. Didn't get the protest banned, but they did have to remove certain items from their Facebook and other locations. They were put on notice that they cannot do what they did last year, defame and compare African hunters to persons who killed Jews and kept slaves. So if they violate the terms, then they may face consequences.

The organizer owns a African Photo Safari operation. He is as much trying to eliminate competition for the African tour dollar as he is trying to ban African trophy hunting.

Partial victory, but it was a long shot to get the ban, as it would enter into a Charter challenge because a ban could infringe his free speach.
 
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Lion Dog African Safaris (1059478 Alberta Ltd.)

140 Scenic Acres Drive NW
Calgary, AB T3L 1C7
888-502-3742
(403) 613-3043
  • Principal: Michael Donovan, President
  • Maryanne Donovan


michael-donovan.jpg


“In Africa, where many countries are run by corrupt governments, you will see these countries report false population numbers for certain species, which are actually endangered, just so that those countries can make money.”


I think some of the immigration officials in these corrupt countries Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and Rwanda where we sells his tours need to know what Michael is saying about them. Perhaps they can help him review his disparaging comments about their character from a little room.

zuma.jpg
Abdel_Fattah_el-Sisi.PNG
the-president-of-tanzania-sacked-one-of-his-ministers-for-being-drunk-on-the-job.jpg
Edgar_Lungu_January_2015.jpg
170px-Uhuru_Kenyatta_Official.jpg
wp-1455827781092.jpeg
kagame1.jpg



I just noticed something ............



I can see the headline now:

Tour Operator/Promotor Arrested at Border Crossing.
Leaves twenty guests to fend for themselves while he is required to address his racist slurs.
Court Appearance is scheduled two weeks Tuesday.



 

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