CarolC, I don't totally disagree with your points. I just don't think that vegans really accept that they are part of the problem like everyone else. Percentages aside we all must either kill to eat or have someone else kill for us to eat. Then to condem that seems to me to be hypocrisy.
Last fall I travelled through western Canada and America. On the American praries I saw little wheat but lots of corn growing. Canada will no doubt follow suit. I assumed that this was largely cattle fodder but was told most went to ethanol automobile fuel. A large part of this was on irrigated land as well, but I read of an American water shortage and wonder if food production should be more important. However as I drove I was burning that same fuel so for me to preach would also be hypocracy. Now I believe that hypocracy has some value if it forces us to take a long hard look in our own mirror and it should temper our judgement of others. Perhaps that should be applied to the seal hunters as well.