1977.[P].ROTECT.SEALS
“Protection of Seals
In 1976-77, Franz Weber mobilized the world media against the annual massacre of baby seals in the Canadian pack ice. He was supported by Brigitte Bardot, whom he knew very well from his years as a journalist in Paris.
After almost seven years of fighting, the Canadian seal hunt was stopped for twelve years in 1983, while the hunt for “white coats”(baby seals with white fur) was finally banned.
With its persistent campaign against the Canadian seal hunt over many years, Fondation Franz Weber (FFW) has made a crucial contribution to the fact that 35 countries – including the EU, USA, Russia and also Switzerland – have banned the import of Canadian seal products to date.”
“Feb. 02, 1977 - Back from Canada the Swiss Franz Weber these days informed about the seal killing, that will start March 16 at the Canadian Labrador coast. Mr. Weber will be there with 600 journalists. If the seal killing goes on a until now, 1985 there will be no more seals left, said Mr. Weber. In the meantime he also gets support from other European countries and from the USA and Canada.”
1976-1977, Franz Weber mobilized the world media against the annual massacre of baby seals in Canada.
In his campaign against the cruel seal hunt, movie star Brigitte Bardot supported him.
January 1949 Poet and Journalist in Paris
From 1949 Franz Weber lived in Paris as a poet and writer. He writes powerful poems and short stories, becomes co-founder and editor of the literary magazine “La voix des poètes” (“The voice of poets”) and writes remarkable interviews and portraits for German and Swiss magazines and newspapers.
He met all of the greatest fashion designers and celebrities at the time like Christian Dior, Marc Bohan, Pierre Cardin, Coco Chanel, André Courèges, Michèle Morgan, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Vadim, Jane Fonda, Charles Aznavour, Maurice Chevalier, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, as well as artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, and big literates like Jean Cocteau, Eugène Ionesco, Georges Simenon and Sacha Guitry. The metropolis next to the Seine was Franz Weber’s world. Still. Franz Weber interviewed numerous celebrities during his time in Paris, usually followed by friendships.