Stop Canada's Seal Hunt
Citizens' Initiative Omega | 18.03.2004 14:08 | Animal Liberation | Ecology | Ocean Defence | Repression | London | World
The Canadian government has already announced plans to kill nearly ONE MILLION seal pups in the next three years despite evidence of widespread cruelty and grave threats to the population. This is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world, and it will not end unless caring people like you take action now!
Dear Elected Official,
Dear Prime Minister Martin,
Canada is promoting its natural beauty as part of the 'Discover Our True Nature' tourism campaign. So I was shocked to discover your government is also promoting the destruction of one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth ...the baby harp and hooded seal nursery off the Canada's East Coast.
Canada has a sacred trust to protect these animals for future generations. But just last year, the Fisheries Minister authorized the highest quota for harp seals in history - allowing nearly a million to be slaughtered over just three years. And recently, the Canadian government has even considered reopening the hunt for hooded seal pups - as young as five days of age.
I'm writing to you because I want to see this hunt end.
I, like 85% of Canadians, believe seals under one year of age should be protected from any hunting at all. Currently, 95% of the seals killed at the hunt are pups under just three months of age, and the majority are less than a month old. At the time they are slaughtered, most have not yet eaten their first solid food, nor have they learned how to swim. These defenseless baby seals literally have no escape from the hunters, and they suffer terribly as they are clubbed and shot to death.
Evidence from the past eight years shows widespread cruelty at the hunt - including the skinning of live animals. I was horrified to learn of an independent veterinary study conducted in 2001 that concluded up to 42% of the seals they studied had likely been skinned alive while conscious.
It is shameful that this entire hunt is for products no one really needs, and Canadian tax dollars continue to subsidize the slaughter. Because even in Newfoundland, where almost all of the hunting occurs, the economic contribution of the sealing industry is marginal. Less than 1% of Newfoundlanders participate in the hunt, and those who do derive a very small share of their income from the hunt. Doubtlessly, your economic team must be able to come up with a more meaningful way to help stimulate Newfoundland's economy than to subsidize this cruel and unnecessary hunt.
Surely, Mr. Martin, you will take action on behalf of the majority of Canadians to end the largest and most cruel slaughter of harp seals in close to forty years. I urge you to intervene quickly in this matter, and ensure Canada's international reputation is not irreparably harmed by this archaic hunt.
Source:
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=474&AID=138
Dear Prime Minister Martin,
Canada is promoting its natural beauty as part of the 'Discover Our True Nature' tourism campaign. So I was shocked to discover your government is also promoting the destruction of one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth ...the baby harp and hooded seal nursery off the Canada's East Coast.
Canada has a sacred trust to protect these animals for future generations. But just last year, the Fisheries Minister authorized the highest quota for harp seals in history - allowing nearly a million to be slaughtered over just three years. And recently, the Canadian government has even considered reopening the hunt for hooded seal pups - as young as five days of age.
I'm writing to you because I want to see this hunt end.
I, like 85% of Canadians, believe seals under one year of age should be protected from any hunting at all. Currently, 95% of the seals killed at the hunt are pups under just three months of age, and the majority are less than a month old. At the time they are slaughtered, most have not yet eaten their first solid food, nor have they learned how to swim. These defenseless baby seals literally have no escape from the hunters, and they suffer terribly as they are clubbed and shot to death.
Evidence from the past eight years shows widespread cruelty at the hunt - including the skinning of live animals. I was horrified to learn of an independent veterinary study conducted in 2001 that concluded up to 42% of the seals they studied had likely been skinned alive while conscious.
It is shameful that this entire hunt is for products no one really needs, and Canadian tax dollars continue to subsidize the slaughter. Because even in Newfoundland, where almost all of the hunting occurs, the economic contribution of the sealing industry is marginal. Less than 1% of Newfoundlanders participate in the hunt, and those who do derive a very small share of their income from the hunt. Doubtlessly, your economic team must be able to come up with a more meaningful way to help stimulate Newfoundland's economy than to subsidize this cruel and unnecessary hunt.
Surely, Mr. Martin, you will take action on behalf of the majority of Canadians to end the largest and most cruel slaughter of harp seals in close to forty years. I urge you to intervene quickly in this matter, and ensure Canada's international reputation is not irreparably harmed by this archaic hunt.
Source:
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=474&AID=138
Citizens' Initiative Omega
e-mail:
star.mail@t-online.de
Homepage:
http://www.buergerwelle.de/english_start.html
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
WWF Support this brutality
18.03.2004 16:59
visit
I used to support the group but after finding this out promptly cancelled my subscription and signed up to support VIVA instead.
I urge all supporters of WWF to email WWF about their stance and request that they rectify it else you will withdraw your subscription.
fredrico
e-mail:
musteatvegan@yahoo.co.uk
IAWF most hypocrite about this killing
20.04.2004 16:16
IFAW are only making a killing for themselves! indeed
Do you know well the I.Fund A.W. position about this annual making of big money on the back of baby-seals?
I used to support them but after finding they are only interested in raising millions for themselves, I stop sending them my money and promptly cancelled my subscription and signed up to support for small sincere groups instead.
I urge all supporters of IFAW to email their managers [actually travelling around the world with the naive donators'economies] about their stance and request that they stop spending all on Hotels & Travels for their pleasure! else you should consider withdrawing your subscription.
IAWF means I'm Far AWay. Travelling and enjoying life at the expenses of animal lovers.
Peter Martin of Canada. Yes I do desaprove the slauthering of new-born seals pups.
Peter Martin
e-mail:
petemartin99@cuno.ca
Monday 24 May we'll be supporting Mark Watts MEP & EAW
27.04.2004 14:39
Monday 24 May we'll be supporting Mark Watts MEP & EAW
We will go to Kensington on Monday 24 May early afternoon. This is because the baby-seals are being atrocely killed by the millions [1 million in Canada alone in the next 3 years] and without any good reasons. Making a profit off the killing is certainly not a good reason nowadays.
We are pleased to hear that European Animal Welfare has been highlighting this for the last 12 years and it is now beginning to bear fruit, and also that with the assistance of Euro Labour MEP, Mark Watts, a petition will be presented to the Russian Ambassador in the UK on the 24 May early afternoon to help get this appalling trade stopped.
In the meantime, we hope those involved in campaigning against the Canadian baby-seals cull and the sick Norwegian proposals will also highlight the plight of baby-seals in Russia too.
Monday 24 May Kensington [near Notting Hill Gate]
The Living Crearures Association
Mike L. Robinson
Mike L. Robinson The Living Crearures Association
Mike Robinson
e-mail:
mikerobinsonandotherlivingcreatures@peacetoyou.co.uk