Letter For International Citizens

Dear Senator
I am writing to urge you to lend your voice to seconding the bill so that Senator Harb can speak on behalf of the majority of Canadians who wish to see an end to Canada's commercial seal hunt. More than 40,000 individuals have contacted him to support Bill S-229. As a citizen of ______ I refuse to purchase any product from Canada, visit your country or attend the 2010 Olympics until this seal hunt ends.

Sincerely, Name, Country

Letter For Canandians

Dear Senator
I am writing to urge you to lend your voice to seconding the bill so that Senator Harb can speak on behalf of the majority of Canadians who wish to see an end to Canada's commercial seal hunt. More than 40,000 individuals have contacted him to support Bill S-229. As a Canadian citizen I demand that my voice be heard in Senate.

Sincerely, Name, Address

IFAW Sample Letter

Dear Senator;
I am writing you as a concerned Canadian to ask you most sincerely to second Bill S-229, the Harb Seal Bill. You are no doubt aware that Canada's commercial seal hunt is a controversial issue. I believe that you should know a little about Canadian public opinion on the seal hunt before you decide if the issue should be considered by Canada's chamber of sober second thought.

Public opinion polling conducted by Environics shows that a majority of Canadians - 6 in 10 - oppose Canada's commercial seal hunt. The same polls find that 75% of Canadians think that "the federal government should stop spending money and effort defending Canada's commercial seal hunt, and concentrate on more important issues instead." As Senator Harb can tell you, public opposition to the hunt has also been demonstrated by the more than 40,000 individuals who have already contacted him to support Bill S-229.

Finally, a Senate debate on Bill S-229 would serve to demonstrate the utility of that very institution. A careful consideration of this heated political issue where most politicians are opposed to the position of the majority of Canadians, like the commercial seal hunt, would do much to demonstrate the continued utility of the Senate. Whatever your ultimate vote might be on S-229, I urge you to lend your voice to seconding the bill so that Senator Harb can speak on behalf of the majority of Canadians who wish to see an end to Canada's commercial seal hunt.

Sincerely, Name, Address

Formal Sample Letter

Honorable Senator
I am dismayed by the recent dismissal of a bill to end Canada's commercial
harp seal hunt. Senator Mac Harb's amendment to the Fisheries Act sought to
ban seal slaughter in Canadian waters, with immunity for aboriginal peoples.

Senator Harb told the press that "in the face of disappearing markets for
seal products and overwhelming international opposition, it is time for
Canada to recognize that we can't resuscitate this dying industry." The bill
was deleted from the senate's agenda without debate.

Please use your influence as a spokesperson for Canadians and citizens of
the world to advocate an end to this contentious hunt. I urge you to revive
Senator Harb's bill -- and finally accept that most Americans, Europeans,
and even Canadians oppose the world's largest marine mammal massacre.

The Harb Seal Bill coincides with a declining seal market. Belgium, the
Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, the United States and Mexico already
prohibit seal products. On March 2, 2009, IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer
Protection) MEPs voted 25-7 to bar seal items from import/export through the
European Union. By April 1 the full Parliament will vote on the EU's pending
trade ban on all non-aboriginal seal goods.

It's hard to defend the annual clubbing or shooting of over a quarter
million seals, 98% of whom range from 2 weeks to 3 months in age. The March
2009 hunt off Canada's east coast promises no change. Sealers ambush
whelping grounds to gun down, bludgeon, kick, and thrash pups with hakapiks.
The take in 2008 was over 217,000 seals, with 99.8% under 3 months old.

Hunters commonly hook seals without verifying unconsciousness or death.
Photos depict sealers dragging alert animals with boathooks. A team of
impartial veterinarians once concluded 42% of examined seals were still
awake when skinned.

I've copied my comments to EU and Russian officials to let them know I back
all legislation that bans commercial sealing around the world. Please
support passage of the Harb Seal Bill.

Sincerely, Name, Country
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