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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About Me
- Shiananda
- Peace and Love For All Animals. Let us create earth the way the divine plan was intended. All life once lived in Eden, humans have created Hell. We can exchange hell for heaven with each simple action we take, each inspiration we evoke, each pleasure we ensure is not at the expense of another.