WFLF ANTI SEALING CAMPAIGN

Demonstration re the Canadian Seal Slaughter

2011-03-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Concerned Citizens in Los Angeles to Demonstrate at the Canadian Consulate in order to Pressure Canada to End the Annual
Canadian Seal Slaughter

Event Date: Tuesday, March 15th, 2010
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 pm

Location: Canadian Consulate, 550 South Hope Street, Downtown Los Angeles
Contact: Ian Robichaud, Harpseals.org
ian108@earthlink.net
310-266-9009

What & Why: Hundreds of concerned citizens in Los Angeles will gather outside the Canadian Consulate building in downtown
Los Angeles, to protest Canada's annual harp seal slaughter and promote the boycott of Canadian seafood. This event is part
of an international effort taking place in cities all around the world this week, marking the International Day of Action for
the Seals. Despite the danger to the seal population of insufficient sea ice, caused by global warming, the Canadian government
is allowing and promoting the wholesale slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seal pups - for their fur alone. This is the
largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world.

Citizens will present a petition to the Consul General of Canada with over 1,000 signatures demanding an end to this
industrial-scale slaughter of seal pups. Citizens will also educate passersby about the Canadian seafood boycott. This boycott
is designed to put direct economic pressure on the Canadian fishing industry, the industry behind this massacre.

Each spring in Atlantic Canada, a few thousand off-season Canadian fishermen beat and shoot over 200,000 defenseless baby
harp seals. In a matter of weeks, a pristine white nursery turns crimson, with hundreds of thousands of lifeless, skinless
bodies strewn all over the ice and left to rot. This industrial slaughter nets these off-season fishermen about $40 a pelt
and provides them only about 5% of their yearly income - in a good year.
Since it is the support of the Canadian seafood industry that perpetuates the slaughter, the Canadian seafood boycott can
pressure this industry to take a stand against this annual massacre. The U.S. is the largest consumer of Canadian seafood,
importing about 70% of Canada's seafood exports. Since the beginning of the boycott, Canadian seafood exports to the U.S.
have dropped over a billion dollars. American consumers are putting pressure on Canada's seafood industry to end the massacres
once and for all. Today, citizens of Los Angeles will be helping in this effort.

For more information, visit:
www.harpseals.org
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130992256969884

www.protectseals.org
www.seashepherd.org

Saving Namibia's Seals

2009-07-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Seal Alert-SA, established in 1999 by Francois Hugo, is a one-man seal rescue organization based in South Africa. Over the past ten years, Mr. Hugo has been involved in negotiations with government organizations, corporations and private individuals in an attempt to end the slaughter of Cape fur seals off Namibia’s coast, as well as single-handedly rehabilitating scores of seal pups who would otherwise not survive without his intervention. Hugo was instrumental in the inclusion of Cape fur seals, at the 11th hour, in the recent EU ban on seal products.

Now an opportunity has arisen to end the killing of these seals, which are listed as endangered by the United Nations – Convention in Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). A deal has been struck with Hatem Yavuz, who represents the Namibian sealing industry and owns an Australian-based company which is the last remaining buyer of the pelts. Hugo says, “I have received a signed exclusive agreement to completely buy-out the entire Namibian sealing industry, lock, stock and barrel and thereafter shut it down.” The deal would include all seal industry-related structures and equipment as well as rights and licenses. He states that it’s “a once in a life opportunity to save an entire wildlife species.”

The annual seal cull was scheduled to begin July 1st and lasts 139 days. The price of the buyout is 14 million US dollars, an amount set by the sealing industry. They initially agreed to refrain from embarking on the slaughter for seven days while funds could be raised, and Seal Alert-SA had agreed to a daily deposit of $15,000 for another week, beginning on the eighth day, to allow for even more time to collect pledges and delay the seal cull. A condition of the agreement was that no seals are killed during this period.

On July 5th, the “buyout” letter by Hatem Yavuz has been made public and as of today, July 6th, the seal slaughter has not begun. Talks are continuing with Hatem Yavuz and, subsequent to recent publicity, Seal Alert-SA is also negotiating with the Namibian government to cancel the sealing rights of the industry and announce an end to the seal cull in a legal binding manner.
The Namibian seal slaughter has been called the cruelest in the world. 910,000 seals are earmarked to be killed in the next ten years, with an annual quota of 85,000 seal pups and 6,000 bulls. Cape fur seals live in permanent colonies on land, and the pups suckle from their mothers for 12 months, forming an intense bond. Sealers invade the colony and the terrified seals are herded in-land in groups and clubbed to death. Many pups die in shock or from heat or suffocation. Others die of starvation when they become separated from their mothers in the mayhem of the slaughter and are too young to obtain their own food. The established colonies are continually fleeing for safer ground.

Because the seals have been forced to flee the offshore islands due to past sealing, 25% of the pups are killed by jackals attacking colonies on the mainland. Another 19% die of other causes before the seal cull even begins. The annual slaughter literally wipes out the remaining population of pups as well as causing an extreme disturbance in the functioning of the colony as a whole. If the slaughter continues, nearly one million seals will be killed until 2019 providing the seal population does not collapse first.

Seal Alert-SA is seeking major financial partners and asking supporters to pledge a minimum $15 [US] each to help save the Cape fur seals of Namibia from near-certain extinction. The first step is to email Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA at sasealion@wam.co.za clearly stating the amount of your pledge. No money will be collected until all legal considerations are in place and the full amount for the close of the agreement is available.

Pledges are pouring in from around the world, including from Namibian citizens and companies. Phil Wollen, Australian Man of the Year and head of Winsome Constance Kindness, has pledged 150,000 US dollars. Supreme Master Ching Hai, world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual teacher of SupremeMasterTV.com, has donated 100,000 US dollars. Hugo states the buyout is “an unconventional but valid solution and that all other non-commercial avenues have been exhausted.” He says, “Let’s together, change history, and make it happen.”

By Alice Bruckenstein, Contributor
Compassionate Animal.TV

Information for this article was obtained from:
http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com/
http://www.wflendangeredstreamlive.org/namibianseals.html (Hear an interview with Francois Hugo at this website).

Seal Alert-SA Gives Namibian Sealing Industry 24-hours to Halt Impending Slaughter

2009-07-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

In a Media Release by Seal Alert SA on the 2nd of July 2009, it was announced that Seal Alert SA has given the Namibia Sealing Industry 24 Hours to Officially Halt the Cull.

Seal Alerts has additionally informed the sealing industry that the $14 million in funds raised will then be offered to the government instead. Further as quoted from the Seal Alert media release;

"Seal Alert-SA has accepted the 14 million US dollar offer made on the 25th June 2009, by the Namibian sealing industry to buy it out, "lock, stock and barrel", 5 days before sealing season started, provided that not a single seal is killed and provided it can guarantee the end of seal hunting in Namibia, whilst Seal Alert-SA raises the cash internationally.

Killing a single seal during these negotiations will be a deal-breaker.

The first day of the seal culling season, which runs until 15 November started yesterday, on 1 July. This is according to the Ministry of Fisheries, yet as the sealing is done by private concession holders, it is uncertain whether the seal clubbers left the factory to kill seals."

Seal Alert SA went on to say that, "Attempts by the Namibian newspaper to contact the sealers, was reported as follows, "Attempts to obtain comment from a seal-harvesting company at Henties Bay, Sea Lion Products, proved futile. Only an answering machine responded." In their article "International bid to halt seal culls gain momentum" http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2009/july/article/international-bid-to-halt-seal-cull-gains-momentum/.

As such, Seal Alert-SA gives the Namibian sealing industry and Hatem Yavuz 24-hours to respond in writing. Should it not respond, we will take the 14 million US dollars, and offer it to the government subject to certain conditions.

The facts of the Namibian sealing industry are as follows. Govt has granted two concession holders, who employ 97 workers in the sealing industry, long term rights to kill just under a million endangered seal pups until 2019.

United States banned import of these skins in 1972, as did the Netherlands and Germany in 2008, and the 27-countries of the EU, in May 2009, citing the cruelty of the hunt.

Seal Alert-SA will make this signed 'buy-out' letter public should it not hear from them today.

Seal Alert-SA offer to the Namibia govt is simple. The Namibian sealing industry, was granted govt sealing rights until 2019 to kill a million seal pups. This effectively translates into $7 US dollars per seal skin. The purposes of this harvest it is claimed by govt is to create jobs for 97 unemployed Namibian workers. Seal Alert-SA will offer the Namibian government $15 US dollars for each of the one million seals not killed between now and 2019. This amounts to 14 million US dollars, the sealing industry offered Seal Alert-SA to buy it out and stop the harvest.

On condition, Namibian govt cancels those sealing rights to the industry, and publicly announces an end to the Seal Cull as a policy, and undertakes to protect the species. The Namibian government can then use the cash as they see fit, or to retrain and re-employ the sealing industry workers in other industries. Seal Alert-SA requests that a contract be drawn up with government, subject to certain legally binding conditions and terms.

Seal Alert-SA will raise the 14 million dollars through the millions of supporters in the international anti-seal hunt movement, where it will ask each supporter to donate $15 in a once-off payment to protect the Cape fur seals of Namibia permanently. This campaign, already underway has seen single individuals like Supreme Master Ching Hai, who is a world-renowned humanitarian, spiritual teacher, and artist donate 100 000 US dollars ( http://suprememastertv.com/ ) a global TV station for more details, and Australian Man of the Year, Phil Wollen a former merchant banker, who now heads the Winsome Constance Kindness (http://www.kindnesstrust.com/), pledge 150 000 US dollars. Most surprising is the sudden support flooding in of pledges from Namibia's citizens and companies pledging thousands of Namibian dollars.

The approval of this offer by Namibian's for Namibia to end its Seal Cull, is certainly clear from the pledges and comments and support received.

South Africa which has the same species of seal, stopped its seal hunt in 1990, due to public pressure and has experienced no further need to manage the seal population through culls or seen any increase in the seal population, after 19 years.

Many large international anti-seal hunt organizations with millions of supporters have indicated they will come on-board, if the offer is accepted by government, and a contract is drawn up with government which undertakes to end the seal cull, as many supporters have expressed concern that the sealing industry's offer is extortion, and question whether the industry can deliver on its offer to shut-down the seal hunt forever, without the support of government.

Seal Alert-SA will be sending its offer to the Prime Minister of Namibia, Nahas Angula, should the 24 hour deadline pass. In it, Seal Alert-SA will point out to the Namibian government that it already charges tourists $11 US dollars each, to visit seal colonies in Namibia, our offer to pay the government to protect the Cape fur seal as a species, instead of culling it, is $15 US dollars a seal, twice the value of the sealing industry.

Seal Alert-SA's position on this is clear, the Namibian Seal Hunt must end.

Seal Alert-SA offer of 14 million US dollars will create more jobs than the 7 million dollars the sealing industry will deliver in the next 10 years.

Seal Alert-SA awaits developments in this regard."

Contact:

Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA

27-21-790 8774

http://sealalertsa.wordpress.com/

Temporary Reprieve for Baby Seals of Namibia

2009-07-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Although the government has called for the slaughter to begin today, July 1st, Hatem Yavuz who represents the Namibia sealing industry has agreed to not begin killing seals for 7 days while funds are raised for the buy out. In a desperate attempt to save the baby seals Sea; Alert SA has successfully negotiated that beginning on the 8th day , a daily deposit of $15,000 will keep the sealers at bay for another week while enough pledges are collected to for the $14 million buy out of the industry.

This is a one time opportunity to buy out the industry that holds all sealing rights/ licenses to killing these babies for the next 10 years. Seal Alert calculates that in sum at least 910,000 seal will die, which will surely wipe out this endangered species.

Pledges for the buy-out of the sealers are flooding in from individuals and supporting organizations from around the world, among the highest pledges so far, $150 000 (US) has been pledged by a former merchant banker in Australia.

Seal Alert-SA's international campaign to raise the cash, has seen an overwhelming support for this buy-out at $15 a seal's life. A concept or solution never before attempted to end seal hunts. "The problem, is that I am a tiny, one-man organization, who has no big mass emailing lists or infrastructure to reach millions of anti-seal hunt supporters overnight around the world. It will take time to reach out, time the seal pups in Namibia don't have," says Francois Hugo, Seal Alert SA.

Job redevelopment plans for the otherwise indigent & migrant workers who club the seals and work at the sealing industry plants are part of the legal details included in the buy out agreement.

WFLF and WFL Endangered Stream Live condemn all cruelty to animals. "I deplore crime and all cruelty to animals is a crime from my perspective," states, Katia Louise of WFLF. Katia Louise has compared this situation to that of a loved-one being held for ransom and asked, "If this were about a human, a loved one that any one of us cared about and there was a ransom required to save their life, would we say, no; I won't give money to rescue - go ahead, kill my baby, or my mom or whoever it is... of course not." In another statement made by Ms Louise, she said, "We as animal lovers, advocates and activists value the individual life of each sentient being the same that we do our own kind and therefore should consider all types of rescue possibilities for saving the lives of these baby seals."

Seal Alert-SA has asked the international anti-seal hunt organizations to post information about this buyout on their websites to allow each of their own supporters to each make up their own minds, whether they want to pledge an amount to privately stop the seal hunt in Namibia, and help save the seals from clubbing.

The public offer made by Seal Alert-SA to the Namibian sealers is dependent upon the Sealing Industry upholding its side of the agreement to not kill seals for the first 7 days of the sealing season, which officially starts July 1st.

All pledges of support are to be sent directly to Seal Alert SA at sasealion@wam.co.za Other details of the agreement will be discussed with serious investors.

To learn more, listen to the special radio broadcast, Seals of Namibia at WFL Endangered Stream Live.
Visit the show and resource page covering this issue at
http://www.wflendangeredstreamlive.org/namibianseals.html

###

Seals of Namibia on International Talk Radio

2009-06-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

"Seals of Namibia "
Airs Sunday, June 28th 12PST US/ 9PM S Africa

Francois Hugo, Founder of Seal Alert-SA (South Africa) is in talks with the Namibian Sealing Industry toward ending the South Africa seal cull and saving the Cape fur seal species.

Be a part of history in the making! In just a matter of days 91,000 baby Cape Fur seals will be clubbed to death on the shores of South Africa, but you can help keep this from happening.

This is a call for global action for every animal lover to step up to the plate in support of ending this annual slaughter once and for all.

The Premiere airs on Sunday, June 28th at 12 PM PST.
To learn more and to listen on demand: GO!

Host: Katia Louise

Featuring music from "Song for Canada's Harp Seals" by Alice Bruckenstein, Composer

Please note that this is a special broadcast. WFL Endangered Stream Live is currently on hiatus and is producing this program on an emergency basis to help save these seals from this barbaric mass killing which is due to begin on July 1st without your help. Please listen and help spread the word. Donations are needed. No amount is too small.

A Day of Celebration for the Seals!

2009-05-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

A Day of Celebration for the Seals!

Yes! Yes! Despite Canada and Norway's threats to take the 27-nation bloc to the World Trade Organization if it moved to ban seal product imports, the European MPs have voted overwhelmingly for a ban on the trade in seal products across Europe condemning the slaughter of seals as "inherently inhumane"...

MP Arlene McCarthy says, ”This law will ensure there is no European market for these products and put an end to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals every year and thanks to the continuing collapse in the fur price the Canadian hunt has killed less than 60,000 seals this year."

(FULL STORY)

LEARN MORE

Save the Baby Seals

Seals Warriors

Russia Bans the Slaughter of Baby Harp Seals

2009-03-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

From Sea Shepherd

Friday, March 06, 2009

Russia Bans the Slaughter of Baby Harp Seals

The baby harp seals of the world have now found at least one civilized place on this planet to be born where they can be spared the greed and cruelty of humankind.

The Russian government has banned the hunting of baby harp seals in the regions surrounding the White Sea.

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called seal hunting a "bloody industry".

"It is clear that it should have been banned a long time ago," said Putin at a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources.

This leaves only Canada and Norway as the remaining baby seal butchers and both of these nations should be ashamed of themselves in light of this decision by Russia.

Putin acknowledged the importance of the hunting industry in the region and said that he would require the government to compensate incomes of the White Sea people in connection with the ban on hunting.

"This is one of their means of existence. Therefore, simply banning is inadequate. A system of support measures must be worked out to secure employment and income of those who live and work there," said Putin.

The people of the White Sea area are far more economically disadvantaged than the people of Newfoundland and the Magdalen Islands yet Russia has found a way to compensate the hunters and to provide protection for the seals.

"The slaughter of seals in Canada remains one of the blackest marks on the reputation of all Canadians," said Captain Paul Watson. "How sad it is that Russia can find a way to end this slaughter yet Canada continues to subsidize the largest seal massacre on the planet."

The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources is preparing proposals to ban the hunting of seals up to the age of one.

Professor Aleksey Yablokov, an associate professor at the Russian Academy of Science, believes that the seals could soon number no more than 150 thousand.

"This is a real biological catastrophe. At the current rate, in a few years the seal could become a rarity in the White Sea," said Yablokov.

Currently around 800 thousand inhabit the White Sea.

Go to Sea Shepherd

International Day of Action for Seals

2009-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

From Harpseals.org

March 6, 2009

The International Day of Action for Seals is rapidly approaching. The official day is Sunday, March 15th. Some actions will take place on other days, however.

Please attend an event near you, and help raise awareness about the seal 'hunt'. Together, we will end this madness!

Find out about the event(s) near you here: International Day of Action for the Seals

Please also take these actions for the seals:

Write to Canadian politicians voicing your outrage at this slaughter

Write to European Union ministers encouraging them to ban seal imports now

Write to American seafood vendors asking them to join the boycott, and

Give American seafood vendors Harpseals.org Action Cards to show that you're serious about the Canadian seafood boycott

Donate to Harpseals.org

Be a walking billboard for the seals. Wear Harpseals.org t-shirts and other seal gear

Updates regarding the EU Ban of Seal Products:

2009-03-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Please visit "Save the Baby Seals" for a complete resource of updates and information.

Updates regarding the EU Ban of Seal Products:

EU panel approves ban on import of seal products:

The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on the proposed ban April 2. The European Council would then cast its decision on the matter, likely in June. "Canada and Greenland have warned the EU that they could challenge such a ban before the World Trade Organization." Read article at International Herald Tribune

" Canadian fisheries ambassador Loyola Sullivan concedes there will be some type of ban, but whether Canadian seal pelts and other products will be exempt from it is still up for debate."- The Canadiam Press

Read Article at Candian Press

"The draft law would allow the import of seal products, including skin, meat, fat and oils, from countries that can guarantee their hunting practices are "consistent with high animal-welfare standards" and that the animals are killed swiftly without undue suffering. Special exemptions would be allowed for Canada's Inuit." -The Parliment

Read article at The Parliment

European senate proposed a ban on the sale of seal products GO!

Britain blasted for backing seal ban GO!

German parliament votes unanimously to ban seal product imports GO!

European Parliament to vote on a proposal to ban seal product trade GO!

Brigitte Bardot asks Nicolas Sarkozy to ban seal products GO!

Proposed seal-trade ban harpooned GO!

Russia to completely ban seal hunting by March 1, 2009 GO!

MEPs to vote on partial ban on seal products GO!

More Updates & Information

Save the Baby Seals on Talk Radio for Animal Protection

2009-02-23T01:51:00.001-08:00

Save the Baby Seals

Join us together with our guest, the founder of HarpSeals.org Ian Robichaud for an educational and enlightening discussion about the looming slaughter of another 300,000 baby seals.

Baby seals are skinned a live for their fur while their mothers watch... Their bodies are left to rot on the ice. Learn how to help stop this cruel hunt.

Hosted by Katia Louise assisted by Amanda Daniel, with Diva Vega live in the chat room as the Coordinator for Simulcast Discussions.

Help spread the word to save the seals.

Learn More on the Show & Resource Page GO!

Airs Again: Sun 3/1/09 8PM (PST) GO!

Hay Island to become open-air slaughterhouse for second year

2009-02-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

TELL THE NOVA SCOTIA GOVERNMENT - "HANDS OFF HAY ISLAND'S GREY SEALS!!"

NOVA SCOTIA GREY SEALS BETRAYED BY
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AGAIN
Hay Island to become open-air slaughterhouse for second year
Alert Date: 29 January 2009 - UPDATED 2 February 2009

Grey seal pups - photo HSI Canada

From Antlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition: I received confirmation today from Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans that Nova Scotia's new Environment Minister, David Morse, has authorized a commercial hunt of grey seals to occur on Hay Island again this year. The slaughter is set to begin on Wednesday, February 4 and will run until March 14, 2009, or until there are no pups left alive, whichever comes first. Fishermen will be allowed to kill up to 2,200 grey seal pups. When questioned as to how many pups are actually on the island, the response was "more than last year". Last year fishermen were allowed to kill up to 2,500 when in actual fact there were only approximately 1,400 pups on the island. Clearly, this is not a conservation plan - it is a plan for extermination.

NS fishermen beating grey seal pups to death with wooden bats on Hay Island in 2008
- photo HSI Canada

Hay Island, part of the Scaterie Island Protected Wilderness Area in Cape Breton, was the scene of a horrific mass slaughter last year when Nova Scotia fishermen armed with crude wooden bats and boxcutters descended on the island and within just a few short days had bludgeoned to death over 1,200 grey seal pups just a few weeks old. The slaughter on Hay Island marked the first time the killing of grey seal pups in Nova Scotia was witnessed and documented by a third party. Humane Society International and Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition were present on the island and distributed to the public videotape evidence of the cruelty involved in the grey seal hunt.

Whitecoat watches helplessly as pup's carcass is dragged past
- photo HSI Canada

In just a few days, that horrific scene will be repeated, and defenceless grey seal pups in the provincially-held Protected Wilderness Area will be savagely bludgeoned to death with clubs by a crowd of untrained fishermen who bitterly blame the seals for the sad state of the stocks.

DFO's own scientists say there is no direct evidence that seals negatively impact cod stocks, and they simply do not know if reducing seal populations will aid in cod recovery. Seals eat a variety of fish, most of which are not commercially fished in Canada. Cod accounts for only 2% of their diet. In fact, seals eat predators of cod, which is beneficial to cod, not detrimental.

Grey seal - photo HSI Canada

I write this with a heavy heart. I was present on Hay Island last year and witnessed the horrific cruelty inflicted on the defenceless pups. What I saw and heard on that horrible day still haunts me. I know what fate awaits this year's pups, who are at this moment happily lazing in their nursery grounds, calling to their mothers and to each other, unaware of the impending horror that is about to begin. I know all too well the horror, and it breaks my heart.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please take a moment to send an email to Nova Scotia's Environment Minister to let him know you oppose the slaughter of grey seals on Hay Island. Please send a copy to Premier Rodney MacDonald and Nova Scotia's Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ron Chisholm. A copy should also go Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, various other government officials and leaders of the provincial and federal political parties.

Terrified pups were herded together and beaten inches from each other - photo HSI Canada

Everything you need is on this page - names, emails and suggested email text. Please feel free to use the text as is, adapt it to your liking, or draft your own. Please remember that personalized letters work best. Please remain polite in your email, as profanity or threatening language will cause your email to be deleted.

For Nova Scotians, please also send a cc to your local Member of Legislative Assembly. You can find the list of MLAs here. For Canadians, please also send a cc to your local Member of Parliament. To find the contact information of your Members of Parliament please visit the Parliament of Canada Directory or use their searchable database. Please also send a bcc to us as action@antisealingcoalition.ca. Please also send us copies of any responses you receive from the Minister.

Whitecoat pup, one of the few survivors left on Hay Island in 2008 - photo HSI Canada

Thank you for taking the time to speak on behalf of the thousands of defenceless grey seal pups who face a grisly fate at the hands of Nova Scotia fishermen this year. These pups have no voice and rely on us to speak in their defence. We must protect them and urge the Nova Scotia government to do its duty and protect all life in Protected Wilderness Areas.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
SUGGESTED EMAIL:
Personalized letters always work best. Feel free to use the following text, but your message will carry more weight if you write your own customized message and subject line. Please remain polite - profanity will cause your email to be deleted without being read. For identity of recipients, please see the bottom of this page. All email addresses have been tested and are operational. However, from time to time emails may be bounced back to you from some recipients as "undeliverable". If this happens, please re-send the email individually to those recipients to ensure delivery.
TO:	min_env@gov.ns.ca
CC:	premier@gov.ns.ca, MIN_DFA@gov.ns.ca, pm@pm.gc.ca, min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, mlashelburne@eastlink.ca, theriahe@gov.ns.ca, stoffp@parl.gc.ca, Simms.S@parl.gc.ca, ryan@ryanwatson.ca, ddexter@ns.sympatico.ca, mcneilsr@gov.ns.ca, leader@greenparty.ca, laytoj@parl.gc.ca, Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca, YOUR LOCAL MLA (if in NS), YOUR MP (if in Canada)
BCC:	action@antisealingcoalition.ca
SUBJECT:	Hay Island seal pups need your protection
To Minister David Morse: I am appalled by your decision to allow fishermen to once again violate Hay Island and kill defenceless grey seal pups in their nursery grounds this year. Last year untrained fishermen descended on Hay Island armed with crude wooden bats and boxcutters where they slaughtered 1,261 seal pups in an extremely cruel manner using methods condemned by international experts. Hay Island is a protected wilderness area and you have a duty to respect this land, which the government holds in trust for the people of Nova Scotia, and a duty to protect all life on the land. There is no scientific evidence that seals are responsible for the collapse of fish stocks or their failure to rebound. Even DFO's own scientists say there is no direct evidence that seals negatively impact cod stocks, and they simply do not know if reducing seal populations will aid in cod recovery. I urge you to reconsider your decision, examine your conscience and do the right thing - protect the grey seals of Hay Island. [Your name] [Town] [Province/State/Region] [Country]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
LIST OF RECIPIENTS
Hon. David R. Morse, Minister of Environment (NS) min_env@gov.ns.ca
Hon. Rodney MacDonald, NS Premier premier@gov.ns.ca
Hon. Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture (NS) MIN_DFA@gov.ns.ca
Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister pm@pm.gc.ca
Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Sterling Belliveau, MLA, NDP Fisheries Critic (NS) mlashelburne@eastlink.ca
Harold Theriault, MLA, Liberal Fisheries Critic (NS) theriahe@gov.ns.ca
Peter Stoffer, MP, NDP Fisheries Critic (Canada) stoffp@parl.gc.ca
Scott Simms, MP, Liberal Fisheries Critic (Canada) Simms.S@parl.gc.ca
Ryan Watson, Green Party leader (NS) ryan@ryanwatson.ca
Darrell Dexter, NDP Party leader (NS) ddexter@ns.sympatico.ca
Stephen McNeil, Liberal Party leader (NS) mcneilsr@gov.ns.ca
Elizabeth May, Green Party leader (Canada) leader@greenparty.ca
Jack Layton, NDP Party leader (Canada) laytoj@parl.gc.ca
Michael Ignatieff, Liberal Party leader (Canada) Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca

2009-01-09T13:30:00.001-08:00

HSUS: January 9, 2009

Urge your local grocer - don't buy while seals die.
Find out if your grocer has signed the pledge
Get the customer card

Just before the holidays, The Fresh Market grocery store chain joined the campaign to stop the cruel Canadian seal hunt -- pledging to shift its seafood purchasing away from Canada until that country ends its seal hunt for good.

With more than 80 stores across 18 states, The Fresh Market joins grocers such as Whole Foods Market, BI-LO Supermarkets, Trader Joe's, Lowe's Food Stores, Harris Teeter, and WinCo Foods in pledging to stop buying seafood produced in Canada.

As we head into the New Year, it is crucial that we maintain this momentum and reach out to grocers -- please print and fill out this comment card for your local grocer -- and urge them to join the rapidly growing list of grocery stores and restaurants joining the ProtectSeals campaign.

What's the connection between your grocery store and the seal hunt? Sealers are actually commercial fishermen who earn only a small fraction of their livelihood from killing baby seals for their fur. The vast majority of the sealers' incomes -- 95% actually -- comes from commercial fishing. About two thirds of Canada's seafood is exported to the United States each year, achieving more than $2.5 billion for the Canadian economy annually. This dwarfs the few million dollars contributed to the Canadian economy by the commercial seal hunt.

By choosing to avoid Canadian seafood, you can give the fishermen who kill seals a clear economic incentive to stop the slaughter. So far, our boycott has resulted in millions of lost revenue for Canadian sealers. But we aren't there yet: As of today Canada still refuses to bow to international pressure, and is readying its sealing vessels for the 2009 slaughter.

That's why we urgently need your help to ask your local grocery store to not buy or sell Canadian seafood until the senseless slaughter of seals comes to an end.

More than 5,000 grocery stores and restaurants are participating in the ProtectSeals boycott of Canadian seafood. Each one has shifted some or all of its seafood purchasing away from Canada until the commercial seal hunt is ended for good. Across the country, dozens of grocery chains are in discussions with our ProtectSeals team about the tremendous good they can do by joining the campaign -- and they have indicated that they'd like to hear from their customers.

So today, ask your local grocery store to step up for seals: Download this customer comment card and give it to your store manager the next time you go grocery shopping.

To view a list of grocery stores in your area that have already joined the boycott, click here.

If you can spare a few minutes after your visit, please provide us with feedback on the store you visited and any conversations you had by sending us an email, to help our ProtectSeals team build upon your efforts.

Thanks to dedicated advocates like you, we are getting closer to the day when baby seals can live in peace without being hunted down and brutally clubbed or shot.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

New 'humane' rules won't stop clubbing of baby seals

2008-12-31T10:57:00.000-08:00

From: The Raw News

The Canadian government has introduced new regulations for its annual seal hunt, which has roused world-wide protests amid highly-publicized videos of cute baby seals being clubbed to death. However, activists call the measures "meaningless."

"We believe that this is a desperate attempt to make it look as though the hunt is slightly more humane," one animal rights activist told CNN.

The new regulations, designed to force sealers to check that the animals are dead before skinning them, apply only to seals over one year old, which account for just a tiny fraction of those killed.

In the 1970's and 80's, protests led to a collapse of sales and stiffer regulations, but in the last five years the hunt has revived. The New York Times reported in early 2004, "Canada has lifted the quota to a rate unheard of in a half century, buoyed by new markets in Russia and Poland. ... That trend is making an extraordinary jump this year, when the federal government will allow the killing of up to 350,000 baby harp seals, or more than one in three of all those born."

An official Canadian government website insists that the hunting of seal pups remains illegal and that "the seals that are hunted are self-reliant, independent animals." It also claims that seals are not really being skinned alive, because a study has shown that after death they continue displaying a "swimming reflex ... similar to the reflex in chickens."

The Canadian government frankly admits the latest move was made under threat of a ban against importing seal products by the European Union and its member nations, which could take effect at the time of next spring's hunt. Such a ban could cost the industry half of the yearly $13 million value of the hunt.

When the Canadian government announced similar changes last March, the International Fund for Animal Welfare objected that "these 'rule changes' are obviously designed to deceive the world that this inherently cruel hunt can be made humane, and to forestall a ban on trade in seal products currently under consideration by the European Commission. ... Over 224,000 seals were killed in last year's hunt, 98.5% of which were under three months old."

Enforcement of the new regulations, which might involve the use of surveillance cameras mounted on helicopters and an anonymous tip line, may also cost millions to both hunters and taxpayers.

Sealer Wayne Dickson says, "They're catering to the animal protesters and they've got to do something, you know, to make it look like they're actually on their side."

David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Monday December 29, 2008

300,000 More Baby Seals to Die in 2009

2008-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

Canadian seal hunt will continue as usual

The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland: Canada's new fisheries minister said Wednesday she expects next year's commercial seal hunt will proceed as usual, despite a European Union proposal that threatens to ban seal products as early as 2009.

Gail Shea said she's upset the EU proposed legislation in July that could prohibit the import of Canadian seal pelts and other products.

The European Commission's proposed ban on importing seal products targets countries that "practice cruel hunting methods", and focuses on Canada because of claims by anti-hunt campaigners that it is the cruelest. Canadian seal hunters use spiked clubs or hakapiks and rifles to kill seals.

Shea said she doesn't plan to implement new regulations such as banning the hakapik, a hunting tool that some say conjures up a bloody image of the hunt.

Rebecca Aldworth, a spokeswoman for the Canadian branch of the Humane Society of the United States, disagreed with Shea that the hunt would proceed next year much as it has done so in the past.

"I think in a way it's avoiding the issue. This is obviously a fisheries minister who doesn't want to change the status quo," Aldworth said. "The problem is that the environment around the seal hunt is very much changing."

Canada has the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world, with the totally allowable catch hovering between 270,000 and 335,000 seals annually in the past three years.

An import ban could deliver a devastating blow to Atlantic Canadian fishermen who rely on the annual hunt as a source of income.

Activists believe the hunt is cruel, poorly monitored and provides little economic benefit.

The United States banned Canadian seal products in 1972. Several European Union nations, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, prohibit all seal products.

Canada's largest markets for seal products, such as Russia, China and Norway, are outside the EU. But sealing industry experts fear a ban would curb the demand for sealskins from the fashion industry and disrupt shipping routes.

The EU's proposed ban would only allow the import of seal products from countries that can guarantee their hunting practices are "consistent with high animal-welfare standards" and that the animals are killed without undue suffering. Special exemptions would also be allowed for Canada's Inuit community.

The European Parliament and the EU's 27 member countries are aiming to have a first reading of the proposed seal ban in March, just when the hunt is expected to resume. The measure needs the approval of all EU member states to succeed.

Sign Petition: Save the Baby Seals

2008-11-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

PLEASE HELP US SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO ONE OF THE LARGEST SUPPORTERS OF THIS CRUEL SEAL HUNT, THE DARDEN GROUP; THE OWNERS OF THE RED LOBSTER RESTAURANT AND THE OLIVE GARDEN RESTAURANT.

THE DARDEN GROUP CONTINUES TO BUY MOST OF THEIR SEAFOOD FROM THE SAME FISHERMEN WHO SLAUGHTER THE BABY SEALS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

TELL THE DARDEN GROUP YOU WON'T BUY AS LONG AS THE SEALS CONTINUE TO DIE.

Please sign this Petition urging the Darden Group to join the Canadian Seafood Boycott. We have just a few months before the hunt begins again. Please sign now and don't buy Canadian seafood until they stop the slaughter for good.

Thank you.

Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com

Get the Code to Post this Petition on Your Website

Update on Seals

2008-11-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

We are in still waiting for the outcome from the European Commission and hoping that a ban on the seal products will soon be implemented. In the meantime we continue to spread the word and educate the public about this issue. We are gearing up in preparation for the upcoming "season" just in case. Please help spread the word. Thousands of lives are lost needlessly under incredibly cruel conditions. Please help us to put an end to the slaughter of the baby seals in Canada.

News! EU Commission Announcement

2008-07-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

In an historic step forward in the campaign to end cruel commercial seal hunts, the European Commission responded by adopting a proposal to ban most trade in seal products within the European Union.

This is a major step forward, although there are many steps ahead... (more)

Thank you for your support.

85,000 Nursing Baby Cape Fur seals to Die Beginning July 1st

2008-06-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Over 85,000 baby Cape fur seals were clubbed to death in Namibia in 2006. In 2007, the government authorized the slaughter of another 80,000 pups and 6,000 bulls. The Namibian government has yet to announce a quota for 2008 but has indicated that it will permit another slaughter.

Take action today to end this annual massacre!

Cape fur seals are really a species of sea lion. Two subspecies exist: the South African subspecies, found mostly off the coast of Namibia, and the Australian subspecies. The Cape fur seal pups are born between late October and early January. Most are born in December. The mother seals nurse their young for a year or more.

For 140 days, staring July 1st, the Namibian government permits the killing of about 85,000 nursing baby Cape Fur seals...on the pretext of creating employment for 120 unskilled workers living in cardboard shacks near the seal colony.

We wonder, are the leaders of Namibia unable to think of another way to provide employment for 120 people?

Take action: QUICK LINKS:

Sign Petition to save the Cape Fur Seals! It just takes a second!

Latest News

Links to more information

The South Africa Connection

The slaughter of these seal pups on the beaches of Namibia is only one part of the equation of extermination of the species. Another part is the historic removal of the seal colonies from their offshore island breeding grounds by the South African government, leaving them to breed on small rocky islands with insufficient barriers to large Cape waves and stormy seas. When the Cape fur seal pups are born, they, like harp seal pups, cannot yet swim. The storms, with their high winds and large waves, wash seal pups off these rocks and into the sea, where they drown by the tens of thousands each year.

The South African government no longer permits sealing, but it has done nothing to restore the colonies to the islands they used to inhabit.

Francois Hugo, of Seal Alert has proposed to bring seals back to their former breeding islands by establishing small colonies with rescued seals. He believes that this is the only way to get the seals to return. The South African government is, at this point, cooperating with Francois and allowing him to put his plan into effect on part of the seals' historic range. Francois now seeks financial help in implementing this plan. Information for sending funds is below.

There is yet another way in which the South African government has the blood of Cape Fur seals on its hands. Though South African laws prohibit the killing of seals and require regulations that prohibit the transport of firearms on fishing boats (which would be used only to kill seals), the government of South Africa has yet to promulgate such laws banning firearm possession by fishermen. Hence, tens of thousands of fishermen go to sea with firearms, killing seals each day. Read reports here

Send Automated emails to the South African government! It just takes a second!

Seal Alert-SA (Francois Hugo's organization)
Postal Address. SEAL ALERT-SA, BOX 221, POSTNET, HOUT BAY, 7872, SOUTH AFRICA
HEREWITH IS FURTHER DETAILS FOR BANK TRANSFERS:
ZAR is South AfricanRand

Information on making donations:
SEAL ALERT-SA ACC : 911 2201 321
BRANCH CODE : 632 005
SWIFT CODE : ABSAZAJJ
BANK : ABSA

SA NAT.CLEARING CODE

FOR EUROPE :
IBAN : 911 2201 321

ACCOUNT : 911 2201 321
BIC : ABSAZAJJXXX
BIC: (SWIFT-CODE) ABSAZAJJ
Bank name : ABSA
Address : DELPHI ARCH OFFICE PARK, RAATS DRIVE, TABLE VIEW
City/code : TABLE VIEW, 7439
Country : South Africa

Facts on the Slaughter From Francois Hugo's Seal Alert:

Fisheries. Since independence Namibia has doubled fishery catch, landings and quotas, from 300 000 tons to 600 000 tons per annum. When it should have reduced it by 50 per cent in 1990. Bank of Namibia annual report, the fishing industry's contribution to the country's GDP was 5 per cent in 2005. Sealing accounts for 0,01 per cent of fishery exports.

Policies. 1990 South Africa stops its sealing policy on same species. Scientists state their is no biological distinction between Namibian and South African Cape fur seals - the seals are one population. Sealing Commission chaired by WWF recommends a single species management. South Africa stops, Namibia starts sealing.

Number of pups alive on July 1. Excluding a mass die-off, less than 70 000 or lower. Sealing pup quota 80 000.

Natural Pup Mortality/Environmental Cull. Double the fishery catch doubles the natural seal pup mortality. Up from 25% to now 62%. Excluding, recorded mass die-off years from starvation 1994, 2000 and 2006 (95% of pups died and half the adult seal population). Nature already kills 62% of the seal pups before sealers start their annual 139 day seal cull.

Environmental. Global warming, loss of former habitat, reduced fisheries, massive culls, all will lead to this species extinction.

Unnatural Pup Mortality. Double the fishery capacity, doubles the entanglement, interactions, illegal shootings and drownings of foraging seals at sea. Up from 30 000 to 60 000 seal mortalities for one sector of thirteen sector Namibian fishing industry. Its trawler fleets.

Seal Quota. Decade ago (1996) Seal quota was 20 500. 2006 it was 91 000. 2007 it is 86 000. Not a single marine predator species (fish, seabirds, sharks, whales or dolphins) has increased, neither has seals. Pup Sealing quota increased 300 per cent over last decade.

Cull. Is a term scientific conservationists use to reduce a wild population of animals in an enclosed area (game park). It should have no basis for an annual commercial sealing industry. It should be breeding female based. Namibia exempts all breeding female and cow seals.

Tourism. Four of the largest international incoming tourist country's to Namibia. United States, South Africa, Germany and Netherlands have all specifically banned Cape fur seal product imports.

Largest Contributor to GDP. De Beers Diamonds (the world's largest producer of gem diamonds) has publicly voiced horror at the methods used to cull baby seals and is opposed to the cull of seals within diamond restricted area of Namibia.

"Harvest". Constitutionally it must sustain the population and not reduce it. Namibia does neither.

Seal Population. Lower in 2006 and 2007 than in 1993. Never recovered from 1994 mass die-off from starvation.

Namibian Sealing Policy. Annual. 90 per cent baby seal pup based and 3000 - 6000 bull seal genital/penis "harvest".

Percentage of Population Killed. 80% of the Seal Population for 139 days (July to November) each year.

Media Banned From Cull. Previously photo-journalists arrested. Diamond Area, restricted. Cape Cross Nature Reserve patrolled by armed-guards. Staged Media day in 2000. Mnet Television production Carte Blanche produces evidence of random clubbing of all age groups of seals, secretly filmed.

Morality Aspect. 1971 United States of America banned the killing or importing of products from nursing baby seals. European Union in 1983. World remaining sealing countries (Canada, Greenland, Russia and Norway) in 1987. Interferes in the natural behaviour and breeding cycle. Threat to the survival of the species. Considered a Crime Against Nature, even by sealers.

Protection of Fish Stocks. Latest scientific research (June 2006) reveals quantative consumption of commercial fisheries cannot be determined effectively, nor confirm whether competition exists. Up to 50 per cent of Cape fur seals diet is non-commercial fish species based. Namibia's seal cull, exempts all fish-eating seals, including breeding cows. Cull is 90 per cent based on nursing baby seals suckling mothers milk (non-fish eaters).

Cruelty Aspect. Chasing and rounding up 80 per cent of the seal population for 139 days each year, to separate pup from nursing seal cow, is traumatic and cruel. Sealing regulations state seal pup must be clubbed with a 1-metre wooden stick (pick axe-handle) on the head and stabbed in the chest to facilitate death. Filmed images of the slaughter, show pups must be clubbed repeatedly, before and after being stabbed in the heart. Pups found breathing after being clubbed and stabbed. Pups vomit up freshly drunk white mothers milk in shock, before, during and after being clubbed and stabbed. Pups chest being cut open whilst still alive. Bulls shot for their genitals.

Sealer Clubber Qualification. None. "Sealing Industry sustain jobs for the unemployed, poor and destitute" - (quote) Namibian Permanent Secretary Mbako (July 4, 2007). Unskilled part-time employment.

Value Seal Product Exports. No figure available for recent years. 2000 a total of 41 753 killed seals (pelts, oil and meat) earned (officially) Namibian $ 600 000. N$14 or USD $2 per seal. Although Sealers claim industry earns N$5 million.

Sealing Industry. Three-man held concession. Two of which Rights to Seal end 2007. Namibian has imposed a 5-year moratorium on new fishing rights,.

Seals Killed Per Day. 600 pups are clubbed and stabbed each day, for 139 days until quota is filled or season ends. 200 bulls seals per day are shot with rifles to reach the 6000 bull seal quota.

Protection Status. Listed as an Endangered seal species in 1977 by the United Nations Convention In Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II. Whose survival is dependent upon sound conservation measures.

Distribution. Only species of seal breeding on African Continent.

Range. South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Found nowhere else on earth.

Original Habitat. Former breeding Islands 98 per cent extinct. Less than 20 per cent of the seal population still bred in their natural original habitat - islands.

Sealing Colonies. Now all mainland based. 80 per cent of population. 2 mainland seal colonies. Wolf/Atlas Bay within the De Beers/Namibian Government Diamond Restricted Area. Operated by Namibian Venison & Marine Products with a 38 050 seal kill quota. Cape Cross, a nature reserve on the mainland, operated by two sealing concessionaires, Seal Products 32 950 seals and Cape Cross Seals 20 000 seal kill quota.

News Reports and Additional Information:

News from Francois Hugo:
June 6, 2008

During and after my meeting with the Namibian Prime Minister last year, the Ministry of Fisheries was claiming the seal population had increased to its largest ever and therefore awarded their highest pup kill quota. The sealing quota has risen 700% since Namibia became independent in 1990. When I flew over the largest colony, 22 days into the 139 day sealing season (which lies along the oldest desert in the world, 1600km from my seal centre in Hout Bay), we found not a single seal or pup left alive in the seal colony, which the Ministry claimed numbered 300 000 seals before sealing started, just a few days earlier. In other words, it was completely exterminated by Namibian seal clubbers.

I have written to the Namibian Fisheries Ministry, requesting the population survey results for December 2007 and the sealing quota figures, whilst advising him that I intend to do my own aerial population survey of all the colonies, before sealing starts and during the seal clubbing. This was his reply, "Dear Hugo, Did you manage to have permission from relevant authorities to execute the survey as envisaged? Or don’t you need one? You will get the harvest levels once cleared by Advisory Council and Minister as this will fall into public information then". So, Namibia is clearly going ahead with its seal cull. Clearly this also makes them very nervous, as my evidence would show these seal colonies are declining or in a very poor state. No doubt, they will try to block my aerial survey, as it is clear that he does not want to give out the results of the population survey in December 2007, which can only mean they are very poor and the clubbing quota too high.

Sea Shepherd Support of Care Fur Seals

Voice for Seals First 12 Action Steps

2008-01-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome!

Thank you for your support in our effort to permanently ban all cruel seal hunts. If you haven't yet completed the first 12 action steps please do so right away.

Baby seals need us now.

First 12 Action Steps

Sign the Pledge: To Boycott Canadian Seafood, I Won’t buy While Seals Die

http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html

Email Canada's Minister of International Trade, David Emerson to End the Hunt

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/trademinister_protectseals08

Sign Petition in support of an EU ban on trade in seal products

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/seal_trade_ban.html

Email Prime Minister Stephen Harper to End the Hunt

Stop Canada’s Grey Seal Slaughter

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/canada_grey_seals

http://www.hsicanada.ca/seals/seal_hunt_2008/grey_seal_slaughter_22308.html

Email the EU Commission to Ban the Hunt

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/seal_trade_ban.html

Sign Pledge to Be Fur Free

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/furfreepledge_jay

Add a Protect Seals Banner to Your profile Page

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/faqs/seals_downloads.html#badges

Sign Petition to Boycott Red Lobster
Urge Darden Restaurants to Boycott Canadian Seafood & Save the Seals

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/779305940

Sign Petition to Stop the Seal Hunt (IFAW)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/109821355

Speak Out Against the Seal Hunt

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=180490

Get 6 New People to Sign the Above Petitions Or
Invite All your On Line Friends to Join this Cause

Additional Ways to Help End the Seal Hunt

Click Daily for the Race to Save the Seals

Join a Harp Seal Meet Up Group in your area!
http://harpseals.meetup.com/

Join Sea Shepherd’s Campaign to Save the Seals
http://www.seashepherd.org/

Join HarpSeals.Org’s Campaign

http://www.harpseals.org/cyberlist.html

Start Your own Personal Campaign: Find Other Ways to Support this Cause and have it Added to this List

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/xtoolbox.html

Make a Donation to Humane Society International
https://secure.hsus.org/01/hsi_protectseals08

Make a Donation to IFAW to Support their Efforts to Stop the Hunt
https://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=196375

Make a Donation to Humane Society United States

https://secure.hsus.org/01/makeadonation?qp_source=gabam3

Access Sea Shepherd Resources for your Website & Rallies

http://www.seashepherd.org/seals/resources/

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/protectseals08_EUban/forward

Sign Brigitte Bardot Foundation Petition to Boycott Canadian Seafood

http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/site/petition.php?Id=352

Canadian's In Support of Saving the Seals
Humane Society International Canada
http://www.hsicanada.ca/seals/seal_myths_and_facts.html

Canadian Seal Hunt
http://www.canadiansealhunt.com/

Into the Eyes of God
http://www.intotheeyesofgod.org/index.php

Spread the Word Ask a Friend to Join the Boycott:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/protectseals/forward

Urge Your Grocer to Join the Boycott
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/why_a_boycott_of_canadian_seafood/grocery_store.html

Contact the restaurants, distributors and grocery stores that have been particularly resistant to joining our boycott. Politely ask them to help protect seals by limiting or eliminating Canadian seafood by Signing the Pledge to Boycott:

Send an Automated Email to Costco
http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/protest_new/costco_email.php

Send an Automated Email to Publix
http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/protest_new/publix_email.php

Send an Automated Email to Albertsons
http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/protest_new/albertsons_email.php

Send an Automated Email to Gortons Seafood Products
http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/protest_new/gortons_email.php

Print Copies of the Boycott Pledge to Take to the Businesses Listed Below
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/seals/boycottpledgefeb2006.pdf or http://www.sealhunt.ca/Petitions/Restaurant_SeafoodCompany_Pledge.html

Grocers & Businesses to Contact

Ahold USA (Dutch-based company that owns Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores)Bill Grize, President and CEO
Ahold USA Retail Operations
1385 Hancock Street
Quincy Center Plaza
Quincy, MA 02169
781-380-8000 or 703-961-6000
E-mail: communications@ahold.com

Captain D's Seafood
Ron Powell, Chairman of the Board
Ronald E. Walker, President and COO
Captain D's Seafood
1717 Elm Hill Pike, Suite A-1
Nashville, TN 37210
615-391-5461
Fax: 615-231-2309
Email: dscomments@captainds.com

Costco Wholesale Corp. (incorporating both Costco and Price Club)
Jeffrey Brotman, Chairman
James Sinegal, President
Costco Wholesale Corporation
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027
425-313-8103 or 800-774-2678
Send comments via this web page.

King's Seafood
Sam and Jeff King (who also own Water Grill, Ocean Ave Seafood, i.Cugini, 555 East, Larry & Mickey's and Kings Fish House/King Crab Lounge, all in southern California.)
Sam King, CEO
3185 Airway Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-432-0400
You can also email the Chief Seafood Officer, Matt Stein at mstein@kingsseafood.co

Long John Silver's (owned by Yum! Brands Inc., which also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and A&W All-American Food Restaurants)
David C. Novak, President and CEO
Yum! Brands
1441 Gardiner Lane
Louisville, KY 40213
502-874-8300
Send comments via this web page.

McCormick & Schmick's
Douglas Schmick, Co-Founder and President
Saed Mohseni, CEO
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants
720 SW Washington St.
Portland, OR 97205
503-226-3440
Fax: 503-228-5074

Outback Steakhouse Inc.
Chris T. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO
Outback Steakhouse
2220 North West Shore Blvd., Suite 500
Tampa, FL 33607
813-2862247
Email: Use form on this page.

Phillips Foods, Inc. & Seafood Restaurants
Mark Sneed, President
1215 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 443-263-1200, 1-888-234-CRAB
Fax: 410-837-8526
Email: comments@phillipsseafood.com

Red Lobster
Clarence Otis, Jr., CEO of The Darden Group and George Williams, Vice President for Government and Environmental Relations for Red Lobster Restaurants
The Darden Group
5900 Lake Ellenor Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
Corporate headquarter phone number: 407-245-4000
Guest relations hotline: 800-LOBSTER (1-800-562-7837)
Send your emails via the Red Lobster web site.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 SW 8th St.
Benton, AR 72716
479-273-4000
Fax: 479-273-4053
Email: Use contact form on this page.

USA: Call Your US Representatives
https://community.hsus.org/humane/leg-lookup/search.html

Send a Letter to the Canadian Embassy:
Ambassador Michael Wilson
Office of the Ambassador,
Canadian Embassy
501 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NWWashington, DC 20001

(sample letter)

Subject: Stop the mass slaughter of baby seals
Dear Ambassador Wilson,
I am appalled that Canadian fishermen continue to brutally slaughter more than 300,000 baby seals every year in Newfoundland and Labrador. I am writing to let you know that until the Canadian government puts a permanent stop to this atrocity, I will be boycotting Canada's goods, tourism and seafood industries. Approximately 95% of the victims of this annual massacre are newborn pups less than four weeks old. A 2001 study found 79% of hunters did not verify that animals were dead before skinning them, and that 42% of the seals showed minimal or no skull fractures, indicating a high likelihood they were alive and perhaps even conscious while being skinned.
With all due respect, I would like you to explain to me in your response to this email how such cruelty can be justified. I submit that the seal slaughter cannot be defended on any reasonable ethical grounds. Canada therefore risks alienating hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide and staining its citizens' hands with blood that will not easily wash off. With the seal massacre set to start in a matter of weeks, I urge you to please do all that you can to oppose this impending tragedy before it is too late.
Sincerely,

Join Sea Shepherd’s Campaign to Save the Seals
http://www.seashepherd.org/

Make a Donation to Humane Society International
https://secure.hsus.org/01/hsi_protectseals08

Make a Donation to IFAW to Support their Efforts to Stop the Hunt
https://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=196375

CONTACT THE NEWSPAPERS AND PRESS:

The Globe and Mail , Canada National Daily
Web site: http://www.globeandmail.com
Letters to the Editor
E-mail : letters@globeandmail.com
Telephone : 1 416 585-5000

The Telegram, Newfoundland
Web site: http://www.thetelegram.com/
Letters to the Editor
E-mail : letters@thetelegram.com
Telephone : (709) 364-2323, ext. 832

The Western Star, western Newfoundland
Web site: http://www.thewesternstar.com/
Editorials, Letters to the Editor - Ray Sweetapple
E-mail : rsweetapple@thewesternstar.com
Telephone : (709) 637-4663

Montreal Gazette, Quebec
Web site: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/index.html
Letters to the editor: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/letters.html

The First Informer, Magdalen Islands, Quebec
Web site: http://www.qcna.org/Informer/
Email: firstinformer@sympatico.ca

Make a Donation to Humane Society United States

https://secure.hsus.org/01/makeadonation?qp_source=gabam3

Join HarpSeals.Org’s Campaign

http://www.harpseals.org/cyberlist.html

Start Your own Personal Campaign:

Find Other Ways to Support this Cause and have it Added to this List

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/xtoolbox.html

U se Sea Shepherd Resources for your Website & Rallies

http://www.seashepherd.org/seals/resources/

IFAW Seal Hunt 2008 - The Hunt Starts -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xrEu4buG5Pc

Please Sign Petition to Boycott the Red Lobster

(Read More)

Other Seals in Peril

Last Call for the Mediterranean Monk Seal
The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, is one of the rarest seal species in the world and the number one endangered marine mammal in Europe: fewer than 600 are left in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. This rare species is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and is protected by international conventions and the European Union. Remaining threats are from the development of the coastal region, tourism, fisheries and pollution.
(more information)

Newly born Greenland Seals being Slaughtered
Public protests against the killing of newly born Greenland seals in the Archangel region have resulted in a ban on the hunting of baby seals this year. Officially, the reason for the ban was the dangerously thin ice. The real reason was the wave of protests from celebrities and animal protectionists. Now the Russian animal activists and stars are trying to have this year’s ban on the hunt of white-coat pups and “greys” (slightly older pups) translated into a legal ban.

Slaughter of 100's of thousands -Cape Fur Seals Africa

Petition to Save Cape Fur Seals from Extinction

Stop the Poisoning of Cape Fur Seals

All about the Cape Fur Seals

http://www.sealalert.org/

Sea Shepherd's Coverage of Cape Fur Seals

Stop Canada’s Grey Seal Slaughter

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/canada_grey_seals

Read more about Canada's Grey Seal Hunt

Ask California Legislators to Protect San Diego Seals
http://ga0.org/campaign/sdseals

to_save_the_poles.htm

Help Stop the Namibian Seal Slaughter

2008-01-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Last year, the world looked on in horror as the Namibian government permitted the slaughter of 86,000 Cape fur seals.

Sealers bludgeon the seals with clubs and "hakapiks" (clubs with metal hooks on their ends), drag conscious seals across the sand with boat hooks, and toss dead and dying animals into heaps, leaving their carcasses to rot because there is no market for their meat. Pups vomit up their mother's milk in shock—before, during, and after being clubbed and stabbed.

The sealing industry claims that it is killing more seals because of an increase in the demand for fur—all fur. Anyone wearing a mink- or fox-fur coat or a jacket trimmed with coyote or rabbit fur is partly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of baby seals.

Please contact the Prime Minister of Namibia and urge him to put an end to the barbaric seal slaughter.

Personalized letters always work best. Feel free to use the following text, but your message will carry more weight if you write your own customized message and subject line.

Namibia's Annual Baby Seal Cull

2008-01-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

Voice for Seals Members

2008-01-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

Mission Statement
The Voice for Seals Program stands firmly in support of a permanent ban of all seal hunts and slaughtering world wide. Our current focus is on the ending the Canadian Harp and Grey seal hunts. We further support the abolishment of the fur trades on a global level.

Appearances

2008-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00