Letter to GovT: Please uphold the ban on Seal-Hunt products!

{i'm on a ROLL}  YOU oughta write one too -
Use this link:  HSI Letter  


                                                                (from Humane Society website)

This is what i added (inside HSI's intro & ending in blue):

SUBJECT:  Please withdraw Canada's WTO challenge

Dear Decision Maker,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Canada's request for a dispute panel to be established at the World Trade Organization in response to the European Union ban on seal product trade.

After a decade of increasingly active campaigning opposing Canada's Commercial Seal Hunt, i have come close to despair at Government's strange refusal to even acknowledge its rising swell of opposition - despite record-breaking numbers joining in the rally to 'Stop the Seal Hunt!', via numerous petitions boasting 100's of 1,000's of signatures, global high-profile celebrity appeals & involvement by virtually all large animal-welfare non-profits besides HSI:  PETA, IFAW, WSPA & many others.  I've watched wistfully as other, smaller, campaigns achieve results... cheered when the EU seal-products ban was announced... & cried tears of joy when Putin banned all seal-hunt trade in Russia.  Yet --still-- we Canadians are forced to suffer the shame of seeing our public servants (INEXPLICABLY) dig in their heels, refuse to compromise & stubbornly support the Seal 'Hunt' using lies, misinformation & misnomers via mainstream media.

On video-streaming websites like YouTube, the general public can see exactly what this appalling event is about.  If you have never seen it (& it seems that is the case), i recommend you view for yourself exactly WHO & WHAT you are supporting using OUR tax dollars, against most Canadians' wishes.  You will see why much of this footage comes with warnings of its graphic nature 'not suitable for children'.  You will see that, contrary to what you may be told, there's NOTHING noble, 'traditional' --or even HONEST-- about this supposed 'way of life' (which First Nations don't even support).
Full info @ this link:  The Cdn. Seal Hunt

NOBODY I know (including me) WANTS to watch filmed footage of the Seal 'Hunt':  the most disturbing, sadistic display of cowardly violence i have ever had the misfortune to witness.  Even if the Seal 'Hunt' WERE economically sound, sustainable & humane (which it's clearly NOT), the extreme distress inflicted so brutally would, for most Canadians, cancel out any benefits.  As with other questionable stances taken by Govt. recently, it appears we're being led away from future self-sufficiency/ sustainability, against the wishes of 86% of citizens & against our constitution (which asks us to be 'wildlife stewards') while condoning abuse of young wild seals in their own native habitat (which our constitution says must be protected) in a remote community that becomes more of a burden/drain each year...
[WE MUST DEFEND OUR WILDLIFE, NOT KILL THEM!]

PM Harper's reckless WTO challenge to the EU ban would cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $10 million --yet another subsidy to the sealing industry stolen from the overwhelming majority of Canadians who want it to end-- just as Canada attempts to negotiate a trade deal with the European Union reportedly worth $12 billion annually to our economy.   It seems incomprehensible to risk beneficial relations with our second largest trading partner (leaders in sustainable technologies as well as our key source of ecotourism) while rushing to push through a dodgy deal (FIPPA) with an undemocratic republic (China) whose environmental record is already the world's WORST! These are not the sound moves of a well-informed government.

I implore you to consider the many benefits of upholding/ respecting EU's ban - aside from purely economic ones, which are no-brainers. We must see this ban as a blessing, an opportunity to free Canada from unnecessary dependencies & thus pave the way for modern, streamlined, sustainable technologies that don't involve destroying crucial wildlife ecosystems, disrespecting other life forms or polluting our environment.

I am asking that you immediately withdraw the WTO challenge against the EU & do everything in your power to put a final end to 'Canada's Shame', the Commercial Seal Hunt.

Sincerely,
Sarah Chesterman
Vancouver, BC

Letter to PM Harper

[NB:  Sent last year, this letter was recently revised & re-sent.  Feel free to use the PM's email address & any info herein to compose your own letter. Click this link to sign PETA's petition:  http://is.gd/Y8QFUl]


Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

RE: THE CANADIAN COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNT

Dear Prime Minister,

As a fellow university alumnus (UBC) and native of western Canada (who also loves my cats), I write to you without ego or presumption - but with the respect due my country's prime minister.  At the risk of appearing naive (having been assured this letter wouldn't reach you), I feel the need to correspond directly as (a) my federal MP is great but doesn't have the time/inclination to undertake the in-depth research I have done nor to edit all that data into a succinct letter, (b) nor does our national media, (c) your official actions in this matter are directly at odds with your public image/ stated principles, as well as with the wishes of thousands and with firsthand/ scientific evidence, suggesting the information you have is incomplete or manipulated to serve your sources' political ambitions/ interests, or both, and (d) MP's/ lobbyists who were entrusted by thousands failed to put certain legislation through in Jan. 2013 despite assurances of its inevitable success.    So I'll cut to the chase and strive for brevity by editing out all known/probable redundancy.

I've taken it upon myself to research the yearly event which your DFO Minister Gail Shea has called a "Canadian tradition", a "cull" and a "humane" activity:  the Commercial Seal Hunt. After steeling myself to spend many difficult hours over the past few years reviewing a panoply of material from a broad range of resources I feel equipped to appeal to your consideration of this letter with more objectivity than emotion.

Having undergone what feels like trauma but is merely gut response to firsthand accounts thereof - thus insignificant compared to real effects on actual participants - I must draw your attention to the regrettable reality of the Seal Hunt, which owes its continuation to your government's approval.

It is difficult to accept such approbation upon viewing firsthand documentation of this event in the form of streaming video depicting grown men out on the Atlantic ice floes (i.e. the native habitat where mother seals recover with their newborn young) proceeding to clobber defenseless, petrified seal pups using giant hooked 'hakapiks'.  What can only be described as callous and unwarranted ruthlessness relished by the perpetrators, this repugnant scene negates aLL claims that the Seal Hunt resembles a 'humane' activity in any sense of the word.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su6CGssYM60&list=PL82DF2DB802B9413F&index=3]
Video footage of Canada's Seal Hunt from HSI shows sealers revelling in the sickness of their own sadism, defiantly drawing out - instead of minimizing - the tortured anguish, desperation & distress of their terrified little victims - maximizing the abusiveness of their unfair advantage & openly disrespecting life's beginnings for these gentle creatures. The nightmarish sight prompts more outrage from my fellow viewers than excerpts of Holocaust death-camp scenes in WWII's aftermath (NOT taken lightly themselves).  It would be easier to believe we're witnessing clips of criminals caught in the act, or severely mentally-disturbed post-trauma patients, or a scene from some sick gore-flick, than 'ordinary' citizens carrying out an activity encouraged by the Government of Canada.  That we're expected to dislocate our innate sense of what is right & dispassionately accept something so obviously wrong engenders extreme resentment of those entrusted with our country's leadership.  Mr. Harper, what we've seen ISN"T right & I'm appalled you allow it to continue.

The eyewitness evidence sheds sinister new light on Ms. Shea's public assurances that such cruelty could conceivably be called a 'Canadian tradition'.  What was once considered necessary for surviving Canada's winters bears no resemblance to today's Seal Hunt:  a sadistic 'pastime'/sport indulging torture of baby wild animals played by degenerates/social outcasts/ violent  thugs - i.e. a senseless carnage now banned in most global markets yet supported by the federal govt.  (see this recent post:  http://liberationbc.org/blog/tag/seal-hunt/). Ms. Shea undermines the very people she claims to support in her stubborn refusal to help upgrade their community's obsolete 'industry' into a productive, sustainable operation free from harmful interference in wildlife ecosystems.

As if government's resistance to progress weren't insulting enough, Ms. Shea's defence of last year's quota of 400,000+ seals as a 'CULL' to "stop the [2-week-old?] seals from decimating cod-fishing resources" is either misinformed or a blatant lie.

In fact, young cod makes up only 3 percent of the seals’ diet. The majority of their diet actually consists of fish and squid that prey on young cod; therefore, removing the seals from the equation may actually result in more cod disappearing as predatory fish flourish. The currently low cod population is the result of poor management on the part of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Even the Department of Fisheries and Oceans admits the seal hunt has no positive impact on cod population, explaining that the hunt is "...not an attempt to assist in the recovery of groundfish stocks...Seals eat cod, but seals also eat other fish that prey on cod."17 

http://liberationbc.org/issues/seal_hunt

Ms. Shea's ignorance makes one wonder:  why is she so desperate to condone this sickening bloodbath inflicted by yobbos terrorizing baby wildlife? Why does government keep justifying these yearly massive killing sprees at taxpayers' expense?  And HOW can you justify spending more taxpayers' money to dispute the ban on seal-hunt products (i.e. failing in your duty to our native wildlife) while importing pandas from a country with a woeful record of animal welfare abuses?  It doesn't make sense! I'm EMBARRASSED to admit I'm from Canada now, it's gross...

NO commercial, ethical or scientific argument - much less the ridiculous lies with which Ms. Shea continually undermines your government's integrity - can explain the sickening slaughter of defenseless seal pups.  As you ought to know, the international bans simply reflect contemporary society's growing awareness and must be accepted if we're to move with the times.  Rather than wastng money & resources on a dying industry, sealers ought to be provided with (or equip themselves with!?) alternatives that engender self-sufficiency as opposed to government-funded murder/ waste.  Judging from videos on sites like YouTube most sealers operate outside the limits of professionalism with offensive & unethical behaviour (if not signs of mental trauma) that degrades themselves AND all Canadians.  I cannot stay silent as long as it continues.

I beseech my country to uphold all international bans on trading in these death-skins, & to stop using taxpayers' money to challenge the EU's decision to halt this trade.  Such misuse of public office casts doubt upon your reputation as a democratic world leader.  A decisive move to end this abuse of the wildlife Canada's constitution pledges to protect would be more fitting.  Please do the right thing by allowing wildlife the benefits of being a loved & honoured native of this country:  i.e. protected & celebrated as part of what makes Canada beautiful.

Thank you.

SARAH CHESTERMAN

iMPoRTaNT ANTi-SeaLHuNT LiNKs...

(UPDATED POST)

The commercial Seal Hunt iS 'Canada's Shame' - a gross insult to this gentlest, most harmless native mammal - as are all human intrusions into wildlife ecosystems.  So I must help stop this terrible cruelty any way i can...

Won'T you please join me? Below are some important links...

('We're worth it!')

PETITIONS:

URGENT:
*Support Sen. Harb's Bill to End Canada's Seal Slaughter:*
CLiCK THiS LiNK to SiGN:  http://is.gd/Y8QFUl

As per this letter recently received from PETA (below), Senate is debating the issue - so your support by signing the above petition would be timely!

Oct. 17, 2012
Dear Sarah,
As you may know, Canadian Senator Mac Harb introduced Bill S-210 to phase out the commercial seal hunt.  Just yesterday Sen. Harb delivered a compelling speech before the Senate, and debate on the bill resumed. He stated, "The government has to sit down with the stakeholders in the industry and talk realistically about an industry-wide buyout."  Now that Russia -- which had been importing 95% of Canadian seal pelts -- has joined the U.S., EU, Mexico and others in banning seal fur imports, there are no markets.
In a recent Huffington Post blog post, Sen. Harb acknowledged that animal advocacy groups such as PETA and our supporters have played an important role in moving Bill S-210 forward.  Now is the time to show support for the bill as the debate continues by taking action here.  As Sen. Harb says, "Your efforts are making a difference."
Thank you for everything that you do to help animals!
King regards,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals


SOME KEY LINKS TO FRIENDS OF SEALS:

www.friendsforseals.org/ - 100% dedicated to ending the Seal 'Hunt'

www.twitter.com/FriendsForSeals - Follow FFS on Twitter!

http://is.gd/f4dCz1 - FFS's list of Cdn. seafood co's to boycott

http://www.hsi.org/issues/protect_seals/live_from_the_ice.html - Humane Society Int'l + 'Protect Seals'

http://www.ifaw.org/seals - International Fund for Animal Welfare

www.seashepherd.org/ - Paul Watson + his band of Sea-heroes

The HARD FACTS on the Seal 'Hunt', by PAUL WATSON:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-110401-1.html

http://www.peta.org/ - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

www.mediapeta.com/ - PETA's media page

http://www.antisealingcoalition.ca/ - Canada's Anti-Sealing Coalition
www.catcahelpanimals.org/ - Ericka Ceballos, animal-rights activist

www.all-creatures.org/hope/antisealing-20070401.htm - Anthony Marr of HOPE (Heal Our Planet Earth)

www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-Canada/Canada-Index.htm - Animal Liberation Front's Canadian page

www.twitter.com/detonarte - my Twitter, link to many seal friends

http://is.gd/H0NOR8 - brochure i designed for CATCA (cover)

http://is.gd/D3sBJ9 - brochure i designed for CATCA (inside)


OTHER ANTI-SEALHUNT LINKS:

http://www.myspace.com/sarah-doll/blog/330279353 - MySpace blog

http://is.gd/hOevPo - My letter to Michael Ignatieff

http://is.gd/wfuGTA - My letter to Prime Minister Harper

http://is.gd/KDJioG - My letter to HSI's 'Protect Seals' project

- See also my blogroll & 'Sites i Like' @ R.H. sidebar -->

Let me know of other like-minded links, & i'll add em!

Thanks,
SxO
.

Vote to STOP THE SEAL HUNT

________________________________________

ELECTION 2011 (Canada-wide)
________________________________________

The Green Party is the only political party with a full and comprehensive vision for Canada's future, and the ONLY political entity opposing Canada's sadistic commercial Seal 'Hunt' - in which seal nurseries are invaded by hakapik-wielding half-humans called sealers, who turn the ice floes into an unforgiveable, bloody carnage by bashing baby seals to death in front of their frantic mothers...

This makes voting easy – for me AND for the seals.  Because Canada needs to stop the seal hunt: NOW



This shameful, UNSUSTAINABLE slaughter is not only barbarically cruel but a gross violation of our constitutional duties as wildlife stewards – supported by our federal government's DFO via false claims that seals need "culling" because they "destroy" juvenile cod populations thus "jeopardizing" Canada's fishing industry. YET SEALS EAT MAINLY HALIBUT, MACKEREL AND OTHER PREDATORS OF JUVENILE COD (i.e. FEWER SEALS = FEWER COD)!!  In other words, "sealing" is a senseless violent crime committed against a harmless wildlife species.

The plain facts expose our government's ignorance, lies and willingness to deceive the people of Canada - FOR WHAT? THE SEALING INDUSTRY - WHICH YIELDS LESS THAN 0.1% OF SEALERS' INCOMES - SERVES ONE PURPOSE:  PROVIDING PELTS FOR MANUFACTURE OF FASHION APPAREL (which is why, horrrendously, up to 42% of the baby seals targeted are STRIPPED OF THEIR PELTS WHILE STILL CONSCIOUS, their carcasses discarded onto the ice floes to rot).

Increasingly and repeatedly, most Canadians have denounced this disgrace in countless petitions, polls and protests. The United States outlawed all trade in seal products years ago, and recently the European Union caught up with a Europe-wide ban on all seal-pelt trade. Other countries, eg. New Zealand and Scotland, have legislated protection of their seals (see http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/rewards.html).

So why is Gail Shea, Canada's DFO Minister, appealing the European ban AT A COST OF $10 MILLION taxpayers' dollars??  And why does our government NOT support non-lethal harvest of seal hair, a viable new industry initiated by SeaShepherd's Paul Watson (which got declarations of support from Canadian fishing industry groups, conservation, animal rights and academic organizations, and the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in 1998)? Scroll to March 1994:  http://www.seashepherd.org/who-we-are/our-history.html.

WELL:  May 2nd is the day to ask for change – by doing the right thing:  VOTING GREEN!! (see http://www.greenparty.ca/)


REMEMBER:  Not voting = denying yourself a democratic voice; Voting AGAINST a candidate/party in some odds-based strategy = denying your true values representation. The REAL YOU needs to be heard!

Anti-SealHunt Motorcade: MEDIA!

Anthony Marr's blog report of the Anti-SealHunt Motorcade:
http://homosapienssaveyourearth.blogspot.com/2011/03/

See the video of this event here:
http://homosapienssaveyourearth.blogspot.com/2011/03/video

PlanetSedge said...
I felt privileged taking part in this event protesting Canada's commercial Seal 'Hunt', for the sake of the seals. But i'm somewhat shocked to be the first to comment here, more than a week later - since the Seal Hunt's sadly still going strong, with thousands more baby seals set to be slaughtered...
I for one cannot in good conscience allow this senseless, unfair ambush on wildlife habitats (where humans have no business even BEING) in a gruesome bloodbath that defies all decency + degrades our very dignity as Canadians ~BESIDES MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS WILDLIFE STEWARDS...
So our only other option is to try + stop this slaughter, using our solidarity from the Motorcade as a weapon for fighting this 'evil within'...
With this Call to Arms, i hope to see some of those nice people i met last weekend on this blog - where (with Anthony's expert guidance!) we can formulate more strategies + increase our chances of success!?
Here's to you,
SARAH C. (the redhead who held up starting-gate traffic!)

MOTORCADE FOR THE SEALS 2011

Organized by CATCA and HOPE-CARE

The Anti-SealHunt Motorcade - March 26th, Saturday at 10:00AM

This year for the Annual Anti-Sealing Day, CATCA is delighted to join forces with HOPE-CARE and its Founder/President, our colleague Anthony Marr, who is well known for his animal advocacy work around the world and who was honoured with the "Best All-Around Activist Award" by Negotiation Is Over (NIH) in January 2010, and the "Henry Spira Grassroots Activist Award" by Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) at the 2010 Animal Rights National Conference in Washington DC.
"Tell someone that 360,000 baby seals are being killed this year, his left brain will shelf it under 'big number', and his right brain doesn't quite see it, his emotion doesn't get involved," says Anthony, "But if you can somehow show his right brain its scale, he'll likely take action."
So, how do we show this vision to the public? Via media, of course. Says Marr, "What media wants is not so much information but drama, something new in the message or the delivery - preferably both..."
The idea of the motorcade was conceived by Marr for his Compassion for Animals Road Expeditions (CARE-tours), which have proven extremely effective as media tools.
Although he has done many motorcades in the US, Marr has yet to have one in his own hometown of Vancouver. Now it's Vancouver's turn!
We ask that media show up around 10:30 AM, when we will be decorating vehicles with posters and ribbons. TV cameras will go around zooming into the posters etc., while reporters will randomly interview participants.
At 11:00 AM, Anthony Marr will lead the procession on his motorcycle from downtown Vancouver via the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler, rain or shine. The event will end at Whistler at 1 PM with a media conference.
We hope you will able to go all the way to Whistler for a good arrival show. Even if not, please join in the departure from Vancouver.  After that, you can go as far as you want - Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, Brittania Beach, Squamish... Those without cars, please come for the media assembly.  See you there!
Ericka
Campaigns Against The Cruelty To Animals
Western Canada Anti Sealing Coalition
http://www.catcahelpanimals.org/

TIMELINE: MOTORCADE for the SEALS - VANCOUVER to WHISTLER
10:00 AM - Meet at the waterfront parking lot @ Beach & Bute
10:30 AM - Vehicle decoration & media reception
11:00 AM - Departure from Vancouver
12:00 PM - Media reception in Squamish
 1:00 PM - Media reception in Whistler
 1:15 PM – Lunch in Whistler, then return to Vancouver

Co-organizer Ericka Ceballos of CATCA has taken her message to Europe and participated in many large animal-welfare conferences worldwide. Due in large part to her efforts, the EU joined the US in banning the importation of Canadian seal products.

Check out Ericka’s past work @ http://www.catcahelpanimals.org/

MEDIA RELEASE:  http://homosapienssaveyourearth.blogspot.com/2011/03/video

CATCA helps seals...

(at least, they're trying to!) - and SO SHOULD WE...
My friend Ericka Ceballos of CATCA kindly forwarded me the following link of a blog written by an Anti-Sealing Coalition activist who has witnessed the commercial Seal 'Hunt' firsthand.  Here it is, wrenchingly disturbing info and all...
http://antisealingcoalition.ca/blog/category/anti-sealing/
(Oh, i just wish this bloody 'Seal Hunt' would STOP!!)  It's animal abuse at its most extreme, + a governmental cover-up that BARS anyone from witnessing, photographing or otherwise observing this disgraceful slaughter (two were prosecuted + sentenced for WITNESSING the seal hunt - i'll find the lnks)... it's a heinous misuse of public funds, used to subsidize an 'industry' that has achieved a Europe-wide ban on its trade - but also, is being used to APPEALING this ban, to the tune of $10 million public funds, by DFO Minister Gail Shea.  She violates her duty as a public servant - along with her constitutional duty to wildlife stewardship, which does NOT include mass killings thereof!) - and her lies, posturing and outright propaganda in support of the Seal Hunt are SERIOUS BREACHES of OFFICE - if not crimes against diversity...
This isn't a worthy OR sustainable Canadian "tradition", as Shea claims:  it's a shameful legacy of lies, murder, pain, and violence against our country's native wildlife species - WHOSE HABITATS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT...
FIGURE IT OUT, CANADA:  VOTE AGAINST THE SEAL HUNT!  The Green Party is the only Canadian political party that officially opposes this Seal 'Hunt' sickness, if you can believe it.
YES, that means CONS, LIBERALS + NDP's perpetuate + support corruption, mixhandling taxpayers' money and unsustainable activities/businesses... So you may want to reconsider a party which has the integrity to reject old 'status quo' warhorses for a positive new direction.  Check them out::  www.greenparty.ca

I hope all my friends will be attending the Motorcade to Save Seals this Saturday, March 26th. (More info on that to come)
.

            ....DOES THIS LOOK RIGHT TO YOU?
    
COME ON, CANADA - VOTE TO STOP THE SEAL HUNT!
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