Written by PETA
Criticism of Canada's annual baby-seal slaughter stretches from the States to Russia and from Hollywood to Bollywood. During a recent visit to Toronto, award-winning Bollywood film star Sonu Sood penned a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to end the massacre.
I was especially disheartened to learn that the slaughter, which takes place in Newfoundland, accounts for less than 1 percent of that area's economy. I also read that only 10 percent of the quota was met this year because of a lack of demand. … I hope to hear that you will promote compassion by putting an end to the annual seal slaughter.
Sood joins world leaders Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, and The Dalai Lama as well as many other celebrities in speaking out against the clubbing and shooting of baby seals. Canada is feeling the heat—help us keep the pressure on until baby seals are safe.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
Usually, when we put the words "Canada" and "seal" in the same sentence, it's bad news. But not today. Canadian officials are reporting that this year's seal slaughter saw one of the lowest numbers of seals killed in recorded history. The 2011 commercial slaughter claimed the lives of about 38,000 harp seals, which, while still awful, is less than 10 percent of the 400,000-seal maximum.
The slaughter officially ends today, although under "ministerial descretion" sealers can stay out longer. But why would they? Fewer and fewer sealers are participating in the slaughter. With the U.S. and European Union bans on seal-product imports, the price of a pelt has plummeted to $20 or $30, barely enough to cover the sealers' expenses for fuel and boat insurance.
To help continue the seal slaughter's downward spiral, tweet at Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (@pmharper) and ask him to stop supporting the bludgeoning and live skinning of baby seals, and ask your friends and family to speak up for seals too.
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