Just in time for Canada's tax day, William Shatner has news for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: He's living in deep space if he thinks the annual seal slaughter is fiscally responsible. In a letter to the prime minister, Canadian-born Shatner says, "Not only is it cruel to bludgeon and shoot thousands of seals every year, the slaughter also costs taxpayers millions more to support than it actually earns." 
 
Canada spends millions of dollars in taxpayer money propping up the commercial seal slaughter, even though income from the massacre accounts for less than 1 percent of Newfoundland's economy. A study in 2010 at Canada's University of Guelph found that ending the slaughter would save Canada at least $7 million each year.
 

 
Why does the slaughter continue? As Shatner puts it, "At a time of massive budget cuts in Canada, when many Canadians are struggling just to pay their bills, the government continues to defend this dying industry because both the conservative and liberal parties crave the region's seven swing seats in Parliament."

Please e-mail Prime Minister Harper and ask him to "boldly go where no man has gone before" and put an end to the unprofitable, barbaric seal slaughter immediately.
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Rock icon Iggy Pop is celebrating his 64^th birthday today.

His lust for life includes seals' lives, so to help him celebrate, please take a moment and e-mail Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Canadian ambassadors around the world and ask them to put a stop to Canada's annual baby seal slaughter. 
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

It's so hot in the city, you'd think I'd be making another batch of lemonade—but I've got a hankering for some Internet Soup. It's been a while since the last batch, so dig in!

• Scientists know that pigs prefer a life like Arnold Ziffel's—full of Green Acres and some "luxuries" …
• … but this pug is partial to that other 60s hit, Batman.
• This video by Frank Strick has it all: A catchy song, an important question, and a big dash of cute—i.e., kid hugs turkey.
• Fisher nets baby black bear—but never fear! Mama to the rescue!
• We've said it before, but it bears repeating: Meat is never "green."
• Sure, beefcakes might make women swoon for a moment, but broccoli wins love for a lifetime.
• We know that Polly wants to fly. I'm guessing that Pauley wants to run.
• "Hummus: The Rap" has inspired me to finish my own masterpiece, Guacamole, A Concerto.
• Professor Turtle weighs in on how to be a hero.

Oof! I don't know about you, but I'm full after all that soup—and guac. This Special K needs a siesta. Until next time …

Written by Karin Bennett

When you're friends with Pamela Anderson, it seems like anything is possible … even snagging tickets to one of the hottest events in Canada.

After delivering our petition against the seal slaughter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Dancing With the Stars beauty graciously gave her tickets for Sunday's Olympic closing ceremony to PETA's seal mascot. While Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, and Neil Young performed, our seal was busy educating Olympic fans from across the globe about Canada's upcoming seal slaughter.

Security tip: Wear your heart (and your tickets) on your sleeve.

He shamed, he saw, he conquered.

The party might be over, but our work for seals never stops.

Written by Logan Scherer

Our "weapon of mass distraction" struck again today when PETA bombshell Pamela Anderson delivered a package to the mailbox directly across the street from the Vancouver office of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Personally I'd watch her drop off her electric bill, but this piece of mail has lives depending on it: Anderson was sending Prime Minister Stephen Harper a letter and more than 500,000 petition signatures imploring him to cancel next month's seal slaughter.

Environment Canada's new data show ice levels at a 30-year low in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anderson is appealing to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to spare what is expected to be a historically low number of seal pups from next month's seal slaughter.

"The absence of this birthing habitat will have dangerous consequences for the entire seal population," writes Anderson. "I ask that you heed your own government's assessment and call off this year's commercial seal slaughter in light of this unique environmental situation."

Was your signature sealed inside that envelope? Sign our Facebook petition and join over half a million people who have already let Harper know that we won't rest until he calls off the annual massacre for good.

Written by Shawna Flavell

E-mail, text, and BBM all you want, but sometimes there's nothing quite as powerful as an old-school letter. Our proof: This 8-year-old's plea to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to do something that makes a difference for animals (like ending the seal slaughter!) is enough to restore anyone's faith in snail mail. Click on the letter to read the whole thing:

Inspired to write your own missive to Harper? Do it write away!

Written by Logan Scherer

One pie, two pie, red (cherry) pie, blue (berry) pie. Over at Twitter, we have a stockpile of (virtual) pies, and we've been having trouble deciding what to do with them (you can only eat so many virtual pies before you get a virtual stomachache). Then it hit us: We should share the tasty treats. But who is worthy of having a virtual pastry delivered to their Twitter account? Then, last week, Canada's minister of fisheries and oceans, Gail Shea, received a cream delight right to the kisser because of her support of the bloody seal slaughter, and the answer was clear—Stephen Harper!

With so many virtual baked goods on hand, we need your help launching them all. So if you have a Twitter account, click on your pie of choice to send a tart message sailing at Prime Minister Harper. Here are the flavors you can choose from:

Dish out some Heckleberry pie.

Send him a slice of "Dump-Skins" Pie.

Want to serve up some good ol' American "Cut the Crapple" Pie?

If you're one for the classics, how about a Cow Pie?

Now, folks, we know that you can probably distinguish a real pie throw from a virtual one, but for those of you in the back: Please do not try this for real. Also, choose your flavor carefully—we only want each person to throw one pie. So what are you waiting for? Ready, aim, pie!

Written by Shawna Flavell

Sometimes seals are on Sarah McLachlan's shirt. Sometimes they drive tractors. Sometimes they're in Washington, D.C.

And, as it turns out, sometimes they block the entrance to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City to protest Canada's seal slaughter while the country's prime minister, Stephen Harper, is inside at a meeting … and then they're taken away by the police.

© starmaxinc.com
This "seal of disapproval" let a crowd of people outside the hotel know that tens of thousands of harp seals are slaughtered in Canada each year.

© starmaxinc.com
This seal will live to protest another day. Baby seals whose skulls are bashed in during the seal slaughter aren't as lucky.

Take action! Tell Prime Minister Harper that the seal slaughter must end.

Written by Amanda Schinke

This morning, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with President Obama at the Canadian Embassy in D.C., he got a welcome that I'm sure he won't forget any time soon.

Three "seals" covered with red paint writhed on the ground to illustrate what happens to hundreds of thousands of harp seals in Canada.

Fifteen other demonstrators held up stop signs reading, "Harper: Stop the Seal Slaughter."

With D.C. traffic already backed up, the cops weren't thrilled with the additional congestion.

Luckily, the officers weren't armed with hakapiks.

If Prime Minister Harper wants a warmer welcome next time, the first thing that he should do is stop the annual seal slaughter.

Written by Liz Graffeo

This week at the summit of North American leaders, President Obama discussed his stimulus plan, which is aimed at improving the U.S. economy. It includes a "buy American" clause that requires projects funded with stimulus money to use only American goods.

Guess who's up in arms?

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Prime Minister Harper is concerned that if America switches to products made in the US of A instead of buying those made in Canada, his country will suffer a significant financial blow.

That's exactly what we've been saying!

By boycotting Canadian maple syrup—one of Canada's major revenue sources—consumers can help pressure the government to end the annual seal slaughter.

You heard the prime minister—buy American! But before you head out to the supermarket, check out these pictures from our latest demonstration outside the Canadian Consulate in Denver, Colorado:

Written by Liz Graffeo