Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to Face Flak From PETA 'Seal' and Protesters

Shame of Seal Slaughter Hangs Over Shea's Speaking Engagement

For Immediate Release:
February 23, 2010

Contact:
Shakira Croce 757-622-7382

Ottawa, Ontario -- A PETA member wearing a seal costume will lead a protest outside the Ottawa Centre 2010 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday while Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea delivers a speech inside. The seal costume will be worn by PETA campaigner Emily Lavender--the same activist who was recently pied in the face by a shock jock during a protest in St. John's, Newfoundland.  (See the story here.)  That incident has strengthened Lavender's resolve to work harder to stop the annual seal massacre. This time, she will be joined by other protesters holding signs that read, "Canada's Shame," and that feature photos of both Shea and the seal slaughter.

When:   Wednesday, February 24, 6 p.m.

Where:  Montgomery Legion, Garrison Sergeant Hall, 330 Kent St., Ottawa

"The seal slaughter is a bloody stain on Canada's reputation, and Minister Shea can't escape that stain no matter where she goes," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

PETA wants Shea to put an end to Canada's annual seal slaughter, the largest massacre of marine mammals on Earth. During the slaughter, tens of thousands of baby seals have their heads bashed in or are shot. Many young seals are killed as their wailing mothers watch and mourn. The commercial seal slaughter is an off-season profit venture for the fishing industry--Inuit sealing accounts for only about 3 percent of the slaughter. The European Union and the U.S. have banned seal products, and world leaders have spoken out against the carnage.  

For more information, please visit PETA.org.