Canada's Commercial Seal Hunt a Disgrace

Dear leaders,

As a proud Atlantic Canadian, I write to you today in hopes that you will seriously attend to Canada's shameful commercial seal hunt in a most profound way. Please help these off-season fishing communities by engaging them in alternate money making strategies, buy back their licenses, and support eco-tourism in those areas faced with low income or unemployment. To be sure, I would like to see the end of the commercial fishing industry as well. I am for the abolition of the property status of animals.

I have been affected by documentary images of the slaughter and statements made by the killers themselves. It strikes my heavy heart hardest to see them, one by one and generations long, admit that they wish they hadn't done it or that they didn't have to do it.

History proves to us time and time again that sometimes the law is unjust and therefore
unworthy of our tolerance. That some traditions were designed to teach us how to overcome so that everyone may benefit from a civil society. I am asking you today, in utter humility, to take a firm stand against the ruthless exploitation of animals all over the world and particularly now, the Canadian Harp seal.

Consider: "Humans -who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals- have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and animals is essential if we are to bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them, eat them -without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. They are just too much like us." Dr. Carl Sagan and Dr. Ann Druyan, authors of Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors 1992
Best, ... Read More

Krista Simon

Bridget Curran

Dear Environment Minister John Gormley:

I am writing to thank you for the decisive stance you have taken to support a ban on seal products within the European Union.

As president of the Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition, I represent Canadians living in the very region the killing occurs who are vehemently opposed to the slaughter on the basis it is inherently inhumane, ecologically irresponsible and economically unnecessary.

I have personally witnessed the commercial killing of seals in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia for the past three years and can attest to the horrific cruelty meted out to seal pups of just a few weeks of age by men wielding wooden bats, hakapiks and rifles. Sealers routinely violate Marine Mammal Regulations and Canada's Department of Fisheries and
Oceans consistently fails to act while attempting to convince the international community that Canada's commercial seal hunt is "closely monitored", "tightly regulated"
and "humanely conducted".

Despite the fact the majority of Canadians oppose the cruel and unnecessary commercial seal hunt, their tax dollars are used to subsidize the annual slaughter.... Read More

Your decision to support a ban on seal products within the European Union is warmly welcomed by the majority of Canadians. Once again, thank you.

Yours truly,

Bridget Curran
Director
Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition
Halifax, Nova Scotia
www.antisealingcoalition.ca