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We’re coming up on Seal Hunt time again here in Canada.

The SeaSheperd Conservation Society believes the following things about the annual Canadian Seal Hunt, and I agree:

• The slaughter of seals is incredibly cruel (a post mortem survey has shown that 42% of these babies are skinned alive)
• It is a threat to the survival of the species
• It is a threat to the survival of cod
• It is a slaughter done mainly for unessential, vanity, and luxury items, and therefore, is unnecessary
• It is unethical to slaughter newborn seal pups (About 95% of the seals to be slaughtered are babies less than four weeks old)

You can read up on more Seal Hunt Facts here and learn about the (useless) quota system in place, as well as a new perspective on the impact of the seal population on cod.  You can also read more in their FAQ. The baby seals are being killed almost exclusively for their pelts.  They are so full of PCBs they are not considered edible, save for a small percetage of fins.  This is a colossal waste.  I know that Prada, Gucci and Versace seal coats and trimmed clothing may be highly desirable for some women, but with so many other more sustainable, less horrendously cruel options available, I just don’t feel for these gals!  My girlfriend Bettina runs Coquette Faux Furriers and makes some incredible, fashionable items with not even a hint of suffering.  (I have one of her stoles, and let me just say, it is far cuter than a dead fox face!)

There is some good news here though.  Russia (!!) has just banned the slaughter of baby seals.  And one gutsy Canadian politician, Mac Harb, has just stood up in opposition to the seal slaughter.

Canadian politicians rose quickly to stifle the Harb Seal Bill but the fact that at long last, for the first time since the mid-1970′s, a Canadian politician has spoken out against the seal slaughter.

This is a crack that we can wedge open further thanks to the European Bill to ban seal products.

If you are a Canadian or even if you’re not, please send Senator Mac Harb an e-mail expressing your support for his initiative. He needs to know he has the backing of millions of people worldwide.

The e-mail address for Senator Mac Harb is harbsealbill@sen.parl.gc.ca

The address for postage (free when sent to House and/or Senate) is:

Senator Mac Harb: House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Every single message and letter of support will help him make the Bill to end the seal hunt legitimate in the Senate and in the House of Commons, and bring it to the next stages. Every message of support will also make it much more difficult for the political parties and government to ignore the will of their electorates. As you all know, public opinion is on our side to end the seal slaughter. We must reach out to as many people as we can.

In related news, on April 12, 2008, the Canadian government seized the SeaSheperd’s ship “The Farley Mowat” for getting close to and photographing the seal hunt.  Yeah, you read that right.  For taking pictures of the seal hunt, they seized their ship.  And nearly a year later, they still have it.  The Canadian government is now saying they plan on selling the ship, to which Captain Paul Watson has responded by saying: “I have no intention of recognizing the validity of any sale ordered by the Canadian government.  Whoever buys the ship should be aware that we retain the registry and the original Bill of Sale and we will take back what is ours at the first opportunity. You don’t steal a ship from a pirate without repercussions.”

Keep on rocking the monkey, Captain!