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On March 15, 2010, animal protection advocates across the United States held outreach events at Canadian Consulates, the Canadian Embassy, and other high-traffic locations to urge the public to help end Canada's commercial seal hunt. Thousands of flyers were distributed encouraging waves of comments to Canadian Ambassador Greg Doer and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to cancel this years' hunt, and pass the Harb Bill that would end Canada's commercial seal hunt permanently. Please scroll down for pictures from some of the events.
Despite the worst ice conditions in over 40 years, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea increased the seal hunt quota by 50,000 allowing for 388,200 harp, hooded and grey seals to be slaughtered this year. Both seal hunt and anti-seal hunt proponents denounced Shea's increase. One veteran sealer, Jack Troake, was quoted in the Canadian Press stating the increase "sounds a little stupid," given the slumping market. Last year seal skins were worth $14 each which kept many sealers, including Troake, at home. Eldrid Woodford, President of the Canadian Sealers' Association, added: "Markets are down and buyers are purchasing fewer seal pelts."
The poor market value for pelts combined with the growing list of countries rejecting the trade of seal-based products provides hope that most of the 6,000 sealers in Canada will stay home this season. This will be the first season where Europe’s ban on the trade of seal-based products is in effect.
Despite the poor market value, despite the majority of Canadian citizens who wish the slaughter of seal pups would stop, and despite the global climate crisis which is causing unknown numbers of pregnant seals to abort underwater, Shea continues to act irresponsibly by not calling off this year’s hunt. She has stated that a seal hunt will occur this year and "the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the seal harvesters will decide on the season."
Canada's commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on earth. Over one million seals have been killed in the last five years. The hunt normally begins at the end of March in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and weeks later off Newfoundland’s northeast coast. Please make a concerted effort to recruit as many people as possible to take action on behalf of the few seals who will survive this year, only to get beaten, hooked in the face and skinned alive for their fur. Let's help end Canada's commercial seal hunt permanently.
Please click here to take action now.
CALIFORNIA
Berkeley, CA: We had about 12 people total. Talked to a lot of people from Canada.
Los Angeles, CA: We were able to educate a lot of people, handing out more than 1,000 fliers. Most people were shocked that such an atrocity is going on in a civilized country. They just could not comprehend the cruelty. Consulate officials would not meet with us but they took our literature and said they would pass it on to their Washington, DC office.
San Francisco, CA: We had about 16 people show up and handed out 1,000 flyers. We ran out of 700 within the first hour. We had all four corners covered with signs and someone distributing flyers and had the table at the Consulate building. We were well received by the public with many individuals asking for more information above and beyond what was in our flyer.
WASHINGTON
Seattle, WA: Action for Animals demo - We had about 20 people show up, as well as had someone in a seal costume. Also, the cops that were there were very supportive of what we were doing, so they offered to escort some of our protestors inside to speak with people at the Consulate.
TEXAS
Dallas, TX: It went well, we got a stack of leaflets passed out and made sure our presence was known. Not as many people showed as I would of liked, but on a Monday - any turn out is better then none. The Canadian Consulate was one of the floors of a very tall building so not very exciting. But, down in lobby was made of big glass walls so we were seen, they took pictures as did passers by. No media or news, but some film students took some video footage. We had banners on two sides of the streets. We plan on doing another demo soon.
DISTRICT OF COLOMBIA
Washington, D.C.: A photographer from Routers came, a student writer from Georgetown University student newspaper was also present, the Washington Post sent two interns and a photographer and a student reporter from Howard University took photos as well.
ILLINOIS
Chicago, IL: The event went well. An official from the consulate came out to speak with us, and was very respectful and even sympathetic. No media showed up. We didn't bring a camera, so no pictures were available. We had a relatively good turnout, however -- around 12 people. And we handed out all the leaflets you sent us.
OREGON
Portland, OR: A small but enthusiastic group of activists rallied in downtown Portland, Oregon Monday for the national day of action to end the Canadian seal slaughter. In Portland's so-called public "living room", Pioneer Courthouse Square, advocates carried signs and handed out hundreds of leaflets to concerned passersby who committed to call the Canadian embassy right away and speak out against this horrific seal hunt. Using a megaphone, IDA's NW Director, Matt Rossell got the word out loud and clear, educating Portlanders about the plight of tens of thousands of seals who may be killed this season in the upcoming days and weeks.
NEW YORK
New York, NY: The weather was just terrible because it was so damp and windy. It killed the event for us because pedestrians were all clutching umbrellas and scurrying by miserably. Usually this area is teeming with tourists. It's across from Radio City (you can see it behind me in the photo) and on a normal day, there would be tons more people. We got SO unlucky, because a day later, it's spring here..... 60 degrees and gorgeous. You'd think we were in Hawaii now.
The Consulate sent down some people to monitor us. They stayed about 20 minutes before returning. The police officer sent to monitor us told me "I' m so cold and wet, I' m going to sit in my car."
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia, PA
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