Support Senator Mac Harb to End the Seal Hunt in Canada
- by: Christiane Henker,www.stopthesealhunt.ning.com
- recipient: Prime Minister Stephen Harper,Senator Mac Harb
Canadian Senator Mac Harb observes seal hunt and renews his effort to end it
(Ottawa, Canada %u2013 29 March 2009) %u2013 Senator Mac Harb has returned from witnessing this year%u2019s commercial seal hunt along with observers from IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare
%u2013www.ifaw.org) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
"Continuing to defend the commercial seal hunt is not the answer," said Senator Mac Harb. "The government can%u2019t go on burying its head in the sand and pretending everything is going to be okay. It
is time to provide mechanisms to transition the few thousand
individuals in sealing out of this declining industry and into jobs
with more promising futures."
Earlier this month, Senator Harb introduced a private member%u2019s bill calling for an end to Canada%u2019s commercial seal hunt -- marking the first time a Canadian politician has introduced legislation to put an
end to the largest remaining marine mammal slaughter in the world.
"Over 20,000 seal pups have been killed in the first few days of Canada's commercial seal hunt. It is admirable that Senator Harb has taken the initiative to witness this slaughter first hand" said Sheryl
Fink, Senior Researcher with IFAW.
After observing activity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Senator Harb has renewed his initial resolve to end this slaughter.
"I plan to go back next year and every year until this hunt ends to catalogue the wastefulness of this hunt. I have an obligation to the majority of Canadians who oppose the hunt to be a witness to this waste
of tax-dollars and a vocal advocate for its swift conclusion," added
Harb.
Canada%u2019s commercial seal hunt comes just weeks before the EU considers banning the trade in seal products throughout its member states and several weeks after Russia declared a ban on hunting of harp
seals below one year of age in the White Sea.
Approximately 20,000 seals have already been killed in the first stages of this year%u2019s commercial seal hunt. Canada%u2019s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has set the 2009 total allowable catch at
280,000 harp seals, which is 10,000 over what government scientists
have said would respect the current management plan. It is also being
conducted in spite of record low pelt prices, which will further
increase the amount Canadian tax payers will be forced to contribute.
Support IFAW and sign the Support the Harb Seal Bill here:
http://www.stopthesealhunt.com/c.ihKPIWPCIqE/b.5015401/k.8FB6/Action_Item_TEST/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx
writing to urge you to stop the Seal Hunt forever.
Senator, please introduce a bill which would support the retraining of these individuals, whom have grown up in an industry that promotes and profits from the sale of seal fur. Industries and profit making must change and move towards more enlightened and humane times. Ask your country to lead and set and example for the rest of the world to respect.
Perhaps the government could use the subsidy amount for such a retraining program, much like the jobs retaining programs in the states. Looking the other way does not help to change the way these people make their living. Help their young kids to get away from this practice, and learn new ways to be productive and earn their way in this world.
Thank you for taking the time to read this Letter,
Sincerly,
we, the undersigned
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