TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2002
From Sandra Carlson -
[email protected]
Up to 700,000 seals are slaughtered in commercial seal
hunts around the world each year. This does not include seals caught in
fishing nets, shot by fishermen, and seals killed and not recovered. In
Canada alone, the quota for the annual seal hunt is 275,000 harp seals
and 10,000 hooded seals - about 80% of the seals killed are less than
one year old.
Footage of the hunt consistently shows that the methods
of killing are cruel, that there are many violations of the limited
regulations that exist and numerous other abuses not addressed by
Canadian law. Video evidence has shown just some examples: seals being
skinned alive, others that are left writhing in agony for several
minutes after either being wounded by gunfire, clubbed, or caught on
sharpened steel hooks, and many clubbed to death with illegal weapons.
GAASH (Global Action Against Seal Hunts) is a coalition
of groups that has formed to speak out against the commercial slaughter
of seals in Canada, Norway, Greenland, Russia, and Namibia. Our goal is
to put an end to the bloody slaughters through pressure on governments
and tourism in these countries.
Last year animal protection groups in thirteen countries
participated with demonstrations at embassies and consulates. Please
help us to let the governments of the sealing nations know that we want
the slaughters to stop! The Canadian seal hunt is due to begin in early
March and we want to show the Canadian government that people around the
world are disgusted with the bloodbath on the ice.
Tuesday, March 12th, 2002 marks the third annual World
Day of Action Against Seal Hunts. Organizations around the world will
participate by demonstrating at government offices and embassies, and
tourist offices. You can participate in this event in a number of ways -
join a demo in your city, write letters to government officials, or hand
out leaflets on a busy street.
For more information about the World Day of Action, go
to http://www.saveourseals.org
To find out if a group in your city is planning to
participate in the World Day of Action go to
http://www.saveourseals.org/Global%20Contacts.htm
If you have a question about this event, send an e-mail
to [email protected]
Go on to National
Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
Return to 3 March 2002 Issue
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