Ways you can help stop the Canadian seal hunt

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Write to your MEP

Before the European Parliament went into recess in July, the Commission will released its proposal for a regulation that could lead to a ban on all seal imports.

This proposal currently includes derogations (clauses akin to loopholes) which could mean skins from certain hunts could continue to be traded.  It is important that this proposal calls for a complete ban on all seal hunts. 

Please write to your MEP asking him/her to fully support only a ban without derogtions - a clear ban on all seal products (something the vast majority of people in the EU want).

If you do not know how to contact your MEP you can do so via http://www.writetothem.com/

Write to Gareth Thomas MP

It is very important that the UK throws its weight behind a complete ban on the trade in all seal products.

Please write to Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Trade & Consumer Affairs at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET urging him to pledge UK support only for a complete ban on the trade in all seal products - with no loopholes.

Write to your MP

Please write to your MP urging him or her to sign Early Day Motion 783 which calls for a ban on the trade in the UK.  To find out if your MP has already signed visit http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34947&SESSION=891 .  The address for your MP is The House of Commons, London SW1A OAA.  You can contact your MP via http://www.writetothem.com where you can also find the name of your MP if you need to.

Boycott Canadian Fish and Seafood Products

The sealers themselves are, for the most part, fishermen. The main part of their income is from the sale (and export) of fish and seafood products and the UK is an important customer for these products. Whereas income from the seal hunt is insignificant to Canada, the UK imports over £50 million of seafood from Canada each year.

It is the connection between commercial fisheries and the seal hunt and the economics of both industries which make a boycott of Canadian seafood products a logical step in ending the annual hunt. And it is British consumers and businesses that purchase Canadian seafood who have the power to convince the Canadian government and individual fishermen to stop the slaughter.

It is our firm opinion that only outside economic pressure can now help the seals and we have joined together with an international coalition of animal welfare groups to orchestrate a boycott of Canadian fish and seafood products. We are therefore asking the public, retailers and importers in the UK not to buy Canadian seafood and fish products as they are produced by the same people who are killing the seals. A similar campaign run by the HSUS in America has had great success with thousands of individuals and hundreds of stores and businesses pledging to avoid Canadian seafood.

By boycotting Canadian fish and seafood products you send an important message back to those directly involved in the slaughter of the seals.

Tips to help you identify Canadian seafood:
Shopping
Read the label
Some products are clearly identified as Canadian by the large maple leaf symbol, but make sure you also read the product information. If in doubt ask the manager or member of staff for the country of origin. Also see our Supermarket Guide.
Eating out
Talk to the Waiter
Always ask your waiter where their seafood originates from if not identified on the menu.

Explain why
Whenever you decide not to purchase Canadian seafood, explain that you are doing so in protest at Canada’s seal hunt, and ask the supermarket, shop, market, or restaurant manager or owner to join you.

Let Canada Know
Please tell James Scott Peterson, Canada’s International Trade Minister that you are choosing to boycott Canadian seafood products until the commercial seal hunt is ended for good. Direct your letters and e-mails to:

The Honourable James Scott Peterson, Minister, c/o Canadian High Commission, 1 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 4AB.

Read the http://www.boycott-canada.com/what/supermarket.htm :what they say and what not to buy.

Boycott Canada as a tourist destination

UK tourists spend more than 1 billion dollars (Can.) a year in Canada, contributing to the economy and therefore to the Canadian exchequer.

The seal hunt, by contrast, is a volatile industry estimated to be worth only a few million dollars each year. The hunt is actually heavily subsidised by the Canadian government and so by visiting Canada as a tourist or by buying Canadian fish and seafood products, consumers are actually inadvertently supporting the hunt.

Staying away from Canada while the hunt continues is the only way you can be sure that none of your money is being used to subsidise the hunt. It will also begin to make the Canadian government - which only seems to care about money - take notice.

The Canadian Tourism Board uses the slogan; “Discover our True Nature”. This is something we are keen to promote as well. It is important that people realise that part of this true nature involves the clubbing and skinning of seals - many whilst still conscious.

Please register your intention to boycott Canada as a tourist destination until the killing stops by writing to them at the following addresses:

Michele McKenzie
President and CEO
Canadian Tourism Commission
Four Bentall Centre, Suite 1400
1055 Dunsmuir Street, Box 49230
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7X 1L5

Maggie Davison
Managing Director
Canadian Tourism Commission (UK)
Canada House
62-65 Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DY

Please clearly and politely state that you will be boycotting Canada while ever the cruel seal hunt continues.

Write to the Canadian Prime Minister

Let Stephen Harper know that you are choosing to boycott Canadian products until the commercial seal hunt is ended for good.

Write to:

Prime Minister,
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,
c/o Canadian High Commission,
1 Grosvenor Square,
London, W1K 4AB

Sign the petition

Please download Save the Seals Petition (PDF file)*.  Please make as many copies as you need and obtain as many signatures as possible and return the completed forms to:

Respect for Animals
PO Box 6500
Nottingham NG4 3GB

Thank you for your support.

*You will need to have Adobe Reader installed to open the PDF. It is available as a free download from the Adobe website.

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