Your urgent call to action to save baby seals in Canada

I am no animal activist but, since I have been undertaking some voluntary PR work for a marine conservation charity, I have become conscious of the level of animal cruelty in so-called civilized countries around the globe.

The latest issue I have aware of is that the ice floes off the Canadian coast are about to turn red with the blood of the countless baby harp seals who are slaughtered for their fur.

Words cannot describe the cruelty of the annual seal "hunt," which is really more of a massacre and will begin in just a few days. To stop this yearly atrocity, I do feel that ordinary members of the public must collectively generate an international outcry against the Canadian government.

An animal welfare charity, PETA, asks us all to publicly call for an end to this slaughter by immediately signing the PETA international on-line petition to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Their goal is to gather signatures from more than 50,000 people who want to tell the prime minister that "fashion" is no justification for spilling baby seals' blood.

Canada's annual seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine animals on Earth. Last year, more than 330,000 baby harp seals were beaten to death so that they could be made into fur coats, collars, and cuffs. The Canadian government claims that hunters only kill adult seals, but 97 percent of the seals killed last year were less than 3 months of age.

Most of these seals are too young to realize that they should try to escape when their killers approach. They lie totally vulnerable on the ice as their heads are bashed in with clubs. Many are dragged across the ice—still conscious—with boat hooks. Often these sensitive animals are skinned alive for their fur. Their bodies are left to rot on the ice because there is no market for their meat.

The Canadian government has authorized hunters to kill more than 335,000 harp seals this year—one of the largest quotas in history. There is no place in the 21st century for this wanton and frivolous cruelty. Canada must end this abomination, but it will take a lot of pressure to compel the government to stop the hunt.

As I say, I am no animal rights protester. I am just someone who cares enough about animal welfare to pick up a pen and take action. Please add your name to the PETA petition.

Photo courtesy of PETA