Honourable Canadian Officials and 2010 Olympic Organizers,

A spotlight shines on Canada as it readies to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, the Games also shed light on the world’s largest marine mammal massacre. I urge government officials and 2010 Olympic organizers to publicly oppose the commercial harp seal hunt.

You have an opportunity to show responsible stewardship of Canada’s wildlife and environment. Please use your influential status to help end the annual slaughter of some 300,000 seals off Canada' s East Coast.

To butcher seals, 98% of whom range from 2 weeks to 3 months in age, sealers ambush ice nurseries. They gun down, bludgeon, kick, and thrash pups with razor sharp hakapiks. The 2009 kill quota allows for an unbelievable 338,200 seals.

You don’t need to be an animal lover to know this yearly onslaught is wrong. In fact Canadian Senator Mac Harb introduced a bill to ban seal slaughter in Canadian waters. The Harb Seal Bill is a first ever attempt to recognize global disapproval of a dead end industry. Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, the United States and Mexico already prohibit seal products. The European Union’s pending trade ban on all non-aboriginal seal goods is progressing through European Parliament.

Images of sealers dragging alert animals with boathooks tarnish the character of the Vancouver Games. Hunters commonly hook seals without verifying unconsciousness or death. A team of impartial veterinarians once concluded 42% of examined seals were still awake when skinned.

A hunt with little financial relevance shouldn’t be allowed to damage Canada’s reputation. In Newfoundland, where 90% of sealers reside, seal related revenue constitutes a small percentage of the economy. Sealers fish year round. Killing seals generates a minute portion of their incomes.

As all eyes focus on Vancouver and Canada, please advocate an end to the non-sustainable and ethically indefensible harp seal hunt.

Thank you,