Visiting Canadian Prime Minister Faced Flak From PETA

For Immediate Release:
03 June 2010

Contact:
Martin Mallon   0207 357 9229, ext 224; [email protected]
Alice Barnett 0207 357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

London – Today, PETA made sure that no one passed Canada House – a building that is part of the High Commission of Canada in London – without seeing graphic video footage of seal pups as they are bludgeoned to death. The images were projected on to a body screen worn by a protestor, while another demonstrator in seal costume held up a sign reading “Harper: Stop the Seal Slaughter”. The protest was timed to coincide with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit to London to meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

“The seal slaughter is a bloody stain on Canada’s international reputation, and Prime Minister Harper has to face that fact wherever he goes”, says PETA’s Abi Izzard. “The world is watching and waiting for Canada to end the biggest massacre of marine mammals in the world.”

PETA wants Harper to use his influence to end Canada’s annual seal slaughter. During the slaughter, tens of thousands of baby seals have their heads bashed in or are shot. Video footage shows sealers hooking baby seals in the eyes, cheeks or mouth to avoid damaging the animals’ fur. They then drag them across the ice, often while the animals are still conscious. Many of the seals are too young to swim away from their attackers.

The commercial seal slaughter is an off-season profit venture for the fishing industry, and it accounts for less than 1 percent of Newfoundland’s economy. It is not a subsistence activity for native peoples. Inuit sealing accounts for only about 3 percent of the slaughter. The European Union and the US have banned seal products, and world leaders – including US President Barack Obama, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – have spoken out against the carnage.

Other photos are available upon request. For more information on PETA, please visit PETA.org.uk