Via Amnesty International:

Send a message to Chevron and Dow Chemical for World Water Day

Today, in honor of World Water Day, we ask you to send a message to Chevron and Dow Chemical, demanding that they fully address contamination left by their subsidiaries.

We all know the importance of clean water to human survival. But around the world, access to clean water has been threatened by corporate contamination. For instance, thousands of residents in Bhopal, India are drinking water laced with mercury and trichlorobenzene as a result of contamination left by Dow Chemical’s subsidiary, Union Carbide. In Ecuador, Chevron Corporation has turned its back on Amazon communities poisoned by contamination left by their subsidiary, Texaco, over 20 years of operations, and many complain of serious health problems related to drinking polluted water.

Remind both of these companies that communities around the world are relying on them to operate in ways that protect the environment and human health. They can’t wait another second for clean water in their communities – their lives depend on it.

Send a message to Chevron »

Send a message to Dow »

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts amnesty international water conservation world water day Chevron Dow Chemical pollution capitalism Bhopal India Ecuador Amazon

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: American Rivers – outreach [at] americanrivers.org
Date: Mar 22, 2007 8:00 AM
Subject: RiverNews: Celebrate World Water Day

Today is World Water Day. And in honor of American Rivers’ 34th birthday (March 24), we invite you to join us in celebrating the importance of healthy rivers and clean drinking water in our lives!

Photo via emarquetti

The theme of World Water Day 2007 is “Coping with Scarcity,” an issue that hits particularly close to home. America’s demand for water is outpacing supply across the country — not just in the arid West. Here are some things YOU can do to show appreciation for healthy rivers and to help conserve water:

1. You can’t appreciate what you don’t know. Find out where your community gets its drinking water by visiting cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/map2.cfm.

2. Test your WaterSense. Take an interactive online quiz at www.epa.gov/watersense/quiz/game.html. Help Hydro (the water efficiency hero) avoid water-wasting monsters.

3. Every drop counts. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses. By using water more efficiently, you can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money, and ensure enough water for healthy rivers. Learn ways to conserve water at home by visiting www.AmericanRivers.org/Conserve.

While personal water conservation is part of the solution, communities must also take leadership. With global warming, population growth, urban sprawl, and intensive agricultural use, water scarcity forces creative thinking for river-friendly solutions. In response to these growing challenges, American Rivers recently released a set of Water Supply Principles (www.AmericanRivers.org/watersupplyprinciples) to help guide decisionmakers toward water supply projects that meet community demand and protect river health.

Cheers to healthy rivers, healthy communities!

Sincerely,

Rebecca R. Wodder
President

To contact American Rivers, email us at outreach [at] americanrivers.org.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water conservation world water day

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Mar 22, 2007 6:52 AM
Subject: Wolfgang Puck Campaign Victory

Farm Sanctuary campaigns woke Wolfgang Puck to the cruelty in his restaurants, and the renowned chef responded. Off the list are crated veal and foie gras; on the list are fine vegetarian options.

After being alerted to the cruelty involved in several of his offerings, Wolfgang Puck removed foie gras and crated veal from the menus of all of his businesses, including his fine dining restaurants; catering and events services; franchises; and store shelf products. The chef is also implementing a series of other animal welfare improvements to be completed by the end of 2007, and expanding his offerings of animal-free meals.

Farm Sanctuary is very pleased that a chef of Wolfgang Puck’s stature has taken such important steps away from factory farming by refusing to purchase or offer products derived from several egregious practices. His decision reflects a growing wave of concern about the way farm animals are treated.

(More below the fold…)

Here’s the TOC from IDA’s 3-21-07 newsletter.

Click on the links to take action, or read the whole newsletter online.

IDA Action Alerts

Victory: New Mexico Bans Cockfighting; Louisiana now only state where blood sport remains legal

Elephant Polo Match Ends in Rampage; Tell jewelry maker Cartier to stop supporting cruel “sport”

Ask Morningstar to Cut Out Cruelty; Use of eggs from battery hens in vegetarian foods sparks national campaign

Campaign News & Updates

St. Louis Zoo Euthanizes Long-Suffering Elephant; IDA charges that zoo’s conditions caused Clara’s premature death

IDA Joins International Day of Action to End Canadian Seal Massacre; Protests in San Francisco and Los Angeles expose cruelty of annual “hunt”

At Least 10 Animals Dead from Eating Contaminated “Pet” Food; Dozens of brands sold by major retailers being recalled for causing kidney failure

An archive of past IDA eNews newsletters is available here.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts ida in defense of animals dog canine cat feline pet companion animal pet food recall menu foods New Mexico rooster cockfighting Cartier elephants elephant polo Morningstar Morningstar Farms eggs vegetarian vegetarianism vegan veganism chickens battery cages St. Louis Zoo zoos Clara Canada seal seal hunt hunting seal slaughter seal skin

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: API Newsletters – donotreply [at] apiforanimals.org
Date: Mar 21, 2007 5:10 PM
Subject: Protect Chimps and other Exotic Animals & Improve Life for Animals in Pet Shops

National Alert: Object to the Use of Chimps in Commercials

On television and its website, Suburban Auto Group has used promotional advertisements involving chimpanzees. This is part of its “Trunk Monkey” marketing gimmick. In most of the videos, a chimpanzee is depicted as being a “protector” for the person involved and is shown “hitting” a “transgressor” with a lug wrench, bribing a policeman, threatening to shoot someone with a rifle, and so forth.

You can work with API to help end Suburban Auto Group’s use of chimpanzees in its commercials by taking a moment to let it know that you do not agree with its exploitive use of primates for entertainment and profit.

California Residents: Build Support for the Elephant Protection Act

(More below the fold…)

Via the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

Keep Pets Out of Labs—Support the Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act

The federal Pet Safety and Protection Act, S. 714/H.R. 1280, would prohibit Class B Dealers and unlicensed individuals from selling dogs and cats to research laboratories.

Class B Dealers are people who collect dogs and cats from random sources and sell them to the research industry. They sometimes obtain their animals through illegal or unethical means, such as by responding to “free to good home” ads in newspapers, falsifying records to keep the true origins of the animals unknown, and stealing pets kept outside in yards.

The Pet Safety and Protection Act would provide a much-needed safety net to ensure beloved pets are not stolen or acquired under false pretenses and sold to research laboratories.

Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to send a letter to your representative and senators urging them to support and cosponsor The Pet Safety and Protection Act. You may use the same link to read about this legislation in greater depth.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts aspca American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals pet companion animal dog canine cat feline pet theft animal research animal testing vivisection class b dealers bunchers Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act research laboratories congress 110th congress

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Mar 21, 2007 2:01 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Anderson Cooper on animals — 3/19 — 3/21/07 Please send thanks.

Photo via jvoves

Thank heavens for CNN’s Anderson Cooper. As he covered the Tsunami, he included the plight of the animals. He covers the effect of war on animals. And after Katrina hit, more than any other reporter, he kept us abreast of the animal situation. This week, as he covers the horror of trafficking in Thailand, naturally he has not forgotten the animals.

His website promo for tonight’s show, Wednesday, March 21, is:

“See the soft underbelly of an ugly black market where endangered animals and animal parts are illegally purchased. A shocking look through the lens of our hidden camera. We’re live from Southeast Asia tonight, 10 ET.”

He already started to explore the issue on Monday. Here is some of the transcript from that coverage:

“On the weekend, in Bangkok’s Jatujak Market, you can find every kind of animal for sale. Most of the trade is legal. But, among these shops and stalls, there is a far more sinister trade as well: wildlife traffickers buying and selling endangered and threatened species. Using an undercover camera, we discover in one store endangered tortoises smuggled in from Madagascar. Here are rare marmosets and lemurs, in this cage, a slow loris, a primate nearly drive to extinction in Thailand.

(More below the fold…)

UPDATE, 7/11/07, via The Ocean Conservancy:

Ocean Conservancy is writing you today with great news for right whales and other endangered large whales in the Atlantic Ocean. As part of our concerted effort to save these majestic animals, Ocean Conservancy recently sued the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to end its years-long delay of a fishing gear entanglement rule. Today, we are pleased to inform you that we have won a settlement requiring NMFS to publish its ruling by October 1st.

Read our press release….

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Via The Ocean Conservancy:

Tell the Government to Stop Delaying Right Whale Protections

One Right Whale Entangled, Another Struck By Boat

Right now, there are two critically endangered North Atlantic right whales in trouble off of Massachusetts. One is entangled, the other shows a ten-foot propeller gash from a ship strike. Entanglement and ship strikes are the leading causes of death for North Atlantic right whales, a species of which only 350 still exist. Please help us protect whales. Ocean Conservancy is currently suing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglement and ship strikes. Make your voice heard, too.

Please, sign our petition to force NMFS to take action >>

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the ocean conservancy petition whales right whales conservation wildlife

Via the Center for Food Safety:

No Cloning in Organic Production!

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its plan to approve food from clones in December, organic advocates quickly noted that such products would be excluded from organic production under current rules. However, biotechnology industry spokespeople have stated that they believe that cloned food should be permitted in products labeled as organic. While the National Organic Program (NOP) announced in January that clones would not be allowed under organic standards, the question of the progeny of clones remains unanswered.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has a meeting planned to discuss this issue March 27 – 29, 2007. Tell the NOSB to adopt a ban on animal clones AND their offspring in the organic standards. Please send us your comments by March 26th – we will present all the comments we receive at the meeting!

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts Center for Food Safety cloning cloned animals meat milk cloned meat cloned milk organic Food and Drug Administration FDA National Organic Program NOP National Organic Standards Board NOSB

Three new action alerts, all from the Natural Resources Defense Council:

Tell Congress to get serious about stopping global warming

Scientists agree that unless we act soon to significantly reduce global warming pollution, average temperatures will continue to rise, causing heat waves, rising sea levels, droughts and wildfires. Urge your senators to co-sponsor and support legislation that would cut global warming emissions.

Tell your representative to raise fuel efficiency standards now

Congress can take immediate action to reduce global warming pollution and break our addiction to oil by raising the fuel economy standards for our cars and trucks. Urge your representative to co-sponsor a bill that would increase these standards.

Urge the Bush administration to appoint NRDC’s Kate Wing to an important oceans council

Gov. Schwarzenegger has nominated NRDC’s Kate Wing for a seat on the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which oversees fishing activities off the west coast. Urge the Bush administration to follow through with this nomination and appoint Kate to the council.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council global warming climate change congress 110th congress Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 energy, fuel efficiency fuel efficiency standards pollution oil Kate Wing Pacific Fishery Management Council conservation wildlife fishing

Here’s the TOC from the 3/20/07 issue of The Sierra Club’s Currents.

You can read the whole newsletter online – just click here!

Sierra Club Currents – Sierra Club, Utility Strike Landmark Deal
Volume VI, #56
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

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Quote of Note:

“The biggest danger is we won’t do enough soon enough.”

– Ted Turner on climate change

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(1) Energy: Sierra Club, Utility Strike Landmark Deal

(2) New Hampshire: The People Have Spoken

(3) Alaska: Clean Water Victory

(4) Take Action: Wilderness Revival!

(5) Take Action: Restore Clean Water Protections!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club club currents alaska water pollution clean water public land clean water act Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge national parks global warming climate change New Hampshire Kansas City Power and Light KCPL

Via Last Chance for Animals:

Mass Recall of Pet Food — Is Yours on the List?

Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands, recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, according to Menu Foods.

The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between December 3 and March 6 throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

For more information and to see the list of the dog and cat food in question, click here. Check back often — the list grows daily.

According to the Associated Press, Menu Foods told the FDA it received the first complaints of kidney failure and deaths among cats and dogs from pet owners on Feb. 20. It began new tests on Feb. 27. During those tests, the company fed its product to 40 to 50 dogs and cats and some seven animals died.

Many companies conduct animals tests to measure the “metabolic energy” of dog and cat food. Undercover investigations show that these test animals suffer severe effects of lack of stimulation, exercise and socialization.

Cut the cruelty out of your pet’s diet! To find out which companies do not conduct these cruel tests on animals, click here.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts lca last chance for animals dog canine cat feline pet companion animal pet food dog food cat food recall menu foods animal research animal testing vivisection

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Mar 20, 2007 2:14 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Heather Mills (McCartney) on Larry King Live tonight 3/20/07

Thanks to David Sickles for the heads up that Heather Mills (previously McCartney) will be on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight, Tuesday March 20, 9pm ET (6pm PT live, repeating at 9pm PT). As Heather has stayed actively involved in animal rights issues, it is likely that they will come up on the show. She has been working with the group Viva, in the UK, to publicize the housing of pigs in gestation crates. (See UK Daily Mail story at tinyurl.com/2kno4f.)

As Larry King Live takes viewer questions via both the phone and email, the chances of animal issues being discussed on the show are greatly improved if many of us email Heather questions on those issues — and call if we can get through. (I believe the call in number is 1-800-676-2100)

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: PCRM Legislative Coordinator Kyle Ash – kash [at] pcrm.org
Date: Mar 20, 2007 11:30 AM
Subject: Urgent: Call Congress Now About the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

Please call your representative and senators today and urge them to attend a briefing on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). If you recall, this bill passed last November and was signed into law in December.

The briefing will discuss issues of free speech and how the AETA now sets the stage for the criminalization of peaceful forms of advocacy undertaken by citizens and organizations seeking change. The briefing is organized by the Equal Justice Alliance and the Office of Rep. Tom Lantos of California. Speaking will be Heidi Boghosian, executive director of the National Lawyers Guild; Odette Wilkens, executive director of Equal Justice Alliance; Will Potter, freelance journalist; and possibly Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. The briefing will take place on Wednesday, March 21, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Please, call your representative and senators today. Then, send a follow-up e-mail.

Forward this e-mail to your family and friends. Thank you, again, for urging your representative and senators to attend this important meeting. Feel free to contact me at kash [at] pcrm.org if you have any questions

Best regards,

Kyle Ash
Legislative Coordinator
kash [at] pcrm.org

Click here to read the text of S. 3880

Subscribe to future PCRM e-mail communications

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016 Phone: 202-686-2210
E-mail: info [at] pcrm.org

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts PCRM Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine AETA Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act congress 110th congress free speech first amendment censorship terrorism animal rights terrorism eco-terrorism Will Potter EJA equal justice alliance activism freedom of speech Dennis Kucinich

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Mar 20, 2007 3:33 PM
Subject: ACT TODAY/ Invite Congress To AETA Briefing On Hill

Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

Equal Justice Alliance Hosts AETA Briefing On The Hill
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 * 2:00 to 3:30pm

Do your elected officials know about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)? Do they understand its negative impact on First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly?

1. Copy/paste flyer below into an email to: YOUR federal Representative and Senators.

2. Include a brief note about why you want AETA repealed. See talking point in press release below flyer.

3. For a HIGHER RESOLUTION copy of flyer to Congress, email: kinshipcircle [at] brick.net

4. DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO KINSHIP CIRCLE BEFORE SENDING FLYER/COMMENTS TO REP AND SENATORS. The message is from YOU, not Kinship Circle

To identify your federal legislators and find contact info, try:
Congress.org – www.Congress.org
USA Senate – www.senate.gov
USA House of Representatives – www.house.gov
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121

(More below the fold…)

Via the International Fund for Animal Welfare:

Two new ways to help polar bears

Numerous studies have shown the effects of warming temperatures on declining polar bear populations and ice habitats — from drowning and starvation to reports of cannibalism among bears. But did you know these amazing animals are also facing threats from American trophy hunters?

Here’s how you can help.

Sport hunters are not allowed to kill polar bears in the US. But thanks to a loophole in US law they can apply for a permit to kill a polar bear in Canada and bring their “trophy”— a polar bear’s head or hide — into the US.

At the same time, the US government is beginning to recognize the plight of the bears and their possible fate due to climate change. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is now calling for the public to submit comments on whether or not the polar bear should be listed as threatened on the endangered species list. If polar bears are listed, the species will be protected and “managed” for recovery, an excellent first step toward long term survival for the bears.

However, even if polar bears are listed on the endangered species list, it does not mean that the trophy hunting loophole will be closed. In fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has stated on its website that even if the species is listed as threatened, the Service would work with the Marine Mammal Commission, Congress, and all interested parties to consider a special rule allowing the continued import of trophies from healthy bear populations!

Your Help Is Needed Now to Save The Polar Bears — Here Is What You Can Do:

1. Contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to cosponsor and strongly support The Polar Bear Protection Act. Ask them to close the loophole that allows sport hunters to kill polar bears in Canada and bring their “trophies” back into the US.

2. Write to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Interior Department (at Polar_Bear_Finding [at] fws.gov) before April 9th and urge them to list polar bears as a threatened species. Let them know these species deserve a break from climate change as well as trophy hunters.

Then please pass this alert on to everyone you know and urge them to save the polar bears before it’s too late.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts ifaw International Fund for Animal Welfare bears polar bears esa endangered species act endangered species wildlife conservation hunting trophy hunting

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Last Chance for Animals – campaigns [at] lcanimal.org
Date: Mar 19, 2007 5:07 PM
Subject: Alert your Congressmen about AETA Panel

Ask Your Congressmen to Attend Important AETA Panel Wed. 3/21

After the passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) last November, it became clear that LCA had to make fighting this unconstitutional law a top priority. By partnering with the Equal Justice Alliance (EJA), we are now part of a powerful effort to increase public awareness regarding AETA’s potential infringement of First Amendment rights.

The EJA is also increasing awareness in Congress and has scheduled a panel to talk about the AETA this Wednesday in Washington DC. Representative Kucinich, who was the only representative to speak out against the AETA when it was up for vote, will be speaking at the panel, along with Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director of the National Lawyers Guild and Will Potter, an award-winning journalist who testified in opposition to the AETA during the single House hearing.

To motivate congressional members and their staff to attend, please call your senators and representatives to voice your opposition to AETA and ask that they attend this important panel. Although they have already been notified of the panel, your voice will carry more weight since you are their constituent.

Take Action

Call your senators and representative and voice your opposition to the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Ask that they attend the meeting this Wednesday. See below for sample phone call/email:

“Hello, I am calling as a constituent of (Sen/Rep name) to voice my opposition to the recently passed Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. I would like to invite (Sen/Rep name) to attend a panel on this very important issue on Wednesday, March 21st from 2-3:30pm in Rayburn 2255. Thank you.”

For the Animals,

Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals

Last Chance for Animals | 8033 Sunset Blvd. #835 | Los Angeles | CA | 90046

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts lca last chance for animals AETA Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act congress 110th congress free speech first amendment censorship terrorism animal rights terrorism eco-terrorism Will Potter EJA equal justice alliance activism freedom of speech

Via Earthjustice:

Keep Our Water Clean and Protected!

For more than 30 years, the Clean Water Act has provided critical protections for our streams, lakes, wetlands, beaches, and other waters we depend on for safe drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and recreation.

But long-standing federal protections for these waters are now in jeopardy. This past June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a very deeply divided ruling that could open the floodgates to polluters that are taking every opportunity to hack away at laws designed to protect and restore our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and streams.

But Congress has an answer, and now is the time to tell your representatives that they need to reaffirm the objective of the Clean Water Act, and co-sponsor the “Clean Water Authority Restoration Act” today!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts earthjustice water clean water Clean Water Act Supreme Court congress 110th congress

Via the Humane Society of the United States:

Urge Canada’s Minister of International Trade to Stop the Seal Hunt

Tell Canada’s Minister of International Trade, David Emerson, that the seal hunt damages Canada’s international reputation, and remind him that it has resulted in ongoing global boycotts of Canadian seafood and tourism. Let him know that you’ve joined with more than 340,000 people, as well as many chefs, restaurants, and grocery chains, in pledging not to buy Canadian seafood products until Canada ends its brutal slaughter of seals. Tell him it’s time to end the commercial seal hunt for good — a hunt opposed by most Canadian citizens shouldn’t be allowed to harm Canada’s economy.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts hsus humane society of the united states seals seal hunt canada seal skin pelt

Via Oceana:

10 days to stop the seal hunt

The Canadian government will authorize hundreds of thousands of seals to be killed this year as part of its annual commercial hunt. Ninety-five percent of these pups are between two weeks and three months old. They are shot or clubbed and then skinned for their pelts.

Canadian officials justify the hunt by saying that the seals are responsible for declining fish populations. But the real reason for the fish shortage is poor management and massive overfishing. Seal populations are also falling fast with more than half a million decrease over the last few years.

Help put an end to the seal hunt once and for all by contacting Canada’s Prime Minister today!

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts oceana seals seal hunt canada seal skin pelt