UPDATE! EU sentences SEALS to more ghastly deaths! Write AND Boycott!

[Guest guest]

~ PLEASE CROSSPOST WIDELY ~As predicted, the EU has BACKED OFF and SOLD OUT, on banning seal products imported into EU countries. Their decision to maintain the status quo, means another year of draconian bureaucracies waging bloody, merciless Armageddon against helpless babes being stabbed, beaten, shot and skinned alive. It becomes more obvious than ever, that those who possess compassion and empathy must lead the charge to override politicians, whose only bottom line is what's-in-it-for-me...we continue to battle the age-old problem of dealing with governments that remain deaf, dumb and blind to the will of the majority. To be heard requires a massive PUBLIC OUTCRY--IT REQUIRES GETTING INVOLVED. Please continue to voice your disgust and opposition to the worldwide speciescide taking place in

Eastern Canada, Namibia, Greenland, Norway and Russia by BOYCOTTING products, goods, services [including internet trade] and travel to the offending nations. And ALWAYS remember to contact Depts. of Tourism in these countries to make them aware that you ARE BOYCOTTING AND WHY.EASTERN CANADA SEALING PROVINCESQUEBEC TOURISM:EMAIL: info[info at bonjourquebec dot com]NOVA SCOTIA TOURISMEMAIL: info[info at nstourism dot com]MAGDALEN ISLANDS TOURISMEMAIL: info[info at tourismeilesdelamadeleine dot com]NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR TOURISM EMAIL: tourisminfo[tourisminfo at mail dot gov dot nf dot ca]NAMIBIA TOURISMEMAIL: info[info at namibiatourism dot com dot na]NORWAY TOURISM EMAIL: norway [norway at ntr dot no]GREENLAND

TOURISMEMAIL: info[info at greenland dot com]RUSSIAN TOURISMEMAIL: info[info at visitrussia dot org dot uk]STAVROS DIMAS -- EU Commissioner For EnvironmentEMAIL: stavros.dimas[stavros dot dimas at ec dot europa dot eu]SAMPLE LETTER: [vary to make it your own]Sirs:What will it take for you to stop the bloody massacre of defenseless marine mammals? Due to arrogance, greed and stupidity, our oceans have been raped clean. The seas are vast dead zones. The scapegoating of these seals and other creatures who belong, continues without reflection or remorse. You have denied the compassionate a voice in this war on wildlife, stripping generations of the opportunities to appreciate the enormous contributions that these creatures make to our planet. You have broken the delicate chain of life in all its God-given perfection. You are blind, and

that blindness is killing us all. I, my friends, family and co-workers will be boycotting ALL goods, services and travel to your country. We will do everything within our power to stop your mindless destruction. I sincerely hope that the specter of a sharp economic decline will help you realize that these animals are valuable, they are revered, not for the currency their body parts bring, but because they have a right to a peaceful existence, the same right that you so pompously afford yourselves, but deny others.Sincerely, http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2009/01/proposed-seal-trade-ban-harpooned/63723.aspxPROPOSED SEAL TRADE BAN HARPOONEDBy Jennifer Rankin -- Jan. 22, 2009 Author of European Parliament report describes proposed ban as “worst of both worlds”; Greenland brings case against ban to Brussels.A proposal from the European Commission to ban most trade

in seal products could prove to be unworkable, according to an influential MEP.Diana Wallis, a British Liberal (ALDE) MEP who is the Parliament's rapporteur on the issue, told European Voice that the proposed ban was “the worst of both worlds” as it contained too many exemptions to work while also harming “fragile indigenous communities” (???) of traditional seal hunters. Wallis said it was “a ban with a huge hole in the middle” that could result in entire countries being exempt. “I want to achieve better treatment of these beautiful animals,” she said, “but I do also think we need to respect the Inuit communities”. (????)Last year the European Commission proposed a ban on seal products that are traded within and into the EU. But the ban is studded with exceptions, for products proven to meet animal welfare standards and for traditional Inuit seal hunts. Wallis believes that the regulation has been drawn

up too quickly and that the EU risks legal challenges if it goes ahead with a ban. She suggests that the EU has over-stepped its competence. “We cannot legislate for Canadian hunting, any more than we can regulate fox-hunting in the UK,” she said.quoteGreenland says existing exemption for Inuits has not helped indigenous huntersquoteInstead, Wallis proposes a mandatory labeling system that would state whether seal products – skin, fat and meat – meet animal-welfare standards. The Commission also wants a certification system so consumers know that seal products meet animal-welfare standards.Wallis faces a challenge in the European Parliament, where animal welfare is an emotive issue. Frieda Brepoels, a Belgian centre-right (EPP-ED) who is drafting the environment committee's position on the Parliamentary report written by Wallis, wants to toughen the Commission's proposal. Brepoels calls for a full ban on seal products

with a limited exemption for Inuit communities. “Only a total ban meets the widely demonstrated concerns of European citizens,” she argues.In 2006, 425 MEPs backed a resolution in favour of banning trade in harp and hooded species of seals. Wallis said she expected that the regulation would split parliamentary groups.Impact on GreenlandFinn Karlsen, Greenland's fisheries, hunting and agriculture minister, told European Voice that the proposal would have negative consequences for hunters in Greenland. The minister said that an existing exemption for Inuits from current rules had not helped indigenous hunters and led to the government off Greenland paying out large subsidies to support hunters.“Seal hunting has been part of our culture for 1,000 years,” the minister said. “We all eat seal meat and we are dependent on seal hunters.”Karlsen also said that the Inuit way of hunting met animal-welfare standards:

“Greenlanders hunt with rifles. They shoot them [the seals] in the head and they die immediately.”The minister said that the Wallis labelling proposal was “more acceptable” than a ban, but needed to be evaluated very carefully.The majority of the 900,000 seals that are killed each year worldwide come from non-EU countries, chiefly Canada, Greenland, Namibia, Norway and Russia. But a ban would split the EU. While Sweden, Finland and the UK have small-scale seal hunts, Belgium and the Netherlands have passed laws to restrict trade in seal products, while Germany is considering such a law.The Parliament's environment committee discussed Wallis's report on the Commission's proposal on 21 January. Its internal market and consumer protection committee will also vote on Wallis's report on 17 February and the full Parliament will vote in April. The Czech presidency of the EU hopes to lead the Parliament and the Council of

Ministers to a first-reading agreement before July.~END~