PETA: Obama 'Outraged' Over Seal Slaughter

[Karmadillo]

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/04/obama_outraged.php

In 2006, when Barack Obama was an Illinois Senator, he wrote a letter to a group of constituents to thank them for their support of a resolution against the Canadian seal slaughter. He assured them that he would use his seat in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to support the resolution.

"But Amanda," you may be thinking, "what does a three-year-old resolution have to do with the price of tofu?"

The resolution, S. Res. 33, wasn't just any old resolution. In no uncertain language, it listed a number of reasons why the "cruel and needless" Canadian seal slaughter is "inconsistent with the well-earned international reputation of Canada" and urged the Canadian government to "end the commercial hunt on seals."

In his letter, then-Senator Obama wrote that "the United States should not condone" the slaughter, and vowed, "As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I will work with my colleagues to ensure that we take the necessary steps to express our outrage with this inhumane measure".

We applaud Obama for taking such a strong stand—and now, PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews has written a letter to President Obama asking him to express that same passion now, as president, in an appeal to the Canadian government to stop the seal slaughter.

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[flvegan]

1. PETA thread!

Actually, this could be a good one. "Good" meaning...well, nevermind.

[defendandprotect]

2. I really like that --- go OIbama !!!

[Karmadillo]

3. Toronto Star: Obama condemns the annual cull as "inhumane"

http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/616723

WASHINGTON–Campaigners leading a global effort against the Canadian seal hunt believe they have stumbled across a secret weapon that could bring Ottawa to heel – a letter of outrage from Barack Obama that condemns the annual cull as "inhumane."

The newly disclosed letter, written in April 2006, when Obama was a rookie senator from Illinois, leaves no doubt where he stands on the issue. In pointed language, he promises an unnamed constituent he will work with colleagues "to ensure that we take all the necessary steps to express our outrage" to the Canadian government.

"I share your concerns about the Canadian seal hunt," wrote Obama, who has not spoken publicly on the issue since he became president in January.

<edit>

The letter was made public yesterday by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) after it was "recently rediscovered in the files of a member who keeps very good records of our correspondence with the U.S. government," a spokesperson for the animal rights group told the Star.

Circulation of the Obama letter caught both governments off guard. In Washington, a White House aide told the Star that while the seal hunt was hardly uppermost among the administration's constellation of concerns, "we will have to digest this before saying anything."

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[Baclava]

4. Bomb Canada!

From orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

[Mari333]

5. I completely support Obama on this one.

hope he steps out and speaks on it now. :)

[Karmadillo]

6. Obama has EU allies where they're preparing a ban on Canadian seal products.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/270442

Europe prepares a total ban on Canadian seal products
By Michael Cosgrove

Canada has threatened to protest to the World Trade Organisation if a proposed ban on seal products by the EU is voted, according to Stockwell Day, the Canadian International Trade Minister. The vote is set for April 22.

Day said in a press statement that unless the EU allowed an exception for humanely harvested seal products, it would launch WTO proceedings. He went on to say that "Despite scientific evidence that supports humane harvesting techniques, and testimony from Inuit communities as to the harmful effect of the proposed ban, the EU continues to push forward with a proposal that will damage the livelihood of coastal and Northern Canadians and their families.”

The proposed ban is the result of growing European concerns regarding what are considered to be the cruel methods used to kill seals, although the EU recognises that not all methods used are cruel.

An initial EU project considered the possibility of labelling certain seal products as having been killed “Without needless suffering.” This was intended to differentiate between shooting and clubbing. However it was later thrown out in favour of a project which would propose a total ban.

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[Ignis]

7. I'd rather see him outraged about factory farming...

But I'll take whatever crumbs they throw the AR constituency. :woohoo:

[AtomicKitten]

8. Oh, hell yes. Factory farming is organized cruelty.

:thumbsup:

[Ignis]

10. That's the truth.

But I don't mind if we focus on the cute and fuzzy animals first, if that's easier for people to get behind. :)

[shadowknows69]

9. How about people slaughter?

I'm sorry, I meant "Collateral Damage"

[Karmadillo]

11. Canadian senator makes futile bid to ban seal hunt. Maybe Obama will help.

http://www.canada.com/news/Canadian+senator+makes+futile+seal+hunt/1353038/story.html

Canadian senator makes futile bid to ban seal hunt
AFPMarch 6, 2009

A young seal pup looks up after being released in northern Germany in 2008. Faced with the prospect of a European ban on the trade of seal products, a Canadian senator on Tuesday hopelessly proposed an end to this country's controversial commercial seal hunt.
Photograph by: Philipp Guelland, AFPOTTAWA – Faced with the prospect of a European ban on the trade of seal products, a Canadian senator on Tuesday hopelessly proposed an end to this country's controversial commercial seal hunt.

Senator Mac Harb introduced a private members bill that would end the commercial seal slaughter in Canada, but allow the traditional Inuit hunt to continue.

"In the face of disappearing markets for seal products and overwhelming international opposition, it is time for Canada to recognize that we can't resuscitate this dying industry any longer," Harb said in a statement.

He was backed at a press conference by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which described this first time a Canadian politician has introduced legislation to put an end to the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world as "a truly historic moment."

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