Ban on Seal products from Canada

babylady · Ban on Seal products from Canada

Dear ARAN Members,

Please find 5 minutes of your time, now, for Canada's seals.

We are sorry to report that the Irish government is lame in their support
for a complete EU trade ban on seal products from Canada. Next Tuesday March
17 a meeting will take place in Europe that will finally pan out individual
EU government positions on the EU ban, so we have literally three days to
change John Gormley's mind, the man whom may hold the power to influence the
Irish position for a total ban. An EU trade ban on seal products from Canada
would literally mean that they have no market for the seal skins, it's
imperative that we get this ban, just like it were in the 80's, but John
Gormley's position is that Irish government may not support a total EU trade
ban.

We need you to please send an immediate email to John Gormley and Cc' his
assistant Ryan Meade calling on them to back a total EU trade ban on seal
products, nothing more, nothing less. Please ensure you're email is firm,
but also polite. Remind them that the world is watching and to look into
their hearts to stop this murder. We are also organizing a phone blockade
for Monday March 16th of John Gormley's office, please call in Ireland
01-8882042 (direct line to his office). If you are calling from outside of
Ireland please dial +353-1-8882042.

Please john.gormley@oireachtas.ie; johnjgormley@eircom.net and CC the email
to Ryan Meade ryan@meade.net.

Please don't let the seals down, we have one unique opportunity and if we do
not get this EU trade ban then it may take even longer- literally years
before we may stand another chance.

Thank you,

John Carmody
ARAN Director

Ps, it takes literally just minutes to fire just one email off to John
Gormley and his assistant Ryan Meade and to make a phone call. Please find
it in your heart to speak out for these animals, again we have one unique
opportunity and we cannot miss it. Be sure to forward this email far and
wide and help generate even more support!

phil

I have a feeling i might regret this but what is ARAN ,and what seal products do we import.

dara

Animal Rights Action Network
I am (as with most of the sane community) against animal cruelty and mostly support the people who go out of their way to stop it - but I do question putting this harvest (the seal pup cull) in the same bracket as say dog fighting.
Anyway good luck to ARAN. I think they're on to a winner. Anybody that pays for a bright white seal pup fur coat is obviously an arse - which might explain why you never see any fecker wearing one.

quarryman

I feel I have to comment on this topic.

From the outset I think all trade like this should be banned. I think the raising of wild animals, eg Mink, Fox, for fur should be banned and the hunting of animals for "sport" should be banned.

Minister John Gormley is a totally powerless Government Minister, he is only there to do Brian Cowan's bidding and to keep Fianna Fail in a position of power. I certainly won't vote Green again. So it would be a waste of time to contact him.

Next I would like to know just how much seal fur is actually imported into Ireland and the EU.

Lastly, I lived in St. John's Newfoundland for a while and have spoken to some men who actually club the seals. They do this for a few short weeks in the year in order to earn enough to keep themselves and their families for the next few months. Newfoundland is not industrialised and the unemployment rates are excessive. Food stamps rather than dole is what is given out by the government. The Cod stocks are being hoovered up by European factory ships and there is little other work for them, so in some ways these men have no alternative.

I still think this should be banned and would support the protest groups who go out on the ice flows to spray Orange dye on the cubs, making the fur worthless.

If there was no market for the fur there would be no trade. So target the consumer rather than the over inflated local politician who essentially is powerless and thrives on campaigns like this because it boosts his ego.

phil

I find this subject fascinating,there seems to be double standards with some people who are ready to condemn the wearing of fur coats,but are happy to wear the skins of other animals themselves.Its very easy to be anti something when you have no personal involvement.

babylady

Dear ARAN Members & Supporters;

We've got more good news to bring you-The Irish govenrment have today
signlled their support for a total EU trade ban on seal products from
Canada, with no loopholes and no exemptions. This is what we wanted and this
is what we got! Today's good news is a huge turn-around thanks to your
support. Campaigners whom have just returned from documenting the seal
nursery in Canada and who will return to document the slaughter
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHtK3sSAUkM&feature=related> , explain it
was a direct result of supporter pressure, supporters just like you!

On Thursday last, ARAN sent out an urgent alert asking you to politely
write, email and call the Irish Environment Minister John Gormley to urge
him not to support anything but a total EU trade ban on seal products from
Canada-their original stance was going to be half way, which would have been
filled with loopholes and exemptions-making no difference, but instead
allowing the trade to continue.

You took part in our phone and email blockade which was a huge success! Your
phone calls and emails from 9am Monday March 16th to the Minister's office
certainly made a huge difference and was the main reason why he changed his
mind, make no mistake about it! It was a u-turn thanks to your support and
your pressure! ARAN had also been working behind the scenes with our
colleagues from Respect for Animals and Humane Society International who
sent out a similar email alert to their members and supporters along with a
full page advertisement in the Irish Independent calling on the Irish
government to stand tough and support a total EU trade ban on seal products
from Canada with no exemptions! Both international groups are leading the
campaign to stop Canada's seal hunt and ARAN is greatful for all their truly
amazing work that's going into this campaign. Thank you very much also for
responding and taking the time to help out in this way, you did not ignore
the plea for help and you did not ignore the plea for Canada's seals-it
shows that when we act together, anything is possible. Will 2009 be the end
of Canada's seal hunt?

Thank you from us all here at Animal Rights Action Network
<http://www.aran.ie/>

Ps, for anyone whom got involved in writing emails and phone calls to John
Gormley's office, thank you-it was your support that made this difference!
Please take just two minutes now to send John Gormley a nice polite email
saying thank you for making the right, positive decision for Canada's seals.
Email him at minister@environ.ie, if possible please Cc ARAN in on your
emails so that we can track how much correspondence were sent to him!