I'm glad to hear that the President is on board to end this horrific practice. I also wanted to point out to PETA people that the New York Times Editorial section has a piece by Nicholas Kristof today on Peter Singer and ending the cruel practices of factory farming! If the Times is staring to get involved, we really ARE getting somewhere!

Posted by: Susannah S | April 9, 2009 10:19 AM

I wish my Canadian government had Obama's attitude (yes, there is one lone Canadian Senator who has been fighting to get the commercial seal hunt banned, but so far no other reps have overtly supported him!).

The majority of Canadians do not support the hunt.

Please Mr. Obama, do what you can to shame the Canadian government into agreeing to stop the cruelty!

Posted by: Michele | April 9, 2009 11:49 AM

Wish my government felt the same way as Obama does about the seal hunt.

Posted by: Aneliese | April 9, 2009 11:58 AM

Obama , That's wonderful! I was so happy to see this today! There is still hope to kill this Seal Hunt I just know it.
Please Obama, Now is the time to make a difference.
God Bless you and do it, please stand by your words!

Posted by: Vinessa | April 9, 2009 01:59 PM

Thank you Mr. President for not condoning this horrible activity. Hopefully as a world leader you will take some of these causes to heart and give a very important and necessary voice to these situations that someone like me can't carry across.

Respectfully submitted

Posted by: Jennifer Roque | April 9, 2009 02:40 PM

Thank you Mr. President for standing up for what is right! This is an inhumane act of violence against these helpless innocent animals! Their babies are being slaughtered for nothing, it's not right, we need to save these animals!!!

Posted by: Jannet | April 9, 2009 04:44 PM

I kiss his feet and do everything he wants if he's successful in stopping the Canadian seal hunt.

Posted by: France | April 9, 2009 05:11 PM

Thank you so much Mr. President! This means so much to all that are trying to help stop the slaughter, and by you helping out, it will encourage many others to follow your example! Thank you!

Posted by: Alissa Dais | April 9, 2009 06:16 PM

the slaughter of seals in Canada, is one of the worst workfare Government program ever invented.
it's purpose is to access government money in every sleasy way these criminals can imagine.
the DFO is an abomination, whose evil infuence is felt wordwide in the destruction of the Oceans.
from the Atlantic to the coast Of Africa(Naminbia), the DFO continues to use Government resourses to destroy the Oceans' life.
their propaganda poisons Radio-Canada and the CBC.
Evil walks the face of the Earth, and the DFO is definetly one of it's tool.

Posted by: joseph thibeault | April 9, 2009 06:20 PM

President Obama has long been an inspiration to me and I hope he continues to be by fighting to end the seal slaughter.

Posted by: Alyson Paige Warren | April 9, 2009 06:35 PM

Thank you Obama!!!!!!

Posted by: carla lesh | April 9, 2009 06:53 PM

President Obama, I urge you strongly to protect these beautiful marine animals,to be a voice in their defence and to ensure that the necessary legislation is put in place to protect them from certain destruction, make your previous abhorence of this cruel and unethical practice truly count. Respectfully yours, Ms.Etain Feeley

Posted by: Etain Feeley | April 9, 2009 07:14 PM

Please, President Obama, find away to convince Harper to abolish the seal hunt. It is horrific to know that Canada still participates in such a barbaric activity, if you could even call it that.

Posted by: Cristina Mastromonaco | April 9, 2009 07:32 PM

Yes!
I love Obama so much more now.
I'm so glad that he's adding the end of unethical animal treatment to his to do list. I hope he keeps it up as president!

Posted by: Cecilia | April 9, 2009 07:49 PM

I have the utmost respect for anyone that believes unnecessary torturing and slaughtering of animals is inhumane and willing to take a stand.

Posted by: Rena Sherman | April 9, 2009 08:54 PM

I dont understand why they just dont do it! help the poor animals, should not be any other words to talk about GET IT DONE

Posted by: denise | April 9, 2009 09:05 PM

I'm from Mexico City. I wish our president FELIPE CALDERÓN do something for any cause, but in here doesn't happened anything.

I'm proud of your president, I know that he's gonna help a lot.

Posted by: Mariana Blanco | April 9, 2009 11:13 PM

I would be willing to lay large amounts of money that all members of the Canadian parliment are opposed to the seal hunt. But of course the almighty dollar changes that for them rather quickly. No rational person could sit there watch animals being senselessly killed in the most barbaic fashion and not be opposed to it and moved to take action. Like everything else (i.e. meat, animal research, fur, rodeos, etc...) it always comes down to money and the Canadian parliment representives have been handsomly compensated for their cowardly acquiescence on the issue.

Posted by: Rufus | April 9, 2009 11:20 PM

Thanks Mr.President for taking a stand for to speak out against this horrendous act. People like myself just are unable to get their voices heard. I just hope that something is able to be done about these poor defenseless baby seals losing their lives in such an inhumane way for no reason at all.

Posted by: Rachel | April 9, 2009 11:35 PM

Wow, I'm impressed!

Posted by: Liz | April 10, 2009 12:34 AM

Thank you PETA!!!!!!! WAY TO GO in sending Mr. Obama a letter!!! Let's all band together and stop this senseless and cruel slaughter of innocent animals once in for all! It's 2009, it's time Canada follow the rest of the world and stop this now!!

Posted by: Animallvr | April 10, 2009 12:50 AM

I am just so HAPPY :)

Posted by: Sona G | April 10, 2009 06:01 AM

It is unbelievable to me that any human could stand there and beat an innocent animal who doesn't even fight back and can't run away. Just to look at the eyes of those seals as they plead with the men who are beating them breaks my heart. This practice has to stop - it's primitive and barbaric.

Posted by: Debbie in NY | April 10, 2009 07:55 AM

Just one more reason to love the Obamas. :)

Posted by: Chelsea L. | April 10, 2009 08:50 AM

president obama is now among my heros along with russias president, if only these people would also express thier outrage and help us to stop the live skinning of animals in china, this is one of the most horrendous and perverse trades in the world and MUST be stopped, so mr presidents, if you read this PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!!

Posted by: anne hoesch | April 10, 2009 09:11 AM

This is great to hear! Let's hope that Obama is going to do something - anything to help put an end to this killing. I urge everyone reading this post to get active!

www.bansealtrade.eu to do more also.

Posted by: John Carmody | April 10, 2009 10:33 AM

Thank you so much President Obama for your care and concern regarding the annual seal hunt. You are very much respected in my book and you are a True American as well as a wonderful human being. I only hope that this can be ended for once and for good!!

Posted by: Tina Karl | April 10, 2009 11:40 AM

I am not impressed.

One thing I have learned over the years is that candidates will do and say anything to get elected to office. Make no mistake, Mr. Obama was planning his presidential campaign back then and he knew this would make him look good. What has he done about protesting the Canadian seal slaughter since?

For those of you who hero worship the man, I hope the blow of finding out he is just like every other politician will not be too crushing.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | April 10, 2009 11:47 AM

Thank you so much President Obama!!

Posted by: Jonna | April 10, 2009 01:47 PM

Have faith, Rev. Meg. 99% of politicians are scheming, conniving, corrupt ne'er-do-wells—but that still leaves 1%.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | April 10, 2009 03:21 PM

ah Obama.. i love him, he's gorgeous and nice

Posted by: sgt. pepper | April 10, 2009 06:28 PM

IM SO HAPPY OBAMA IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE MASSIVE MURDER OF SEALS!

Posted by: ALMZ | April 10, 2009 06:53 PM

I thank President Obama for his help in trying to stop this barbaric practice. I only wish that someone with power and conviction would help us in Australia to stop the again sensless slaughter of our national icon, the magnificent Kangaroos , they too are being slaughter horrifically every night of every day, here because they are classed as a " pest" by the farmers because they compete for the land that there sheep and cattle graze . These poor animals ie: sheep and cattle are then transported LIVE to the Middle East to also be horrifically slaughtered in backyards , transported in car boots etc !! How can man be so calleously cruel ??? !!! .

Posted by: Geraldine | April 11, 2009 09:12 AM

The Fur Trade has to stop Now
enough is enough. designers and fur stores are making millions on the horrible pain all these animals are suffering..Would any person like to be skinned alive?..China is by far the worst barbaric people in the world. Watch all PETA videos and see for yourself..I cried for weeks after viewing these
videos. Thank you President Obama, I can see you have compasion and a heart of gold

Christina

Posted by: christina mcguinness | April 12, 2009 12:11 AM

thank you!!!! this is just what we needed to help all the poor animals thank you thnx thnx thank you god!!!!

Posted by: leidy | April 12, 2009 02:04 AM

thank you for doing this as it probably saved so many poor innocent animals lives.

again thankyou for all that you did or cantributed to this act

Posted by: kasey price | April 12, 2009 05:42 PM

Please PETA do what you can to stop this crime. I have protested this for many years and am so sad it is still happening. No animal deserves this, the people who can hurt animals who have done nothing to them are the type of people that have no morals, compassion or conscience. I can only hope they suffer the same fate.

Posted by: Mandy W | April 12, 2009 07:13 PM

I think the people ho do this have absolutly no heart. They don't even think about the animals. When I saw the film about how they slaugter and skin animals,I cried and I showed it too my friend and now we both turned vegetarian i want too thank all the people at peta for showing me and the world what these cold blooded people do too these poor little animals. Mr Obama thanks for standing by peta and I hope that you'll stay president forever

signed Chardonnay Verdaasdonk

Posted by: chardonnay | April 12, 2009 09:18 PM

If Obama's not too busy giving billions of our dollars to insanely-rich criminal banksters, it would be very cool if he could back up his earlier words of compassion for our animal friends.

Posted by: Frank | April 12, 2009 10:03 PM

Thank you for doing something about thiss .. its horrible !
we gatta stop this ! ASAP

Posted by: Sanai | April 12, 2009 11:17 PM

All Obama has to do is to call the Queen and tell her to call her Canadian henchmen or serf PM Harper as Canada is still under UKs dominion status and order Harper to be civilised and humane and stop immidiately the senseless and barbaric slaughter.Atleast the Liberals under PM Trudeau listened but will the right winger Harper listen and do what is right and noble and just and appreciate the compassionate legacy of the Risen Christ on Easter Sunday?

It would also flag up whether USA and Uk have a special relationship,if the Queen does as Obama asks in a noble and humane crusade to make the world a kinder,caring and humane place for our childrens children.

Posted by: Ravi | April 13, 2009 06:59 AM

President Obama, I do sincerely thank you for this war you instituted against the Canadian govt over the massacre of these innocent and precious creatures.

Canadian people, you need to konow that seals have a right for their natural habitat. Why killing them?

Posted by: Bright Ogbonna | April 13, 2009 09:06 AM

President Obama just demonstated to us all how well he backs up what he says by accepting a purebred dog from Senator Kennedy, who got the dog from a breeder, rather than adopting from a shelter or a rescue group, as he promised. Instead he is going to do what almost everyone does...throw money at the problem.

You cannot tell me that in this entire country there is not one Portugese Water Dog being given up by an owner who can no longer support it due to it's high energy demands or other problems the owner may have.

Mr. Obama, if you cannot keep this one simple, uncomplicated promise, how are you going to keep all those other promises you made?

By the way, when I was Malia's age, I was very allergic to animals but I had them anyway. I was helped by a wonderful medical invention called allergy shots. I only had to get them for a short time, they helped me build up an immunity, and I have been a life long animal allergy free person, which is a good thing as I work with animals for a good part of my living.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | April 13, 2009 11:35 AM

Thank you, Mr. President! And thank you, PETA, for working so hard to end this slaughter! I also support the HSUS in their efforts to end this heart-breaking practice.

Posted by: Sam | April 13, 2009 03:58 PM

As has been pointed out most Canadian people do not support the seal hunt Bright Ogbonna, so enough I think with the insinuations that they do. And I think it would be a good idea, Ravvi, for the Queen to have a word in Harper's ear about the massacre...very good indeed.

Posted by: Neil Warne | April 16, 2009 05:21 AM

Also Ravi, Canada recognises the British Queen as head of state, but isn't under UK's "dominion status" the Canada Act 1982, explains that. Another point is, whenever the polls indicate that most Canadians are against the slaughter, the government comes up with some ipsos poll that says they're in favour and so they think the slaughter is justifiable. So where do we go from here you ask? A referendum/plebiscite on the matter. And now. Let's get those ballot papers issued, select a polling day, issue the writs, etc, and hope for a good result.

Posted by: Neil Warne | April 17, 2009 05:33 AM

Very, very very, very glad to hear that America has a government that is willing to stand up for the well being of animals. However, its a shame to knwo that Canada does not have a government that has empathy for animals.. its hard to believe that they even have empathy for us human beings as well

Posted by: Nicole Wintemute | June 18, 2009 11:02 AM

I am very happy the the USA has supported the seals, and welfare of animinals. I will support and give time and energy to keep the seals from this horrible slaughter. Count me in for any kind of support.

Posted by: Jackie | June 18, 2009 05:00 PM

Does anyone notice that the likes of Mac Harb (God LOVE him though) and a few others talk of the need to "find the hunters new jobs" just rewind a minute, and watch one of these horror flicks (seal kill videos) and you will see that these "hunters" are psychopaths in the same category as Ivan Milat and Ted Bundy...unless of course Mac meant jobs in prison...kitchen detail and what have you...wouldn't pay much but better than subjecting the Canadian public to them, I think Canadians' right to feel safe comes first as opposed to these maniacs...they chose to participate in this madness didn't they? So I think prison is the only option.

Posted by: Tim Smith | June 28, 2009 04:25 AM

I never thought I'd see the day when I actually agree with US President Obama about something. To be honest, I was a hardcore right-winger... until now. I always thought the Conservatives had more moral and ethical views, but I see now how wrong I was. I supported and defended Prime Minister Harper with tooth and nail, until I saw the recent headline: "Prime Minister Harper will vigorously defend sealers against ban." I know he's just doing it for votes, and because there's so many Canadians that still actually support the barbaric sealers and their horrific slaughter. It makes me so ashamed to be Canadian, especially when the rest of the world is looking at our country in absolute disgust, which is completely understandable. Personally I think all these freaks who kill or support the killing deserve to be bashed over the head, see how they like it. My passion for animal rights and demand for respect of animal life now prevents me from supporting our current government, for I can't in good conscious support those who approve of clubbing baby seals over the head. I don't really like the Liberal party either, and the other parties aren't even worth the vote, so I've decided to stay home next election. I feel absolutely disgusted and betrayed by a government that I've supported for so long. In the area regarding ethical treatment of animals, Obama is on a much higher moral ground than our Conservative government. Because I feel so strongly about these issues, I have gained respect for Obama, (although I still disagree with him on other topics), and lost respect for our Prime Minister, (though I still agree with him on other topics.) It's all too confusing, so it's just better to stay away from politics from now on. I will hold on to my own views and protest this unjustified act towards baby seals in my own way. Frankly I think sealers are psycho-paths, and not just because I'm against what they do, but because it's a fact. I mean, we as human beings, are not psychologically able to walk up to an innocent living creature and bash it's skull in. Our prisons are crowded with the sick in the head monsters who are capable of such a thing. Sealers have certainly lost their humanity with their barbaric acts and refusal to evolve with the rest of us. May each and every one of them rot in hell.

Posted by: Ashamed Canadian | July 31, 2009 10:33 AM