the EU pan spells the end of the baby seal massacre. it wont be long before the killing of baby seals in their nursery's is a forgotten thing of the past.

Posted by: oceanworior | May 5, 2009 10:31 AM

This is a step in the right direction,however, Now they need to save the seals completely by banning the slaughter altogether! Save the Seals!

Posted by: Andrew | May 5, 2009 10:39 AM

Thank god, we are moving in the right direction. We need to push the same campaign for the farmed fur animals.

Posted by: Jaquie | May 5, 2009 11:38 AM

Canada is stil optimistic that they can keep the barbaric hunt...maybe it's time they realize that the way the seals are killed is vile and look at it from that point of view.....However it is a big day for the seals

Posted by: jodi | May 5, 2009 12:09 PM

I have tears of joy right now! Hurray for the seals! As mentioned above, hopefully the seal slaughter will become a terrible thing of the past. This proves that if you speak out, people will listen and act, so keep it up people, keep it up!!!

Posted by: Barbara Wilson | May 5, 2009 12:15 PM

Great news but we must not forget the seal massacres in Scotland and Nambia!

Posted by: Maureen | May 5, 2009 12:28 PM

I'm glad that they put a ban on the sale of seal products. I'm no real fanatic when it comes to the whole animal rights thing because I am pretty sure that animals play a big role in our lives. The way that these animals are brutally slaughtered isn't right and shouldn't be allowed. Sure there is no real way to kill an animal without pain but there is a way to do it humanely and this isn't being done, to many animals are being tortured, plus slaughtering a baby is just wrong. My opinion, expect some negative comments but I don't really care.

Posted by: Denise | May 5, 2009 12:36 PM

Today I'm so proud to be a European citizen like never before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have tears of joy!
So happy I can't even talk!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Giorgia | May 5, 2009 12:40 PM

I hope you all are passing the hat around to chip in for the Atlantic Canadians who just lost a significant portion of their income. Why can't protests of fast food restaurants, beef ranches, or chicken farms receive this type of support? Even the tobacco industry, which kills thousands of people annually?

Posted by: Yank | May 5, 2009 12:41 PM

Oh yes! Well all I can say is that it's about darn time they woke up to this horrible cruelty.

Posted by: Lynne | May 5, 2009 12:45 PM

Wow this is great,i'm so proud of you people now and full of hope that this and other animal slaughters can really be stopped!We need to keep making effort and influencing others so that injustice towards all animals is destroyed forever...For example skinning of dogs and cats in China is a huuuuuge problem and lets do something about it as well!

Posted by: Sanja | May 5, 2009 12:46 PM

I still remember the horror from my my first encounter with seal murderers when i was 6 yrs old and it was on the 6 o clock news and i was literally screaming at my dad to make them stop to which he replied i cant make them stop and that horrified me even further so another 36 yrs on and we are almost at the end of one of historys most sickening murderous practices,this is a celebration of all the hard work that everyone has done over the years but the battle is not quite over yet just one more obstacle but right now my heart is singing for this seal victory.

Posted by: John Purves | May 5, 2009 12:49 PM

What a victory to a long drawn out fight! Congratulations to all who have stepped up to help the seals! Thanks to the EU for the support and voting the right way! Thanks to all! We can make a difference!

Posted by: VCH | May 5, 2009 12:51 PM

Hurray for the seals!!!

Posted by: ines vasquez | May 5, 2009 01:01 PM

This is a tremendous victory, but it's only half the battle. We still have to urge Canada to BAN seal slaughter! I have a renewed faith in mankind today :)

Posted by: Cassell Todd | May 5, 2009 01:02 PM

Yay!!! :)

Posted by: Melanie | May 5, 2009 01:02 PM

This makes me so happy to hear about, but it really is a shame that Canada wants to challenge the ban on it at all. Hopefully EU will stick to its guns and not allow those products to be sold any longer. :) I really hope this ends soon. I want this hunt to be a thing of the past too-- but not because these beautiful animals become a thing of the past. No thank you!

<3 Save the seals!

Posted by: Irene | May 5, 2009 01:04 PM

Finally! I'm sure that this awful practice will fully end soon. This is a huge encouragement for future struggle for animal rights! We will never stop!

Posted by: Matija | May 5, 2009 01:17 PM

Thank God!!

This is a now a step in the right dierection to end this disgusting act of sheer barbaricness

What sort of person does this "job" have they no soul?

Posted by: Michele Glascott | May 5, 2009 01:33 PM

I want to stop this afwul seal-hunt, it's unberable !
Please stop it !
Ludwine Netens
Belgium

Posted by: Ludwine Netens | May 5, 2009 02:01 PM

What a victory!

This is a pivotal action needed to deal a death blow to this hideous seal hunt.

Canada was quite concerned this would happen.

Posted by: Valerie | May 5, 2009 02:10 PM

I ♥ EU and Seals!

Posted by: Mary | May 5, 2009 02:56 PM

Its amazing!! Peta keep up the good work!

Posted by: Nisha | May 5, 2009 02:58 PM

As a Canadian and animal activist today is a historic moment. For decades my government has spent tens of billions of dollars FUNDING the national shame of our seal hunt at the expense of Canadian taxpayers in spite of the fact that sealing involves for less than 2% of Newfoundland communities, less than $200 a year per sealer is earned, it is a non-sustainable income source and last but not least it is inherently brutally inhumane. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying as a Canadian I'd personally write a check for $200 right now to help fund a compassionate and sustainable income source for a sealer, such as photography or a green collar position.

Posted by: Brenda McNeilly | May 5, 2009 03:00 PM

Thank freaking Gosh! Man..

Canada, stop being stupid. I love Canada; I live here. In Canada.

BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH OUR IGNORANT GOVERNMENT.

Posted by: Ciara Lanza | May 5, 2009 03:00 PM

Get ready to watch Harper and his cronies squirm and ask for exemptions and make attempts to defend the hunt—this will be a sickening and embarrassing spectacle for any Canadian citizen to watch. I think the EU ban will be the final straw. Good riddance!

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | May 5, 2009 03:10 PM

People
What some are missing is this.The seals rely on fish to live if it was not for this hunt there would not be enough fish not even close.So sure if the hunt gets banned ok then waht you going to hagve millions of seals that starve to death.So don't think banning this hunt we save the seals it won't.More seals will end up dead and then we will have a much bigger probleam.

Posted by: Jay | May 5, 2009 03:34 PM

This is a sad, sad day. The hunt in Canada has been proven to be humane and this will be a crushing blow to the many coastal families who rely on the income from the sealing industry to meet basic needs. Do any of you people ever worry about the ethical treatment of humans?

Posted by: John | May 5, 2009 03:55 PM

i am so happy to hear this! yaaay for the seals! hopefully very very soon the seal slaughter will end all together!

Posted by: Michelle Philipsborn | May 5, 2009 03:57 PM

Amen! GOD is smiling =)

Posted by: Kathy | May 5, 2009 04:02 PM

thank god..........now if we could just get justice and basic rights for all animals

Posted by: kate | May 5, 2009 04:15 PM

This is not humane hunt i could care less if all the sealers DROP DEAD...

Posted by: Adge | May 5, 2009 04:24 PM

IAM SO HAPPY TODAY FOR THE SEALS!!!!!
What comes around goes around and karma will catch up eventually with those brutal killers..

Posted by: Adge | May 5, 2009 04:26 PM

IAM SO HAPPY TODAY FOR THE SEALS!!!!!
What comes around goes around and karma will catch up eventually with those brutal killers..

Posted by: Adge | May 5, 2009 04:26 PM

Ok, I live in Canada. Newfoundland, to be specific. The seal hunt is quite popular here, so, naturally, we know plenty of information about it. I don't intend on sticking up for sealers or the hunt because I don't agree with it either, but I do want you to know THEY DO NOT KILL WHITECOATS. Babies. That little seal shown in the picture above? Not hunted. It's illegal. Like I said, I don't support or agree with the seal hunt, but wouldn't it be nice if we actually had the facts straight? I think so. So yes, sure, support the ban of seal products or whatever you want, but don't spread false information. That's not right.

Posted by: Elizabeth | May 5, 2009 04:43 PM

God Bless PETA!! SAVE THE SEALS!!!!

Posted by: Anna Dunn | May 5, 2009 04:45 PM

I would like to reply to John who left his comment above! Could you please explain how it has been proven that seal hunt is humane????? Unless, for you humane is beating the heads of helpless animals until death and skinning them alive. If that is the case then I am sorry to say but you are probably a sadist! What is more I doubt whether the salary of a seal hunter can be compared with the profit that the companies make from the trading of seal products! And if you worry about human rights then why don't you worry about famine in third world countries, war, the economic crisis etc. that has destroyed the lives of millions of people around the world and you worry so much about the lives of a few seal hunters who I wonder how they manage to sleep at night with the job that they do! Fishing is an option!We live in the 21st century Jonh and we are supposed to be educated, cultured people who respect the lives of other human beings and of the animal kingdom alike. Noone has the right to kill animals in such a way and for a reason that serves the profits of some companies and of the Canadian government!I am sure they can find other ways to make profit!!

Posted by: Tatiana | May 5, 2009 04:50 PM

To Yank, Jay, and John,

The world has changed and the Canadian gov't needs to evolve. Instead of fighting this ban they should help educate and train the sealers to learn a different trade, a sustainable, cruelty free trade. Bludgeoning baby seals shouldn't be the only skill they ever know. Why not contribute and give back to nature what they have taken for so long.

Be inspired by the fishing industry who has cleaned up tons of fishing waste, ie. tackles, nets, poles, etc. left in the ocean by sport fishers, and made money from recycling it. They used something against them to their advantage. Not only have they helped their fishing income they have also helped save marine life and cleaned up the ocean a bit.

If you want to read more about it go to NPR public radio or KPCC.org

Posted by: michelle | May 5, 2009 04:53 PM

Fabulous news. Long overdue.. The world will be a better place for this decision..

Posted by: Scott Hillen | May 5, 2009 05:05 PM

Im a proud Canadian but this black mark on Canada is horrendous. Stupid seal hunters. I do have to let u all know something though-I find it ridiculous that people are boycotting Canada because of this. If we boycotted entire countried because of something like this than every single country would be banned. Dont think your country is 'better' than mine -- there are people from your countries coming here to hunt the seals too, its not just Canadians. Get your head outta your asses and look at what the issue really is: The issue is that people from around the world come to the Seal hunt and kill innocent seals in a barbaric, unnecessary way and for a dumb reason. Lets come together and boycott seal products, not the country that unfortunately bears the event. Because remember: it is the cause that we are against, not the country.

Posted by: Amanda Mitchell | May 5, 2009 05:09 PM

As a Canadian I am so happy EU has decided to ban the seal products...a step in the right direction. This is truly an inspiration :)

Posted by: Kelly | May 5, 2009 05:21 PM

FANTASTIC news.. it's what we have all been WAITING and hoping for.. hope in time they will also see it's inhumane and cruel how animals are caged up for their entire existence and then killed (even skinned alive) for their furs is also totally and unreprehensibly UNacceptable.. so OUT with the Fur trade in general and as a whole in the whole of the EU.. as well.. that's what I'd like to see..
but still re. the seals.. it's good news indeed!

Posted by: beth | May 5, 2009 05:29 PM

As a Canadian I am so happy EU has decided to ban seal products! This is a move in the right direction.
Its time for people in industies which create pain and suffering to any living being find a new way of survival - your grandchildren will be proud. Thank you to all who supports the ban on seal hunt!!!

Posted by: Kelly | May 5, 2009 05:29 PM

As a Canadian I am so happy EU has decided to ban seal products! This is a move in the right direction.
Its time for people in industries which create pain and suffering to any living being find a new way of survival - your grandchildren will be proud. Thank you to all who supports the ban on seal hunt!!!

Posted by: Kelly | May 5, 2009 05:45 PM

For years I have watched and wrote and lobbied for this day as many of you have as well. This is all about money. Not culture or any of that. Cut off the money and it will end. The fight goes on but this is a day to feel a little hopeful!

Posted by: Mary | May 5, 2009 06:25 PM

michelle
Part of the probleam is this is there way of life.The locals in the yukon/nwt for exzample eat off the land this has how its been for many years.If the gov says sorry you can't do that any more that would have a very big impact on there communites and not for the good.There not going to like the fact there beeing told they can't do this any more and must get a 9-5 job.An exzample would be if you went to a native reserve and said nope you can't live here you have to get a job and no special treatment.While i am really not for the seal hunt i support the locals way of life and do not want to take that from them and we should not.

Posted by: Jay | May 5, 2009 06:34 PM

To everyone who is whining about the Newfoundland people who rely on this work and what happens if the work is gone, what will they do to earn a living, yadda yadda... I have a simple solution--move to where the jobs are. I don't mean to sound cold, but that is the simple truth. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and in the late 70s and early 80s, the steel mills all were closing. People moved to areas where they could find work and raise their families. They prospered and life went on. And Steeler Nation was born...

Posted by: Kelley | May 5, 2009 06:59 PM

Hey Yank, we wouldn't need to pass around the hat if the things that called themselves humans didn't MURDER the seals in the fashion they do. Yank, join the ranks of the other wankers out there that think like you ......... you started it all you barbarians!

Posted by: Tracy Pratt | May 5, 2009 07:06 PM

hunter scott approves

Posted by: hunter scott | May 5, 2009 07:09 PM

Good! I am glad that AMERICA BANNED SEAL PRODUCTS IN THE '70s!!

Posted by: Curtis | May 5, 2009 07:10 PM

As a Canadian I would have preferred for our government to listen to the majority of Canadians and stop the seal hunt years ago, but if this is what it takes to end the annual massacre of seals, so be it! I call it a victory!

Posted by: NT | May 5, 2009 07:24 PM

For anyone who wants to really get knowledgeable about the history of the harp seal trade and slaughter, read Peter Dauvergne's 'Shadows of Consumption'. The last portion of the book, Part 5, is dedicated solely to the Harp seal's history. It really broadens the issue from what we are just reading now in the media. This issue has been going back for hundreds of years, and this is NOT the first time that policies have been passed.

Posted by: Vanessa Lamers | May 5, 2009 08:02 PM

The united states needs to follow suit. why is the united states so slow to follow. boycott red lobster

Posted by: roxanne | May 5, 2009 08:13 PM

Thank God!!!!!

Posted by: Pauline | May 5, 2009 08:13 PM

O my goodness- thought I was dreaming when I received a text with this wonderful glorious news-finally progress!!!! makes you feel like all of your efforts and hardwork are finally making an impact and difference in the welfare of these lovely and defenseless seals.

Posted by: Maria Meringolo | May 5, 2009 11:25 PM

Great news! Thank you European Parliament! But of course, not surprisingly, the good old CBC Radio only aired interviews with pro-sealers in their report of it today.

Posted by: lynda downie | May 5, 2009 11:26 PM

Excellent news!! Hooray!! for EU.

Posted by: Ravi Kiran | May 6, 2009 12:48 AM

To Scott Hillen - I live in South Africa (where we cherish our wildlife) and have travelled to Canada only to be appalled by the way you treat all of your animals (not just your seals). If people in Africa can have laws that protect wildlife and ban poaching and slaughter, why can't a 'first world country' like yourselves?

Posted by: Angela | May 6, 2009 01:08 AM

We are victorious!
Goodness and mercy will eventually win.
Free the seal from terror!
Ban all seal hunt!

Posted by: Flora | May 6, 2009 01:45 AM

Mr. Stockwell Day, the trade minister of BC, is planning to take the EU's decision to court.

As a newbie lawyer, and a firm believer that Canada should create humane/sustainable industries, I am disgusted that Mr. Stockwell Day plans to use my tax dollars to try and overturn the EU's decision.

Let him know how disgusted you are that your tax dollars are being used without your permission to continue the inhumane slaughter of seals.

DayS@parl.gc.ca

Posted by: Janine | May 6, 2009 02:28 AM

coming from Canada this is great news and i hope it is only the start to the end of the slaughter of seals !!!!!

Posted by: derek | May 6, 2009 03:57 AM

that is a great news !! hats off to peta and we all indians look upto you for the compassion you show towards these animals and be their voice...

Posted by: POOJA | May 6, 2009 04:21 AM

that's great ! [[:

Posted by: Joyce | May 6, 2009 04:23 AM

Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! I speak for the seals and all humane animal lovers out there!

Posted by: Joanna | May 6, 2009 05:04 AM

Unfortunately the EU went the wrong way on the Animal Testing Directive vote yesterday - this message from Labour MEP for London Claude Moraes:

"The final, crucial vote took place yesterday and sadly we lost many of the key amendments that I feel are vital to ensuring the high levels of animal protection we in Europe should be pushing for.

My Labour colleague Brian Simpson MEP, who led on this issue for our Party, has tried to find a good balance between his own strong animal welfare concerns and the needs of people suffering from serious medical conditions for whose main hope of relief depends on the continued use of animals in advancing our scientific and medical understanding.

Regrettably I believe that many of the key proposals were watered down by the European Parliament out of fear that the research industry would leave Europe if too many demands were placed on our research establishments. My view is that many of those demands are essential if we in Europe are to ensure high levels of animal protection.

There were two crucial issues for Labour MEPs ahead of the votes. Firstly we wanted to move European research away from its reliance on the capture of monkeys from the wild for breeding purposes. I believe that Europe needs to take a strong line on this, leading the way in reducing pressure on wild populations and preventing the cruelty associated with the trade in wild primates.

Secondly we fully supported the need for authorisation of all experiments involving animals by a central, competent authority. Authorisation of all projects is key to at least two of the principles that guide my thinking behind the revision of the rules on animal testing; that we reduce the number of animals used in experiments and that animals are replaced with alternative methods of testing wherever possible.

Not only did we lose on these two issues, but also on the issue of protecting animals from enduring pain that is both severe and prolonged. I feel very uncomfortable with the notion that we should allow animals to feel severe pain that is prolonged. Sadly the European Parliament missed the opportunity to take a strong line on animal protection."

Posted by: Alice Adams | May 6, 2009 06:27 AM

STOP KILLS!!!!!!

Posted by: Viktoriya | May 6, 2009 06:55 AM

Angela
Natives and innuit eat off the land that is there way of life.You just can't say sorry you can't do that any more.If there did not eat off the land there would be no way possible for all of the animals etc to last due to food and the areas would be way over crowded.IN ottawa there looking at opening up a legal dear hunt because the city is over whelmed by them.

Posted by: reidjr | May 6, 2009 09:06 AM

Stop animal killing

Posted by: Izza | May 6, 2009 10:11 AM

I am a canadian an I have to hadmit that the way that we are killing them is hawfull, but this is normal to kill them if they are to many they are going to eat all the cod-fish in the ocean ans they won't have enough food anyway and they will die! The best idea would be to find a better way to kill them and be more severe with the quota to let others survive! To my opinion it is worst to let them be killed by a lack of food...

Posted by: Corine | May 6, 2009 10:41 AM

Europe got is own mistakes and they should look at themselves at first instead of triying to change the mentality of other countrys .. It won't stop the mentality it will just make people more angry and everybody won't try to resolve the problem. Canada will now sent their products by the pacific ocean instead of the atlantic. France is still doing «foie gras» and Canada stop doing that. To my opinion this is more awfull to gave those birds, they are sufferinf enven more longer! So think about it we should look at ourselves before triying to change others. Brigitte Bardot is the french Pamela Anderson and I have admiration for that women, but she should look at her own country before tring to change Canada and Egypt.

Posted by: Corine | May 6, 2009 10:56 AM

Izza
Again i ask what about the innuit and natives.There way of life is to eat of the land.

Posted by: reidjr | May 6, 2009 12:26 PM

Wonderful .... It made me really happy when I read about it in the newspaper ...
We are on the right way now

Amen

Posted by: Oliver | May 6, 2009 02:55 PM

thank God! they finally see how awful the whole situation is. Izza, stop talkin about the innuits and the natives. if you havent noticed, you dont go out for a drive through the country and see tepees and Native Americans chasing down buffalo anymore, huh? theyve already pretty much changed to living modernly. there is no reason for a baby seal to have its head bashed in and frankly, im sorry that youre trying to give them an excuse. these people are greedy and heartless and thats all there is to it.

Posted by: sydnie | May 6, 2009 05:59 PM

Great News!!!! Tears of joy! I hope this is the END of all the seals being murdered in Canada!!!! Because, Canadaian Government, it is Murder!

Posted by: carla | May 6, 2009 06:08 PM

Excuse me John!!!!!!! Your worried about families... go out and get a real job you fool... and stop depending on innocent seals. They were not put here to support your family or anyone else's family for that matter. It is F...... barbaric and cruel... I do care more about the seals than all of you jerks who support this!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: carla | May 6, 2009 06:30 PM

Elizabth... Peta is not giving false information.... who cares what the picture shows! Is that ALL your concerned about is that the wrong picture is being displayed?????? Put your energies toward stopping the hunt. It's wrong. Get over it...

Posted by: carla | May 6, 2009 06:47 PM

Jay. Dumb statement. There is enough fish and if not... and they die.. well that's how God intended it to be... it's not Canada'a place to kill these seals...Who the hell put us humans in charge of animals anyway????????

Posted by: carla | May 6, 2009 06:49 PM

Excuse me Jay! Then let them get a real.. job.. be it 9 to 5 or otherwise. Jesus.... Clubbing seals is not a job!!! It's discusting and barbaric!

Posted by: carla | May 6, 2009 06:56 PM

High Five on your post Angela!!!!!!

Posted by: Carla | May 6, 2009 07:00 PM

What a tremendous victory, big nail in the coffin of this vicious, barbaric slaughter. "Yank" needs to get facts right-sealing is only 5% GDP for the region. They are just "killing" time until fishing starts. Hopefully the millions that have been slaughtered over the decades have not died in vain.

Posted by: Jenny | May 6, 2009 07:57 PM

Great to hear that we are making progress towards a great cause. There will always be those who oppose for various reasons but let us continue the fight for those animals who can not fight for themselves.I am thankful for those of us who continue the fight until the there is definite change. Thank you to all of you who continue the fight and please do not give up. Keep fighting, I will.

Posted by: Robert | May 7, 2009 12:21 AM

I am disappointed in the Canadian government!!! To even consider having our Canadian Athletes wear seal skin Olympic outfits for 1010 winter games out of protest to the EU?!!! I am disgusted at the current administration. PM Harper needs out of office – this is childish and embarrassing for the rest of us Canadians.

Posted by: kelly | May 7, 2009 11:18 AM

A long awaited victory for the seals - but on the flip side - our Canadian government and the wonderfully oblivious Stephen Harper gang is trying to promote the seal slaughter by wanting / suggesting the 2010 Olympiads wear seal products. This is a typical government move to have the 2010 Olympiads promote (most likely without their full knowledge) the seal slaughter.

I do not support the 2010 Olympics, but I will be damn sure I will be protesting if and when our 'wonderful' government votes 'yes' and 'persuades' our Olympiads to wear this distasteful product.

Posted by: Melodie, North Vancouver, BC | May 7, 2009 01:05 PM

Are the Fed Gov't MP's absolutely out of their minds? How dare they assume to represent all Canadians with this horrendous plan to use seal pelts into the Olympic uniforms! What happens when an athlete refuses to wear the "uniform" - are they banned from participating in their sport? How will this "help" protest a EU ban - just shows the EU members are smarter, more caring, more humane, more politically organized, more....than our stupid Cdn gov't. Do our MP's have any idea of the torture and pain that these poor seals endure while being skinned alive - all in the name of "fashion"? I'm ashamed to be a Canadian today!

Posted by: Marion | May 7, 2009 02:22 PM

The only think that i'm trying to explain is that i know that this is cruel to kill them like that but the inuits don't have any other solution then doing that hawfull work. To my opinion this was just not the right time to stop sealind the seal products. These people don't have any other job then this one! We sould have more time to get prepared for that situation. And to answer to Oliver no offence but you are wrong about inuits...they are not living in tepees but they are near from that. They are extremely rejected by the society, it is not like un united states where they are selling all this crap to travelers... they are isolated in the north and they are living with the help of the Canadian Government. A lot of those Natives do not have any job, they are alcoolic and there's a lot of these kids who are dying from suicide because they feel leaved aside by the society. People should read a little bit more about the natives from the Province of Québec and maybe they will maybe understaind that their job keeps them alive! However, they sould find another way to kill them, a way that would be less cruel. McDonalds and KFC are worst then native. At least, this money is going to all the community instead of 2-3 extremely rich guy from united states!
Here a little something that everybody should read to maybe understaind a little bit more the situation in canada with amerindians and you could even extend your research to learn about them a little bit more:

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/165/6/749

And the problem if we are missing fish in canada, this is not going to be only the seals that are going to die, but the polar bears too they are eating the same kind of fish. here's a picture un french but you will understanid a little bit more with that.

http://www.climatechangenorth.ca/images/illustrations/Fr_10-2.gif

Posted by: Corine | May 7, 2009 02:39 PM

I am also a Canadian, Melodie and I am outraged, but not surpised, at our inept Prime Minister's olympic suggestion. I have tried repeatedly for many years to advise people to boycott Canadian seafood, but, you know, most people are in to their own self-
gratification and simply cannot possibly give up such tasty food. Until we all band together and say enough is enough, the animals in this world will continue to suffer. Unfortunately, most people are only into themselves.

Posted by: Cathy | May 7, 2009 03:36 PM

All the countries should ban any product (specially Chinese) that has a direct or indirect link to animal fur.

Posted by: DEVDUTT DAVE | May 7, 2009 11:02 PM

http://www.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/archives/2009/05/20090507-175300.html

This is a link to reassure you. This is a french site that is explaining that athletes are against the fact to wear seal fur. The government of the province of Québec desagry this suggestion. And for those who do not know usually the government of quebec have often what they claim because we are making a lot of noise. Even if a lot of natives are living in quebec, they are against that suggestion. And the canadian olympic's administration stipulated that they are not doing politics and that this is not the job of the olympic's athletes to do that job. And one of the canadian athletes has stipulated that ``this is a law in the olympic's games that no propaganda or manifestation is allowed. The olympics games are a big party and this is not a place to resolve our problems```. I hope that this will relieve your fears! But do not stop to complain about Harper and his ideas. This man' ideas are even worst, to my opinion, then Bush ideas! In Canada we need a big change too! This man is against Kyoto project, we are now going backward!! HELP US!!

I've realised that the canadian government will try to erase this olympic's law!! But i actually do not think that this will work. EU government will boycott, to my opinion, cananians olympics if they wear the seal fur. Here what everybnody should to menace the Canadian government to boycott olympics.

You can sent a letter to the prime minister at:
Service Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J9
Canada

ATTN: Canada Site c/o Canada Enquiry Centre

or just send a e-mail to : sitecanadasite@canada.gc.ca

If you have any problem with the adress or e-mail the canada's government web site is:
http://canada.gc.ca/

I will actually do a petition and send it to the government of canada and it would be great if you would like to do the same!

Posted by: Corine | May 8, 2009 11:07 AM

Great news for humanity.
I hope there will be further acts in the future to ban all fur products, ritual slaugthering, bullfighting and the world-wide brutal practices of slaughterhouses.
Best

Posted by: Basak | May 8, 2009 11:23 AM

This Is In response to Jay & Everyone who doesnt really know the facts on the seal hunt & newfoundland. firstly sealers are trained in what they do to make it as humane as possible the tool used has been proven the most effective way to kill seals .. secondly as mentioned in earlier posts they are not allowed to kill whitecoats it is illegal .. most of the sealers come from very small communities and they do use the seals for more then just oils and the fur i can assure you every part of it is not wasted. I am a canadian an albertan to be exact and most of alberta is made up of newfoundlanders here working to make a living because the torie government screwd newfoundland hard core and i dont see why newfies should have to leave their beautiful province because a few people think the seal hunt is wrong or a government doesnt think that newfoundland is an important province to fund in .. its a shame really. Also the seal hunt is population control like said earlier if we just let them breed and breed and breed then we would have a serious problem ... lets focus on china or some country that beats animals first.

Whats the next thing to get banned and ruin the livelyhoods of many people the tar sands that kills animals to ... get over it

Posted by: Raye | May 8, 2009 11:25 AM

YES! and people say peta dont do anything! if it wasnt for organizations like peta seal products would still be sold in europe!

Posted by: me! | May 8, 2009 11:51 AM

They are so stupid to do this to inocent baby seals ! :( im realy sad about this thing !!!!!! And im Happy , Like Realy Happy tath they stop that thing so cruelty !!!!! :(....

Thank you and , share your heart some times ! :D

Posted by: Mélika Priem | May 8, 2009 11:53 AM

Corine, the polar bears are starving to death because they can't get to their hunting grounds due to global warming, not from lack of food. Besides, polar bears prefer seal over fish anyway.
Your comment about the natives, you contradict yourself. You say they have NO job, but the only reason they don't commit suicide is because of their job. Worried about the seal hunters putting food on their tables? Did it not occur to you that our government spends more money financing the commercial hunt than it would if it simply paid these hunters EI?

Posted by: pam | May 8, 2009 01:25 PM

Common people is their any evidence that people just slaughter seals and the ice with clubs? If so I want to see the pictures that PETA has. Others I cant give in. Just don't asume about something is their is nothing to back it up. And as for the web master of this site, opinions are allowed are they not?

Posted by: Extinct_Meh | May 8, 2009 05:17 PM

I eat meat and stuff which I know is wrong, but I still want to say that it's awesome that they're doing this. It's all about getting people to UNDERSTAND what's wrong with the world. THEN you can fix it.

Posted by: John Finken | May 8, 2009 08:57 PM

I agree, the slaughter of seals is a horrible thing. However this ban is not really accomplishing anything. The population of seals is going to sky-rocket, throwing an entire eco-system out of equilibrium, lowering biodiversity and ultimatley causing the endangerment ,maybe even extinction of other species. As well as elminating a vital source of income for the inuit. Seals will still be slaughtered in order to protect other species such as the pacific cod. The European union should lift their ban and the Canadian government should step in and advocate for a more humaine way to hunt seals. Im against the slaughter of seals and animal cruelty, but we must approach these issues with an open mind.

Posted by: Michael Pineau | May 8, 2009 09:44 PM

Excuse me if I harbor some resentment toward the sealers.

I realize they are ignorant and don't understand how to do anything more complicated than jamming a spike in the skull of a baby seal. So I probably shouldn't feel malice toward the sick sons of bitches.

But I do.

There is no excuse, they can find a new livelihood, I'm sure it will involve hurting some other animal in some other way.

Posted by: Cody | May 9, 2009 12:08 AM

How is this any different than killing a cow or a pig? We call this so inhumane and brutal, but doesn't the exact same thing happen in slaughterhouses everywhere? Open your eyes, just because an animal is cuter than another doesn't make it any more worth saving.
Just a quick fact:
The photo used in this article shows a whitecoat seal, a baby. However, it's been illegal to hunt those for many years now. The picture was put up for the exclusive purpose of arousing sympathy.

Posted by: Mike | May 9, 2009 12:17 AM

Only because they are cute, people dramatize this situation...
I don't know but every years , fish are slaughtered by millions and nobody give's a f**k...becuz they are not cute.

Talking about fish, seal are a threat in canada because they are out numbered and eat a LOT of fish...

Posted by: Bloomer | May 9, 2009 01:52 AM

Nobody gives a f**k about the millions of mosqitos we kill each year by splattering them : ) Cuz they aren't has cute has seal. However they remain animals,

Posted by: Damnit123 | May 9, 2009 01:54 AM

why are you peole so busy worring about canada's internal problems....why not deal with some real issues and forget about the EU good on them for banning seals but not banning somthing real like say OIL but lets deal with the small problems

Posted by: josh | May 9, 2009 02:19 AM

Finally, governmets are starting to realize the full extent of these kind of acts, I hope the rest of the world follows in their footsteaps.
BIG UP

Posted by: Justin | May 9, 2009 04:00 AM

the massacre of the CUTE baby seals has to stop. the ironic thing is, i have to do a report for my eleventh grade oceaography class about seals (harp seals) and this is one thing i need. if theres a petition i could print out to have my friends and class mates sign, send to my e-mail. SAVE THE SEALS!!

Posted by: salem | May 9, 2009 04:29 PM

It's good to know we've accomplished something. I hope the seal slaughter will end.

Posted by: Kelsey | May 9, 2009 10:27 PM

Im sorry i did a mistake wile writing. The polar bears are eating the seals sorry you're right!...on this point...the thong that i was tring to explain is that is seals are missing fish, polar bears are going to have a lack of seal because they will die anyway! The intirely worl can't stop killing only one kind of animal. This will create a lack of fish because humans are not stopping killing fish!

Posted by: corine | May 11, 2009 08:24 AM

NO no!! This is not all the natives who got jobs! those that have no work have more chance to try suicide

Posted by: corine | May 11, 2009 11:25 AM

Iam soooooooooooo happy that the EU stoped the killing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

Posted by: Nancy | May 11, 2009 12:47 PM

Good job everyone, completely ignore that whitecoats arent killed and the seal hunt is needed to keep the seal population under control. Without it the seal population would explode resulting in massive over fishing and the death of many many more animals.

Even with the ban of the sale of seal products in the Eu the hunt needs to continue to balance the ecosystem. You've just lessened the value of the deaths of seals, not made it less necessary.

Posted by: Jigz | May 11, 2009 07:39 PM

well i say we boycott the olympics, the canadian government has voted that the canadian olympic team uniforms will be inlcuding seal pelts..... how awful!

Posted by: ej | May 12, 2009 01:20 AM

you guys have it so wrong it hurts .. BABY SEALS or WHITECOATS ARE NOT SLAUGHTERD GET IT THROUGH YOUR FRIGGAN HEADS. the hunt needs to happen whether you like it or not ... and for the record WE CANADIANS ARE NOT PUTTING SEAL FUR ON OUR OLYMPIC UNIFORMS so dont go beleiving everything you hear..

Posted by: learn | May 12, 2009 05:06 PM

have they voted for real?!?? I haven't heard about all of that!?? They actually have to change the laws of the olympics games! let's boycott olympics anyway. My petition is finish with a good number of signatures. I Will send this petition to Harper and to the partners of the canadians olympics top tell them that we will boycott their products if they encourage Harper. If you want to do the same just go on the olympics web site and the names of the partners are given!!

Posted by: corineq | May 13, 2009 08:11 AM

I live in Canada, and it's quite absurd that this still goes on. I can't believe that our Prime Minister would allow this to keep going on. He's a horrible leader, a conservative, and mearly a mechanized organ of the party. These injustices need to stop. It's bad enough that indiginous people do it for survival, but now it's a sport and an industry. It must stop now!

Go Vegan!

Posted by: Adam | May 13, 2009 09:49 AM

For those who are saying whitecoats aren't killed-that's wrong, they are. Officially not, but the DFO spits on its own regulations, it and has no ability and outright refuses to monitor what happens over hundreds of square miles of ice. 95% of the seals they torture are between 2 weeks and 1 month old because of the condition of their coats, in other words, BABIES that can't eat solid food or swim. Year after year, independent veterinary reports have shown an average of 40% of the seal pups killed are still conscious when skinned, in other words SKINNED ALIVE. Half the seal nurseries last year disappeared from loss of ice cover due to climate change, but the corrupt officials pimping for votes ignore the plummeting seal populations in their sham "management" plans.

Posted by: Mark | May 13, 2009 10:47 AM

I wil try to put that petition on my facebook to let people sign my petition i will give you somr news when i will be finish with that.

Posted by: corine | May 13, 2009 10:53 AM

I wil try to put that petition on my facebook to let people sign my petition i will give you somr news when i will be finish with that.

Posted by: corine | May 13, 2009 10:53 AM

Those who know history would know seal hunting is portrayed barbaric, but needed to take care of the nature. EU has Spain who kills bulls by tormenting them and stabbing them with spears in front of an audience as entertainment, France overfeeds geese by shubbing food down their throats with sticks to make the liver grow just so they can eat goose liver. Seals grow into large populations and make it hard to survive for all animals with the same niche. They can actually make a lack of fish and lead into hunger problems for both animals and human and hurt the fish populations. A lot of people live from the meat we get from seals.
Banning seal hunting wont do us any good, it can at best make seal populations so big that they will eventually die from hunger or the diseases that come when populations grow too big.
Now who are the bad guys? Canada killing seals or Spain torturing bulls? Btw, Spain is a part of EU, so is EU that great?

Posted by: Yopaz | May 14, 2009 11:11 AM

I love my Europe :D I remember when UE made a questionnaire to see what we thinking about it I sent it to all people I know and now its forbidden, yeeeeeey!:)

Posted by: M | May 14, 2009 06:35 PM

Canadians I urge you to support Canadian Senator Harb's efforts to end Canada's cruel commercial seal hunt.
This hunt only continues to exist because it is propped up by government support and taxpayers' money. For years, the vast majority of Canadians and caring people worldwide have been calling for an end to the hunt and the time to act is now.
The animal welfare concerns associated with Canada's commercial seal hunt are well documented. This hunt is unnecessary and economically unviable. The time has come to transition Canadian sealers into new and more rewarding industries that do not involve cruelty to animals.
Please use your power as a concerned citizen to fight for an end to this cruel and unnecessary slaughter.
The world is watching.

As Albert Schweitzer so eloquently said,

"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace."
Canda stop this cruel trade
in animals skins .

Posted by: marlene VanDyke | May 14, 2009 06:40 PM

Well you are right about bulls in Spain, its another thing to change.
But you forgotten that we not gods, animals can survive without us, we are not for control them, so seals not gonna die if we only let them live, population will stabilise. There is no problem of too big population, its a hunters excuse. If we stop put in animals life then they will survive as well as they do before we came becouse we are the biggest disaster for the planet and we must fix it. ps. sorry for my english

Posted by: M | May 14, 2009 06:42 PM

The fishermen who kill these gentle seals started out at 12 years old crying and begging NOT to do this but their Dads and Uncles insisted: A relearning of gentleness needs to be taught.
Noting the comment FOR seal slaughter due to economic needs of Eastern Canada I believe this may be helpful: The Humane Society has offered and still offer ecologic Tours on boats - your fishing boats. You could make more money seasonally than seal slaughter.
Noting comment on Seal Slaughter elsewhere: Let's get on it - I personally did not know. Scotland - how barbaric and unnecessary. N. may have economic issues we need to give a better choice to. For some a slice of bread is like God.
bless all animals tonight.

Posted by: marion koenig | May 14, 2009 07:25 PM

Canada needs to stop subsidizing the killing of baby seals and it needs to also end the production of fois gras. Why is it acceptable to torture and abuse animals must because we can use language and make plans for life? And while we Canadians plead with our government, the Spanish AR folks and yes, the rest of us, can turn our attention also, to ending the bullfighting and every other countries animal abuses. It is a battle with many fronts.

Posted by: Debrah | May 14, 2009 10:20 PM

Bottom line is this: the EU can decide to allow or ban any products it wants. You can't force a country or a group or an individual to purchase any product be it tobacco, drugs, foods or seal skins. So trying to reverse that ban legally is ridiculous. The EU is not telling Canada to outlaw the slaughter. It is just saying they don't want the results of the practice. What the sealers and the Canadian government choses to do about their "product" not being saleable is their problem.

Posted by: Linda Em | May 15, 2009 12:12 AM

To the 'Sealers' upset about losing an avenue of income... how would you like your child to be skinned alive and bludgeoned to death or even worse, left skinless, in the most barbaric way imaginable, to die a slow, torturous yet, certain death?

Have a think about it, really, would you be ok with this?

I think NOT!!!

Have a bloody heart you idiots.

People who have been deeply concerned about your brutality to defenceless seals in the name of 'working' would undoubtely encourage you to source a new means of employment that does not entail abject brutality to other sentient beings.

I unreservedly applaude the EU Parliament for its decisive and compassionate stance/decision to put an end to such barbaric behaviour.

It is supposedly what makes us 'human', the capacity for both reflection and planning (ahead). The actions of Sealers does NOT fit this definition.

I am estatic at the EU Parliaments sound decision!!!

Posted by: Vivienne Murray | May 15, 2009 02:29 AM

Thank goodness. The world can breath a sigh of relief. However the Candadian government should be ashamed at wanting to challenge the ruling.

Posted by: Calyn | May 15, 2009 04:15 AM

In response to the comments that the barbaric clubbing of seals is necessary to curb numbers... er NO ! If this was a problem, there must SURELY be a far kinder way to do it !

In response to the fact that the EU still allows Bull fights... this is not something, that as a member of the EU, I would ever be an advocate for. I want this to stop also ! Just because the EU has shown good judgement in the banning of seal products, does not mean that the EU is without fault. There are still issues to be rectified... this is an obvious truth. Do not use Bull fighting as an argumnet to still support the clubbing of Seals !

I signerd the petition for the ban... I forwarded the pettiotin to everyone that I could.

Hurragh for the ban ! Hurragh that this cruel and disgusting practise will stop ! Hurragh ! Hurragh ! Hurragh !

Posted by: Kirsten Williams | May 15, 2009 04:17 AM

At last we are getting somewhere with this unnecessary cruelty that takes place. Carry on fighting for these creatures that need our help and love

Posted by: Victoria Phelps | May 15, 2009 04:34 AM

Hooray !!!!! My faith in humanity is being restored.

To the PM of Canada, don,t you think you,ll be more liked if you weren't so narrow minded. Seal have a right to live just like any other living creature in the world. Shame on YOU!!!

Posted by: Melanie | May 15, 2009 05:34 AM

I am proud to live in Europe. I hope that many others will follow the example of the EU.
Finally some action !!!!!
Eat s**t Canada, in your face !!!!!!

Posted by: kathy | May 15, 2009 07:05 AM

Yopaz are you kidding? we are all working hard to stop the corridas, unfortunately spain is really old fashioned about it...but it does not mean we won't push it more....

Posted by: prpa | May 15, 2009 08:11 AM

thank god!! i am so happy to know the seal slaughter ended.. let´s celebrate for the seals!!

Posted by: gaby | May 15, 2009 11:20 AM

Excellent! However, isn't it awful that so much effort has to be made to stop people aiding the vile cruelty of seal slaughter? At least the ban is another step in the right direction.

Posted by: Nigel Greaves | May 15, 2009 12:21 PM

in reply to jay and raye and everyone else who is griping about the ban, and the loss of income for people who live off this barbarism.....get real!!! this has been proven to be a sick, horrific and inhumane practice where many baby seals and adult seals are actually skinned alive!! this has been documented often enough on camera and in photos, the simple fact that these animals have their skulls bashed in by club weilding barbarians is enough to cause most "thinking" humans to object, trying to defend the practice is ridiculous, the only reason for this is money and profit, there are more humane ways to kill animals, any idiot knows that, maybe you would change your mind raye if this was done to you!!!!!

Posted by: anne hoesch | May 15, 2009 01:09 PM

The tide is on the turn for respecting the animal species with whom we share this planet.What started as a whisper by a few humans to help animals,has gained momentum and this in turn will become a swell of worldwide human voices to change the present view that animals are our possessions to do with them what we think fit.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
"The day will come when men will look upon the murder of an animal as they now look upon the murder of men."

Posted by: Jan | May 15, 2009 01:43 PM

I am disgusted by the misinformation of a few select fellow cdns on this topic. Stop being idiots and stop LYING! The depletion of fish stock has NOTHING to do with seals it has to do with overfishing by foreign vessels and by greed and mismanagement by the fishermen. Fish stocks were just fine before humans and their greed for taking more and more kicked in.
As for those 'poor' blood- thirsty sealers they can find another move civilized way to earn a few extra bucks. OUR TAX MONEY funds this insane unnecessary slaughter. It's a blight on Canada's reputation and the majority of canadians do not support this bloody carnage.

Posted by: Tessa | May 15, 2009 05:22 PM

I am so happy that we are winning in the war against fur bearing animals. I can't believe that their fur is still so important to some. The trapping and slaughtering of critters is appauling and disgusting - I don't have any tolerance for this type of cruelty. I just found out about the killing of cats and dogs and that Canada allows these furs to be imported and that some outlets in Canada stock and sell it - apparently it doesn't have to be labelled as fur. This makes me sick.
To buy anything with fur (sometimes we think it fake but in reality it is dog or cat fur.) Don't be fooled and don't buy anything with any kind of fur. I would really like Peta to investigate this claim. It is legal for Canada to import these furs. Disgusting.

Posted by: Shannon Shepherd | May 15, 2009 07:06 PM

I want to tell "Jigz" and the ones who think seal hunt is needed to keep seal population under control, nature is so perfect and the ones who destroy that perfection are us, "human" beings. A lion is not a killer compared to us, because he does to survive, but we do it, just to do it: to have fun, to consume more protein than what we really need, to try to prove others we have "glamour" wearing a fur coat, and more questionable reasons.

I live in a country in the "Third World" in Central America, my mother language is not even English, but I have studied hard (Mathematics), not only to earn money, I've done it to become a better person, a person with principles and values, and the one who does not respect animals has no principles, and does not deserve living in this world.

As Blaise Pascal (one of the greatest mathematicians in history) said: The more I see men, the more I love my dog.

Peace!

Posted by: Carola | May 15, 2009 11:39 PM

Thank you PETA! More power to you. Hurray for the seals!!!

Posted by: Joy Guinto | May 16, 2009 02:49 AM

Hey Yopaz. We are over populated with humans but we dont bash their sculls in !! Hallo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Victory for the seals and shame on you sealmurders I hope you burn in hell. How would you like to have your sculls bashed in and skinned alive you ungodly monsters.

Posted by: Linda.Thomas | May 16, 2009 02:14 PM

I'M SOOOOO HAPPY!! I'm Crying tears of joy, thank God this is happening.

Posted by: Elvia Nunez | May 16, 2009 06:54 PM

finally after so many years, good news for the seals dear of canada .
I know that there is still much work to do to end the horrible game, but this result encourages us to move forward!
Vincenzo
Italia

Posted by: vincenzo | May 17, 2009 11:40 AM

Even though this terrible story has an end.
The "humans" need to learn to have more respect for the animals that do not leave their habitat to bother anyone, unlike us who always invading and destroying their places.

Posted by: Ana Kelly | May 17, 2009 12:33 PM

the fact is to Nfld. fishermen, the seal hunt is NOT a significant part of the seal hunt! Nor for other groups of Canadians who take part in the commercial hunt. Secondly, the seals will not (all) starve to death if they are not harvested - nature has a way of balancing - in years of high densities of food, seals and other animals thrive, in not so good years, the numbers born are lower and mortality rates higher ... whoever posted the comment that seals would all starve to death has some catching up to do on his/her reading.

Posted by: cath ens | May 18, 2009 05:25 PM

I am so happy. Thanks God!!!

Posted by: MARTHA SANCHEZ | May 21, 2009 11:45 AM

I realize that when something is a tradition it becomes the norm. However, I speak for the seals!

Posted by: Olive Josuweit | May 29, 2009 09:43 PM

John.... May 5.... Families can definitely find other ways of making a living without putting innocent and defenseless animals in pain and suffering! Besides, this kind of living would not exist if it wasn´t for people who buy these goods made from seal skin. Hurray for the animals´rights!!!

Posted by: Liliana Closa | May 30, 2009 01:04 AM

I'm very happy too. These people that kill all these seals wil die someday and then they will go see God and he is going ask were they good people and I know the answer it will be no. So guess where there will be going. What they did is a sin. I felt sorry for the mother seals crying for there young while they being murder for greed.

Posted by: Joan Faszczewski | May 30, 2009 10:45 AM

Thank goodness for organisations like PETA and everybody involved. This is such welcome news.

Posted by: GAVIN KENLY | May 31, 2009 02:37 PM

Please stop killing animals. They have a life like you as human been

Posted by: Mash | June 18, 2009 11:34 AM

Stop all abortions and only then we can save the seals.

Posted by: John | June 18, 2009 07:55 PM

Why do you edit on what people post? Is this site like the Iranian government censorship? Your comment has been received and held for approval by the blog owner.

Posted by: John | June 18, 2009 08:00 PM

Hm.

For one, the EU Parliament is a useless legislative body, the measure probably won't go into effect, and the seal slaughters will continue.

Oh well.

Posted by: Captain Awesome | August 20, 2009 07:19 PM