Thanks to the quick action taken by more than 5,000 PETA U.K. supporters, the European Union (E.U.) has just rejected Poland's proposal to delay a historic ban on battery cages for hens! In 1999, the E.U. passed the Laying Hens Directive—legislation that requires an end to the use of battery cages by 2012. Polish officials lobbied to delay the ban until 2017, but thanks to everyone in Europe who took the time to write to the U.K.'s minister of state for farming and the environment, Jim Fitzpatrick, the E.U. will stand by its original plan to ditch the cruel contraptions.

Aleutia / CC by 2.0

The production of a single egg means 34 hours of suffering for a hen. In the E.U., 300 million hens are crammed into filthy wire-mesh battery cages stacked tier upon tier in huge warehouses. The birds are packed into the cages so tightly that they are unable to spread even one wing, and they suffer crippling leg injuries from standing on wire cage floors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they get too old to lay eggs, they're thrown into transport crates and shipped to slaughter. Battery cages deny every one of a hen's natural instincts, including nesting, perching, scratching, and pecking.

You can help end hens' suffering by taking the pledge to be vegan today.

Posted by Logan Scherer

nationalpost / CC

A few months ago, we told you about a vote by the European Union (E.U.) to end the sale of seal products. Well, now is the time to do a little victory dance, because the ban has just been finalized! According to the AP, Canada exported about $5 million worth of seal products to the EU last year, so this ban is another big blow to the country's annual seal massacre.

Since most of Europe has denounced the shameful slaughter of baby seals loud and clear, you'd think that Canada's government would finally get a clue and take action to end the annual bloodbath, right?

Think again.

Sorry to say, but once again, instead of enacting the ban that good people around the world—including a great many in Canada—are demanding, the Canadian government continues to pour all its efforts into keeping the massacre going. Until the last minute, it was still lobbying the E.U. to change its mind.

Canadian bureaucrats can be pretty thickheaded, but we are determined to keep the pressure on them until they can't ignore it any longer. That means pushing the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Games to get involved, buying American maple syrup instead of Canadian, and spreading the word to get other folks involved too!

Posted by Jeff Mackey

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Plainly put: Money talks, and governments are slow to change the status quo unless they are compelled by an overwhelming response from outside forces.

Canada produces 85 percent of the world's maple syrup, and the maple leaf is known throughout the world to represent Canada. And, unlike seal skins, which have been banned throughout the U.S. and Europe, Canadian maple syrup is a product found in many grocery stores and kitchen pantries. A boycott of this iconic product will send a strong message to the Canadian government that people living both in and outside the country will not stand by while baby seals are beaten and skinned in front of their bellowing mothers.

The Canadian government has claimed that it continues to support the seal massacre for economic reasons. By boycotting maple syrup, continuing to hold demonstrations around the world, and targeting the upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, we will send the message that continuing the massive commercial seal slaughter will hurt Canada's economy far more than it helps it. Every time someone takes PETA's online pledge to boycott Canadian maple syrup, we will send a copy directly to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Canada's Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day so that they realize how hard their continued support of the seal slaughter is hitting them in the wallet.

Canadian officials may turn a blind eye to seals' immense suffering, but the outcry against the seal slaughter echoes around the globe. Many compassionate Canadians have already spoken out against the slaughter, and PETA hopes that, as this year's slaughter draws to a close, Canadians will rally to defend their international reputation and tell their government once and for all that they will no longer stand by as this bloody massacre takes place in their country.

As a pancake and seal lover, I'll be buying only American maple syrup until Canada comes to its senses. Won't you join us?

Posted by Karin Bennett

animals.nationalgeographic / CC

Seals around the world are throwing up their flippers in celebration—the European Parliament voted today to end the sale of seal products across the European Union (EU)!

This vote adds to the pressure on Canada to end the seal slaughter. It shows that the EU Parliament recognizes the inhumanity of the annual massacre. The ban will undoubtedly deal a strong blow to sealers' profits—and that, in turn, will result in less blood on the ice.

The EU's decision is in line with the wishes of the majority of European citizens and all good people across the globe, including, of course, all Canadian citizens who are ashamed that their country is party to the bloody seal slaughter. Eyes now turn to the Canadian government: It has threatened to challenge the EU ban on trade in seal products at the World Trade Organization. Instead, it should be using its own laws to ban the seal slaughter.

Posted by Shawna Flavell

gdargaud / CC

Today, we've got great news for seals and bad news for the people with the spikey-tipped sticks! According to the Daily Mail, the EU has announced that a fur import embargo will be drawn up in the next few weeks. Yippee!

So, thanks to all of you who responded to PETA's call to action and contacted the EU about this issue!

That's another 27 countries that will most likely cut ties with an industry that bludgeons and skins baby seals alive. With European ports closed to seal fur, Canada's barbaric annual seal hunt may just come to an end. Kinda makes you want to sing "Another One Bites the Dust," doesn't it?

We are confident that EU leaders are finally starting to turn away from the annual torture of defenseless baby seals on Canada's ice floes each spring just to benefit Canadian fishers. Well, the whole world's watching you now, Canada, and the next move will be yours.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky