* ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT *


INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST

THE CANADIAN SEAL HUNT
TUESDAY, MARCH 15


Sea Shepherd California:
As many of you sadly know, Canadian sealers plan to brutally extinguish the lives of over 350,000 seals this season as a continuation of the horrific seal hunt in Eastern Canada, significantly sponsored and promoted by the Canadian government.  Most of the victims are pups, less than 2 months old, as they are slow-moving targets and unable to swim and escape.  Seal mothers watch in vain as human hunters shoot and club their young, and many of the pups are skinned while still alive.  The Canadian seal hunt is the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world -- at a record quota of over One Million seals killed between 2003-2005, it's considered the most destructive and pointless slaughter of wild mammals on Earth.  Captain Paul Watson and the international volunteer crew of Sea Shepherd's conservation flagship, R/V Farley Mowat, are now in the region to oppose the hunt on the frigid front lines.  


JOIN ACTIVISTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON MARCH 15
AT CANADIAN CONSULATE OFFICES IN CALIFORNIA:

LOS ANGELES, 11am start: 550 South Hope Street, Downtown LA 90071
Organizers: Ian Robichaud (Harpseals), Scott Sheckman (Sea Shepherd), Bill Dyer (IDA-USA)

SAN FRANCISCO, 12pm start: 555 Montgomery Street, SF 94111
Organizer: Alicia Moore (IDA-USA).  

SAN DIEGO, 12 pm start: 402 West Broadway, San Diego 92101
Organizers: Megan Sewell and Jill Fritz (San Diego Animal Advocates)

Have a Sea Shepherd t-shirt?  Wear it!  Have to work on March 15?  Come down on your lunch break!  If you can't attend the demonstrations in person, see the links below for alternative ways to help bring an end to this tradegy ­ examples: write letters, boycott, distribute the petition, and support our efforts with a donation.


LINKS FOR MORE PROTEST INFORMATION:

http://www.seashepherd.org/seals/seals.html

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/cityprotest.html

NOTE:  Harpseals.org is working in conjunction with Sea Shepherd, the Humane Society US, IFAW, and other international organizations on the PR campaign against the hunt and is working to organize protests in many cities world-wide.  Harpseals.org is doing a great job helping coordinate the united opposition and feature a comprehensive website about the complex issues.  Several other conservation and animal welfare groups are also staging protests on March 15 as part of a united coalition.  

GET HI-REZ PICTURES FOR HOME-MADE SIGNS:

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/xtoolbox.html

http://www.seashepherd.org/~seals/

Note on sign making:  Use flexible, large-sized posterboard available most office supply stores.  Do NOT make a hard sign from wood or attach handles as the sign may then be considered a weapon by police officers.  Try to run a string through the posterboard so it can hang from your neck, allowing your hands free for petition signature collection and handouts.  Print the hi-rez color pictures found on the links above and attach to the posterboard with tape or glue.  Use your computer to create/print easy-to-read slogans (such as "Canada - Stop the Seal Slaughter" or "Canada - End the Seal Hunt") and do the same. Or feel free to use markers, but please write legibly.  Be creative!  No profanity, please.  


CANADIAN SEAFOOD BOYCOTT
Still eating seafood despite the dangers from pollution, steep decline in fisheries, destruction of habitat, devastating by-catch, and other associated issues??  If you're still hooked on seafood, you can send a message to Canada by boycotting their seafood products.  A long-term boycott of their seafood (as well as other Canadian goods and services) is considered a prime strategy to end the seal hunt by aiming at the country's wallet.   Discover all the details and ways you can participate and promote the boycott by visiting these links:

http://www.harpseals.org/helpstop/boycott.html

http://www.seashepherd.org/seals/seals_boycott.html


Have questions?  Please visit the Sea Shepherd and Harpseals.org websites FAQ's and full details regarding the issues.  Please spread the word and forward this email to your friends, family and others who are concerned about the seals and dwindling wildlife in general.



For the Oceans,

Scott Sheckman
Los Angeles County Volunteer Representative
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Email: scott@seashepherd.org
Web: http://www.seashepherd.org