MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 11, 2011) -
Note to editors: A photo is included with this press release on Marketwire's website.
| WHAT: | Humane Society International/Canada will broadcast images of Canada's commercial seal slaughter on a gigantic video screen outside the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiations. The video includes quotes from Members of the European Parliament that have promised not to support the free-trade agreement as long as Canada continues the seal hunt. |
| WHEN: | Monday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 12 |
| 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | |
| WHERE: | 111 Sussex Drive |
| Old City Hall | |
| Ottawa, Canada. | |
| HOW: | To download video or photographs, email the media contact listed below. Click here to view the seal hunt video demonstration outside the Canada-EU free trade talks: |
| WHO: | Humane Society International/Canada has documented the seal kill for several years and is committed to ending the largest slaughter of marine mammals on earth. |
| BACKGROUND: | Canada and the European Union are holding the seventh round of talks on the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in Ottawa. |
| While negotiating a trade deal with the EU, reportedly worth $12 billion to the Canadian economy, Canada has launched a WTO challenge against the EU seal product trade ban. Canadian legal experts have estimated the cost of the WTO challenge to be about $10 million — more than seven times the landed value of the seal hunt last year. In 2009, an overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of a strong ban on seal product trade. | |
| National polling consistently shows the overwhelming majority of Canadians want the commercial seal hunt to end, and oppose the Canadian government using tax dollars to promote the sealing industry. |
Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, representing tens of thousands of members and constituents across the country. HSI Canada has active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation and farm animal welfare. HSI Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International—one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world, with more than 11 million members and constituents globally—On the Web at hsicanada.ca.
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110411-DSCF0390800.JPG
Contact Information:
Dean Pogas
514-261-6007
dpogas@hsi.org