Not so fast. Our work, and the work of others, resulted in reforms such
as the 1987 ban on the killing of "whitecoat" seals - seals less than
15 days old. Since then, seal populations have slowly begun to recover.
Recently, however, Canada announced an astounding
increase in the number of seals that can be killed each year. When
hunting season begins later this month, up to 350,000 seals may be
killed in the span of just a few days, in what would be the world's
largest slaughter of marine mammals. Seals older than two weeks are
considered fair game. In fact, 95 percent of the seals killed are still
no more than four months old.
Take
Action! Tell Canada to Stop this Brutal Hunt
It's only because of the efforts of Greenpeace and our allies that seal
populations have recovered to the extent that they have. But threats
such as global warming and overfishing leave the fate of the seals in a
precarious state. For the Canadian government to promote this hunt is
irresponsible and shortsighted.
Polar ecosystems are among the first places to suffer
impacts of global warming, and populations of seals, polar bears and
other wildlife have already been affected. Harp seal populations rely
on sea ice for breeding, resting and nursing. As global warming melts
more and more of the ice, seals have less and less room to survive.
We are working alongside dozens of other organizations,
calling on the Canadian government to end the seal hunt. On March 12
and 15, we will be taking our protest directly to the Canadian
government with a series of rallies at Canada's Embassy and Consulates.
If you would like to stand with us, find
the rally point near you.
If you can't make it out to the rallies, you can still
do your part to protect the seals. Please take a moment now to tell
Canadian Prime Minister Martin to stop this brutal hunt.
A big "thank you" to the dozens of you that have already submitted your
personal accounts on global warming. Whether you've experienced an
extreme weather event or switched to wind power to meet your energy
needs, climate change has a presence in all of our lives.
If you've gone to great lengths to stop global warming,
we want to hear from you! You may be featured on the Greenpeace Web
site as part of an upcoming project.
Submit
your story.
We are currently in the middle of our second successful training
program for America's top student activists. If you are interested in
applying for the summer or fall term, or know of someone else that may
be interested, the deadline is March 25. Be part of the next wave of
passionate and talented student leaders that help make the dream of a
green and peaceful world a reality.
Get
more details and apply now.
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Help Greenpeace Take a Stand. Become a Member Today.
Visit our Action Center and take action today.
Forward this message to a friend. Help spread the word.
More than 4,000 people have told the Japanese government not to allow a
U.S. airbase to be built on top of a coral reef - the home of the dugong.
Yesterday, our executive director, John Passacantando, headed to
Okinawa to support the local community in its efforts to protect this
endangered species.
There's still time for you to take
action.
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