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SW GREENS SLAM CANADIAN DEPARTMENT FOR ‘HIDING’ ANNUAL SEAL CULL |
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 27th March 2008
Glos GReens have joined South West Greens Lead Candidate for the European Parliament, Cllr Ricky
Knight, in expressing serious concerns today that NGO representatives
and reporters from the British media are being prevented from viewing
Canada’s annual seal cull.
Representatives from Respect for Animals and UK media outlets have reported that they are being denied the opportunity to document the hunt and inform the rest of the world about what is occurring on the ice.
Ricky Knight said: "It is outrageous that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans seems to be preventing animal welfare NGOs and the international media from witnessing the seal cull. Their unwillingness clearly shows that the Canadians have something to hide and do not wish the outside world to see what is really going on. Permits have been issued in previous years without any problem, so the current barriers put up by the DFO appear to be a blatant attempt to suppress images and footage of the cull. I can only assume that Canada is unwilling to face further international condemnation for allowing such savage animal cruelty within its borders."
Cllr Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor and spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green party, who has campaigned to have the EU ban the import of seal fur, said: “A quota of 15,000 seals means that it is possible the cull will be completed in one day, so assurances that permits may be issued tomorrow are wholly unacceptable. It is intolerable that press freedom is being suppressed in this way and that peaceful observers who have travelled from the UK are being prevented from taking part in a legitimate activity."
Cllr Knight concluded: "The European Commission is uniquely empowered to act now to bring in a total ban on seal products into the EU and to step up the pressure on governments to halt this barbaric trade."
Notes to Editors:for more information, please contact Chloë: chloe.somers@gmail.com Mob: 07814 225 519
Cllr Ricky Knight: partycontact@northdevongreens.org.uk Mob: 07896 941 026: Tel: 01271 371732
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