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GREEN PARTY OF MINNESOTA
http://www.mngreens.org
March 14, 2005
Tuesday, March 15, is International Day of Action
Contact:
Betsy Barnum, (612) 305-1232, BetsyBarnum@mngreens.org
Eric Makela, (612) 782-2118, eric@mngreens.org
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Green Party of Minnesota has joined a coalition of
groups opposing the upcoming annual seal hunt in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada.
As part of a coordinated International Day of Action, a demonstration
will be held at the Canadian Consulate in downtown Minneapolis (701
Fourth Ave S) at noon on Tuesday, March 15. A letter signed by the GPMN
and other local groups will be hand-delivered to the Consul General.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) calls this hunt "the
largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals on the planet." The
organization also claims that close to 300,000 are killed annually for
their pelts, their penises (used to make aphrodisiacs), oil (promoted as
a health supplement), and meat.
"Greens believe that animals exist for their own reasons, and that
these creatures have the right to live freely and in harmony with their
nature, rather than according to human desires and exploitation,"
said Eric Makela of the Green Party Animals, an animal rights caucus.
"Our party's platform, developed through a grassroots process,
supports the need to reduce the human impact on the Earth and all of its
inhabitants."
Last year, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW),
well over 90% of the seals killed were under the age of three months,
many too young to even eat on their own. Furthermore, according to the
HSUS, an independent team of veterinarians observing the hunt in 2001
found a that high number of seals (as many as 40%) were likely skinned
while alive and conscious.
"In addition to the cruelty aspect, we oppose the hunt because the
number of permits granted by the Canadian government is ecologically
unsustainable," said Betsy Barnum, state party chair. "Killing
this many seals for any reason puts the entire species, and those that
depend on it, at great risk."
The Green Party of Minnesota also supports U.S. Senate Resolution 33,
sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), urging the government of Canada to
end the commercial seal hunt. The Party calls on Senators Dayton and
Coleman to join the other 15 senators who are co-sponsoring this
multi-partisan resolution.
The Green Party recognizes the sovereignty of indigenous nations and
honors all First Nation treaty rights, including the right to
traditional forms of subsistence hunting. But it generally opposes
commercial and recreational uses of animals, particularly when those
that are cruel or disrespectful to an animal, or harmful to the natural
environment.
The Greens understand that this seal hunt is commercial in nature, and
open to anyone with a license from the Canadian government.
For additional details:
HSUS: http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/
U.S. Senate: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.RES.33.IS:/
(The Green Party of Minnesota does not control, nor does it necessarily
agree with all of the content on these web sites.)
The Green Party of Minnesota is founded around the principles of
ecological wisdom, social and economic justice, non-violence and
grassroots democracy. For more information call the Green Party of
Minnesota office, 612-871-4585 or visit www.mngreens.org
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