Switzerland Is Poised to Join the Worldwide Movement Against Seal Fur
Following the World Trade Organization’s recent decision to uphold the EU’s ban on seal-fur imports, here’s more great news about PETA’s and our international affiliates’ campaigns to stop the commercial seal slaughter in Canada: the Swiss Council of States is moving to ban seal fur!
The Council of States (the upper house of the federal Swiss legislature) unanimously approved a bill that would ban seal-product imports. PETA Germany had written to all council members asking them to support the measure. The lower legislative house had already voted in favour of a ban, and the bill will now go to the National Council for final approval. Canadian and seal campaigner Pamela Anderson wasted no time in sending her thanks to the president of the Council of States, Hannes Germann, letting him know that the world stands with the council:
As a proud Canadian, I was delighted to learn that the Swiss Council of States has approved a bill to ban seal-fur imports from my native country. I became active in marine-mammal issues well before my Baywatch days and have been working for years with PETA, the world’s largest animal-protection organization, to help end Canada’s commercial seal slaughter. The World Trade Organization’s recent decision to uphold the EU’s ban on seal products underscores the fact that the welfare of seals targeted by commercial hunts is a legitimate public moral concern. There were no exports of Canadian pelts reported for 2014, and the council’s decision further shows that the world has moved on from seal products. Thank you for joining the EU, Russia, Taiwan, the U.S., and others that have banned seal fur and taken a stand for the tens of thousands of seals who die every year for a product that nobody needs or wants.
Worldwide opposition to Canada’s commercial seal slaughter is loud and clear. It’s time for Canadian leaders to end the slaughter by devising a practical exit strategy: a government buyout of the industry that would help both seals and sealers. Take action!
