Jude Law’s Seal Appeal

“As an actor who will always consider Britain home, I was proud to learn that the European Union has banned seal-fur imports. In light of next week’s seal-products dispute hearing, I’m writing to urge the panel to uphold this ban, which is in line with the wishes of compassionate people all around the world, including the majority of European citizens.”

So wrote Jude Law to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as it decides whether to overturn the European Union’s ban on importing seal fur at a final hearing in Geneva this week.

The award-winning thespian penned the letter, on behalf of PETA, just days after the start of Canada’s annual seal slaughter, in which club-wielding sealers bash in the heads of thousands of baby animals in order to skin them and sell their soft pelts. The EU, along with all other major markets including Russia and the USA, has banned the import of seal-fur, recognising the cruelty inherent in the seal massacre.

As a result, killing seals is no longer commercially viable, and even the minority of Canadians who traditionally have supported the slaughter are turning against it. Yet rather than ending this violent industry once and for all, the Canadian government is challenging the EU ban as a last-ditch effort to revive the trade.

Jude is not alone in calling on Canada to see sense, and stop the seal slaughter. Native Canadian Pamela Anderson also sent a message to the WTO earlier this year, while huge numbers of people across the globe have been moved to write to the Canadian government about this issue.

We’ll keep you posted on the WTO’s hearing. And, at this crucial moment, you, too, can speak out against the killing of baby seals. Please send a message to Canadian ministers asking them to put a stop to this barbaric and redundant industry now.

Image: Indian Nomad / CC BY 3.0