Mike Levin: “according to the highly respected Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, Canada's government has authorized the…”

“according to the highly respected Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, Canada's government has authorized the slaughter of nearly 1 million seals over 3 years, 2004-2006, most of them between 12 days and 12 weeks old. This is the largest kill quota in history, which means that Canada is facilitating the artificial extension of an industry that has ceased to exist in most developed countries. Canada officially opened its 6 months commercial seal hunt on November 15, 2004, paving the way for hundreds of thousands of baby seals to be killed for their fur during the 2004-2005 season. Today, I am joined by Senators Collins, Lugar, Reed, Lautenberg, Feinstein, Johnson, Jeffords, Wyden, Cantwell, Dodd, Feingold, Durbin, Schumer, Murray, and Dorgan in submitting a resolution that urges the Government of Canada to end this senseless, inhumane slaughter. Last year, we submitted a similar resolution, which was favorably reported by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Opposition to the seal hunt is mounting. Canada's own people don't support the hunt. Polling shows that 71 percent of Canadians--including 60 percent of Atlantic Canadians--believe the seal hunt should be banned outright or limited to seals over one year of age. Last week, Canada's conservative newspaper, National Post, called for an end to the hunt.”