Ocean Sentry
Music legend Paul McCartney urged the European Parliament on Thursday to ban the trade in seal products, adding his name to a petition urging action from MEPs ahead of a vote on the issue.
“The fate of millions of seal pups is in the hands of elected members of the European Parliament,” the ex-Beatle said in a statement.
“In the next few weeks they will have a historic opportunity to stop the cruel trade in seal products throughout the European Union.”
McCartney added: “I’ve signed the petition to ask MEPs to seize this momentous opportunity to end, once and for all, this trade in animal cruelty.”
The European Parliament is expected to vote on a ban during its plenary session, which began this week in Strasbourg.
At an ambassadors meeting of the EU’s 27 member states at the end of March, a majority said they were in favour of a total ban on seal products to protest against hunting methods which they consider cruel.
Canada, which is the biggest seal-hunting country with a quota of 338,000 this year, has said it plans to file a complaint against any ban with the World Trade Organisation. Norway has threatened to do the same.
McCartney signed a petition organised by Humane Society International UK and Respect for Animals, which urges MEPs to ban the trade in all products derived from the commercial slaughter of seals.
(From google.com)
