Anti-sealing groups use media blitz to seek European ban

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/25/eu-seal.html

Canada's seal hunt came under renewed international scrutiny on Friday as a coalition of anti-sealing groups held a series of news conferences across Europe.

The media blitz took place in more than a dozen capitals including London, Paris, Brussels and the Hague as part of a concerted effort to put new pressure on the European Union.

The coalition released graphic new video footage of this year's seal hunt. Sonja Van Tichelen, head of Eurogroup for Animals, said the images were taken in the Gulf of St. Lawrence over the last two months.

"We don't like the cruel seal hunt. We don't like these products in Europe," said Van Tichelen, whose group represents 44 animal rights bodies across Europe.

The coalition is seeking a total ban not only in Canada but also in Russia, Greenland and EU members Finland and Sweden, as well as Namibia.

"They are calling on the European Union to bring in a ban on the import to Europe of Canadian seal products," the CBC's David Common reported from Brussels.

FULL story at link.