Celebrity Power! Paul Watson, Martin Sheen, & Dan Haggerty speaking out for the seals... (with the ultimate NON-celebrity Ian Robichaud from Harpseals.org representing the little people.) Photo: Jonny Vasic- 2005

Location: Canadian Consulate General
550 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA.
Time: 12:00 - 4:00 pm

THE GOAL OF THE EVENT WAS:
1) Draw worldwide attention to the CANADIAN SEAFOOD BOYCOTT
2) Collect and circulate our PETITIONS to the Canadian Government
3) Hand out leaflets, anti-hunt info, etc.
4) Display UNIFIED OPPOSITION to all the heartless Canadian sealers, fishermen, and politicians who support the hunt.

See what happened at other events around the world!

LOS ANGELES ACTIVISTS KICK ASS:
On March 15th, somewhere between 100 to 125 LA area seal activists showed up with an attitude at the Canadian Consulate downtown to protest the Canadian Seal Slaughter.

Los Angeles has an animated diversity of activists and they weren't about to hold back on this day for the seals.


In addition to an expected good turnout of locals, we were lucky to be joined by Captain Paul Watson, Martin Sheen, Dan Haggerty, along with SSCS board Members Ben Zuckerman and Kurt Lieber.

(Since I had organized the event, I was expecting these fine activists to show up but only found out about Martin Sheen a few hours before action time. Martin is a good friend of Pauls and a huge fan of the Sea Shepherd and so came out to play his part fo the seals. What a treat for everyone there to hang out and protest with him, he is so well spoken and savvy.) Thank you to all these great activists!

A big thanks also to the Last Chance for Animals for bringing the Animal News Van to show videos of the slaughter.

Activists covered all 4 corners of the busy intersection at Hope and 6th street with signs and petitions against the seal hunt and hundreds of flyers were handed out to pedestrians. Car drivers honked their horns in support and many even slowed down and rolled down their windows to get flyers from the protesters. A human harp seal was also busy cruising around the crowds, doing those things that seals do while not on the ice floes... (thanks Marie Scwhartz!)

I had arranged a meeting with the Consulate General (along with some help from Carla from the Sea Shepherd) for Captain Watson, Martin Sheen and myself to attempt to discuss the matters at hand. At the last moment, I had the opportunity to get one more person in and Dan Haggerty fit the bill perfect! Thanks Dan, you are a hero to the seals!

As expected, cameras were not allowed to follow, but we were able to get video some video footage anyway with them telling us that on camera! Needless to say, they weren't very happy about being put on the spot, but it worked out good for us.

After the meeting Captain Watson and Martin Sheen reported back that the Canadian Government's position has not changed, that they are still defending the hunt, and don't care about the boycott even if it is Hurting fisherman.

Martin Sheen rallied the crowd by reminding everyone that "..lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for!"

I commented that all I heard from the Consulate General was the same old political party line lies that we have been hearing all year- "the hunt is the most humane, regulated hunt in the world", "the boycott only is hurting innocent families", "the seal populations need to be controlled", "the DFO is all about sustainable harvesting", etc, etc.

This guy could spin the bullshit as good as any master politician and when I said something to that effect he made it a point to tell me that he was a "public servant" an not a politician. He also told me to "NOT read between the lines" of his words... hmmmmm...

When I replied, "gee, I didn't know "politician" was such a bad word", everyone (including him) laughed heartily... (I guess a truth nerve had been struck)

Overall, it was an awesome event thanks to all the protestors who were there for the seals letting the world know they are not willing to rest until Canada ends the slaughter.

- Ian Robichaud, Harpseals.org