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Humane Society International Exposes Seal Slaughter Cruelty at Canada-EU Free Trade Talks

Note to editors: A photo is included with this press release on Marketwire's website.

WHAT:        Humane Society International/Canada will broadcast images of
             Canada's commercial seal slaughter on a gigantic video screen
             outside the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade
             Agreement negotiations. The video includes quotes from Members
             of the European Parliament that have promised not to support
             the free-trade agreement as long as Canada continues the seal
             hunt.


WHEN:        Monday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 12
             9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

WHERE:       111 Sussex Drive
             Old City Hall
             Ottawa, Canada.


HOW:         To download video or photographs, email the media contact
             listed below. Click here to view the seal hunt video
             demonstration outside the Canada-EU free trade talks:

http://video.humanesociety.org/video/629262638001/Channels/729955314001/International/897639160001/HSI-Exposes-Seal-Slaughter-Cruelty/

WHO:         Humane Society International/Canada has documented the seal
             kill for several years and is committed to ending the largest
             slaughter of marine mammals on earth.

BACKGROUND:  Canada and the European Union are holding the seventh round of
             talks on the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade
             Agreement in Ottawa.


             While negotiating a trade deal with the EU, reportedly worth
             $12 billion to the Canadian economy, Canada has launched a WTO
             challenge against the EU seal product trade ban. Canadian legal
             experts have estimated the cost of the WTO challenge to be
             about $10 million - more than seven times the landed value of
             the seal hunt last year. In 2009, an overwhelming majority of
             Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of a strong
             ban on seal product trade.


             National polling consistently shows the overwhelming majority
             of Canadians want the commercial seal hunt to end, and oppose
             the Canadian government using tax dollars to promote the
             sealing industry.

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, representing tens of thousands of members and constituents across the country. HSI Canada has active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation and farm animal welfare. HSI Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International-one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world, with more than 11 million members and constituents globally-On the Web at hsicanada.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110411-DSCF0390800.JPG