11 activist hurt by sealers

[John Olexa]

Action Alert! 11 Crew Injured by Sealers and Arrested on the Ice Floes

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**********************ACTION ALERT***********************

Eleven Sea Shepherd Crew went on to the ice floes this morning to film and try and document the seal hunt. The sealers then came on to the ice from their ships and "rushed" the crew and tried to rip the camera's from their hands. Dr. Jerry Vlasak got in front of the videographer to save the footage and was punched in the face by a sealer and then cold-cocked by another, but this prevented the Sealers from taking the camera away from Jonny Vasic who was filming. Another Crew member was hit by a "hac-a-pick" and two female crew members were punched in the stomach (the smaller of the two repeatedly.) There are as of this moment six crew members who have been injured and their blood was seen on the ice.

As the crew tried to get back to the Farley Mowat (the crew were ALL unarmed except for video camera's) the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen got between the crew and the Farley Mowat preventing many of the crew from getting back to the Farley Mowat. As the eleven tried to get back to their ship, a helicopter landed and arrested the eleven including the injured Dr. Jerry Vlasak, Lisa Moises, Lisa Shalom, John Batchelor, Adrian Haley and Ian Robichaud. Some of the crew got back to the Farley Mowat and they have footage of everything that happened. Captain Paul Watson and his ship is surrounded by Coast Guard Ships and Sealing Ships, he is trying to get the footage to the mainland. Apparently some of the eleven arrested were hit with clubs, hac-a-picks, clubs and fists.

No one knows where they are being taken but as blood spurted from Dr. Vlasak's nose and he was taken aboard the helicopter, he put his fist in the air as a sign of never backing down.

Neither HSUS nor IFAW have crew on the ground. They are there with helicopters overhead, but no one but the Sea Shepherd crew have taken to the ice floes.

Now is the time for YOU to do jail support and let the embassy and consul's know that you, your family and friends will be boycotting ALL exports from Canada and you will NEVER travel on Canadian airlines until the stop this BRUTAL SLAUGHTER of the seals. TELL THEM TO RELEASE THE CREW IMMEDIATELY TO GET MEDICAL ATTENTION-THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

CALL EVERY FIVE MINUTES, FAX EVERY FIVE MINUTES, TIE UP ALL THEIR PHONE AND FAX LINES. DO IT FOR THE SEALS AND THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED TO SAVE THEM. OR PLEASE AT LEAST WRITE!!!!!!!!!!
Canadian Embassy
Washington, D.C.
The Embassy of Canada
501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20001-2114, USA

Tel: (202) 682-1740, Fax: (202) 682-7619
e-mail: webmaster@canadianembassy.org



Call 202 682-1740 (Ask for Ambassador Frank McKenna)

202 682-7701 General Fax

Ambassador Frank McKenna: Fax 202 682-7678


New York
Consulate General of Canada
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY
10020-1175, USA

Tel: (212) 596-1628, Fax: (212) 596-1793
e-mail: cngny-td@international.gc.ca


Los Angeles
Consulate General of Canada
550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor
Los Angeles, CA
90071-2627, USA

Tel: (213) 346-2700, Fax: (213) 346-2767
e-mail: lngls-td@international.gc.ca

[krazy4birds]

Ok..... gosh John...that literaly made me sick. I will try to do my best to get my message across.

[Magnum]

That is horrible. Anyone that is capable of smashing a seals head is definitely capable of harming a human.. :mad:

[Gryhndlvr19]

Hi John,

One thing I'm good at is writing persuasive letters--especially when there is steam coming out of my ears! Letter written and sent (the first one that is).

[John Olexa]

Hi John,

One thing I'm good at is writing persuasive letters--especially when there is steam coming out of my ears! Letter written and sent (the first one that is).

Very Good!!! Thanks :)

[John Olexa]

Update 2, Sea Shepherd Crew Released from Custody

Crew released earlier today on their own recognizance (O.R.) with a promise to appear on two charges -getting too close to the sealers clubbing and shooting the baby seals, and not having a permit to be on the ice. They are expected back in court in mid April.

The prosecutor asked the judge to set a one thousand dollar bail on each, but Colin Biroc stated to the judge, we'd rather "DO JAIL" then. . ."PAY BAIL!" Jerry Vlasak acted as the groups de facto defense attorney and argued against the bail. The judge stated to Vlasak that the seal hunt is legal in Canada, but Vlasak pointed out, in a court room filled with Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Department of Fisheries representatives, that "Slavery was legal at one time in the USA as well, and so was the holocaust in Germany. People forget that Hitler was democratically elected and under his governance Death Camps were legal as well," he politely told the judge. After one hour of arguments on both sides (Vlasak making his argument's handcuffed) the judge allowed all ten to be released O.R.

While in custody two of the crew went "on the blanket" meaning they refused to wear prison uniforms, so they stood buck-naked until the deputies gave them blankets to wrap around themselves (a bit too much information for us, but needless to say they ROCK!) No major life threatening injuries but a lot of bruises, aches, pains and a probable broken nose after being assaulted by the sealers.

They are all currently in Charlottetown trying to get back on board the Sea Shepherd which is still at sea. More details to follow soon.

Thanks for everyone's support, concern and fighting spirit. The seals are still being killed, but we'll never give up the fight until they STOP THE KILLING. Even the judge agreed at the end of the bail hearing saying that "The protests will continue every year until the seal hunt ends for good."

[JustJo]

John,

Until I got to your last post I was wondering WHY were the people filming arrested??? What law did THEY break?? So anyway now I know they didn't have a permit but WHY weren't the men who assaulted them arrested? Isn't that against the law?? This is too ironic. :mad:

[John Olexa]

I know, I ask that very question in 3 letters I wrote to send tomorrow.

[Magnum]

"The protests will continue every year until the seal hunt ends for good."I pray is comes to an end now!!

Yes John, they do ROCK!! Can you imagine being face to face with one of those murderers, armed with a spiked club? To think the law is backing these killers.... :mad:

Thanks so much for the update!