A 14 year old from New Jersey proves that you can make a difference for animals.
Marcelo Hoynowski, a 14 year old New Jersey resident, has been awarded the 2007 IFAW International Action Award for his work to end Canada’s seal hunt. Marcelo was honored on October 4, 2007 in Santa Monica, California along with five other animal heroes. This was the first time the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s International Action Award has been honored in the United States.
At the age of seven, Marcelo first learned about Canada’s cruel seal hunt from a magazine article. Marcelo says the story of Canada’s seal hunt left a lasting impression on him because such a hunt is “unfair to the defenseless seals”. He realized he needed to do something to educate others about the atrocities taking place on Canada’s ice and to help put an end to the hunt all together.
With the support and help of his mother, at the age of eleven, Marcelo started his website
My Point Is to educate others about Canada’s seal hunt and what they can do to help bring it to an end. Marcelo conducted extensive research about Canada’s seal hunt for his website, which went live in March 2005. To generate interest in his website, Marcelo wrote letters to local news papers and told everyone he could about his campaign.
My Point Is has generated feedback from all over the United States and abroad. Marcelo has even received letters from seal hunters in Canada telling him “It’s our business kid”. Such letters let Marcelo know that his message is really getting across to people and reaching those directly involved in the hunt. Most of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive with messages like “keep it up” and “thank you”.
In speaking with Marcelo you gain a real understanding of his passion for protecting Canada’s seals. He can tell you statistics about the hunt and Canada’s Department of Fisheries that will make you question his age. He has truly immersed himself in this cause and has gained tremendous interest in and support for ending Canada’s Seal Hunt. When asked what others can do to make a difference, Marcelo says the most important things to do are “get informed” and “take action”; just as he has. Marcelo Hoynowski is a remarkable example of how anyone can make a difference in the world.
Look back for information about the New Jersey Walk for Seals that will take place in the Spring of 2008.What you can do:Visit
www.MyPointIs.net to learn what you can do to help bring an end to Canada’s seal hunt.
By: Candace Ritz – New Jersey Team LeaderPhoto courtesy of Marcelo Hoynowski