Palin Fought Polar Bear Protections for Oil Companies

Last Friday I posted about John McCain's running mate, Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, and her record on the environment. I knew at the time that she opposed protecting polar bears and I eventually learned she believes global warming is a myth. Now we're getting a clearer picture of just how far she is willing to go to protect oil companies and stop protections for threatened species. 

ABC News is reporting that Gov. Palin sued the Bush Administration this year to stop the listing of polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. She believed the government was too accepting of climate change science and its impact on the bears. She also feared that increasing protection for polar bears would negatively affect the oil and gas industries in Alaska.

The exact language from the Palin Administration lawsuit against the federal government stated..."Listing the polar bear as a threatened species [under the Endangered Species Act] will have a significant adverse impact on Alaska because. . . [it] will deter activities such as commercial fisheries, oil and gas exploration and development, transportation, and tourism"

The decision by the government to protect polar bears was largely based on the findings of the U.S. Geological Survey. In the Alaska lawsuit, these studies were questioned, despite the fact that Alaska's own state scientists stated that the Geological Survey's research was reliable. 

The science provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, an independent government agency, may not have been sufficient enough for Gov. Palin, but research paid for by Exxon-Mobile was. According to the ABC News article, Palin supported the conclusions of research funded by the American Petroleum Industry and Exxon, which of course did not advocate protecting polar bears from the effects of global warming. 

To read the full ABC News piece, click HERE. 

EPA Protecting Bee Killers?

Another day, another controversy at the Environmental Protection Agency. You have probably heard about the mysterious disappearance of bees in the western region of the United States. If not, let me catch you up. 

In the last two years, bee populations have dropped more than 30%. The result of this loss is a collapse of bee colonies in several states. Bees provide economic benefits called "ecoystem syervices" to U.S. crops. It would cost $15 billion to human engineer the pollination benefits bees provide to farmers. 

Scientists are trying to figure out what is causing the bees to disappear. One leading theory is that pesticides used on crops the bees pollinate are poisoning them. In particular, scientists are concerned about a new class of pesticides being spread on crops. 

This is where the EPA comes in. Bayer CropScience, a pesticide manufacturer recieved EPA approval five years ago for a new pesticide. Scientists would like access to the research information used by the EPA in their approval process to see if the pesiticde is to blame for bee population decreases. Unfortunately, the EPA is refusing to make public their information. 

The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit to gain access to the information being withheld by the government ageny. The NRDC believes the EPA is putting corporate interests above their stated mission of protecting species. 

To read the NRDC release on their EPA lawsuit, click HERE. 

Fireflies Disappearing

As a native Floridian, it was very exciting to move to the mid-Atlantic region of the country and see fireflies during the summer. We don't have fireflies in Florida, so I was like a kid searching the night air for those flickers of light. 

Because I love fireflies so much, I was dismayed to read that their numbers are dwindling. The first signs of a drop in firefly populations appeared in Thailand where there has been a 70% decrease in fireflies in just three years. Scientists from around the world descended on Thailand to discuss the possible explanation for this population decrease and debate whether it serves as a warning to humans.

Researchers are constantly aware of the "canary in a cold mine" role that plants and animals play. Other species are more sensitive to changes in temperature, oxygen levels and the presence of toxins. If a species shows unusual behavior, it may be a sign to humans that changes in our environment could begin negatively affecting us as well. These species are called "indicator species."

So far, scientists have not concluded whether fireflies are indicator species or not. This is because scientists haven't isolated the cause of the population decrease. Some anecdotal evidence points to the growing presence of artificial light. Artificial lights impede the mating process for fireflies because their light cannot glow bright enough to attract a mate. Other theories focus on the growth of urban sprawl and the resulting increases in air pollution.

Fireflies are unusual insects. There are 2,000 different species of them, with many new species discovered all the time. Most of the species have never truly been studied. There are still many questions unanswered about their light and its purpose. They are very difficult to count or track and have short lifespans of about 3 weeks. Regardless, they are still members of an ecosystem and their behavior tells a story about the condition of that ecosystem.

If you want to help protect firefly populations, there are two things you can do. First, you can turn your outdoor lights off or as low as possible. Second, you can post sightings of fireflies on THIS website to help scientists track their numbers.

If you'd like to read more about the firefly population decrease, click HERE. 

Ocean's Dead Zones Doubling

Have you ever heard of hypoxia, or the "dead zones" in our planet's oceans? They are areas of the ocean so starved for oxygen that nothing can live there. They are directly correlated to negative human impacts on the earth and have wiped out vast areas of oceanic habitat that once hosted diverse populations of sea life.

Dead zones are created when nutrients from fertilizers and waste end up in the ocean when rain washes them into rivers and streams that lead to the sea. These nutrients offset the natural balance in the ocean, creating the perfect environment for algae to bloom in huge numbers. Eventually this algae dies and sinks to the sea floor where it decays and destroys all of the oxygen, suffocating the plants and animals living in the area and creating an uninhabitable wasteland.

Robert Diaz, a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, recently led a study to count the number of dead zones on earth and his findings were very troubling. The number of dead zones has doubled every year since 1960. Diaz and his staff counted more than 400 currently existing dead zones around the world. These zones range from the massive ones in the Gulf of Mexico and Baltic Sea to smaller ones that appear in rivers and estuaries.

In the Chesapeake Bay alone, the amount of uninhabitable space caused by these dead zone conditions would have enough sea life to feed half of the commercial crab harvest for a year.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Robert Diaz said, "We're saying that hypoxia is now everywhere, it seems," said Diaz. "We can say that human activities really screwed up oxygen conditions in our coastal areas."

It is possible to recover these dead zones. Currently 4% of the total dead zones have shown some signs of recovery. Specifically, Florida's Indian River and New York's Hudson River have seen great improvement. Recovery requires significant changes in the use of fertilizers, the management of water run-off and improved water management.

As a consumer, oceanic dead zones are a great argument in favor of purchasing organic groceries that are not dependent on fertilizers and pesticides that contribute to these problems. As a voter, this is an issue your representatives should be made aware of.

To read the full Washington Post article on dead zones, click HERE.

Bush Looking to Weaken Endangered Species Act

Its not unusual for an outgoing President to take a few parting policy shots as they walk out the door. Apparently President Bush is getting a head start.

For years, ultra conservative Republicans have tried to undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These Republicans have such an expansive view of the free market that they believe only species able to compete with human development should survive. Their best chance at weakening the ESA is by greatly reducing the scientific review process that evaluates the impact of a proposed development on an endangered or threatened species, like the blue whale, and its habitat.

For years, mainstream Republicans and Democrats have successfully blocked many attempts by ultra conservative Republicans to change the scientific review process. Unfortunately, anti-ESA forces have found a friend in the White House and a way to completely avoid Congressional authority.

Newly drafted regulations proposed within the Executive Branch would make two significant changes to the ESA and would not require Congressional authorization.

The first change would remove the current independent review process that has been completed by objective government scientists for 35 years. Under existing law, a project built, funded or authorized by a federal agency must be submitted to either the Fish & Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service where scientists independently evaluate the project for any impacts on endangered or threatened species. If the proposed changes to the ESA take place, there will no longer be this independent review and the agency overseeing the project will make its own determination of risk to species. Even if that agency has no scientific expertise or experience with endangered species, they can decide if a project is acceptable.

The second change to the ESA being proposed is a complete ban on considering a proposed project's contributions to global climate change. Many agencies have sought out the authority to consider greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the climate or species when reviewing a project. Ultra conservative Republicans and President Bush want to make sure this type of consideration is illegal under the ESA.

If the proposed changes are approved, they would be the most significant changes to the Endangered Species Act since 1988. Already, President Bush has been criticized for using bureaucratic obstacles and red tape to make it harder to list a species as endangered or threatened. His new proposed regulations would essentially end the power of the ESA. A federal government handbook from 1998 described the independent scientific consultations as "some of the most valuable and powerful tools to conserve listed species."

Once the proposed changes are officially filed, a 60-day comment period would be initiated and supporters or opponents of the changes could voice their opinions. After that, the regulation would be approved prior to the November election. A new President would have the authority to reverse or freeze the changes, but that could take months. Congress could pass legislation blocking the changes, but that would take even longer.

To read more about the proposed changes, click HERE.

125,000 Western Lowland Gorillas Discovered

During the 1980's a census was conducted to count the number of Western lowland gorillas still living on Earth. At that time, scientists estimated about 100,000 of these gorillas existed. Since the census, it is believed that the number of gorillas had dwindled to 50,000.

Fortunately, a recent survey conducted in the Lac Tele Community Reserve in northern Congo uncovered a huge number of unaccounted for gorilla. Hunters in the area told researchers that they had spotted large clusters of gorillas living in the swamp forests on the outskirts of Lac Tele.

A researcher with the Primatological Society Congress in Scotland reported that this new community of gorillas is the highest-known density of the animals that has ever been discovered. Based on the number of gorilla nests spotted in the area, the researchers estimate that 125,000 Western lowland gorillas live in the swamp.

In spite of this good news, many scientists believe the gorillas will still be viewed as endangered because the threats to their survival are so severe. The ebola virus is wiping out gorillas populations throughout Africa. In addition, commercial logging and bushmeat hunting have destroyed critical gorillas habitat.

Of the four gorillas subspecies, the Western lowland gorilla is the most numerous. Cross River gorillas, found in Cameroon and Nigeria, have suffered from illegal hunting and habitat loss that has left only 250-300 of these gorillas in existence. At one point in the 1970's the mountain gorilla had a population of 23 but has seen increases over the past three decades that has raised its population to around 700. Finally, the Grauer's gorilla of the Democratic Republic of Congo is believed to have a population of about 16,000.

To read more about the discover of Western lowland gorillas, click HERE.

Gorilla Murders: A Must See

Last night I attended the world premiere screening of National Geographic Channel's newest film, Explorer: Gorilla Murders. The images from the film are burned on my brain and the story National Geographic tells is unforgettable. 

You are probably now familiar with the infamous photographs of seven endangered mountain gorillas laying dead in a row in the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those images outraged the world, but the story behind them is as stirring as anything you'd read in a novel and National Geographic tells it perfectly in this film.

Virunga National Park is ground zero for a dangerous clash between human interests and the natural world. Right now the mountain gorillas and their habitat are the victims of this clash. Only 720 mountain gorillas exist in the world. The area where those photographs were taken, the Mikeno sector, is home to around 200 of these animals and is the subject of the film.

The death of the gorillas was not for meat or for trophies, it was a symbolic killing meant to scare off the rangers who have pledged their lives to protect these important creatures. Living just outside Virunga are over a million refugees of the Rwandan conflict. The refugees live in terrible conditions and rely solely on charcoal for energy to cook and survive. Virunga is home to forests full of old growth trees that are ideal for charcoal making. Illegally collecting these trees for charcoal and selling the fuel is a very profitable business. The people who trade in illegal charcoal will stop at nothing to protect their access to the Virunga forests that are also the sensitive habitat of the mountain gorillas. 

The needs of the locals, the commitment of the rangers and the greed of the charcoal makers are at odds in the national park. This dangerous dynamic has lead to the corruption of top government officials who are responsible for protecting Virunga. It may even have been one of these officials who ordered those gorillas killed.

Complicating this environment is a group of Tutsi rebels who have managed to drive the rangers out of the Mikeno sector and are now the only people with access to the 200 mountain gorillas living there. The rebels' leader, Laurent Nkunda, is a dangerous criminal known for using child soldiers and systematic rape as tools of war. He promises that he is a conservationist interested in protecting the mountain gorillas. However, stories of his soldiers killing the gorillas for food have already spread throughout the area. 

Watch this film and see the fascinating story in stunning photographs, compelling interviews and interesting facts. The access National Geographic gained to both the ongoing investigation and the parties involved is amazing. If you were affected by those awful pictures of these murdered mountain gorillas, you have to hear the story behind the crime. 

The movie premiers on the National Geographic Channel on Tuesday, July 1st at 10:00pm. Don't miss it.

If you want to help the mountain gorillas, go to 

• Gorilla.Wildlifedirect.Org
  
• International Gorilla Conservation Program
• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
• Zoological Society of London
• Frankfurt Zoological Society
• Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project
• Preserve Our Planet

A Must Read: Bureaucracy Hurting Whales

From CNN: "Collisions with ships are the number one cause of mortality, and entanglement in fishing gear is the number two cause," Lecky said.

Because this animal is an endangered marine mammal, NMFS, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is charged with designing a recovery plan for them.

More than four years of NOAA research showed that speed kills whales. Above a speed of about 10 knots, a right whale's encounter with a large ship would likely be fatal.

NOAA is in charge of the scientific aspects of these types of rules, the federal Office of Management and Budget must weigh in on their economic impact. The OMB was supposed to make a decision on the rule last year -- but there is still no indication when it might act on it.

Read the full story HERE

Sea Lions vs. Salmon: Kill One to Save the Other?

Slate has a fascinating article today on the struggle to protect dwindling numbers of salmon in Oregon. 

For years, conservationists and fishermen have suspected that the sudden disappearance of large numbers of Chinook salmon was attributable to sea lions traveling up the Columbia River to find and eat the endangered species. At one point, it was suggested that the sea lions be killed or relocated to avoid further destruction of the Chinook population. This idea never took hold, but now it looks like some are taking matters into their own hands as several sea lions have turned up dead in recent months.

To read the full article, go HERE.

A Must Read: Endangered Species as Political Pieces

From Newsweek's Project Green...

"Enlisting endangered species in the fight against global warming is either a brilliant tactical maneuver - or an arrogant abuse of law."

Read more HERE

Save the Polar Bear

The WE Campaign has successfully recruited 100,000 signatures for their petition to the Department of the Interior asking that Polar Bears be listed as endangered species.

Right now the Secretary of the Interior is considering the proposal to list the species and the WE Campaign is using this last 24 hours for a final push to get more signatures so they can deliver the petition to the Secretary with as many signatures as possible.

I'm skeptical about this proposed listing because of its inclusion of global climate change as one of the threats to Polar Bear survival. We need to fight global warming, but the structure and substance of the Endangered Species Act isn't properly suited for that purpose.

Regardless, Polar Bear numbers are dwindling and so are the numbers of their prey. Its important the government use its full regulatory force to protect them.

Sign the WE Campaign petition HERE, today!

Pets Suffer From Chemical Exposure

The Environmental Working Group released the results of a study last week which showed that the family cat or dog absorbs a dangerous level of toxic chemicals from household cleaners. Showing up in the blood or urine of their test subjects were plasticizers, stain-resisting chemicals, flame retardants, lead and mercury.

In some cases, our furry companions can absorb 20 times the amount of toxins we do. Many of these chemicals or elements are known to cause cancer and can affect important organs like the thyroid.

This may come as a shock to animal lovers, but it should serve as a lesson to parents as well. Young children who spend a lot of time on the floor, and who often put their hands in their mouths, are being exposed to these dangers in the same way our pets are.

If you want to read more about the study, click HERE.

If you want to find recipes for natural, home-made cleaning products that don't contain toxins, click HERE, HERE and HERE.

NBC News - Pacific Salmon Disappearing Fast

An order issued by fishing authorities prohibits any fishing of Pacific Salmon because stocks have declined drastically over the past few years for an unknown reason. Several theories have been suggested ranging from ocean temperature warming to disease. Whatever the cause, there is serious fear that the Pacific Salmon is quickly facing possible extinction.

Watch the story below.

Gray Wolves No Longer Endangered?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is under constant political pressure by those who believe that it places more emphasis on protecting plants & animals than on encouraging property development & economic gains. (If you read my piece on Ecosystems Services, you can probably figure out my position in this debate)

With that said, every now and then, we hear a success story about the return of a species from the brink of extinction thanks to the ESA that impresses even the most hardened cynics. The survival of the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies is just such a success story.

In the beginning of the 20th century, gray wolves were seeing their habitat destroyed and encroached upon by humans. These humans brought with them farm animals like sheep and chickens that seemed like easy prey to the natural predatorial instincts of wolves. Eventually, humans began hunting wolves in an effort to diminish their population and protect the farm animals.

The gray wolf population became so low that it appeared the species was going to become extinct. As a result, the wolf was placed on the Endangered Species List and its habitat underwent the legal protection that comes with this placement. In addition, the U.S. Department of Interior began plans for reintroducing displaced wolf populations back into their natural habitat.

Reintroduction of a species into a habitat where its numbers have dwindled is a controversial act. In the case of the gray wolf, it was especially controversial. The area where the wolves would be introduced is now home to thousands of acres of cattle ranches. The ranchers did not appreciate natural predators being parachuted onto their land. As a compromise, Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental organization, agreed to reimburse cattle ranchers for any of their animals that were killed or harmed by the wolf reintroduction.

After a 13-year restoration effort, the gray wolf populations have reached a sustainable level. Unfortunately, the threats to this species still exist. In fact, it could be argued that taking them off the Endangered Species List will put them at high risk to become endangered again. However, the ESA is meant to serve as a safety net, not a perpetual force field. Hopefully all parties involved will make a new effort to work together for a shared interest in maintaining a natural balance.

Congo's Gorillas Threatened by Rebels

From MSNBC...

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, Congo - Not far from a hillside where several mountain gorillas shot dead last summer lie buried, park ranger Innocent Mburanumwe peers across a primordial canopy of treetops into what may be the most dangerous game reserve on earth.

The lush sanctuary — home to some of the world’s last mountain gorillas — was thrust onto the front lines of Congo’s latest war in September. Since then, the fragile habitat in the Central African highlands has been overrun by rebels and soldiers, transformed into an off-limits war zone.

In the world of wildlife conservation, the biggest worry most rangers face is the extinction of endangered animals. But in Virunga National Park, where more than 120 rangers have been killed over the last decade, they also worry about their own survival.

Read the whole story HERE...

Oil Spills On 2 Coasts

One of the ways Oil corporations convince Americans that oil is the best energy source available is by insisting that current technologies guarantee the safest, cleanest, and most secure means for drilling and transporting oil. The public relations machine run by oil companies is so smooth, it has been successful at staving off government investment in renewable energy technologies, auto industry investment in more efficient automobiles, and attempts to block drilling in America's most serene natural habitats. Again and again we are all duped by this enormously powerful industry that acts as the perpetual victim while reaping the world's largest revenues in history.

The oil spilled in the Black Sea and the California coast is not just on the feathers and skin of the birds or sea life there, it is on all of our hands as well. In the face of record oil prices and terribly outdated vehicle fuel efficiency standards, we have sat silent and let this industry play us like fiddles.

There are real things that we can do to kick the oil addiction.

First, it is time to trade-in that gas guzzling car. It is patriotic to do so because it is in our national interest to rely on American sources of energy rather than Middle Eastern sources. There is such a proliferation of hybrid automobiles now that even the Toyota Camry comes in hybrid form. If you need a larger car, many SUV's currently run on powerful hybrid engines.

Second, its time to reconsider public transportation. Buses are circling your communities completely empty while they burn gasoline in the process. If not public transportation, than car pooling.

Third, many energy plants in cities across the U.S. burn gasoline to create power. That means the lights you forgot to turn off, the TV you left on, the AC or heat set too low/high, are all contributing to the oil crisis in our world. Why haven't you replaced those outdated incandescent light bulbs with longer-lasting, energy saving CFL florescent bulbs? Turn off the entertainment center power strip when you go to work, nobody is going to be listening to your stereo while you're gone.

Fourth, stop taking those plastic bags at the grocery store. Plastic is manufactured using petroleum. Tons and tons of petroleum is used every year to create bags that will be used once or twice. Instead, purchase or use your own cloth bags at the grocery store. They are stronger and they don't require oil for manufacturing.

Fifth, buy locally grown food rather than food shipped in from South America. There are many farmers' markets in every community in America. They feature fruits, vegetables, and meats all grown in your backyard rather than shipped in from a foreign country. Obviously, you will have to go to the grocery store to buy some products, but reduce your impact by only purchasing those things you need.

Fifth, contribute money to organizations and venture capitalists who fund development of new energy technologies. The federal government is too chicken to stand up to the oil industry, but we aren't. If our taxes won't go to new technologies that will create jobs and make America the most innovative manufacturing nation in the world again, then we'll just have to write checks to the people who will make this happen.

Sixth, call your Congressman/woman, your state Representatives, and tell them to stop giving subsidies and tax cuts to oil companies. There is no reason that when these corporations are making record profits, they should get tax breaks and tax money. Its our money, we know how to spend it better than the government or the oil companies. Vote only for Presidential candidates or other politicians who promise to do this.

Seventh, tell your friends, neighbors, families, relatives, co-workers, congregations, etc. to come on board. The 21st century will no longer belong to the 20th century's oil barons. If we all work together and make real changes in our lives, we can finally wave goodbye to the dirty, messy, costly energy sources of the past and look forward to a cleaner, cheaper, and economy-growing energy sources of the future.

Oil Spill in San Francisco

A cargo ship that struck the San Franciso-Oakland Bay Bridge has split, leaking oil and causing nearby beaches to close. The 58,000 gallons of oil have left a sheen on the surface of the water and has resulted in nauseated workers around the area of the leak.

According to Wil Bruhns, a supervising engineer at the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, fuel in these types of ships is heavier than other oils and is, therefore, harder to contain.

You can read the full story HERE.

This ship is owned by a Chinese company. I don't know anything about Chinese regulations on the strength of their ships. If their other environmental regulations are any indication, ship regulations are probably not very strict.

Losing the Everglades

Click Here to read a very troubling article about the absense of funding to save the Everglades. I was involved in the fight to get Everglades funding from Florida two years ago. Now, and back then, the struggle is to get the federal government to uphold its end of the funding agreement.

I was very disappointed to read that Fred Thompson, Republican candidate for President, actually supports drilling for oil in the Everglades. Earth to Thompson, the Everglades is not only home to millions of people, but it also absorbs flood waters in hurricanes and cleans drinking water too.

Anyways, read the article and send an email to your Congress member urging them to override Bush's veto of the bill that will fund Everglades restoration. While you're at it, remind Congress that not long ago, Bush's father stood in the Everglades and promised this specific funding to restore the destroyed ecosystem.