Whales, Sonar, and Wolves, Oh My

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

Is the whale ban in danger of being lifted? The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is concerned that yes, this is very possible. They note that there are other countries outside of Japan and Norway, that appear to condone or support whaling.

While they have expressed support of the Whale Wars series being currently shown on the Animal Planet and the fact that it will bring further heightened awareness globally on this unnecessary killing, they also would like people to be aware that this is a GLOBAL problem.

You can find out more about WDCS's Global Marine Protected Areas Campaign and make your voices heard by signing the Global MPA Petition by visiting our website at Whales.org. If you’d like to do more to protect whales, you can adopt one at Whale Adoption.

Some good news regarding the Navy Sonar testing and it's impact on marine life. Please check it out at the Huffington Post.

I still don't think they're doing enough, but gotta start somewhere.

No offense to the people who fell in love with Sarah Palin and were supporting her bid to become our next Vice President, but I am personally glad we dodged a bullet with her.

Her track record as Alaska's governor, especially on the conservation front is, to put it mildly, atrocious.

Beluga Whales are now on the Endangered Species list and under protection. However, Palin was opposed to it. (Oh, that's just shocking.)

It really isn't shocking considering it's been alleged that she's shot at wolves from helicopters and supports this practice.

Speaking of wolves, what goes up must come down. Isn't it interesting that the Bush Administration supports adding beluga whales to the Endangered Species list, but is opposed to adding wolves?

Please consider signing the petition to help prevent these "11th hour attacks" on the wolf population in the Northern Rockies states. Take Action here.

Back to the Whale Wars. Here's another shocker. Japanese whalers are apparently not happy with this series and how it portrays them, so the public relations has kicked into high gear. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research claims the Whale Wars is "deceiving" the people who watch it.

Excuse me while I take a moment to laugh hysterically.

You can read Captain Paul Watson's take on this here. Watson's Response.

I'll have more later!

Thanks for stopping by and for your continued interest and support :-)

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Polar Bears Unprotected - Again

(Photo Credit: Minden Pictures)

The polar bears were supposed to be put on the Endangered Species act tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan 9) but the government has decided to delay that for "further study."

Evidence has clearly pointed to these bears being seriously vulnerable due to the melting ice caps and the increased challenges they face in being able to hunt for food. The have to swim farther which often results in them drowning. They have to walk further and go for longer periods without food, which is resulting in increased starvation.

I've seen various documentary films on this very subject and it's patently clear how very vulnerable these bears are.

Does the government care? No. They wait until the 11Th hour to announce they are delaying a move that would protect the polar bears and justifying it with bureaucratic bullshit.

My opinion is they don't want anything to potentially interfere with their desire to drill the hell out of Northwest Alaskan coast.

Environmental groups are promising to file suit tomorrow in hopes of forcing quicker action.

Excerpts:

A key piece of data under consideration is a September report from the U.S. Geological Survey that predicted polar bears could disappear from places where Arctic sea ice is melting fastest, including the northern coast of Alaska.

Two-thirds of the world's polar bears could be gone by 2050 if predictions about melting sea ice hold true, the report said. The ice is melting at least in part because of human-caused climate change, scientists have said.

"The Bush administration has squandered seven years denying the devastating scientific evidence of global warming," Kert Davies of Greenpeace USA said in a statement. "Stalling has cost us dearly, putting the polar bear at risk of extinction and jeopardizing the future welfare of billions of people around the world."

Read more here: U.S. Delays Global Warming Decision on Polar Bears

What's more important right now and for the future? Oil or Polar Bears? You know what I'd choose, and what many people would choose, but our beloved government would choose the former obviously.

Alternative sources of energy are available. The technology to make these alternative sources of energy usable are very available. So why continue to destroy more environment for what will be only a temporary solution?

Polar Bears Vie With Oil for U.S. Government Focus

Remember the oil spill in Norway last month? That's just one more prime example of what could very well happen up in Alaska if oil drilling commences after the lease is sold.

Screw the BS statements that the government claims they can strike a balance between oil drilling and protecting the environment. It bears repeating that oil spills can and DO happen. Contingency plans for this sort of thing have even yet to be drawn up. It's like kill first, ask questions later.

This news article is almost a month old, but it bears a repeat: Norway Oil Spill Contained but Stirs Fears for Arctic

Greenpeace has a statement about the decision to delay protecting the polar bears here: Polar Bear Decision Delayed

Hopefully there will be better news tomorrow, in regards to the lawsuit being filed.

Mahalo,

Dolphin