(Photo courtesy of First People)
U.S. Lists Polar Bear as Threatened But Balks at New Protection
By J.R. Pegg
“WASHINGTON, DC, May 14, 2008 (ENS) The Bush administration reluctantly declared the polar bear a threatened species today, concluding that the loss of Arctic sea ice has put the future of the iconic species in peril. But the administration also took steps to ensure the decision will not require new efforts to tackle global warming or put new restrictions on oil and gas development in polar bear habitat.
The announcement ends a three-year legal dispute over whether the polar bear should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because of the impact of global warming on its Arctic habitat. Three conservation groups first filed a petition requesting the decision in 2005.” ~ ENS
More news about the polar bear from around the web:
- The US Department of the Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced on May 14 that the polar bear will be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, acknowledging that melting Arctic sea ice constitutes an … - What has happened over the past couple of decades that has landed the mighty polar bear on the “threatened” list under the Endangered Species Act? Scientists believe that at least two-thirds of the world’s polar bears will be gone … - Environmental groups are claiming that a US decision to list polar bears as an endangered species would still leave them unprotected against their biggest threat; global warming caused by man-made pollution. … - There was good news and bad news for the polar bear yesterday. First, the good: after a three-year legal battle waged by NRDC and the Center for Biological Diversity, the Bush Administration announced that it will protect polar bears as … |
2 responses so far ↓
1 Bob // May 16, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Polar bears are no different from the millions of species that fail to adapt to environmental change. When a species fails to adapt another fills this void and excels.
2 drizzle // May 16, 2008 at 6:40 pm
So basically, reading between the lines, they’re willing to class the polar bear as an endangered species as long as it doesn’t impact on our own species’ thirst for oil and gas?
Once again man sees itself as ruler of the planet whose needs and wants are above every other living breathing thing on it. We’re more like the destroyers.
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