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 Polar Bears ‘Threatened’Posted on May 15, 2008
The plight of the polar bear has come to represent the real-world impact of the climate crisis, so it is only fitting that the Bush administration had to be ordered by a court to make a decision on the endangered status of the species. After years of delay, the Interior Department finally classified the animal as threatened, but also promised to fight any meaningful protection. The Endangered Species Act is supposed to offer real protection for animals that the government classifies as threatened or endangered. Environmentalists hoped that would translate into limits on Arctic drilling and tighter greenhouse gas regulations. That’s because the main threat to the polar bear is global warming. Every year there is less and less sea ice, which the world’s largest land predator depends on to find food. The Interior Department estimates that around two-thirds of the polar bear population will die off over the next 40 or so years.
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The Crushing Legacy of Bush and Cheney
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By Phi, May 15, 2008 at 10:29 pm #
Interesting opinion there. I think it highlights one of the major problems with tackling the climate change issue: the human lifespan. Perhaps because people are more concerned with policy that will have short term benefits (i.e. within their lifetime) than policy that may take generations to bear fruit (i.e. climate change policy) it may turn out that human nature is the greatest barrier to solving global warming.
DennisD, I’m not saying you’re right or wrong in holding this view I just find this apparent conflict of long and short term priorities within the confines of the average human lifespan interesting.
Report thisBy Purple Girl, May 15, 2008 at 11:13 am #
No doubt we must halt the progession of the devastating effects of Global Warming - had we addressed the Oil issue & pollution in the’70’s as the Citizens of this Country Wanted to back then - we may have at least slowed the process and reduced our impact. But How foolish Gov’t and industry in a Democratic Society actually taking Orders from the Mere citizens (bosses)- that was Just NOT possible because I twould effect the Profit margin - Crimes against Humanity and the Environment on which we all depend.
Report thisSo now we must figure out ways to stop the blood letting. How Impossible is it to put out floats to work as Iceburgs to give these animals somewhere to rest? the industries who failed to hear our Screams for the last 35 yrs should be picking up the Bill, Otherwise it is time to prosecute Individuals for these Highest of Crimes to the fullest extent of the Law. NOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN AFFORD IT!!!Get something out there NOW than continue to work to perfect them! Kind of like what you should have done with the electric car since the ‘80’s.these marketing guru’s think we are so stupid to have forgotten how long they have had to invest in Innovation and Research for Alternative fuels and Energy- Stop trying to blow smoke Up our asses with Your latest ‘Green’ Pitch- You are far more then a Day late and certainly Not a Dollar short from you intentional ‘hestitation’! Personally Liable for High crimes, does that motivate You???
By Sun Tzu, May 15, 2008 at 10:20 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Why Do We Care If Polar Bears Become Extinct?
Report thisThis is not any sort of revelation: Polar bears declared a threatened species , but it does raise the question: Why do we care? By some estimates, 90% of all species that once existed are now extinct and new species are always taking their place. For the species thats going to become extinct, for whatever reason, extinction is the end of it. However, for the species that remain, is the extinction of another species good or bad? When Europeans first colonized North America, there was an estimated five (5) billion Passenger Pigeons alive and well in North America. In 1914, they were extinct. Passenger Pigeons didnt live in little groups, but huge flocks that required extraordinary quantities of hardwood forests for them to feed, breed and survive. Deforestation to build homes, create farmland and over hunting for cheap food decimated their population. The westward drive to grow the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s was incompatible with the needs of the Passenger Pigeon and they literally could not survive in the new North America being carved out by the U.S. economy. The interesting thing about the Passenger Pigeon was the impact its extinction had on another speciesman. That impact was essentially none. Man continued to find ways to feed himself through agriculture and other technologies and the United States and its citizens continued to prosper from the early 20th century till today. Whether or not Polar Bears become extinct because of Global Climate Change or other reasons, we need to address the larger question of: Do we care and why? One of the ways a nation, its citizens and the global community can answer that question is addressed by John A. Warden III in Thinking Strategically About Global Climate Change. He asks some interesting biodiversity questions in his post to include How Many Species Is the Right Number and Which Ones?
By DennisD, May 15, 2008 at 9:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Truthdig - Try doing some stories about the plight of American workers that can’t find jobs and the disintegration of what used to be the middle class in this country.
At the rate we’re going we’ll be extinct long before the polar bear.
Get some perspective.
Report this