Earth Day Action: Jaguars, Polar Bears Threatened by Inaction
Tuesday is Earth Day, and while millions of Americans will do what they can to enjoy and protect America’s natural treasures, there’s one man who should be doing a lot more: President Bush’s Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne.
Take Action for Earth Day! Urge Congress to hold hearings on Secretary Kempthorne’s abysmal track record on protecting America’s wildlife.
As Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne is supposed to be looking out for America’s natural treasures. He’s supposed to be concerned about the future we’ll leave for our children.But since being appointed almost two years ago, Secretary Kempthorne hasn’t listed a single new species under the Endangered Species Act -- even though federal biologists warn that at least 280 native species could disappear forever without such protections.
Urge Congress to hold Secretary Kempthorne accountable for his failure to act for wildlife by holding Congressional hearings...
Jaguars: Despite the presence of jaguars in the United States and the existence of large swaths of prime jaguar habitat, Kempthorne’s department has refused to create a recovery plan for these endangered cats, claiming that this big cat is a “foreign” species. But under this flawed argument, the U.S. would have had no obligation to protect bald eagles, wolves, grizzlies or other native species -- so long as they existed somewhere outside the lower 48 states!
Polar Bears: Secretary Kempthorne has repeatedly delayed listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act and in February approved harmful offshore drilling in the Chukchi Sea -- essential habitat for one of the two remaining U.S. polar bear populations. Last fall, federal scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey reported that polar bears could be extinct in Alaska by 2050. Other Species: Under Kempthorne, the Interior Department has even denied vital protections for wolverines, red knots and right whales -- all species in serious decline and dangerously close to extinction.
Urge your Representative to hold Kempthorne accountable in Congressional hearings for not doing more to protect polar bears, jaguars and other wildlife...
It’s the Secretary of Interior’s job to protect our wildlife and wild places. And it’s Congress’ job to hold the Secretary accountable when he fails to do his job.
This Earth Day, please take a moment out of your day to speak out for responsible management of our precious wildlife.
Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife
P.S. To celebrate Earth Day, Defenders’ DC staff will be volunteering at Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. To help wildlife in your community this Earth Day, please take our Earth Day Pledge and check out our events page to find special Earth Day celebrations with our outreach representatives in Colorado, California and New Mexico.
Take Action for Earth Day! Urge Congress to hold hearings on Secretary Kempthorne’s abysmal track record on protecting America’s wildlife.
As Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne is supposed to be looking out for America’s natural treasures. He’s supposed to be concerned about the future we’ll leave for our children.But since being appointed almost two years ago, Secretary Kempthorne hasn’t listed a single new species under the Endangered Species Act -- even though federal biologists warn that at least 280 native species could disappear forever without such protections.
Urge Congress to hold Secretary Kempthorne accountable for his failure to act for wildlife by holding Congressional hearings...
Jaguars: Despite the presence of jaguars in the United States and the existence of large swaths of prime jaguar habitat, Kempthorne’s department has refused to create a recovery plan for these endangered cats, claiming that this big cat is a “foreign” species. But under this flawed argument, the U.S. would have had no obligation to protect bald eagles, wolves, grizzlies or other native species -- so long as they existed somewhere outside the lower 48 states!
Polar Bears: Secretary Kempthorne has repeatedly delayed listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act and in February approved harmful offshore drilling in the Chukchi Sea -- essential habitat for one of the two remaining U.S. polar bear populations. Last fall, federal scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey reported that polar bears could be extinct in Alaska by 2050. Other Species: Under Kempthorne, the Interior Department has even denied vital protections for wolverines, red knots and right whales -- all species in serious decline and dangerously close to extinction.
Urge your Representative to hold Kempthorne accountable in Congressional hearings for not doing more to protect polar bears, jaguars and other wildlife...
It’s the Secretary of Interior’s job to protect our wildlife and wild places. And it’s Congress’ job to hold the Secretary accountable when he fails to do his job.
This Earth Day, please take a moment out of your day to speak out for responsible management of our precious wildlife.
Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife
P.S. To celebrate Earth Day, Defenders’ DC staff will be volunteering at Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. To help wildlife in your community this Earth Day, please take our Earth Day Pledge and check out our events page to find special Earth Day celebrations with our outreach representatives in Colorado, California and New Mexico.
Labels: Animal Alerts, Earth Day, Environmental Issues, Jaguars, Polar Bears, United States
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