I think Bush may have totally lost what's left of his mind. Despite proposing having the polar bear listed as an endangered species, he's decided he wants to let out their home to gas and oil interests for drilling. So, basically, he acknowledges that they're threatened, so he wants to threaten them more. Why am I not surprised? Once again, the Bush administration has bowed to the interests of their rich oil buddies. This time, by announcing the lease of part of the arctic wildlife habitat, and further threatening the fragile future of an already endangered species.
Senator Kerry has spoken repeatedly of the need to look to renewable sources for our energy needs and find answers through innovation. In 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, we heard him tell us that "We can't drill our way out, we have to invent our way out." We've been listening to the Senator defend the environment for decades. But despite the call by the Senator and most environmental experts to respect the planet we share with other living beings, Bush won't budge when it comes to lining the pockets of his pals at the expense of the well being of the planet.
Senator Kerry remarks on Bush's ill-conceived and tragic decision:
“It’s the height of irresponsibility and short-sightedness for the Bush Administration to schedule lease sales in the Chukchi Sea, which represents critical habitat for polar bears, whales, walrus and threatened wildlife. Even as the Department of the Interior is finalizing its decision to list polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush Administration thinks it’s the right time for another power grab by the big oil and gas companies in the bear’s essential habitat,” said Senator John Kerry. “Just a few months ago, the government’s own scientists told us that polar bears may disappear from the United States and our waters entirely by 2050. We should be protecting their remaining habitat, not auctioning it off to the highest bidders. I could imagine few more tragic illustrations of who calls the shots in this Administration, than the way in which this Administration is willing to set the stage for extinction for polar bear populations.”
Last May, Senators Kerry and Snowe introduced the "Polar Bear Protection Act" to stop trophy hunting in Canada.
"The polar bear has become a tragic symbol of our threatened environment, and of the wildlife that pays the price for dangerous practices," Sen. Kerry said. "It's time to put the polar bear on the Endangered Species List, and give them a fighting chance at survival. But it also means that we must close the loophole that allows for trophy hunting by U.S. sport hunters in Canada. Not only must these bears contend with their home melting away, but they are also being hunted in the limited habitat they have left. It's time to take responsibility for their survival. We need to pick up the pieces and change our practices, before it's too late."
In October, Senator Kerry urged the administration to stop a plan to lease parts of the "Polar Bear Seas" to oil and gas interests until impact studies could be completed.
On Monday, October 1, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) circulated a letter to his colleagues urging them to join him in asking the administration to protect America’s polar bears and their arctic habitat. In the letter, Sen. Kerry asks his colleagues to join him in voicing support for the administration’s proposal to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The letter also calls on the administration to postpone scheduled lease sales in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas until potential impacts to polar bear habitat can be determined. This request is significant because of the administration’s aggressive push to open arctic waters to oil and gas development. There are five lease sales planned in the next five years for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas that together will open more than 73 million acres of arctic waters to industry.
I think the Senator likes bears.
It's not just about polar bears, of course, although it's important to protect them. It's about saving the planet from the ravages of a society in which some people care more for power and money than being good stewards of a great gift. It's about saving our natural resources so that our kids can enjoy the same natural wonders that we've come to take for granted. And it's about smart policies that look to innovation for solutions to our energy needs, and not the short-sighted 'rape and pillage' answers that we've come to expect from Mr. Bush.
Sen. Kerry recently spoke at Faneuil Hall about the need to look ahead to the future of our planet and described how a sound energy policy is not only good for the environment, but good for the economy.
Mr. Bowes has the full speech in parts on his YouTube site.
"Listen to the earth, and it will teach you." Job 12:8
