Known as the 'Polar Bear Seas,' the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas are essential habitat for polar bears and other important marine mammals such as beluga and bowhead whales and bearded and spotted seals. The Chukchi Sea supports approximately one-tenth of
Monday March 31, 2008, 4:49 am
Noted and signed!
Polar bears should be protected before it is too late!
They are not endangered? Put them on the list and start protecting
them right now not in 2042 when only 1200 polarbears have survived!
No OIL for bears! OIL is killing 100% of the bears! not just a few!
Monday March 31, 2008, 9:21 am
Basing opposition to drilling in the Arctic is counter-productive because the bears are not endangered. I guess the real, valid reasons are not as sexy as Polar bears, but lying for a good cause is dumb.
Polar bear worries unproven, expert says
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/05/15/polar-bears.html
Polar bears are becoming the poster-species for "doomsday prophets" of climate change, even though groups pushing for higher protection for the animals don't have the evidence to prove their case, Nunavut's manager of wildlife says.
"It makes a great story because it is simple and intuitive," Dr. Mitch Taylor wrote in a 12-page document for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's review of the animal's status. "However, the reality is much more complex."
The USFWS review follows a petition from the Centre for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace and other groups, who want polar bears upgraded to "threatened" on the U.S. Endangered Species list.
The groups say the animals' population is suffering because of climate change, development and contaminants.
While Taylor said it's expected that climate change will affect all species worldwide, that shouldn't mean governments should rush to list every one as "threatened".
Delving into the patterns of polar bear eating habits, ice floe loss, population densities and other issues, Taylor downplays the overall impact of climate change.
"No evidence was presented by the proponents and no evidence exists that suggests that both bears and the conservation systems that regulate them will not adapt and respond to the new conditions," he said. "Polar bears have persisted through many similar climate cycles."
He said no one is suggesting that climate change isn't affecting some polar bear populations, but noted there are 20 polar bear populations in the world and each one should be considered independently.
"The references listed [in his document] suggest that each polar bear population is unique with respect to seasonal cycles, sea ice conditions, prey base, summer-retreat areas, and fidelity," he wrote.
"The 20 existing populations of polar bears are not all identical to the two populations that constitute the majority of the examples in the petition.
Taylor says many of the groups filing the petition have a long history of opposing hunting.
He said Canada has one of the best management systems for polar bears in the world, allowing Inuit to hunt in a sustainable manner and generating $3.5 million in Canada through sport hunts and the sale of hides.
"At present, the polar bear is one of the best-managed of the large Arctic mammals," Taylor said. "If all the Arctic nations continue to abide by the terms and intent of the Polar Bear Agreement, the future of polar bears is secure."
Taylor noted the estimated number of bears on the Boothia Peninsula, 1,300 kilometres west of Iqaluit, has actually increased to 1,500 animals from 900. He said environmental groups don't seem to want to take information like that into consideration when pressing their case.
"Life may be good, but good news about polar bear populations does not seem to be welcomed by the Centre for Biological Diversity," he said.
Monday March 31, 2008, 10:13 am
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS: OPINIONS ARE LIKE ----- EVERYONE HAS ONE!
Monday March 31, 2008, 9:21 am
Basing opposition to drilling in the Arctic is counter-productive because the bears are not endangered. I guess the real, valid reasons are not as sexy as Polar bears, but lying for a good cause is dumb.
Polar bear worries unproven, expert says
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/05/15/polar-bears.html
Polar bears are becoming the poster-species for "doomsday prophets" of climate change, even though groups pushing for higher protection for the animals don't have the evidence to prove their case, Nunavut's manager of wildlife says.
Monday March 31, 2008, 11:47 am
Noted and petition signed with thanks, Simone.
Thanks for the link Echo.
The responses I have received from letters written and emails sent is that while they all say they "care" about the polar bears,they are not endangered and the "needs" of humans must and will come first. Not one response I received was willing to consider alternatives in which everyone wins and the earth would have it's magnificent polar bears for many generations to come. The short-sightedness of those making these decisions will end up destroying not only the polar bears but mankind as well.
Monday March 31, 2008, 2:53 pm
So far away (Portugal), but living in this global world that kills the nature and us, I signed and I thank the opportunity for do it.
Monday March 31, 2008, 3:47 pm
Petition signed at #552,
and I've sent this on to 133
other people who are animal
rights activists!
Thanks so much, Simone!
noted. :-))
Monday March 31, 2008, 5:28 pm
Signed/Noted/Shared We would really miss polar bears even if we never see them in the wild - even if we only see one in the zoo. This is the kind of wild animal that SHOULD live and exist in our world. It is a beautiful wild animal and it breaks my heart to see them struggling on an ice floe or to see them falling through the ice that is so thin and breaking away under their feet. Unlike us, they can't reason out what is happening - they can only live moment to moment trying to survive. Yes, the world will be a lesser place without them. Let's not let that happen.
Monday March 31, 2008, 11:40 pm
Signed, noted, thanks Simone and Tim for sending.
Agree w/Gail Costic:
"The short-sightedness of those making these decisions will end up destroying not only the polar bears but mankind as well."
If you add up all the terrible "decisions" being made by our "leaders" in every arena of our lives and world, there isn't a chance for survival of anything, sadly, IMHO.
Tuesday April 1, 2008, 7:25 am
You can always find something either on the internet or in the corporate dominated media to claim what you already want to beleive, and then denialists like Judy Cross eagarly eat it up and spread it around. Rewriting history, rejecting scientific facts automatically and demonizing your opponents is what makes a denialist.
Truth is not defined by your preconceptions. It amazes me how many people think otherwise!
