A clip from today’s “Washington Post“:
The Bush administration has decided to propose listing the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, putting the U.S. government on record as saying that global warming could drive one of the world’s most recognizable animals out of existence.
The administration’s proposal — which was described by an Interior Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity — stems from the fact that rising temperatures in the Arctic are shrinking the sea ice that polar bears need for hunting. The official insisted on anonymity because the department will submit the proposal today for publication in the Federal Register, after which it will be subject to public comment for 90 days…
It was just a matter of time. I remember posting almost a year ago a brief mention of the fact that polar bears had been drowning. It just goes to reason that they’d disappear along with the ice they depend on. It sucks (polar bears are Clementine’s favorite animals), but I’m happy that something is finally forcing the administration to acknowledge the severity of the situation. It may be too late for the polar bears, but let’s hope there’s still time to save ourselves. (Not that we really deserve to be saved.)
3 Comments
Didn’t “an Administration official” comment back around election time that “the Administration” was going to be changing its official stance on climate change at the beginning of the new year?
If this is it, it’s a pretty lame way to announce new policy…
Great timing too, releasing it right between Christmas and New Year’s, when they know it won’t get much attention.
For what it’s worth, Clementine and I are planning to go to the zoo tomorrow to see the polar bears.
I find the video of Gerlad Ford’s execution that’s been going around the internet to be in really bad taste.