Hollow Victory for Polar Bears

[Guest guest]

FROM DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE:

 

After months of delays, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service finally

decided to list the struggling polar bear as threatened under the

Endangered Species Act.

 

But this is a hollow victory for polar bears.

 

The Bush/Cheney Administration remains unwilling to address the

primary threats to polar bears: global warming and habitat loss.

 

In fact, the Adminstration also issued a new rule that essentially

eliminates any new protections that the threatened status should

have provided to the polar bear.

 

Read our press release on the polar bear listing.

 

The scientific evidence continues to mount: In just a few short

decades, America's polar bears could be gone forever if urgent

action isn't taken against global warming, according to scientists

at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). And the latest research

indicates a disturbing trend -- fewer polar bear cubs are being

found this spring, most likely due to the harmful effects of global

warming.

 

More than 140,000 Defenders activists spoke out in favor of

increased protections for polar bears. But our work is far from

over.

 

With your help, Defenders has been on the front lines to protect

America's polar bears from extinction. Together we'll continue to...

 

Battle in Congress: Big Oil hasn't given up on invading key polar

bear habitat. Just yesterday, thousands of activists like you

flooded Senate offices with calls and defeated their latest efforts -

- thank you! We're also working to pass legislation to ensure that

wildlife can survive the impacts of global warming.

 

Fight in Court: Defenders -- along with our conservation allies --

is battling to stop harmful new drilling leases in Alaska's Chukchi

Sea -- vital polar bear sea ice habitat.

 

Rally our Activists: We'll continue to mobilize dedicated wildlife

supporters around the world to support policies that address the

harmful effects of global warming.

 

And much, much more...

 

These efforts and our continued work to save other wildlife wouldn't

be possible without your help. We appreciate all you've done to help

achieve our recent victories and look forward to tackling the

challenges ahead.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rodger Schlickeisen

President

Defenders of Wildlife