Obama Echoes Bush, Sets Plan for Polar Bear Extinction

[Karmadillo]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/04/18-3

Published on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 by Common Dreams

Obama Echoes Bush, Sets Plan for Polar Bear Extinction
“President Obama’s proposal for these magnificent and imperiled animals is a gift to Big Oil"
- Common Dreams staff

The Obama Administration issued a proposed rule yesterday that disregards the effects of greenhouse gases on polar bear habitat leading one conservation group to say that the rule echoes former President George W. Bush's plan, and that it will lead to the extinction of polar bears.

Kassie Siegel from the Center for Biological Diversity: “President Obama’s proposal for these magnificent and imperiled animals is a gift to Big Oil and an affirmation of the pro-industry policies of the Bush government. (photo: Subhankar Banerjee) Noting that polar bears are only on the endangered species list precisely because of loss of habitat caused by greenhouse gases generated from activities outside the Arctic, the proposed rule excluding activities outside the range of polar bears from regulations will lead to the bears' demise.

Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity called the rule "complete doublespeak," the Associated Press reports. "It's saying, 'Here is a rule necessary for the conservation of the polar bear,' yet the only thing it does is exempt from regulation the overwhelming threat to the species."

“If polar bears are to survive we have to directly confront the greatest threat to them: our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute.

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[Karmadillo]

1. Kick

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. ...

[NCarolinawoman]

3. Very troubling to read this.

This administration has the same cavalier attitude toward the wolf population as well.

[bigtree]

4. so, if I understand this complaint

. . . it's that the administration is affirming an earlier decision to, essentially, un-link the 'protection' described in the endangered species act for polar bears from the effect that coal-burning plants and others have on their declining habitat. In other words, they aren't willing to link their efforts to reduce, eliminate, or mitigate the negative effects of climate change to their 'protection' responsibilities and commitments under the species act. I guess the environmental groups are arguing that linking the two in the law would prompt more direct action against polluters.