Wildlife faces wipeout in the cradle of evolution (Galapagos)

[PaulaFarrell]

Experts warn of 'catastrophic' fishing threat to Galapagos Islands
By Daniel Howden and Michael McCarthy
31 March 2005


Environmental disaster is looming in the Galapagos Islands, the Pacific archipelago whose unique wildlife inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Already under pressure from a rapidly growing population and mass tourism, the waters around the Galapagos face being devastated by one of the world's most wildlife-damaging fishing methods.

The Galapagos have been officially protected for nearly 20 years and form part of the Galapagos World Heritage Site. But now the islands' 1,000 fishermen want to introduce long-lining - a technique involving lines many miles long holding hundreds of thousands of baited hooks, which catch and kill as many birds and animals as the fish that are targeted.

Conservationists fear that the species-rich marine ecosystem of the islands, governed by Ecuador, which is 600 miles to the east, will be cut to pieces.

Sea lions, dolphins, turtles, sharks, penguins, albatrosses and many other seabirds, all of which are major tourist attractions, are all likely to fall victim to the hooks.

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=625035

[acmavm]

1. The human race is frigging insane. Absolutely insane. What is the deal?

Has the foresight of everybody's brain turned to mush? Logic and reason and judgement is totally beyond the abilities of most of the human race? Shit, ANWR, the rain forest, the Galapagos, you name it we've screwed it up.

Forget the Rapture, we're killing ourselves for the almighty dollar.

[acmavm]

2. Came back to give another real good example...

Myers: A Goldmine of Bad Decisions

More than 40,000 LCV supporters have written their senators opposing the nomination of William Myers to be a senior federal judge. The fact that he spent most of his career as a mining industry lobbyist makes Myers a questionable choice for the court that oversees the entire Western U.S. But look deeper into his record and you'll find even more reason to be outraged by this lifetime appointment. Myers is now the top lawyer in Bush's Interior Department and his decisions have been downright frightening. In just one example, he allowed the


Glamis Imperial Mine Project, a 1600-acre cyanide heap-leaching gold mine, to move forward. This mine was part of the sacred lands of the Quechan tribe and was proposed for the ecologically sensitive California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA). Myers found time to meet with mining industry officials 27 times during the first year at Interior, including meetings before the Glamis decision -- but could not manage to meet with the tribe on that issue. That's no surprise coming from a former lobbyist for the National Mining Association, Arch Coal Company, and Peabody Coal Company - and it's also no surprise that more than 180 environmental, Native American, and other groups have opposed his nomination.

Take action: Write your Senators -- tell them to oppose the Myers nomination
http://capwiz.com/lcv/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7253116

The Weekly Insider is brought to you by:
League of Conservation Voters
1920 L Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
www.lcv.org

[Mizmoon]

6. That reminds me of a Native American saying

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money.

[Catchawave]

3. Meanwhile, up in Canada....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/news/story/0,12976,1449300,00.html

320,000 will die in Canada's biggest seal cull for more than 50 years

Skin trade fuels government's quota increase

****

Sometimes the human race disgusts me.:mad:

[The Stranger]

5. Sometimes?

[pinniped]

4. -marked for later-

More times than not the human race makes me sick.

Finning is also a major problem down there and everywhere else. There are many illegal fisherman down there and no one is stopping them.

Charles Darwin is rolling in his grave.

http://mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp

[chlamor]

7. Do we sufficiently feel the loss?

Toxic tourism
Industrial harvests