Whale Protection Is Bolstered as Palin Objects

[Snazzy]

Source: NYT

Whale Protection Is Bolstered as Palin Objects

By WILLIAM YARDLEY
Published: October 17, 2008

The federal government on Friday placed beluga whales that live in Cook Inlet in Alaska on the endangered species list, rejecting efforts by Gov. Sarah Palin and others against increased protection.

The relatively small, whitish whales, sometimes visible from downtown Anchorage, declined by almost 50 percent in the late 1990s, and federal scientists say they have not rebounded despite a series of protections, including a halt to subsistence hunting by Alaska Natives. About 375 whales have been counted in Cook Inlet each of the last two years, according to scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

...

As with the polar bear, Ms. Palin’s administration opposed the beluga listing in part because of its potential to restrict coastal and offshore oil and gas development. The beluga listing could also affect other projects, including the expansion of the Port of Anchorage and a proposed bridge over Knik Arm that would connect Anchorage to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Ms. Palin’s hometown, Wasilla.

“I am especially concerned,” the governor said in a written statement in August 2007, when her administration submitted documents to fight the listing, “that an unnecessary federal listing and designation of critical habitat would do serious long-term damage to the vibrant economy of the Cook Inlet area.”

....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/us/18beluga.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[OneBlueSky]

1. ah, the Palin Wildlife Doctrine . . . "If it moves, kill it." . . . n/t

.

[Lorien]

4. Nothing but complete contempt for "God's creation"

she missed the part about being "good stewards of the earth".

[amber_86]

6. For real

You are suppost to take care of God's creatures.

[Merlot]

10. Tina Fey on Letterman re palen: "She kills things."

"Things bigger than you and I together!"

[sellitman]

2. Let me guess....

She is a Republican?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msanthrope]

11. What, is this 'free republic?' Find a better, non-gender specific

insult......

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Something is fishy abut this

Since when does the Federal Government do anything FOR the environment?
They have been dismantling Federal agencies for years.

There is more than meets the eye here.

[petronius]

9. Typically, I'd say this administration only acts when things are so incredibly dire

that even they can't turn a blind eye. However, there have been a few examples where Bush has come out strongly for marine protection, so this could be another example.

Perhaps in this case, however, it's a slap back at Palin - she and McCain have been yammering on about how they're "different" from the Bush Administration, and about all the recent mistakes, so perhaps this is just a "fuck you, we're still in charge." Fine with me; it's the right move whatever the motivation...

[crossroads]

7. Calls herself pro-life, yet has no respect for life! k&r

[StarryNite]

8. palin is pro-death

She has a blood lust.