PRIVILÉGIOS DE SÍSIFO 反对一切現代性に対して - 風想像力: Stop Palin's Attack On Beluga Whales

Stop Palin's Attack On Beluga Whales

Governor Sarah Palin won't give wildlife a break. Last week, she announced the state of Alaska will sue to strike down Endangered Species Act protection for the imperiled Cook Inlet beluga whale. This rare white whale's population has already plummeted from thousands to just 375 in the last two decades. They will certainly go extinct if Palin has her way.

Our lawyers and scientists are already in court to block Palin's anti-polar bear actions, and we'll soon jump in to save the beluga from her reckless campaign to promote oil & gas interests. But we also need to build a groundswell of public support. Please help us now to protect beluga whales by sending a letter asking the Obama administration to oppose Palin's lawsuit.

January 28, 2009

Subject:
Protect Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

Dear Dr. Lubchenco,

Please vigorously defend the National Marine Fisheries Service federal Endangered Species Act listing of "endangered" for the Cook Inlet beluga whale population in court against the January 14, 2009 notice of intent to sue by Governor Sarah Palin and the state of Alaska. Alaska’s legal action seeks to overturn the recent protections for critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales. On October 17, 2008 the National Marine Fisheries Service announced its long-awaited and well-researched decision to list the beluga whale population. This recent attack by Governor Palin ignores the overwhelming scientific evidence indicating that the Cook Inlet population of belugas is suffering and on the edge of extinction. Alaska’s suit is motivated by industry interests and fails to account for the continuing threats to the survival of the white whale. The Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is a genetically distinct and geographically isolated population whose numbers have plummeted by more than 50 percent in the past decade. The Cook Inlet beluga population's status is so perilous that in 2006 the scientific experts at the World Conservation Union (IUCN) placed the Cook Inlet beluga on its Red List for critically threatened species. In fact, the expert agency charged by Congress with protecting marine mammals - the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission - repeatedly requested that the Fisheries Service list the species under the Endangered Species Act. Cook Inlet is the most populated and fastest-growing watershed in Alaska, and rising pollution levels from oil and gas dumping, sewage discharges, contaminated runoff, and regular shipping and pipeline spills threaten the beluga whale and its habitat. Furthermore, several massive infrastructure projects - including the proposed Knik Arm Bridge, the Port of Anchorage Expansion, the Chuitna coal strip mine, and the Port MacKenzie expansion - will directly impact some of the whale’s most important habitat. Continuing to list the Cook Inlet beluga whale will ensure that developers and scientists work together to avoid further population declines. I strongly urge you to vigorously defend the Service's 2008 federal Endangered Species Act listing of "endangered" for the Cook Inlet beluga whale population against any lawsuit brought by Governor Sarah Palin and the state of Alaska that attempts to overturn these critical protections.