Polar Bears Win Protection

More: NRDC and other environmental groups have sued the federal government to insure that green house gas pollution is regulated to protect the polar bear in its arctic home. The legal action comes after statements made by Secretary Kempthorne indicated the government would not stop drilling for oil in the bears' habitat or regulate greenhouse gases to protect it from harm. Kempthorne said he would not allow the Endangered Species Act to be "misued" in an attempt to alter policy concerning global climate change. He has proposed administrative alterations to the Act so that carbon emissions cannot be considered "a taking of an endangered species" which courts have consistently considered to be any significant habitat degradation attributable to human activity. The groups are challenging Kempthorne's efforts to curtail the legal implications of listing ursus maritimus as "threatened" under the Act.

[5/14/08] Ah, there is good news tonight, Francis! The anti-environmental Bush Regime surprised many activists and agreed to put polar bears (ursus maritimus) on the "threatened" list of the Endangered Species Act which means the government must come up with a plan for their protection and habitat preservation. The decision is precedent setting because it is the first time the federal government has acted to protect a species whose survival is threatened by global warming. After a three year legal battle, the Regime finally had to acknowledge that the bear's sea ice habitat is disappearing faster than the most dire predictions. The preservation plan for polar bears is full of industry friendly loopholes, but nevertheless the decision is an important first step. The campaign to save the the great white bears will go on to insure they have a fighting chance to survive the calamity man has wrought on planet Earth.