Real Protection for Polar Bears!

Recently, Congress took a potential landmark step by listing the Polar Bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. It marks the first time a species has been declared threatened as a direct result of global warming. The designation has the potential to call into question the legality of actions that cause global warming, and are therefore destroying the bears habitat. However, will the Polar Bear actually receive the protection it deserves?

Just as the Polar Bear was designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Bush administration and the Fish & Wildlife Service included a rule which limits the ESAs protections from being applied to the Polar Bear. Located within section 4(d) of the ESA, the new rule states that human activities, such as oil and gas development that cause Polar Bear deaths, are only illegal if they occur within the state of Alaska. This added detail creates a loophole for harmful, human activities that originate outside of Alaska, such as the production of greenhouse gases or the operation of off-shore drilling. Further, the 4(d) rule weakens the credibility of the Endangered Species Act.

Everyday the sea ice that the Polar Bear depends on for survival becomes less prevalent as a result of greenhouse gases and global warming. Cutting the new, section 4(d) rule of the ESA would provide Polar Bears with the necessary protection, while also representing a step toward curbing global warming pollution.

Take action! Place a call to Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and request that the newly added rule within section 4(d) of the ESA be deleted so that the Polar Bear can receive the protections it is entitled as a threatened species. Simply dial 1-800-262-8333 pin #0865

Sample Call: "Hello, my name is ____ and I live in _____. I'm calling to urge Secretary Kempthorne to remove the rule added to section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act so that the Polar Bear can receive the protections it is entitled as a threatened species.

If you prefer, you can also send a handwritten letter to the Secretary at the following address:

Secretary Dirk Kempthorne
U.S. Department of Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240