It would appear that the American bald eagle will be taken off the threatened species list, thanks to a thirty year program of careful breeding, legal protection and the continuing nonusage of DDT. This is, of course, excellent news. The bald eagle will continue to enjoy federal protection, but apparently being taken off the list will cause an official shifting of formal support for further recovery lists. I use the modifiers because as a practical matter existing support will not decrease, because this is a democracy and some policy positions are no-brainers. Really, would you want to give your political opponent the opportunity to tell the folks back home about how you shafted our national symbol?
At any rate, the group Environmental Defense* has a press release on the subject. In time honored fashion, they're using the opportunity to push for more species recovery programs and the encouragement of private landowners to participate in conservation efforts. Good on them.
Moe
*A group that I've never heard of, but a look at their website indicates that they're apparently quite fond of Kyoto, so I'm guessing that they ain't Righties (seeing as we invariably cast rare and potent curses against the Protocols every night of the new moon).
Environmental Defense is good; sort of the expert legal arm of the VLWEC.
Now, if we could just settle that salmon thing ...
Posted by: asdf | May 17, 2004 at 12:17 AM
Bad news, highly unsymbolic: Head of Iraqi Governing Council killed in Baghdad car bombing
Posted by: Anarch | May 17, 2004 at 03:33 AM
(seeing as we invariably cast rare and potent curses against the Protocols every night of the new moon)
Now that would be a show I'd pay to see. ;-) (Well, maybe not, since it would entail supporting the Party of Evil and the Side of Wrong with actual money, but it would certainly be tempting.)
Posted by: Jesurgislac | May 17, 2004 at 04:42 AM