I think Bush may have totally lost what's left of his mind. Despite
proposing having the polar bear listed as an endangered species, he's decided he wants to let out their home to gas and oil interests for drilling. So, basically, he acknowledges that they're threatened, so he wants to threaten them more. Why am I not surprised? Once again, the Bush administration has bowed to the interests of their rich oil buddies. This time, by announcing the lease of part of the arctic wildlife habitat, and further threatening the fragile future of an already endangered species.
Senator Kerry has spoken repeatedly of the need to look to renewable sources for our energy needs and find answers through innovation. In
2003,
2004,
2005,
2006 and
2007, we heard him tell us that "We can't drill our way out, we have to invent our way out." We've been listening to the Senator defend the environment for decades. But despite the call by the Senator and most environmental experts to respect the planet we share with other living beings, Bush won't budge when it comes to lining the pockets of his pals at the expense of the well being of the planet.
Senator Kerry
remarks on Bush's ill-conceived and tragic decision:
“It’s the height of irresponsibility and short-sightedness for the Bush Administration to schedule lease sales in the Chukchi Sea, which represents critical habitat for polar bears, whales, walrus and threatened wildlife. Even as the Department of the Interior is finalizing its decision to list polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush Administration thinks it’s the right time for another power grab by the big oil and gas companies in the bear’s essential habitat,” said Senator John Kerry. “Just a few months ago, the government’s own scientists told us that polar bears may disappear from the United States and our waters entirely by 2050. We should be protecting their remaining habitat, not auctioning it off to the highest bidders. I could imagine few more tragic illustrations of who calls the shots in this Administration, than the way in which this Administration is willing to set the stage for extinction for polar bear populations.”
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Video)
moreBush is showing his true colors by selling out endangered polar bears and
selling out the troops