Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Fourth of July Events; fireworks, neighborhood parades
Tragic accident cause of death of BMX biker
Indians' Borowski on borrowed time
Governor will use cornhole to fund campaign
Police seek Akron man in deadly shooting
Mail Pouch signs are fading fast
Blogs:
Akron Law Café:
Exxon Saved From the Rocks: The Supreme Court Limits Punitive Damages
The Heldenfiles:
Happy Day
Balanced Ledger:
Olympics, interested?
Patrick McManamon:
Yellowstone, C.C. Sabathia, Brian Windhorst and … yes … Yellowstone
Browns Bulletin:
ESPN's Browns love-in chugs along
Cleveland Browns:
Bentley leaves minicamp
Cleveland Indians:
Spanked on Independence Day
Akron Aeros:
All Stars, Roster Moves and More!
Akron Zips:
Contemplating fall camp
Varsity Letters:
CVCA junior soccer stars Speas & Mason to play at UA
Kent State Sports:
Jarvis on Maxwell watch list
Ohio Politics:
2008 = 1972? 1976? 1992? 2000? 2004?
All Da King's Men:
Words For Independence Day
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dependence Day
Akrocentric:
Charles Taormina discusses "Acceptance of Individual Authors," self-publishing resources
Akron Gamer:
Harmonix keeps on Rock'n
BokBluster:
Patriot Games
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Is there an American Girl store in Ohio?
Olympic Dreams - Running:
Back to Phase One
Sound Check:
Tim McGraw wows and woos Blossom
Tia's Trends:
Saks Saleswoman Accused of Stealing $1 Million
These creatures deserve the protection of the Endangered Species Act
Published on Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Thankfully, a federal judge recently ran out of patience, ordering the Department of the Interior to make a decision about the polar bear by May 15.
The Center for Biological Diversity points to the deepening trouble faced by polar bears. In 2007, the shrinkage of summer sea ice reached a stunning 1 million square miles below the average from 1979 to 2000. Scientists have projected that by 2030 (or earlier), the Arctic may be free of ice, something that has not occurred for 800,000 years.
The U.S. Geological Survey forecasts that by 2050, the polar bear population will decline by two-thirds.
Why has the Bush White House balked at taking action? Officials have pointed to the complexity of the issue and expressed concern about projections amounting largely to speculation. All of this has seemed more dodge than anything else. Confront the plight of the polar bear, and you must look squarely at the consequences of global warming.
Polar bears aren't diminishing at the hand of hunters, or due to the likes of DDT that harmed bald eagles. They are victims of the greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and other inventions of humans driving the melting of Arctic ice. The polar bear deserves the protection of the Endangered Species Act, just as the country deserves leaders ready to face the hard work of combating climate change.
Get the full article here.
