Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0912211711490.3705@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
Subject: Act Now to Stop International Trade in Endangered Animals (fwd)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:11:54 -0500 (EST)
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:01:28 -0500 (EST) From: Center for Biological Diversity <bioactivist@biologicaldiversity.org> To: sondheim@panix.com Subject: Act Now to Stop International Trade in Endangered Animals Resent-Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:11:39 -0500 (EST) Resent-From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com> Resent-To: g <sondheim@gmail.com> Resent-Subject: Act Now to Stop International Trade in Endangered Animals Dear Alan, Polar bears, corals, sharks, and tuna are in danger of extinction, yet international trade of these rare animals continues, often unregulated. The Center for Biological Diversity is fighting to protect these species under U.S. law, but we also need the help of the international community to ensure their survival. Polar bears are threatened by global warming, which is melting the ice they rely on, and oil and gas development that's destroying what's left of their Arctic habitat. Other threats, such as those posed by international trade, must be minimized so that the bears have the greatest chance of adapting and recovering. The Center's successful bid to list the polar bear under the U.S. Endangered Species Act can only go so far in protecting this iconic species. International trade -- and the wildlife "harvesting" it encourages -- threatens to push polar bears even closer to the brink. Corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna, too, are being rapidly overharvested for trade purposes. This coming March, the United States will participate in international negotiations aimed at banning destructive trade in wildlife at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting. There, the United States has the opportunity -- and the responsibility -- to highlight the need to protect endangered species on a global level. We need your help: Tell our government that strict controls on international trade are needed in order to ensure the survival of rare and irreplaceable species like the polar bear, corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna. ****************************************** Click here to find out more and take action: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1940 ****************************************** Sample letter: Subject: Protect Polar Bears, Corals, Sharks, and Tuna I am writing to urge the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect imperiled polar bears, corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties in Doha in March 2010. The United States has an important opportunity to promote the conservation and recovery of imperiled wildlife through its negotiating positions at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While the overarching threat to the polar bear is global warming, which is melting away its habitat, other threats, such as those posed by international trade, must be minimized so that polar bears have the greatest chance of adapting and recovering. Additionally, overharvesting of corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna is leading to their rapid demise, and it is important to stop commercial incentives that are leading to their extinction. I support the United States' proposals to add protections for polar bears, corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna under the CITES treaty, but the proposals alone are not sufficient. In addition to the proposals, the U.S. must use its full negotiating power to support listing of these species. Strict controls on international trade are important to reduce the threats to the survival of these imperiled animals. Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on this important international meeting. ****************************************** Donate now to support our work: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5929/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=3389 Please take action by January 4, 2010. This message was sent to sondheim@panix.com. The Center for Biological Diversity sends out action alerts and newsletters through DemocracyinAction.org. If you'd like to check your profile and preferences, click here: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/profile/login.jsp. To stop receiving action alerts and newsletters from us, click here: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/content.jsp?content_KEY=6004. Center for Biological Diversity P.O. BOX 710 TUCSON, AZ 85702 1-866-357-3349