+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Urge Congress to Permanently Protect the Arctic Refuge!
target: U.S. House of Representatives
Sponsored by: Defenders of Wildlife Action FundThe Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to caribou, snow fox and millions of migratory birds. It is also the most important onshore denning habitat for America's vanishing polar bears.
->http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/567728305
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ban Canada's Annuel Seal Slaughter
Canada's 2008 annual commercial seal hunt in the Gulf of St Lawrence and around Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia began on March 28. The hunting season lasts from mid-November to mid-May, but the hunt mainly occurs in March and April. Canada's seal hunt is the world's largest hunt for marine mammals. It is cruel and that it ravages the seal population.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sea Shepherd News
|
| Monday, March 16, 2009 |
Fishermen Eager to Hide Evidence of Illegal Porpoise Killingsby Wietse Van Der Werf An increasing number of mutilated carcasses of Harbor porpoises, on average 1.50 meters in length, have washed up on beaches in recent months at Texel, an island north east of the Dutch mainland. According to Just van den Broek, Director at the marine protection centre Ecomare, the killings of the animals found in recent months can be attributed to fishing vessels which operated along the Dutch coast over the winter period. It is a worrying development that fishermen kill and cut the porpoises out of their nets, instead of cutting the nets around the animals to free them from being trapped. However, it is nothing new that those operating fishing vessels will often choose cheaper and easier methods of getting rid of so called 'by catch' in order to protect their investments and profits. Many, if not all, will escape prosecution as authorities are reluctant to enforce the appropriate laws and regulations which are supposed to protect the sea mammals. In the last 3 months, over 100 killed harbor porpoises have washed up on Dutch beaches, compared to a total of 46 in all of 2008. About half of those found were cut up and/or had been mutilated. Some reports say carcasses had the intestines cut out, apparently in an effort to make them sink to the bottom of the sea quicker and hide the evidence of the illegal activity.
The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) has corresponded with the Dutch Minister for Fisheries and the Environment about the situation, and some of the Dutch press has covered the illegal activity. It is clear that such an alarming situation as this needs a quick and concise response in order to put a stop to it. International agreements as well as Dutch law give clear opportunities for prosecution of those responsible. Dutch authorities have said they are taking this issue seriously. Nevertheless, activists from Sea Shepherd and other organisations will continue to monitor this situation and investigate further where needed to ensure these beautiful creatures get the justice they deserve.
|
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sarah Palin:STOP the Aerial Killing of WOLVES!
Sarah Palin: Stop the Aerial Killing of Wolves!
Sponsored by: Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund
Governor Sarah Palin's administration has launched a terrible new assault on wolves in Alaska. In just a few days, 66 wolves were killed by aerial gunners with high-powered rifles. Even worse, Palin's Board of Game has also approved the use of poison gas and deadly snares to kill defenseless wolf pups and their families in and around their dens.
Governor Palin is escalating her bloody war on wolves, and we need your help to stop her. Too many wolves have already died needless deaths – this brutal practice has to stop. Sign our petition to send a message to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin urging her to end her war on Alaska's wolves.



