Polar Bears Protected . . . Sort Of

The U.S. Department of the Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced on May 14 that the polar bear will be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, acknowledging that melting Arctic sea ice constitutes an ongoing threat to the bears' habitat. While the listing should provide the bears with some protection, it comes with baggage--namely the caveat that oil drilling will be permitted within polar bear habitats, under a proposed 4(d) rule. Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope sees the announcement as an empty gesture, explaining in a released statement that “allowing destructive energy development in polar bear habitat is akin to diagnosing someone with lung cancer and then handing them a lit cigarette. There is no environmentally-sound way to drill in polar bear habitat.” The proposed rule is available online for a 60 day public comment period, so be sure to let Kempthorne know how you feel about oil drilling in bear country. Find out more about how you can help the Sierra Club chill the drills here.

--D.W.

Sources:  U.S. Department of the Interior, Sierra Club

Comments

[Dennis Fennelly]

Allowing drilling for oil near polar bear habitats will not be harmful to the bears. As a chemical engineer, I know that the oil industry has the technology and know how to drill for oil with minimal environmental impact. Restrictions on oil exploration and drilling favored by elitist organizations such as the Sierra Club have restricted oil supplies and driven up energy prices. This has been extremely damaging to our economy and has negatively impacted the poor the most. So, Sierra Club, stop lobbying for restrictive environmental policies so that our country can have the plentiful, cheap energy it needs. We need to worry more about people than about polar bears!

[Getan Pade]

When will the Sierra Club become realistic about alternative energy and support nuclear energy. Until then the Sierra Club is part opf the problem and we will continue with our thirst for oil.

[Dennis Fennelly]

Getan, unfortunately the Sierra Club will never take the responsible approach you mention in support of nuclear energy. The SC is first and foremost a Socialist organization at war with capitalism, economic growth, property rights and individual liberty. The restrictive environmental policies they promote are perfect for achieving their anti-capitalist objectives. The Sierra Club really doesn't care about the environment at all. Their environmental posture is merely a front.