I'm an Environmentalist? Apparently.

An incredible way of thinking permeates much of the human psyche. Its the thought that if its not rare or endangered, then its fair game for senseless destruction. Only when something is on the verge of complete annhiliation do most humans consider that entity worthy of mindful thought and action. I could rattle off a list of examples...koalas (slaughtered for food and fur until they were nearly exinct), pandas (territory reduced so much that fewer than 1000 now remain worldwide), silverback gorillas (same story as the pandas), bluefin tuna (once common to weigh over 500 lbs when caught, now are so overfished they normally weigh between 25 - 50 lbs on the market), and Alaskan Grizzly Bears (once a popular hunting target, now listed as an endangered and therefore protected species.)

But wait a minute...guess what Grizzly Bears. You're no longer endangered! See, according to this MSNBC article about Grizzlies, the United States Government, acting under the Bush Administration, plans to continue their stellar record of environmental conservation by lifting the hunting ban on Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park. You see, the National Fish and Wildlife Service claims that these bears have made a "significant recovery" and therefore are no longer required to be listed as an endangered species.

What constitutes a "significant recovery" to the Bush adminstration? Consider this: In 1975, when Grizzlies went on the endangered species list, roughly 200 - 250 bears were estimated to exist in the Yellowstone region. Today, the Grizzly population has swelled to...600 bears. 600 total Grizzly bears, in all of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. What an incredible population boom! Why, its downright overpopulated in bear country. The solution of course? Kill them bears!

The article includes this haunting quote: "Stripping the bears of protection could eventually clear the way for hunting grizzlies in that region."
Its enough to make me sick to my stomach. Why does it seem that this administration just waits with bated breath for ANY reason to destroy, kill, defoul or ruin something beautiful? What driving purpose could killing Grizzly bears have towards improving our national health and economy? Its not like 600 bears in a 3-state area are causing massive destruction and terror. Even the article states that Grizzlies used to number in the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS in the area just a century ago! Its not like Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are known for their dense human populations. I'm pretty darn sure the bears aren't posing a clear and present danger to innocent American cilivians. Can't we keep these beautiful bears on the list a LITTLE bit longer and let them get their numbers up to at least a thousand? Does the magical number 600 automatically constitute a license to kill?

If I pass one though along to future generations, I hope it is that everything worth saving should already be treasured. The rarity of an item should not be the sole preclusion to its value. Save the koalas, save the gorillas, save the majestic Grizzly bears...save ourselves.

In other stellar environmental news...we're #1! We're #1! We're #1!

Los Angeles Has Highest Smog Rating in Nation

If you gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough. You go for it, Los Angeles!