Guest guest Posted October 21, 2000 Report Share Posted October 21, 2000 VERY URGENT ! SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE ! BACKDOOR CONGRESSIONAL RIDER COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR ENDANGERED SEA LIONS ! We have just received critical information that last minute maneuvering in Congress could undermine recently-enacted federal protection for the endangered Steller sea lion! Your PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS to the White House could be the LAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE ENTIRE SPECIES, whose numbers have crashed in recent decades because of years of ruthless overfishing by trawling and other methods favored by modern industrial fisheries. Groundfish trawling devastates the local ecology wherever it passes, scooping up vast numbers of fish and other marine life from ocean floors. As a result, sea lions in many areas are literally starving to death! Since the 1960's, some portions of the Steller sea lion population have declined by well over 80%! The rest of the ocean ecosystem is faring little better at the hands of the trawling industry : harbor seals, fur seals, and fish-eating bird populations are declining dramatically, and local king and snow crab fisheries have collapsed. In recognition of this ecological crisis, a federal court closed sea lion critical habitat to groundfish trawlers in July of this year, ordering the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to take a comprehensive look at its fisheries management program and assess its effects on endangered sea lions. The court ruling halts trawl fishing for groundfish species in Steller sea lion habitat until a complete environmental assessment is done. The court will then evaluate and make a ruling on the NMFS's findings on how best to protect Steller sea lions from extinction. However, several ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL members of Congress are trying to thwart sea lion protection by attaching an outrageous special provision, or " rider, " to the Commerce, State, and Justice Appropriations bill. The rider would REVERSE the federal court ruling to stop trawling in critical sea lion habitat --- nullifying the protections for sea lions mandated by the court, EXEMPTING trawl fisheries from complying with the Endangered Species Act and the National Evironmental Policy Act. It would also lift the requirement for environmental assessments that would provide additional protections for the endangered Steller sea lions WHAT YOU CAN DO: Only PHONE CALLS will make the difference now! Please take a few moments to make these crucial phone calls to the Whitehouse! Call Chief of Staff John Podesta at : 202-456-6798 and Director Jacob Lew at : 202-395-4840. Ask them to urge President Clinton to " oppose any provisions that would undermine protections for endangered Steller sea lions. " They have helped with other anti-environmental riders, so thank them and politely encourage them to help the sea lions! For more information on the crisis facing the Steller sea lions, contact Barbara Jeanne Polo, Executive Director, American Oceans Campaign, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE . Suite 210, Washington, DC 20003 / ph: (202) 544-3526 / fax: (202) 544-5625 / email: bjpolo OR visit http://www.americanoceans.org/ and http://www.stopextinction.org Sample letter is at the end of this email. ========================================= HUMANElines A project of The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals(202) 955-3663 http://www.hsus.org/programs/government/humanelines.html ====================================== Additional notes : You may also email to President Clinton using Form email : http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html President Clinton's address: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 U.S.A. SAMPLE LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON : I urge you to veto a Fiscal Year 2001 Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary (CJS) funding bill and any other bill that includes provisions that would undermine protections for endangered Steller sea lions. Stand firm in opposition to this and any other harmful provisions that would jeopardize basic protections for our coasts, oceans, and marine life. I also ask that you let Congress know as early as possible that you will veto its attempts to bypass the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act, or to nullify court decisions that protect Steller sea lions through stealth, political maneuvers. A few Members of Congress have drafted an ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL rider to the CJS conference report that will restrict the ability of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect endangered Steller sea lions in coastal waters off Alaska. The proposed language, which may be slipped into the bill in a 'behind-closed-doors maneuver' would exempt these fisheries from Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements, and prohibit NMFS from completing analyses, ordered by a federal court, to guide responsible stewardship of North Pacific marine life for two more years. It is a blatant attack on two of our Nation's most basic environmental laws. In 1960, western Alaska was home to more than 175,000 adult Steller sea lions. Since that time, the population of Steller sea lions in the North Pacific has drastically declined by more than 80 percent, with an estimated average rate of decline during the 1990's of more than 5 percent each year. It is essential that anti-environmental provisions which undermine efforts to ensure survival of Steller sea lions not be included in the final legislation. Thank you for your continued work in support of our ocean environment. Sincerely Yours, name, address. 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Guest guest Posted October 21, 2000 Report Share Posted October 21, 2000 hi.. i'm new to this group.. isn't this group for recipe exchange? please let me know.. because i don't want to be in a group where i will be getting emails about sea lions.. if this is the norm.. remove me immediately.. - Citizens' concern Vegetarian Friend Saturday, October 21, 2000 3:22 AM PLEASE HELP , SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE !!! VERY URGENT ! SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE !BACKDOOR CONGRESSIONAL RIDER COULDSPELL DISASTER FOR ENDANGERED SEA LIONS !We have just received critical information that last minute maneuveringin Congress could undermine recently-enacted federal protection forthe endangered Steller sea lion!Your PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS to the White House could be theLAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE ENTIRE SPECIES, whose numbershave crashed in recent decades because of years of ruthlessoverfishing by trawling and other methods favored by modernindustrial fisheries. Groundfish trawling devastates the local ecologywherever it passes, scooping up vast numbers of fish and othermarine life from ocean floors. As a result, sea lions in many areas are literally starving to death!Since the 1960's, some portions of the Steller sea lion populationhave declined by well over 80%! The rest of the ocean ecosystemis faring little better at the hands of the trawling industry :harbor seals, fur seals, and fish-eating bird populations aredeclining dramatically, and local king and snow crab fisherieshave collapsed. In recognition of this ecological crisis, a federal court closed sealion critical habitat to groundfish trawlers in July of this year,ordering the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to take acomprehensive look at its fisheries management program andassess its effects on endangered sea lions. The court ruling haltstrawl fishing for groundfish species in Steller sea lion habitat untila complete environmental assessment is done. The court will then evaluate and make a ruling on the NMFS'sfindings on how best to protect Steller sea lions from extinction. However, several ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL members of Congressare trying to thwart sea lion protection by attaching an outrageousspecial provision, or "rider," to the Commerce, State, and JusticeAppropriations bill. The rider wouldREVERSE the federal court ruling to stop trawling in critical sea lionhabitat --- nullifying the protections for sea lions mandated by thecourt,EXEMPTING trawl fisheries from complying with the EndangeredSpecies Act and the National Evironmental Policy Act.It would also lift the requirement for environmental assessments thatwould provide additional protections for the endangeredSteller sea lionsWHAT YOU CAN DO:Only PHONE CALLS will make the difference now! Pleasetake a few moments to make these crucial phone calls to theWhitehouse!Call Chief of Staff John Podesta at : 202-456-6798and Director Jacob Lew at : 202-395-4840.Ask them to urge President Clinton to "oppose any provisions that would undermine protections forendangered Steller sea lions." They have helped with other anti-environmental riders, sothank them and politely encourage them to help the sea lions!For more information on the crisis facing the Steller sea lions,contact Barbara Jeanne Polo, Executive Director,American Oceans Campaign,600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE . Suite 210,Washington, DC 20003 /ph: (202) 544-3526 / fax: (202) 544-5625 /email: bjpoloOR visit http://www.americanoceans.org/ andhttp://www.stopextinction.orgSample letter is at the end of this email.=========================================HUMANElinesA project of The Humane Society of the United Statesand The Fund for Animals(202) 955-3663http://www.hsus.org/programs/government/humanelines.html======================================Additional notes : You may also email to President Clinton using Form email :http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.htmlPresident Clinton's address:The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500 U.S.A.SAMPLE LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON : I urge you to veto a Fiscal Year 2001 Commerce, Justice, State,and Judiciary (CJS) funding bill and any other bill that includesprovisions that would undermine protections for endangeredSteller sea lions. Stand firm in opposition to this and any otherharmful provisions that would jeopardize basic protections for ourcoasts, oceans, and marine life.I also ask that you let Congress know as early as possible thatyou will veto its attempts to bypass the Endangered Species Actor the National Environmental Policy Act, or to nullify court decisionsthat protect Steller sea lions through stealth, political maneuvers.A few Members of Congress have drafted an ANTI-ENVIRONMENTALrider to the CJS conference report that will restrict the ability of theNational Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect endangeredSteller sea lions in coastal waters off Alaska. The proposed language,which may be slipped into the bill in a 'behind-closed-doors maneuver'would exempt these fisheries from Endangered Species Act andNational Environmental Policy Act requirements, andprohibit NMFS from completing analyses, ordered by a federal court,to guide responsible stewardship of North Pacific marine life fortwo more years. It is a blatant attack on two of our Nation's mostbasic environmental laws.In 1960, western Alaska was home to more than 175,000 adultSteller sea lions. Since that time, the population of Steller sealions in the North Pacific has drastically declined by more than80 percent, with an estimated average rate of decline during the1990's of more than 5 percent each year. It is essential thatanti-environmental provisions which undermine efforts to ensuresurvival of Steller sea lions not be included in the final legislation.Thank you for your continued work in support of our ocean environment.Sincerely Yours,name,address. 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Guest guest Posted October 21, 2000 Report Share Posted October 21, 2000 I agree people are starting to post dozens of this stuff every day to news groups like this who specifically join for recipes If people want this stuff they can join news groups that are relative to it Please “Citizens' concern” Only post to relevant lists. -----Original Message----- Clearwater Morrison [clearwater] Saturday, 21 October 2000 5:41 Re: PLEASE HELP , SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE !!! hi.. i'm new to this group.. isn't this group for recipe exchange? please let me know.. because i don't want to be in a group where i will be getting emails about sea lions.. if this is the norm.. remove me immediately.. ----- Original Message ----- Citizens' concern Vegetarian Friend Saturday, October 21, 2000 3:22 AM Subject: PLEASE HELP , SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE !!! VERY URGENT ! SEA LIONS IN BIG TROUBLE ! BACKDOOR CONGRESSIONAL RIDER COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR ENDANGERED SEA LIONS ! We have just received critical information that last minute maneuvering in Congress could undermine recently-enacted federal protection for the endangered Steller sea lion! Your PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS to the White House could be the LAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE ENTIRE SPECIES, whose numbers have crashed in recent decades because of years of ruthless overfishing by trawling and other methods favored by modern industrial fisheries. Groundfish trawling devastates the local ecology wherever it passes, scooping up vast numbers of fish and other marine life from ocean floors. As a result, sea lions in many areas are literally starving to death! Since the 1960's, some portions of the Steller sea lion population have declined by well over 80%! The rest of the ocean ecosystem is faring little better at the hands of the trawling industry : harbor seals, fur seals, and fish-eating bird populations are declining dramatically, and local king and snow crab fisheries have collapsed. In recognition of this ecological crisis, a federal court closed sea lion critical habitat to groundfish trawlers in July of this year, ordering the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to take a comprehensive look at its fisheries management program and assess its effects on endangered sea lions. The court ruling halts trawl fishing for groundfish species in Steller sea lion habitat until a complete environmental assessment is done. The court will then evaluate and make a ruling on the NMFS's findings on how best to protect Steller sea lions from extinction. However, several ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL members of Congress are trying to thwart sea lion protection by attaching an outrageous special provision, or " rider, " to the Commerce, State, and Justice Appropriations bill. The rider would REVERSE the federal court ruling to stop trawling in critical sea lion habitat --- nullifying the protections for sea lions mandated by the court, EXEMPTING trawl fisheries from complying with the Endangered Species Act and the National Evironmental Policy Act. It would also lift the requirement for environmental assessments that would provide additional protections for the endangered Steller sea lions WHAT YOU CAN DO: Only PHONE CALLS will make the difference now! Please take a few moments to make these crucial phone calls to the Whitehouse! Call Chief of Staff John Podesta at : 202-456-6798 and Director Jacob Lew at : 202-395-4840. Ask them to urge President Clinton to " oppose any provisions that would undermine protections for endangered Steller sea lions. " They have helped with other anti-environmental riders, so thank them and politely encourage them to help the sea lions! For more information on the crisis facing the Steller sea lions, contact Barbara Jeanne Polo, Executive Director, American Oceans Campaign, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE . Suite 210, Washington, DC 20003 / ph: (202) 544-3526 / fax: (202) 544-5625 / email: bjpolo OR visit http://www.americanoceans.org/ and http://www.stopextinction.org Sample letter is at the end of this email. ========================================= HUMANElines A project of The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals(202) 955-3663 http://www.hsus.org/programs/government/humanelines.html ====================================== Additional notes : You may also email to President Clinton using Form email : http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html President Clinton's address: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 U.S.A. SAMPLE LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON : I urge you to veto a Fiscal Year 2001 Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary (CJS) funding bill and any other bill that includes provisions that would undermine protections for endangered Steller sea lions. Stand firm in opposition to this and any other harmful provisions that would jeopardize basic protections for our coasts, oceans, and marine life. I also ask that you let Congress know as early as possible that you will veto its attempts to bypass the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act, or to nullify court decisions that protect Steller sea lions through stealth, political maneuvers. A few Members of Congress have drafted an ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL rider to the CJS conference report that will restrict the ability of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect endangered Steller sea lions in coastal waters off Alaska. The proposed language, which may be slipped into the bill in a 'behind-closed-doors maneuver' would exempt these fisheries from Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements, and prohibit NMFS from completing analyses, ordered by a federal court, to guide responsible stewardship of North Pacific marine life for two more years. It is a blatant attack on two of our Nation's most basic environmental laws. In 1960, western Alaska was home to more than 175,000 adult Steller sea lions. Since that time, the population of Steller sea lions in the North Pacific has drastically declined by more than 80 percent, with an estimated average rate of decline during the 1990's of more than 5 percent each year. It is essential that anti-environmental provisions which undermine efforts to ensure survival of Steller sea lions not be included in the final legislation. Thank you for your continued work in support of our ocean environment. Sincerely Yours, name, address. 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