URGENT, STOP LFA SONAR NOW !!! A DEADLY THREAT TO ENTIRE MARINE MAMMALS !!!

[Guest guest]

STOP NAVY'S " LFA " SONAR NOW !!!

 

A DEADLY THREAT TO ENTIRE MARINE MAMMALS !!!

 

US NAVY WANTS TO PUT " LFA SONAR " SYSTEM

INTO USE ACROSS EIGHTY PERCENT (80 %) OF THE

WORLD'S OCEANS .

 

THE GENERATED NOISE IS BILLIONS OF TIMES MORE

INTENSE THAN THAT KNOWN TO DISTURB WHALES.......

 

 

Dear Friend of animals,

 

The Navy wants to put the LFA system into use across

EIGHTY PERCENT (80 %) of the WORLD'S OCEANS .

The generated noise is BILLIONS of times more intense than that

known to disturb whales migration pattern and others....

 

Now, lets write this important letter to all of the following key

people. Please let's be patient and work hard on this.

Please read every line below so that you know whom you are

writing to and what you are writing about . A couple of different

SAMPLE LETTERS and all of Contact info are listed below

in detail for your convenience.

 

Thanks so much for caring our marine mammal friends, globally.

Citizens concerns.

 

Source References site:

A: http://www.nrdc.org/action

B: http://www.seashepherd.org , click LFA Sonar.

==========================================

 

ALL SAMPLE LETTERS AND CONTACT INFO LISTED BELOW:

 

 

1: LETTER TO U.S. NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE:

 

NOTE: We listed two different sample letters for your convenience.

One is longer and the other is a shorter version. Take your pick.

Or you may write your own letter if you wish :

 

SAMPLE LETTER and Contact info : (The longer version ):

(Please WRITE & FAX & CALL & EMAIL Four ways to talk to her !)

 

 

Donna Wieting, Chief

Marine Mammal Conservation Division

National Marine Fisheries Service

NMFS HQTR Route: F/PR2

BLDG: SSMC3 RM: 13635

1315 EAST-WEST HWY

SILVER SPRING MD 20910-3282

Tel: (301)713-2322 x108

Fax: (301)713-0376 (in U.S.A. )

Email : Donna.Wieting (@noaa.gov )

 

 

Dear Ms. Wieting ,

 

I am deeply concerned about the Navy's plan to flood hundreds of

thousands of square miles of our oceans with intense, low-frequency

noise and about the National Marine Fisheries Service's proposal to

" permit " it. This proposed plan poses a potentially devastating threat

to entire marine mammals and other ocean life , around the world.

 

The U.S. Navy is moving ahead with plans to deploy a new extended-

range submarine detection system that will introduce into the world's

oceans noise Billions of times more intense than that known to disturb

whales. This risky technology -- Low Frequency Active Sonar, or

LFA --represents a potentially devastating and wide-ranging threat

to our planet's marine life.

 

The evidence that these high-power sonar systems can and do kill marine

animals emerged in early 2000, when four different species of whales and

dolphins suddenly began stranding themselves across a series of islands

in the Bahamas. Many of them died. An investigative report released by

the Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has

established with virtual certainty that the mass mortality was caused by

a Navy battle group using mid-frequency range active sonar in the

vicinity. It is the first time for the scientists to confirm the lethal

role of the sonar system. All but one of the whales suffered

hemorrhages in the inner ear, result of a sonic blast.

 

In 1995, NRDC demanded that the Navy comply with the law and disclose

how the sonar would affect marine mammals, sea turtles and other ocean

species. As a result, the Pentagon agreed to conduct a full-scale study

of environmental impacts before putting the LFA system into use across

EIGHTY PERCENT (80 %) of the WORLD'S OCEANS .

 

In July 1999, the Navy released a draft of its Environmental Impact

Statement, which fails to answer the most basic questions about its

controversial system: How will LFA affect the long-term health and

behavior of whales, dolphins and hundreds of other species?

 

A single LFA transmitter would generate sound at levels of 230 decibels

or higher, flooding hundreds of square miles of ocean with noise.

Two hundred thirty decibels is millions of times more intense than the

160-decibel level known to harm human divers.

(The difference between 160 and 235 decibels is like from a

quiet breeze to a nuclear explosion.)

 

According to the Navy's own study, scientists briefly exposed a

32-year-old Navy diver to LFA sonar at a level of 160 decibels --

a fraction of the intensity at which the LFA system is designed to

operate. After 12 minutes, the diver experienced severe symptoms,

including dizziness and drowsiness. After being hospitalized, he

relapsed, suffering memory dysfunction and seizure. Two years later

he was being treated with anti-depressant and anti-seizure medications.

 

The LFA sonar has been shown to divert bowhead and gray whales

and other whales from their migration paths, to cause sperm and

humpback whales to cease vocalizing, and to induce a range of other

effects from agonistic behavior to panic. A mass stranding of beaked

whales off the west coast of Greece in 1996 has been associated with an

LFA-type system being tested by NATO. And the whale deaths in 2000

add further evidence of the DEADLY RISKS of intense active Sonar.

 

Whales are equipped with exquisitely sensitive hearing; it is believed

they use " sound " to : follow migratory routes, locate one another over

great distances, find food and care for their young. Noise that

undermines their ability to hear these critical sounds can threaten their

ability to function and survive. As one scientist succinctly put it :

 

" A DEAF WHALE IS A DEAD WHALE. " The sheer force of

LFA's 230-decibel sweeps will cause hearing loss, serious injury,

even death to whales and other creatures unfortunate enough to be

swimming near a transmitter.

 

But what concerns marine scientists even more than the short-term

effects on individual animals is the potential long-term impact that the

Navy's LFA system might have on the behavior and viability of

ENTIRE POPULATIONS OF MARINE MAMMALS.

 

The Navy's own environmental review determined that the large baleen

whales were the marine animals " most likely to be affected by

low-frequency sound. " So the Navy carried out a series of tests to see

what those effects might be. That research showed that gray whales

exposed to just 120 decibels of active sonar begin to swerve from

their migration paths. The louder the sound, the more the whales

deviated from their path. The actual LFA system is designed to run at

230 decibels -- billions of times more intense than the test noise

levels that disturbed the gray whales!

 

The Navy's high-powered Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar

system would operate at noise levels billions of times more

intense than those known to disturb the migration and

communication behavior of large whales. Yet the Navy has not

adequately addressed the long-term effects of the LFA system

on whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and a host of

other marine animals. Nor has it adequately examined the

connection between active sonar and mass stranding of

whales and other marine life. According to the experts, the

long-term effects on vital activities, pose the greatest risk of pushing

endangered species over the brink into extinction.

 

I strongly urge you to withdraw your proposed rule and to

deny the Navy's application to deploy LFA sonar.

 

Sincerely Yours,

Your Name,

Address,

City, State, zip

Country.

------------------------------

 

2: SAMPLE LETTER : (A SHORTER VERSION ) :

 

 

Donna Wieting, Chief

Marine Mammal Conservation Division

National Marine Fisheries Service

NMFS HQTR Route: F/PR2

BLDG: SSMC3 RM: 13635

1315 EAST-WEST HWY

SILVER SPRING MD 20910-3282

Tel: (301)713-2322 x108

Fax: (301)713-0376 (in U.S.A. )

Email : Donna.Wieting (@noaa.gov )

 

Please STOP Navy's application to deploy LFA sonar

 

Dear Ms. Wieting,

 

I am deeply concerned about the Navy's plan to flood

hundreds of thousands of square miles of our oceans with

intense, low-frequency noise, and about the Fisheries

Service's proposal to permit it. This proposed plan poses a

potentially devastating threat to marine mammals, and other

ocean life, around the world.

 

The Navy's own research carried out a series of tests to see what

those effects might be. It showed that gray whales exposed to just

120 decibels of active sonar begin to swerve from their migration

paths. The louder the sound, the more the whales deviated from their

path. The actual LFA system is designed to run at 230 decibels --

billions of times more intense than the test noise levels that disturbed

the gray whales! According to the scientists, the difference between

160 and 235 decibels is like from a quiet breeze to a nuclear explosion!

 

The Navy's high-powered Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar

system would operate at noise levels billions of times more

intense than those known to disturb the migration and

communication behavior of large whales. Yet the Navy has not

adequately addressed the long-term effects of the LFA system

on whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and a host of

other marine animals. Nor has it adequately examined the

connection between active sonar and mass strandings of

whales and other marine life.

 

The Navy is planning to put the LFA system into use across

EIGHTY PERCENT (80 %) of the WORLD'S OCEANS .

The generated noise is BILLIONS of times more intense than that

known to disturb whales. This proposed plan poses a devastating

threat to entire marine mammals and other ocean life, around the world.

 

I strongly urge you to withdraw your proposed rule and to

stop and deny the Navy's application to deploy LFA sonar.

 

Thanks for your kindness, compassion , insight and help.

 

Sincerely Yours,

Your name,

Address,

City, State, Zip

Country.

==============================================

 

3: Write to : SECRETARY OF US NAVY :

(Contact info is included ).

 

(PLEASE , it is very important that we all send this important

plea to the Secretary of the U.S. Navy too by postal mail.)

 

Address and Sample letter :

 

 

The Honorable Robert B. Pirie, Jr.

Acting Secretary of the Navy

Washington, D.C. 20350-1000

U.S.A.

 

PLEASE HALT plans to deploy LFA sonar

 

 

Dear Acting Secretary Pirie:

 

I am deeply concerned about the Navy's plan to flood hundreds of

square miles of our oceans with loud, low frequency, noise. The

Navy's deployment of its Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar system

poses a potentially devastating threat to the entire marine mammals,

and other ocean life, around the world. The Navy's most recent

studies have not adequately addressed the long-term effects of the

LFA system on whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles and a host

of other marine animals.

 

The LFA sonar has been shown to divert bowhead and gray whales

and other whales from their migration paths, to cause sperm and

humpback whales to cease vocalizing, and to induce a range of other

effects from agonistic behavior to panic. A mass stranding of beaked

whales off the west coast of Greece in 1996 has been associated with

an LFA-type system being tested by NATO. And the whale deaths

in 2000 add further evidence of the deadly risks of intense active sonar.

 

The Navy's own research carried out a series of tests to see what

those effects might be. It showed that gray whales exposed to just

120 decibels of active sonar begin to swerve from their migration

paths. The louder the sound, the more the whales deviated from their

path. The actual LFA system is designed to run at 230 decibels --

Billions of times more intense than the test noise levels that disturbed

the gray whales! According to the scientists, the difference between

160 and 235 decibels is like from a quiet breeze to a nuclear explosion!

 

Whales are equipped with exquisitely sensitive hearing; it is believed

they use " sound " to : follow migratory routes, locate one another

over great distances, find food and care for their young. Noise that

undermines their ability to hear these critical sounds can threaten

their ability to function and survive. As one scientist succinctly put

it : " A deaf whale is a dead whale. " The sheer force of LFA's

230-decibel sweeps will cause hearing loss, serious injury, even

death to whales and other creatures unfortunate enough to be

swimming near a transmitter.

 

But what concerns us even more than the short-term effects on individual

animals is the potential long-term impact that the Navy's LFA system

will have on the behavior and viability of ENTIRE POPULATIONS

OF MARINE MAMMALS.

 

I urge you to immediately stop the development of Navy's LFA Sonar

system which is the most dangerous and devastating technology to the

entire marine mammals.

 

Sincerely,

Name,

address,

city, state, zip

country.

 

================================================

4: Write to the following important Secretaries especially

The Secretary of U.S. Defense Department :

 

SAMPLE LETTER : is similar to the above # 3 letter.

 

Please Address to different people, for example :

Dear Secretary of Defense ,

 

 

Addresses :

 

The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1000

U.S.A.

Email: http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html#Form

 

 

The Honorable Paul Wolfowitz

Deputy Secretary of Defense

1010 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1010

U.S.A.

 

The Honorable Under Secretary of Defense

(Acquisition and Technology)

3010 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-3010

U.S.A.

 

Under Secretary of Defense

(Personnel and readiness)

4000 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-4000

U.S.A.

 

 

================================================

5: Write to Office of Naval Research :

 

SAMPLE LETTER : the same as # 3 above .

 

 

Contact info :

 

 

The Honorable Paul A. Schneider,

Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy,

Office of Naval Research

Ballston Tower One

800 North Quincy Street

Arlington, VA 22217-5660

USA

=======================================

 

6: NOTE: You may also send your letter

to the U.S. Navy thru :

http://foia.navy.mil/foianote.htm

(Just address to : Dear U.S. Navy )

 

Sample letter should be similar to above # 3 letter.

 

(note: however, this will not reach the Secretary of Navy and

other important people ! We still need to write to every

person listed in this email . )

 

========================================

 

7: Write/Call /Email to U.S. President Bush :

(using the same letter to the Secretary of the Navy.

Please address to : Dear Mr. President ).

 

SAMPLE LETTER is similar to the above # 1 or # 2 .

The subject line : PLEASE STOP NAVY'S " LFA " SONAR.

 

Address :

 

President George W. Bush,

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

U.S.A.

 

Tel: 202-456-1414 ( 8am-5pm, east time, Mon-Fri)

Fax: 202-456-2461 (in U.S.A.)

E-mail : president (@whitehouse.gov )

 

 

Please also CC to First Lady Laura Bush :

(copy the following address and paste to CC field. ) :

first.lady (@whitehouse.gov )

 

 

Please address to : Dear Mr. President,

 

 

================================

 

8: PLEASE Write / Call to U.S. Senators :

 

SAMPLE LETTER is similar to the above # 1 and # 2.

Please address to : Dear Senator,

 

Please Send letter/Call/Fax and EMAIL.

(Email is the least effective when you write to the US Congressman.

Becasue they receive thousands letters each day. Usually, they

can not keep up with and delete it, according to recent research. )

 

a: All of the Telephone numbers and addresses for US Senators:

http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm

 

b: Please copy the following entire list and paste into BCC field.

then put your own address in the TO field before you hit the Send.

Be careful before you hit the Send to see if anything left out !

Address to : Dear Senator, put your name , address and Constituents.

at the end of the letter. thanks. (it must have comma between

addresses, which we already provided. ) :

 

 

Senator,

senator,

senator.hutchinson,

blanche_lincoln,

info,

senator_mccain,

senator,

senator_allard,

administrator,

senator,

senator_lieberman,

senator,

comments,

bob_graham,

connie,

senator_max_cleland,

senator_coverdell,

senator,

senator,

chuck_grassley,

tom_harkin,

larry_craig,

dick,

senator_fitzgerald,

senator_lugar,

sam_brownback,

pat_roberts,

jim_bunning,

senator,

senator,

senator,

senator,

john_kerry,

senator,

john_kerry,

senator,

senator,

michigan,

senator,

michigan,

mail_grams,

senator,

john_ashcroft,

kit_bond,

senator,

senatorlott,

max,

conrad_burns,

senator,

jesse_helms,

senator,

senator,

chuck_hagel,

mailbox,

opinion,

frank_lautenberg,

senator_torricelli,

senator_bingaman,

senator_domenici,

senator,

senator_reid,

senator,

senator_dewine,

senator_voinovich,

jim_inhofe,

senator,

Oregon,

senator,

senator,

senator_specter,

senator_chafee,

jack,

senator,

senator,

tim_johnson,

senator_frist,

senator_thompson,

administrator,

senator,

senator,

senator_hatch,

senator_robb,

senator,

vermont,

senator_leahy,

senator_gorton,

senator_murray,

Russell_Feingold,

senator_kohl,

senator_byrd,

senator,

senator,

craig,

senator,

senator2,

comments,

senator,

tom_daschle,

senator_carnahan,

senator,

olympia,

phil_gramm,

senator,

senator,

senator,

tim,

tom_harkin,

webmaster,

historian,

curator,

info,

postmaster,

mailbox,

mailbox,

admin,

comments,

webmaster,

Year2000,

webmaster,

 

The following Senators need to send thru their websites :

 

http://murkowski.senate.gov/webmail.html

http://cantwell.senate.gov/mailform.html

http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail.html

http://miller.senate.gov/email.html

http://www.senate.gov/~crapo/webform.html

http://grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm

===================================

 

9: Write to your US Representative : Please

 

SAMPLE LETTER: the same as above letter # 1 or # 2 .

Address to : Dear Congressman,.....

 

click the following to get contact info of your Representatives :

 

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

 

======================================

 

Thanks so much for your kindness, compassion and

help .