Throw drowning polar bears a lifeline.

[InvisibleTouch]

I've been upset about the polar bear scene in "An Inconvenient Truth" ever since I saw the movie. Just got this in my e-mail, from Biogems/NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) :

***************
Dear NRDC Member,

What will we tell the children when the Arctic sea ice is gone?

"Yes, Virginia, once there really was a North Pole...and polar bears...and all sorts of amazing Arctic creatures. But they're all gone now."

It's an unthinkable prospect -- but one that is swiftly moving into the realm of reality.

Just last week, a new scientific study grimly predicted a much more rapid acceleration of the melting of Arctic ice than previously anticipated.

By summer 2040 -- only 33 years from now -- the Arctic Ocean could be mostly open water due to global warming!

For polar bears, the future is now. Their sea ice is already melting and they are drowning in record numbers off Alaska's coast.

Please help NRDC come to their defense over the holidays by making a donation today.

The world's leading polar bear scientists recently concluded that at least 25% of the world's polar bear populations are now "declining" -- victims of global warming and other threats.

This holiday season, the fate of these magnificent Arctic creatures literally hangs in the balance -- which is why we are asking you to make a special holiday donation.

Over the holidays, the Bush Administration will either...

* Throw polar bears a lifeline by proposing "Threatened Species" protection.

* Or condemn polar bears to extinction by denying protection.

Sadly, this second scenario is all too likely given President Bush's pro-polluter agenda and relentless attacks on wildlife.

Whatever happens, NRDC has a special holiday strategy already in place to launch a fight that can win federal protection for the polar bear.

Your holiday donation is critical. The Bush Administration has saved some of its worst environmental decisions for this time of year when so many Americans are distracted by shopping and celebrating.

That's why NRDC will be working right through the holidays to give the polar bear a fighting chance against extinction.

Please put the polar bear at the top of your holiday list -- with a generous donation that will help us protect this symbol of the North Pole for many holiday seasons to come.

Sincerely,
Frances
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

P.S. Please throw drowning polar bears a lifeline now. A win for the polar bear is a win for every living being on the planet from the disastrous consequences of global warming.

****************

Here is the link, which didn't copy in the above text:

https://secure.nrdconline.org/08/biogems_polarbears_m

Even just a little bit helps, if you can. Thanks!

[kenny blankenship]

1. Worry warts! Polar bears can perform entertaining acts

at "Arctic Wold" soon to begin construction in Destin, Florida. Not hibernating anymore will just make them twice as productive as they had ever been before. Capitalism is good, and polar bears will simply have to find their place within it like everyone else.

[Patchuli]

3. Just kiddin' right kenny?

Kid away but don't forget to donate! ;-)

[Patchuli]

2. Donated, recommended and kicked!

I love polar bears...:loveya:

[InvisibleTouch]

4. Thank you!!! :) n/t

[The Stranger]

5. K&R

[nam78_two]

6. K&R.nt

[InvisibleTouch]

7. 6 Recs so far - thanks all!

That's making me a bit happier today. :)

[HughLefty1]

8. I just donated....

This is a wonderful organization..I've donated in the past to help defend the dying whales.

I know everyone is very busy during the holidays but please don't forget the great charities like NRDC and PETA.

[InvisibleTouch]

10. Thanks - good on you!

I always ask organizations like this not to send me tote bags/plush toys/bumper stickers/etc. - because I want my whole donation to go toward the issue at hand. Then again, that's also advertising for them, if others see you with an NRDC tote bag, for instance - but how many people memorize a web site address off a tote bag and go to check it out? Almost none, I'll bet. Bumper stickes might give a little more mileage.

[Virginia Dare]

9. I hope it's not too late to save them...

the situation is pretty dire.

:cry:

[jilln]

11. Moral dilemma!

NRDC is one of those "conservation" groups like the World Wildlife Fund that promotes the killing of some animals and the conservation of others, so there's no way I would ever donate to them.

So how can this effort be supported without paying the NRDC?

[The Stranger]

12. You could get a boat and take it up to the Arctic Ocean.

Start pulling the drowning bears out of the water.

[HughLefty1]

13. Really?

I had no idea....I've contributed to both groups. How do they promote killing of some animals? Does anyone know of a better way to help?

[Kadie]

14. You can 'adopt' a polar bear

I don't know too much about this group, but here is there information.

http://wildlifeadoption.defenders.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adopt06_polarbear&s_src=WHY07WDADOPT&s_subsrc=07ADOPTEC13&JServSessionIdr012=8z4tnpn622.app26a


http://www.defenders.org/

[Patchuli]

19. Yup, as a gift to my grandkid

Last year from the wildlife defenders org, I 'adopted' a wolf for him in his name. He loved it! This year he had 50 trees planted in his name from Oxfam at www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com. I just think it's a cooler gift than more 'stuff.' Oh, and he gets a collectible dragon every year... :-)

[Kadie]

20. Thank you for the link.

I have been looking for a place that plants trees. I have a few people on my list that don't really need any more 'stuff'. Perfect gift idea.

Also, I am glad to hear some feedback about the wildlife defenders.

Happy Holidays!

:hi:

[Patchuli]

23. You are most welcome

and it really thrills kids to receive gifts like this. This gives me hope that the children aren't all destroyed by rampant consumerism.

Happy Holidays back atcha!

[jilln]

21. Thanks

I have never heard anything bad about Defenders of Wildlife. I can't quite figure out from the site how adopting a bear helps polar bears, but I guess it's a general donation to the group and as far as I know they do good work.

There must be some way to support what the NRDC is doing without supporting the NRDC directly.

[druidity33]

15. please elaborate on...

The NRDC "promotes the killing of some animals and the conservation of others".

I've always held them in the highest regard. RFK Jr is a personal hero.

Do you approve of hunting or meat-eating in any shape or form?

[leftchick]

16. where did you read that?

I have never heard or read anything negative about NRDC or WWF. The Nature Conservancy is the only bad conservation group that I am aware of.

[InvisibleTouch]

17. Details, please?

I don't know of conservation groups like WWF that promote the killing of animals. I'd be interested in relevant links or more info. Though I have not heard this myself, I can imagine they might promote the elimination of introducted invasive species that are wrecking the ecosystem around them - and that is a moral dilemma, because what's a more destructive and invasive species than the human?

Either way, though, I'm sure there are other organizations working on this problem besides the NRDC. I've always liked the Nature Conservancy, also, but they've had some controversy too in recent years. I don't think any large organization is going to be 100% pure, but I try to support the ones that are working on the causes that mean the most to me.

[jilln]

22. Here are details:

I am very well aware that both groups have also done some great work and I've always liked RFK too, but if I wanted to support hunters and animal experimenters I'd donate directly to them.

WWF supports seal hunting

and

WWF supports what would be the biggest animal experiment ever undertaken, to test pesticides which have ALREADY been tested, will not speak out against steel-jaw leghold traps (banned in about 88 countries because they do not discriminate and are incredibly cruel) and believes in "culling" elephants:



NRDC also supports retesting pesticides:



doesn't oppose the Gap clearcutting redwoods (Gap owner is on the board and a big funder):

[InvisibleTouch]

25. Not ignoring this...

I'm tremendously against pesticides, leghold traps, seal hunting, and the like, and it does WWF no honor to support such horrors - but sometimes you have to work with what you have. Support the good things they do, and keep the pressure on by getting the word out. If that includes donating to alternate organizations who are working on the same problem, that's great as well.

[robinlynne]

18. Thank-you. I hadn't given before, thinking I didn't have the money, but I just realized

I can't afford not to.
thank-you for reminding us.

[InvisibleTouch]

24. That's pretty much the same for me.

Finances have been very tight for the past few years, but I have a little bit of wiggle room now over the holidays (when sales pick up). It's still only a very little bit of wiggle room, but instead of feeling bad that I can't donate more, I've come to realize that giving even a small amount is better than nothing at all.