According to this article, Cheney has
REFUSED, for FOUR YEARS now, to issue a speed limit for boats in the North Atlantic to help prevent the
extinction of the North Atlantic right whale.
Cheney: 300 Endangered Whales
Is 300 Too Many
Cheney's office has been delaying attempts to issue speed limits near the habitat of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale
for FOUR YEARS. There are only about
300 right whales alive today, and ship collisions are their leading cause of death. As Henry Waxman
wrote in his letter to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
"the death of even a single whale, particularly a breeding female, may
contribute to the extinction of the species."
Despite clear evidence linking higher boat speeds with increased whale mortality,
Cheney's office has gone so far as to conduct their own analyses
of data (using untested methods, NOAA scientists noted) to delay a ruling on the speed limits. The office contended that
NOAA had "no evidence
(i.e. hard data) that lowering the speeds of 'large ships' will actually make a difference." NOAA has quickly rebutted these objections, noting
that
they've conducted statistical analysis of ship strike records and have published peer-reviewed literature on the subject. They
also conduct calf counts.
He won't even believe
NOAA, so he has to and conduct his
OWN analysis of the situation! Come on now, give me a
break, like
HIS analysis is going to be more accurate than
NOAA's?
This guy is sooo full of himself I'm surprised he can even walk!
And
WHY would NOAA
LIE about something like this? What, do they have a pet peeve against fast ships?
What is it with Cheney?!?
It just seems like
EVERYTHING he does is
WRONG!
Or should I say, done for the wrong reasons?
Why Cheney's office is going to such extremes to delay this ruling is up for debate. On one hand,
there are shipping companies that want to make
a few extra bucks speeding through a critical habitat.
Of course! Should have known!
I'm sure shipping companies are "
DONATING" to his favorite cause (probably himself) to keep him from imposing a lower speed limit in the
shipping lane!
What's the extinction of a species compared to the glory of making a buck!
Can this man
EVER do the
RIGHT thing?
[edit on 4/30/2008 by Keyhole]
