Polar bear ban defeated at UN conservation meeting

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Polar bear ban defeated at UN conservation meeting
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 18, 2010; 4:12 AM

DOHA, Qatar -- A U.S.-backed proposal to ban the trade of polar bear skins and parts has been voted down at a U.N. wildlife trade meeting.

The Americans argued at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that the sale of polar bears skins was compounding the loss of the animals' sea ice due to climate change.

Canada, Norway and Greenland led the opposition Thursday to the U.S. proposal. They said the threat from trade was minimal and the hunting done by Aboriginal communities was critical to their economies.

There were also doubts the sales were hurting the endangered animal.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031800270.html

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Crap!

;(

[NecklyTyler]

2. There is more going on than Aboriginal economies here

Powerful corporations like energy producing companies and mineral extraction companies are working to under cut any attempt at conservation in the Arctic region. Protection of Polar Bears in another obstacle in the way of Big Oil exploring for more dirty fossil fuels above the Arctic Circle.

[fasttense]

3. Well, that will ensure a rapid extinction of the animal in the wild.

But don't worry, you can look at their yellow dirty coats and toothless grins in zoos.

[hatrack]

4. Hell, the same group couldn't even agree to a non-binding resolution to protect sharks

Russia, Japan and China said there were plenty of sharks, not to worry.

Guess that's good enough for the tool monkeys and their quaint habit of discounting the future to zero.

[4saken]

5. Damnit...

[glinda]

6. Awful!

[AngryAmish]

7. COlbert is gonna be pissed

[warm regards]

8. Why should the US or the UN be telling anyone what they can and cannot hunt?

Thankfully, commonsense prevailed. Nevertheless, this is very troubling.

[flvegan]

9. Yeah, three whaling nations are going to give a shit about polar bears.

If they can sell it, they'll kill it.