11th Hour Environmental Mischief

Eleventh hour environmental mischief

The Bush administration is quickly tinkering with environmental rules that would not stand scrutiny outside of this busy period of presidential transition.

Seattle Times editorial

The Bush administration is racing the calendar, busy salting federal regulations with changes. Most would be unlikely to survive scrutiny outside of the frenzied period when one presidency ends and another begins.

One example goes after the Endangered Species Act, and another mugs national parks in Utah in the name of oil and gas leases.

Last week, the Interior Department finalized rules that blithely allow government agencies to decide if one of their projects are a threat to an endangered species.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne described the change as a "clarification," of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Instead of consulting independent reaction from the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess consequences, it would be up to an agency's own self-serving discretion.

Hard-earned experience has taught the environmental community this is a bogus approach, and they filed suit in federal court to challenge changes they view as illegal.

The Interior Department is also trying to change language that covers the breadth of a designation of endangered status. In the past, listing bald eagles as endangered meant all bald eagles were covered. The administration wants to narrow the definition by qualifying and limiting descriptions of a species' range and territory.

Another last-minute flurry of activity is under way with the Bureau of Land Management, which wants to open 51,000 acres of oil and gas leases near Arches, Dinosaur and Canyonlands national parks.

Environmentalists are upset, appropriately so, and so is the National Park Service, which sounds like it was blindsided by the sales. They are none too keen about the prospects of drilling trashing up treasured and protected views and vistas.

The urgency of the leasing activity is suspect. Even as "drill, baby, drill" echoed in the presidential campaign, most leases on public land go unused.

Congress and President-elect Barack Obama need to keep a running tally of this bureaucratic mischief. These rules have sticky tenacity, so what the new administration cannot undo, it falls to lawmakers to make amends by statute.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008523319_edit16species.html

The Evolution of Self

NEW YORK, NY, December 15, 2008 /24-PressRelease/

-- With 19,000 people going vegetarian everyday, people and animals getting sick from what they eat, environmental problems, animal abuse, endangered species and other serious issues, this is information that anyone (vegetarian or not) should be aware of. As those who occupy this planet cannot continue to keep their blinders on. While this book won't convince everyone to become a vegetarian or vegan, it will open their eyes as to the benefits of it, for both animals and humans. TE Sutton went out of her way to go over her own personal details as to why she decided to stop eating animals, start helping them, in turn helping her own self and countless others. She firmly believes she is a better person for it. She believes that you will be, too.

At long last there is a call to arms, a code of ethics if you will, for all who want to create a better life for animals while improving the health of humans. This young author will touch your heart and conscience as she shares how she evolved into a cruelty-free eating and living lifestyle. The journey will bring both tears and smiles. All who view the dramatic presentation of animals on her website will be transformed into a kinder, gentler person. And you'll likely find yourself on a new and personal mission once you've read this most soul-searching account of what goes on in both the commercial and private world of animals. You, too, will want to share how it feels to cry happy tears after you've helped rescue just one animal or helped change a law and saved thousands from torture. Follow your heart and join the movement. The rewards you'll receive will be endless. And you'll sleep better each night knowing you did a very good thing for the animals.

You did not just stumble upon this news story today. Perhaps you have come across it for a reason? If everyone will share what they have learned (from this book) with others in their lives, many lives will be changed for the better. Thousands of animal lives will also be saved. Purchase your copy of Compassion Is A Choice by TE Sutton today. Help yourself and the animals to experience a more promising tomorrow.

Discover for yourself why this young author is getting nothing but positive feedback, from all over the world. Tiffany Sutton takes great pride in helping to inform society about animal welfare with integrity and intelligence. Through her own words, both written and verbal, she promotes kindness towards animals in a peaceful manner and encourages others to do the same. "The ONLY way to reach people is with education and information, ONE person at a time".

On a personal note, Tiffany is active in helping feral cats in her community and is a sponsor for several animal welfare organizations. She helps to feed, rescue and foster cats and kittens for adoption. Tiffany has been self employed, working from her home office since 2003, so she could be with her companion animals. Her interests are fitness, reading, natural health and living a cruelty-free lifestyle.

Meet Tiffany:
http://www.myspace.com/thepearlywhites
http://my.care2.com/tesutton

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/explore-with-urgency-this-heartbreaking-expose-into-the-shortlived-horrifying-existence-of-our-animal-friends-dare-to-confront-and-challenge-a-worldwide-compassion-deplenished-mindset-79514.php