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| Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - World Affairs / Debate - Guam Birds Highly Threatened By Air Force Project |
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Kefka Indefinitely Unbanned Level: 81 Posts: 2372/3392 EXP: 4826208 For next: 166641 Since: 03-15-04 From: Pomona, CALIFORNIA BABY! Since last post: 4 hours Last activity: 4 hours |
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| Original article from LA Times If you cannot view the story, just register a free account on the LA Times site, because its free, easy, and decently fast. And obviously, I highly recommend you read the article prior to responding to this topic. I will admit that this article is from a liberal writer, but I also believe that she presents the arguments from both sides decently. Anyway, the basics: Right after the end of WWII, the brown tree snake was accidently introduced into Guam. As is the case with a handful of invasive/foreign species, it succeeded decently, as it did not have any natural predators on Guam and thus was at the top of nearly every food chain. As the snakes began to grow extensively, the many various kinds of birds in Guam began to diminish in population. Now practically all of them are highly endangered, and a few are even extinct in the wild (but still have a few populations in recovery programs in zoos). Aside from the danger that the birds already face from the tree snake, they now face an even bigger danger: U.S. Air Force projects attempting to expand the base on Guam. Now, under the original provisions of the ESA (Endangered Species Act, 1973), there is no way in hell that the Air Force would be allowed to do this, because they would have to check with the Fish and Wildlife Service to make sure that they did not affect the habitats of endangered species, and they would have to then come up with a recovery plan for the species if it did have any effect on that species, and then the plan would have to be approved by the FWS. However, the Bush administration passed a new act in the last year that negates the critical habitat provisions in the ESA when dealing with the military. Military branches need no recovery plan and do not need to check with the FWS before building anything. However, the Air Force didn't leave the EPA and FWS completely aggravated after they became the first military agency to test this new act... for a while, anyway. The AF promised that they would do many things to help protect the highly threatened Guam birds, including building a huge snake barrier so that the many species that are in danger of this invasive species could be somewhat protected. Many environmentalists were very happy about this promise, but others were still sketchy, knowing that the environment and other species were not the primary priority of the military. The latter group ended up being more correct, as the building of this snake barrier was canceled. The AF officials say that there is no reason to be prematurely fearful for the birds, as the base expansion is still in a planning stage, and still has plenty of room for change. However, many biologists are predicting that this base expansion will help further speed up the seemingly inevitable extinction of Guam birds, as it will essentially destroy all but about 250 acres of suitable habitat for all the species of birds. And remember, they would still have to share that 250 acres with the tree snake, which is a species that greatly outnumbers the birds. What are your thoughts? Will the base expansion lead to an immediate extinction of Guam birds? Should the AF look to build elsewhere? Are they actually concerned at all about the Guam birds that are highly threatened? Should the act passed by the Bush administration be exempt in this critical situation? My thoughts: The military's main focus is to protect our nation's citizens (and, in some instances, invade other nations' citizens), not to keep the environment healthy for all animals, endangered or not. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that in their planning for the base expansion, they will not even be considering these birds much. After all, by law now, its ok for them not to pay attention. I believe that the Bush administration's act should have exemptions in critical situations such as this one. The arguments for negative affects on the birds have heavily outweighed the positive ones that have been brought up so far regarding this base. After all, this is a Pacific island; last time I checked, our Navy has been doing a great job protecting the Pacific front, and we likely do not need more AF space to help the cause on the Pacific. I also have some ideas running through my head about the Bush administration acts... there are people out there who believe the ESA to be a bunch of bullshit (I find some things about it ludicrous, but all in all I think its benefits outweigh its negative effects). A few people who believe that are on the Bush administration. I don't think this will be the last bill proposed to negate a certain aspect of the ESA. I think that as long as people who dislike the ESA are in office (and some liberals are against it too, oddly enough), then the more the act will be negated, and the more open we are to not having such statuses as "endangered" and "threatened." The FWS will essentially be worthless over time. I suppose I can go on about why there is argument over the ESA, but I will let others respond first, and if there seems to be some misunderstanding, I will write about it. Anyway, Guam birds are screwed. I think very soon we will be having zoo crews round up small numbers of them (because that is all that will be left) and captivating them. The FWS and EPA's cause for these particular endangered species have been defeated by a military exemption that really shouldn't apply here. I think that every species is important, and none should be allowed, almost blatantly, to go extinct so quickly. However, I'm sure some value humans more than any other species, and don't give a shit about those other species at all. If you basically state something to that effect, I likely will not reply to you, because obviously there's no way I can change your way of thinking. Now, your thoughts. |
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alte Hexe Star Mario I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night Alive as you and me "But Joe you're ten years dead!" "I never died" said he "I never died!" said he Level: 99  Posts: 1871/5458 EXP: 9854489 For next: 145511 Since: 03-15-04 From: ... Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| I'm a little bit of a bird watching enthusiast, so this breaks my heart. Too bad that's the reality of living in a military-industrial capitalist society. |
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Dracoon Zelda The temp ban/forum ban bypasser! Level: 84  Posts: 1871/3727 EXP: 5514391 For next: 147561 Since: 03-25-04 From: At home Since last post: 5 hours Last activity: 5 hours |
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| You know... I really don't care... In truth, if a species is going extinct and it effects us in no way, then I don't care. Call me cold hearted, but if we look out for absolutly everything we'd have to turn into a bunch of hermits, or hippies.... Your choice. |
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