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Wildlines Archives | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wolf Preservation Wolves, once found all across North America, have been listed as a federal endangered species since 1974. Since then, wolf populations have slowly recovered in some states, due to reintroduction plans and natural recovery. For example, wolves were successfully reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, and there is some evidence that Canadian wolves are extending their territory into northern New England (Rutland Herald, 11/5). Despite concern from environmental groups that wolf populations have not recovered enough, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed delisting wolves and handing management over to individual states. States with wolves must have a plan to manage them to ensure their continued recovery. Several states have already developed or are in the process of developing such plans, with mixed results. In Wyoming, for example, state officials have proposed classifying wolves as predators outside of parks, meaning they could be killed indiscriminately. This proposal has created trouble both with the USFWS and neighboring states (Billings Gazette, 11/14). In order to be approved, state plans need to assure the continued recovery of wolves in the wild. For more on how your state can develop a positive wolf management plan, please visit http://serconline.org/wolfpreservation/index.html. |
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Staples
Reaches Agreement with Activists (Boston Herald 11/13) As part of an agreement with forest preservation groups, ForestEthics and the Dogwood Alliance, Staples outlined a commitment to boost to an average of 30 percent the amount of recycled content within all its paper products. That percentage is currently less than 10 percent. Environmental activists hailed the agreement as a victory for ‘marketplace activism.’ Staples also said it would phase out paper products with materials from endangered forests and work with environmental groups to identify endangered and so-called old growth forests. Staples said it would report annually on its progress. Activists say paper production imperils forests worldwide and destroys millions of acres of U.S. forests a year. Activists also say the boreal forest of Canada, breeding ground for billions of migratory songbirds and caribou, wolves and bears, loses hundreds of acres of forest a week. ForestEthics and Dogwood had hit Staples stores with more than 600 protests and backed letter-writing and media campaigns aimed at getting the company to increase use of recycled paper and cut out paper made with timber taken from endangered forests. Activists indicated they will immediately shift their focus to Staples rivals such as Office Depot and Office Max. |
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Water System
Privatization (Christian Science Monitor 10/24) In the United States, several cities are experimenting with private water systems. Privatizing water systems is supposed to provide incentive for conservation, improve delivery systems, and (not incidentally) make a profit for the corporations controlling the water. However, there are some serious concerns about the privatization of water systems. If water becomes a private commodity, economically poor communities may be unable to afford this basic necessity. In addition, when there’s money to be made off of the volume of water sold, there’s little incentive for a corporation to promote water conservation. Private water companies also have little reason to leave sufficient water for ecological needs, endangered species, and other downstream uses. Privatization agreements may also result in reduced water quality, because private water companies have little incentive to address low levels of pollutants that may result in long term health problems, and plenty of incentive to understate the severity of existing pollution. Finally, privatization agreements are often put into place with little or no public input, review or oversight. It may, however, be possible to design privatization agreements that improve existing public systems and still protect the basic human right to clean, safe water. The Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security released a report earlier this year titled “The New Economy of Water", which addresses the dangers and benefits of water privatization, and outlines ways to improve privatization deals. Their suggestions include guaranteeing all residents basic access to water, reserving water for ecosystems, and maintaining strong government oversight of private companies. The report can be found at http://www.pacinst.org/reports/new_economy_press_release.htm. |
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Final Election Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 Ballot
Measures (DOW 11/6) On election day, citizens in 40 states voted on over 200 ballot measures, some of which impacted our water, air, wildlife, and wild lands. Defenders of Wildlife has issued a summary of the 2002 environmental ballot measures, including those that were voted on in the primaries, as well as those voted on in November. This year’s ballots included many of the themes common in previous elections, including tax incentives and funding for environmental programs. In particular, bond measures for environmental clean-up, protection, and education programs passed in California, Maine, Michigan, and Nevada. There were also some new themes on the ballot this year. For example, Oregon voters voted against the required labeling of genetically modified foods; Montana voters rejected an initiative that would have allowed for the acquisition of hydroelectric dams. Overall, in 2002 citizens cast their votes on 15 ballot measures relating to the environment, wildlife, or natural resources -- 14 in November, and 1 in March. Half of them passed, and half of them failed. Each of the measures is summarized at http://www.defenders.org/states/factsheets/02ballots.html. |
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For
more information about SERC, or to use our services, contact our national
headquarters at: |
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State
Environmental Resource Center 106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703 Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828 Email: info@serconline.org |