Environmental preservation is an issue that has enjoyed bountiful
support across all religions and party lines for more than a century,
which is why it’s troubling to see today’s leaders using the Endangered
Species Act -- a bill championed by Republican President Richard Nixon
meant to protect endangered species and their habitats -- as a political
football. The previous Congress introduced over
250 amendments, bills, and riders aimed at stripping away provisions of
the ESA, such as provisions that would limit lawsuits as a means to
maintain protections for species or limit the number of species that can
be protected. With the GOP firmly in control of both the House and
Senate, it is likely these efforts will be renewed in earnest, and have a
much better chance of succeeding. But these direct attacks on the ESA
are not the only threat to our wildlife.
...As head of DOI, Rep. Zinke would oversee a department that manages
hundreds of millions of acres of land, numerous bodies of water, and the
countless species of wildlife that inhabit them. He’ll also be
responsible for leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in developing
policies in line with the ESA - a law that he has a history of seeking
to dismantle. During his short time in Congress, he has championed
expanded oil and gas development on public lands, and moved to exempt
agribusiness from ESA regulations.
Most disturbingly, he has led efforts on the federal level to take away
protections for some of our majestic species, including wolves and lynx,
and voted to block efforts that would have limited the black market
ivory trade. He is inheriting a role designed to protect America’s
public lands; yet, based on his past efforts to take away protections
for endangered species, how can we trust Zinke to stand up to his
Republican counterparts as they try to phase out the Endangered Species
Act?
...The Bible tells us the story of Noah who was called on by God to build
an ark for all species, big and small. The Endangered Species Act is
today’s ark. Once again, we must prioritize saving each and every
species before disaster strikes and opportunity is lost. This is, in the
words of President Reagan, “our great moral responsibility.”
The National Religious Partnership for the Environment’s mission is to
educate the public and policy-makers about with it means to uphold this
responsibility in our daily lives, and how we can value the importance
of every species present on this Earth. To this end, last month on
Capitol Hill, we hosted the fourth in a series of roundtables and events
on species protection featuring science and faith leaders -- and in
some instances, endangered animals themselves.
1 comment:
Trump was elected to get rid of the EPA and other dead wood agencies. The sooner the better!
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