Issues: Wildlife

There is a rushing increase in loss of species.
Sharks, frogs and corals are in desperate straits.
Polar bears are in danger because the polar ice is melting.

On the other hand, without predators, there has been a worldwide increase in the jellyfish population. Many people are stung to death each year.

Many large predatory fish, including Tuna, are affected by mercury in the water. The mercury was dispersed into the atmosphere by the power utilities that burn coal to generate electricity. As the mercury rained down to the oceans, it was taken up by the plankton and plants. Small fish then eat the plankton and plants which absorbed the mercury. The larger predatory fish such as Tuna eat many small fish with small amounts of mercury in each one. This is why doctors advise pregnant women to not eat Tuna fish.

The bees have a serious problem. One quarter of bee colonies have died in recent years. Beekeepers and farmers are very alarmed. What is causing the disappearance of so many bees?
Beekeepers like David Hackenberg believed and scientists have finally established that the culprit is a type of pesticide called "neo-nicotinoids," a synthetic chemical based on nicotine. Hackenberg said, "well, basically, the chemical, the manufacturers of this product say it breaks down their immune system, causes memory loss, causes nervous system disorders. It causes the insects to quit feeding."
Even though many communities have banned these pesticides, this problem has not yet been resolved. Much of our worldwide agriculture depends upon bees for pollination.
Again, the reluctance that the United States demonstrates when asked to protect the ecology can only be explained by the corporate lobbyists.




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A newspaper page from Nov 11, 1926