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Begin forwarded message: From: Environment Minnesota <act...@environmentminnesota.org> Date: March 17, 2020 at 8:14:39 AM CDT To: "katda...@hotmail.com" <katda...@hotmail.com> Subject: Our best bird protection law is being rolled back Reply-To: act...@environmentminnesota.org Birds need our protection now more than ever, but the Trump administration plans to gut our most powerful bird conservation law. [https://tpin.webaction.org/images/outlookfix.jpg] [Environment Minnesota Banner] Bird populations are collapsing, but the Trump administration is trying to roll back our most important bird conservation law. Add your name to help save the Migratory Bird Treaty Act before the deadline this Thursday, March 19. TAKE ACTION<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=hjWhBNskTSpTYtL9HRSQy9wCZfsh8%2F21> Kathryn, There are 3 billion fewer birds in the skies of North America today than there were 50 years ago. This dramatic decline points to something worse than seeing fewer feathered friends at our backyard feeders. "This is the loss of nature," said one conservation biologist -- because birds are vital players in every ecosystem.1 Birds need our protection now more than ever, but the Trump administration plans to gut our most powerful bird conservation law. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act has been preventing bird deaths for 100 years -- but no longer, unless we take action.2 We have until this Thursday to tell the Trump administration: Don't roll back the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QaRWP39w%2F%2BYsdGzodUMRytwCZfsh8%2F21> Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, companies can be held liable for harm done to birds by their projects, even if the birds were killed by accident. For example, thousands of birds choke or drown in the toxic black ponds that store oil drilling waste. Because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the oil companies responsible could be fined for their deaths even though the ponds weren't intended to kill birds.3 In 2017, the Trump administration decided to follow an extremely narrow interpretation of the law. The government stopped investigating bird deaths, and even began to discourage business and states from going out of their way to protect birds.4 This change will be permanent if the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is rolled back. Submit your public comment before the March 19 deadline.<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5Dm2mppFuUvPXIWhzs8%2F9twCZfsh8%2F21> It's not too late to ensure that birds will enjoy the protection of this vital law for another century and beyond. The government is required by law to consider any public feedback that is submitted before the deadline, so the time to raise our voices is now. This rollback makes it easy for companies to cause the deaths of thousands of birds just because it's more convenient to leave them in harm's way than it is to protect them. But you and I both know that this shortsighted point of view doesn't make any sense. Our nation's incredible wildlife is worth protecting at any cost. Thank you, Timothy Schaefer State Director P.S. Our work to defend the environment can't stop and won't stop in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. We'll keep advocating on your behalf -- at a safe social distance -- for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. 1. Carl Zimmer, "Birds Are Vanishing From North America<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=btB4JKs7ZcIp%2FYATQgH3lNwCZfsh8%2F21>," The New York Times, September 19, 2019. 2. Lisa Friedman, "Trump Administration Moves to Relax Rules Against Killing Birds<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XEdrfgODYlNf8H16PaYpZ9wCZfsh8%2F21>," The New York Times, January 30, 2020. 3. Elizabeth Shogren, "I saw more dead birds in that one pit than hunters would poach<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BrXuucwZk%2BbTHdSigNIVu9wCZfsh8%2F21>," High Country News, March 15, 2018. 4. Lisa Friedman, "A Trump Policy 'Clarification' All but Ends Punishment for Bird Deaths<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AlLw5XzlmOYlLQ66ZofmWdwCZfsh8%2F21>," The New York Times, December 26, 2019. Donate today.<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=A6FnCO8twDhCazQ0rw%2FIX9wCZfsh8%2F21> A cleaner, greener future is within our reach. Your donation today can help us bring the vision we share a little closer to reality. Environment Minnesota: Clean Air, Clean Water, Open Space, Inc. 211 N. 1st St., Ste. 480, Minneapolis, MN 55401, (612) 331-8404 612-520-7630 Member questions or requests call 1-800-401-6511. Facebook<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=khR67DoqDYjhg0GoJ0MD1dwCZfsh8%2F21> | Twitter<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=KOSNmc5WD9e7G9oS7P2lktwCZfsh8%2F21> If you want us to stop sending you e-mail then follow this link -- Unsubscribe<http://pin.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IeatPi7LvSNq%2Fr27g%2BJNztwCZfsh8%2F21> ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
