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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.<
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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.
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