Deers and Squirrels and Bears, Oh My!
December 28th, 2006 by Carbon CoalitionYesterday the Bush administration proposed to list the polar bear, the largest land mammal in the Arctic, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, citing global warming as the principle threat to the bear’s future (for more, see yesterday’s blog).
Today former North Carolina senator John Edwards announced his candidacy for president. The photo-op was in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana (state mammal: black bear).
Edwards will be in New Hampshire on Friday (state mammal: white-tailed deer).
What, in John Edwards’ mind, does American leadership in the world’s battle against global warming really mean? In March 2004, John Edwards said, “I support strong environmental protection, higher CAFE standards, protection of ANWR, and American leadership in the world’s battle against global warming.” We recall that in October of 2003, just five months before sharing his commitment for American leadership on climate change, Edwards was nowhere to be found when the historic senate vote on the McCain-Lieberman bill was cast. He never did cast a vote because he was in the hinterlands campaigning for president.
When Edwards comes to New Hampshire, press him on specifics regarding global warming policies and his level of commitment, and share your thoughts in this blog. If there is the slightest, slimmest chance that the polar bear listing is a signal for any actions or policy changes on global warming from the Bush administration over the next two years, the presidential candidates in both parties will have an opportunity and an obligation to influence current administration policies from the campaign trail.
By the way, North Carolina’s state mammal is the grey squirrel. Oh my.
