Iceland

On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 8:10 AM, Pierce Brosnan - NRDC <biogemsdefenders@savebiogems.org> wrote:

An important message from Pierce Brosnan “Please join me in urging President Obama to impose tough trade sanctions on Iceland for its illegal slaughter of whales.” Dear Liz, The time has come for Iceland to pay a steep price for its inhumane and illegal slaughter of whales. But that may only happen if hundreds of thousands of us speak out now with one powerful voice that cannot be ignored. Let me explain. The U.S. Commerce Secretary has just formally declared that Iceland is defying the international ban on commercial whaling. That declaration starts the clock ticking on a 60-day period during which President Obama must decide whether or not to impose trade sanctions on Iceland. Please join me in urging the President to impose tough sanctions and make Iceland pay a real, measurable price for its mass killing of whales. Iceland has proven that it will thumb its nose at anything less -- and will go right on slaughtering whales for profit. In 2004, the United States denounced Iceland in the same manner -- but failed to impose sanctions -- and Iceland proceeded to ramp up its awful slaughter. Since 2006, Iceland has killed 280 endangered fin whales and more than 200 minke whales. In the last two years alone, it has exported millions of dollars worth of whale meat, blubber and oil to Japan, Norway, Latvia and Belarus. Iceland is not only flouting the ban on whaling, it is depleting whale populations at an alarming rate. It’s practically begging to be sanctioned. Please ask President Obama to make Iceland pay a price at long last -- for the sake of whale survival. For starters, he could target imports by those Icelandic seafood companies directly tied to the whaling industry. But do not assume for a second that such presidential action is a sure thing. In fact, the U.S. has never before imposed sanctions on another nation for whaling. That’s why it’s so important that President Obama feel a groundswell of public support if he is to take this next historic step. Please make your own voice heard inside the White House. You can be sure that Iceland will not end the abhorrent practice of whaling until it is forced to do so. Let’s fight 'em. Again and again. Sincerely, Pierce Brosnan Natural Resources Defense Council   Brosnan photo © Greg Gorman

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Songbirds

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Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis

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Belugas

Please donate or help in other ways if you can to preserve the dwindling beluga population of Cook Inlet.

From: NRDC - Frances Beinecke <biogemsdefenders@savebiogems.org>

Date: Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 11:49 AM

Subject: The last 340 belugas are counting on us.

To: lizardmarsh@gmail.com

Dear Liz, We've rushed to court to save the last remnant of Cook Inlet's beluga population, but we need your immediate support to wage and win this fight for their survival. I hope you'll take a few seconds to watch this amazing footage of belugas and then help NRDC come to their rescue. Thank you. The last 340 belugas of Cook Inlet are fighting for their lives. Once you see and hear these musical creatures, we hope you'll help us rush to their defense. Please watch the 30-second video and donate today. Dear Liz, I urge you to watch this wonderful footage of the highly social and musical belugas -- because they desperately need our help. View the video. Three years after we won endangered species protection for the very last 340 belugas of Cook Inlet, Sarah Palin's successor in Alaska has stepped up his state's attack on these embattled creatures. He has filed a lawsuit that would strip away the belugas' life-saving protection. NRDC has raced to court and is defending these last belugas from the disastrous plans of corporations and politicians, but we urgently need your support. Please make an online donation so that NRDC can save the last Cook Inlet belugas from extinction and continue protecting our environment in the most effective way possible. Your contribution can make a big difference in this courtroom battle. Over recent years, the genetically unique beluga population in Cook Inlet, Alaska, has plummeted -- from more than 1,300 to the 340 survivors that remain today. They are truly the last of their kind. And their habitat is under siege. The latest threat comes from the proposed Pebble Mine, which would require a deepwater port in a part of Cook Inlet where the whales feed. The new port would increase shipping traffic, noise, pollution and other industrial activity -- all to service the monumentally destructive mega-mine. You and I didn't fight to save these last 340 belugas, only to see them wiped out by the Pebble Mine. That's why it's critical that we stave off the state's outrageous attack on their endangered species status. Please view the beluga video and donate now. Your gift will help us wage and win this fight for beluga survival. Thank you for helping at this critical time. Sincerely, Frances Beinecke President Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC takes pride in our careful stewardship of your contributions. Donations to this campaign will be used to help NRDC go to court to protect beluga whales and other wildlife or for other campaigns that enable NRDC to defend the environment in the most effective way possible.

We appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you and other NRDC BioGems Defenders. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will never sell, exchange or rent your email address.