Posted on 02/12/2006 5:09:44 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
February 12, 2006
The British newspaper calls itself "The Independent," but an article in today's edition indicates it's hardly independent of the kind of environmentalist scare-mongering common in the US press.
How's this for an over-the-top headline?: "Starving Polar Bears Shame Bush to Act"
The gist is that global warming is causing the Arctic ice cap to melt, which in turn reduces areas in which polar bears can hunt for seals, the staple of their diet.
Author Geoffrey Lean [special sympathy for the hungry?] brands Bush's stance on climate change "obdurate," which last I looked means "hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; stubbornly impenitent." No media bias there!
The article offers only the scantest anectdotal evidence in support of its claims: one person killed by bears in the Russian arctic, evidence of bears eating their own. Have bears never killed humans before, or have jealous males not killed and perhaps eaten cubs, as is common in some species?
The article closes by expressing the possibility/hope that polar bears will be listed under the US Endangered Species Act, which would force regulatory agencies to take into account how their decisions would affect it. "This could lead to tougher measures to control the spread of pollution that causes global warming, and stricter fuel-economy standards for vehicles."
Is this good science, or a SUV-as-bear-killer critique of all things American and by extension of the free market?
Starving polar bear ping to the Today Show ping list.
Do they really think that this tripe passes for fact outside the leftist koolaid centers?
The bear wasn't even starving, he just ate a Russian.
A leading Canadian authority on polar bears, Mitch Taylor, said: "We’re seeing an increase in bears that’s really unprecedented, and in places where we’re seeing a decrease in the population it’s from hunting, not from climate change."
Polar bears defy extinction threat (Flashback: Global warming just isn't killing them!)
Wonder what polar bears taste like - you know, if they're cured and grilled properly?
But, but, but . . .
That can't BE! We know all the bears are starving to death due to the Wicked W!
And Polar Bears aren't even included in the poverty census. We need to get them on welfare fast!!
Just like spotted owl.
George Bush's minions, no less!
the were all fat and happy during Clinton's years in office... they started starving the minute W took office...
*rolls eyes*
the NSA... that's part of why the Dims want to bring it under!
The bear wasn't starving once it ate the Russian, was it?
First, the liberals scream that we should not Arm Bears, now they'll be screaming for Bear food stamps.
The mother was barbequed and all present said that she tasted just like chicken! Of course the Point Barrow 'skimos preferred whale blubber which definitely tastes like chicken.
The world has been warming since THE ICE AGE.
How do ya think they retreated for Millions of years ?
...Gee, those cars must not have been very efficient back then !!!
Just to point out how stupid this article is let me ask a question. Lets say the Arctic Ice cap is melting. How does that reduce the area for hunting seals. Seal are sea critters and the polar bears hunt at the seas edge. Is the coast line shrinking as well?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.