US lists polar bear as threatened species

[ShawnT]

It was only a matter of time before this happened..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_sc/polar_bear

[greghall]

There are more Polar Bears now than there were in 1970,about four times as many.Its mostly eco propaganda for global warming,next they will say burmese python will spread to the artic.

[Swingline0.0.1]

I'm working on the photoshop now of Inuit vs. Polar Bear...

Also, today Putin announced a new initiative that will give tax CUTS to oil companies... which country do you suppose understands supply and demand? Which leadership wants their country to ultimately succeed?

I'm going to go practice my Russian now...

[Swingline0.0.1]

I just found this bit from Alaska senators and some environmentalists about how stupid the whole thing is, and what's really behind it.

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/123321

[missi182]

I did a report on polar bear endangerment and what not for one of my classes this year - I must admit I was not very into it and I did not chose the topic, but during my "research" I did not come across anything that suggested the population was higher now than in the past, conspiracy? Or just not open fact?

[Swingline0.0.1]

I've heard from several 'mainstream' sources that their population was around 5,000 in the 1970s, mainly due to hunting... and almost everything you can find now says it's around 25,000.

Here's a bit from some scientists that have a problem with the studies the US Fish and Wildlife folks used to justify the new classification.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0508132549.htm

[Mindibun]

Just have to point it out:

The news stories are flipping a **** because the gov. classified them as "endangered". But they DIDN'T as far as I am aware. They were classified as "threatened" which just means, "Hey, there might be some issues with this species later on down the road. So, heads up."

Which is a perfectly fair assumption. Although, I maybe would have waited a few years, monitored them and whatnot. I dunno. But either way, it's more attention on global warming, recycling, etc. Which I am all for. So I don't really care if they declare the polar bear extinct (so long as it really isn't )