Post by Boomer Chick on Jul 20, 2004 22:31:28 GMT -5
Outdoorsmen Are Now Seeing through Bush, Too
The Albuquerque Tribune | Editorial
Monday 19 July 2004
www.truthout.org/docs_04/072104G.shtml
Some of the best trackers in the nation say they aren't fooled anymore by the backtracking conservation shenanigans of President Bush & Co. It's about time.
The trails left by this administration are disturbing. Its policies are causing real damage to wetlands and forests around the nation, including in New Mexico.
Recent surveys by the National Wildlife Federation and its New Mexico affiliate suggest that many of the nation's hunters and anglers are seeing much more clearly where the Bush administration is heading with its environmental policies.
The federation is among the nation's most venerable, credible and conservative conservation organizations. It bases its agenda on tried-and-true natural-resource science. Its scientific poll found 86 percent of sportsmen saying that concerns about wildlife and conservation issues "will be an important factor" in their presidential vote this November. More a third said it will be a "very important" factor.
Nearly half believe the Bush administration gives the greatest consideration in setting national conservation and environmental policy to the oil and gas industries. Only 15 percent believe hunters and anglers have greater influence.
Just 8 percent feel that the assessments of scientists, including wildlife biologists, have more influence. This echoes recent criticisms from leading scientists who say the Bush administration routinely sidesteps solid science when setting policies.
Directly at odds with Bush, some 26 percent of those surveyed say they already see evidence of global warming in the field, and 75 percent say the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Some 74 percent consider this a high priority that can be partially achieved using renewable energy sources not favored by the administration.
Most of the federation's 750,000 members hunt and fish. Most own guns. Nearly 40 percent are also members of the National Rifle Association. But the survey suggests that the hot-button issue of gun rights is ranked lowest on their list of political concerns - nearly 10 percentage points below "clean air and water" and "wildlife conservation."
The survey was conducted randomly from a national list of current fishing and hunting license-holders who also said they are registered to vote.
Federation President Larry J. Schweiger told The Tribune on Thursday that members of his organization are dismayed by the regressive actions of the administration across the conservation realm.
Oscar Simpson, president of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, put it this way: "Nothing is sacred anymore." He said his members are concerned about the administration's decision to open Otero Mesa to oil and gas drilling and that traditional wildlife areas in New Mexico and other Western states are being routinely turned into "industrial zones," from which wildlife flee.
It is unlikely that between now and November the administration will change much on these issues. But this survey should be a political wakeup call that causes President Bush to reverse course on a broad range of conservation and environmental decisions. He should start by abandoning the so-called National Energy Policy Act, which is among the greatest threats to these resources.
But assuming the Bush assault continues, the nation's conservationists - as always, led by its hunters and anglers - will have to decide in November how to balance their conservation ethics and worries with their conservative politics.
The Albuquerque Tribune | Editorial
Monday 19 July 2004
www.truthout.org/docs_04/072104G.shtml
Some of the best trackers in the nation say they aren't fooled anymore by the backtracking conservation shenanigans of President Bush & Co. It's about time.
The trails left by this administration are disturbing. Its policies are causing real damage to wetlands and forests around the nation, including in New Mexico.
Recent surveys by the National Wildlife Federation and its New Mexico affiliate suggest that many of the nation's hunters and anglers are seeing much more clearly where the Bush administration is heading with its environmental policies.
The federation is among the nation's most venerable, credible and conservative conservation organizations. It bases its agenda on tried-and-true natural-resource science. Its scientific poll found 86 percent of sportsmen saying that concerns about wildlife and conservation issues "will be an important factor" in their presidential vote this November. More a third said it will be a "very important" factor.
Nearly half believe the Bush administration gives the greatest consideration in setting national conservation and environmental policy to the oil and gas industries. Only 15 percent believe hunters and anglers have greater influence.
Just 8 percent feel that the assessments of scientists, including wildlife biologists, have more influence. This echoes recent criticisms from leading scientists who say the Bush administration routinely sidesteps solid science when setting policies.
Directly at odds with Bush, some 26 percent of those surveyed say they already see evidence of global warming in the field, and 75 percent say the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Some 74 percent consider this a high priority that can be partially achieved using renewable energy sources not favored by the administration.
Most of the federation's 750,000 members hunt and fish. Most own guns. Nearly 40 percent are also members of the National Rifle Association. But the survey suggests that the hot-button issue of gun rights is ranked lowest on their list of political concerns - nearly 10 percentage points below "clean air and water" and "wildlife conservation."
The survey was conducted randomly from a national list of current fishing and hunting license-holders who also said they are registered to vote.
Federation President Larry J. Schweiger told The Tribune on Thursday that members of his organization are dismayed by the regressive actions of the administration across the conservation realm.
Oscar Simpson, president of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, put it this way: "Nothing is sacred anymore." He said his members are concerned about the administration's decision to open Otero Mesa to oil and gas drilling and that traditional wildlife areas in New Mexico and other Western states are being routinely turned into "industrial zones," from which wildlife flee.
It is unlikely that between now and November the administration will change much on these issues. But this survey should be a political wakeup call that causes President Bush to reverse course on a broad range of conservation and environmental decisions. He should start by abandoning the so-called National Energy Policy Act, which is among the greatest threats to these resources.
But assuming the Bush assault continues, the nation's conservationists - as always, led by its hunters and anglers - will have to decide in November how to balance their conservation ethics and worries with their conservative politics.