Palin Loses to Beluga Whales

Gov. Sarah Palin lost another environmental fight this week — to the Bush Administration. The Interior Department has decided that the beautiful white Beluga whales are indeed endangered despite Palin’s efforts to block such protection. Earlier, Palin failed in her efforts to block protections for the polar bear.

The Interior Department found that beluga whales of Alaska’s Cook Inlet are endangered and require additional protection to survive. Palin opposed the protections on the demands of commercial fishermen who did not want to have to restrictions on their fishing, since now the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine if there are potential harmful effects on the whales.

Ironically, Palin is taking the same approach used by the Chinese who continued to delay serious action to protect the rare Yangtze River dolphin, the click here. Eventually, it was too late and the baiji are now extinct.

Well, it is not all bad. Perhaps in some future year, Palin will be able to see Belugas from her home.

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