VOTING NO FOR EXTINCTION
This past November 160 nations, including Canada, voted on proposals regarding trade in many of the world's most threatened species. The group of nations, known as CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - was created in 1975 to ensure that international trade in wildlife does not threaten species' survival. WWF was present at the meeting in Santiago, Chile and called on the participating governments to make some bold decisions concerning whales, sharks, seahorses, freshwater turtles, big leaf mahogany, elephants and more. Find out what happened at: www.traffic.org.

SPANISH OIL SPILL
This past November, the Prestige, a storm-damaged oil tanker snapped in two and sank in deep waters off the coast of Spain. The tanker sank with most of the 77,000 tonnes of oil on board, but at least 10,000 tonnes is believed to have leaked into the surrounding water destroying wildlife and shutting down vital community fisheries.

It is hoped that the oil inside the single-hulled ship solidifies in the deep, cold Atlantic waters. If however, the wreck breaks open and spills the balance of its cargo, this disaster would prove to be twice as devastating as the Exxon Valdez spill off the coast on Alaska in 1989. WWF is on the ground and working to clean up the mess and find ways to avoid other such crisis in the future. Get updates as the news happens at: www.panda.org.

DID YOU KNOW...

Attempts to cultivate Brazil nut trees on plantations have failed, making Brazil nuts the only commercial nut found exclusively in Amazon forests. Sustainable harvesting of Brazil nuts not only provides a livelihood for people, but also protects the forests from being cleared for agriculture. Save the Amazon, eat a Brazil nut today!

The smallest owl in North America is the elf owl, which is only five to six inches tall. However, the elf owl lives in the southern USA, not the North Pole.

Both male and female reindeer have antlers. Reindeer hair is hollow inside, to trap air and keep warmth near their bodies.

Wolf and Cougar Cull on Vancouver Island Imminent!
Wildcanada.net Action Alert - 090
Friday December 6, 2002

Synopsis:

Biologists from British Columbia's Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
will be presenting their recommendations to the Minister to "control" the wolf
and cougar populations on Vancouver Island, citing pressure on Blacktailed deer.
This is most likely to be in the form of a systematic cull of cougars and
wolves, and a contraception/sterilization program for wolves. If a cull goes
ahead this winter, 40 wolves will be killed in each of the next three years, and
the cougar hunting season will be extended to over nine months. A petition
opposing the cull was presented in the BC Legislature this week with more than
4,000 signatures, after which Joyce Murray, Minister of Water, Land and Air
Protection, stated publicly that she does not favour a predator cull. However,
she did not specifically address the contraception/sterilization option.

Take Action:

Please call, fax or write Minister Murray, supporting her opposition of the cull
and insisting that alternative solutions to a contraception or sterilization
program be pursued in the Ministry's deer recovery program. A decision will be
made in the next two weeks.

Joyce Murray, Minister of Water, Land & Air Protection
joyce.murray.mla@leg.bc.ca
Fax: 250-387-1356
Phone: 250 387-1187
Leg Ass, PO Box 9047 Stn Prov Gov
Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Be sure to include your full name and return street address in your letter or it
may be ignored.

Background:

The ministry biologists say that they may propose a cull because of concerns
with deer recovery on the Island. The number of deer has fallen from 200,000 in
1980 to 55,000 in 2001. As prey decreases, so do its predators: cougars have
fallen from around 750 in 1995 to around 350 in 2001; wolves from around 400 in
1986 to less than 200 in 2001. The hunting lobby is driving the pressure for the
cull. Hunters kill approximately 10 per cent of the deer population on the
Island annually.

A major factor behind the decline of the deer is the loss of old growth forest,
which is important habitat for Blacktail deer. 75 per cent of the Island's
productive ancient forests have been logged.

Arguments for and against the war on Iraq.

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Robert Redford tells Bush that his energy plan is lacking.

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