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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (1917)	10/10/2000 12:18:05 AM
From: Selectric II	Respond to of 10042

The whole continent was a wilderness refuge before the Europeans got here. Maybe we should all just pack up and go home, eh? Would you like to volunteer to be first? Please?

To: American Spirit who wrote (1917)	10/10/2000 2:09:03 AM
From: D_I_R_T	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

Just began following this thread and found some comments about Alaska and your comments about sea otters populations being "highly endangered" in this state. What do you base this statement on? The fact is that Alaska is a very big state and to say that any particular animal here is "highly endangered" is almost sure to be wrong. The strength of sea otter populations vary from region to region. In the southeast part of the state the population is considered stable. From personal experience I can tell you that it is expanding. I believe it is considered to be in the recovery stage in the PWS area. South Central and out on the chain the population has declined in recent years. The last I heard they were not considered to be in immediate danger although if the trend continues it could develop into a serious threat. There has been a lot of research done to determine what is causing the decline. One possible reason has surprised just about everyone. It seems that killer whales, orcas, have developed a taste for the fury critters. This is something that had not been documented prior to recent years. Why have they suddenly developed this taste? Hard to say. Some say that it may be others sources of food for the orcas have declined so they have had to look elsewhere. Maybe, as a predator, they are just taking advantage of a convenient food source. They are known to eat sea lions, I have personally witnessed this, so a sea otter could easily fall on to their menu list. The bottom line is that to insinuate that sea otter populations are "highly endangered" in all of Alaska because of the Exxon Valdez or some other man made reason is simply wrong.

To: American Spirit who wrote (1917)	10/10/2000 9:21:53 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 10042

Why should they have to recover in the wilderness to begin with? And just how much protection does being declared a "Wildlife Refuge" offer from Mother Nature herself? It sure didn't help the wildlife around Mt. St. Helens, did it? And what is the Alaskan wildlife going to do when Mother Nature finally decides to pop the lid off of this pretty mountain (and it eventually will)?? geology.about.com Or this one: geology.about.com Or this one: geology.about.com And then we could discuss Tsunamis that have ravaged the Alaskan coast line, or as I recall, the collapse of a particular cliff that fell into a bay and sent a wall of water 1,500 feet high slamming into the opposite shore.... All of these events would be far more grievous than the Exxon Valdez... AND THEY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN JUST LIKE A STOPPED CLOCK IS RIGHT TWICE A DAY.... IT'S GUARANTEED.... What will your "wildlife refuge" mean then?..... There is NOTHING that mankind can do, short of nuclear conflagration, that tops the ancient course of self-destruction, and re-generation that Mother Nature inflicts on her denizens.