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1. DOLPHINS: Federal Judge Strikes Down Weakened Tuna Label A federal judge struck down a recent U.S. Department of Commerce decision last week that would have allowed the existing "dolphin safe" label to apply to tuna caught by intentionally chasing, harassing and setting nets on dolphins. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by nine conservation organizations, including Defenders of Wildlife. We argued that the Commerce Department ignored scientific information that setting nets on dolphins would have an adverse impact on dolphin populations. The court ruled that the department cannot make any label change until it reviews the results of scientific studies that will look at the impacts of using nets on dolphins. The court’s decision is an important victory for dolphin conservation, but the federal government could appeal the decision. Over the past four months, more than 120,000 DEN activists have e-mailed President Clinton urging him to reconsider the Department of Commerce’s decision to weaken the "dolphin safe" label. Thanks to all of you who responded. Defenders also is awaiting judgement on a separate lawsuit targeting recent regulations for importing dolphin-netted tuna into the United States. For reasons not fully understood, schools of large yellowfin tuna swim under groups of dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. For almost ten years, the "dolphin safe" label has excluded tuna caught by chasing, harassing and netting dolphins. Since the advent of this popular consumer label in 1990, dolphin deaths in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have declined by 97 percent. WOLVES I: Minnesota Legislature To Pass Anti-Wolf Bill The Minnesota Legislature is expected to approve legislation that would threaten the long-term survival of wolves in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. The bill would establish "predator control areas" throughout the state where citizens can obtain a permit to trap and shoot wolves where livestock and pet depredation have previously occurred. The state would also pay a $150 bounty for each wolf killed by a permit holder, creating an incentive to kill as many wolves as possible. The legislation is an attempt to produce a state wolf-management plan, which is a precondition before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can remove the eastern timber wolf in Minnesota from the list of threatened and endangered species. Wolf numbers statewide have made a modest recovery from less than 1,000 animals in 1960 to more than 2,500 today. However, the bill ignores consensus recommendations put forth by a state committee of environmentalists, farmers and landowners, and fails to assure the long-term survival of the wolf in Minnesota. If passed, the bill (House File 3046) will await Governor Jesse Ventura’s signature or veto. Hundreds of DEN activists in Minnesota have sent faxes to the governor urging him to veto the legislation. Stay tuned to DENlines for future updates. 3. WOLVES II: Defenders Exposes Farm Bureau As many of you know, the American Farm Bureau Federation was the leading force behind a four-year effort to remove all wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park after that endangered species was successfully reintroduced to the park in 1995. Defenders of Wildlife fought the Farm Bureau and prevailed on the wolves’ behalf. But Defenders decided to find out more about this politically powerful organization and make its findings available to the public. On the heels of a CBS News "60 Minutes," investigative report on the American Farm Bureau Federation that was encouraged by Defenders and broadcast earlier this month. Defenders recently released an in.depth report showing how the Farm Bureau promotes an agenda that does more to hurt than help the family farmers it claims to represent. The report, "Amber Waves of Gain," concludes that the Farm Bureau is a wide.ranging business conglomerate with its own extremist political agenda. In addition, despite claiming that it is the "voice of agriculture," only a small fraction of the organization’s "membership" are actually farmers. 4. CONGRESS: Arctic Drilling Provision Stripped from Budget Bill DEN activists sent more than 2,000 faxes urging selected senators to oppose oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protect the nation's most important onshore denning habitat for polar bears. While the full Senate narrowly voted to support drilling in the refuge's 1.5 million.acre coastal plain by a vote of 51-49, the controversial provision has now been removed from the budget resolution by a House.Senate conference committee. The Senate floor vote was the closest on this issue in more than five years and included several senators who, for the first time, voted to protect the refuge. That vote sent a strong message to the House of Representatives who later fought to remove the provision in conference. Thanks to all who sent faxes to your senators. You helped win this battle! Drilling proponents have said they will continue to push for drilling later in the congressional session, so stay tuned to DENlines for further updates. Inhabiting all of the world’s temperate oceans, the octopus ranges in size from the 30-foot long North Pacific octopus to the diminutive inch-long California octopus. They belong to a class of animals called Cephalopoda (literally "head foot") along with squids, cuttlefish and the chambered nautilus. The octopus can be identified by its distinct eight tentacles and bag-shaped body, which is referred to as a mantle. Each tentacle contains many extremely sensitive suckers that the octopus uses to help grip prey. Primarily hunting at night for crabs, molluscs and crayfish, the octopus camouflages itself by changing color to blend in better with its surroundings. Regarded by many scientists as the most intelligent of all invertebrates, the octopus has been observed solving problems by trial-and-error and can remember the solution when the problem arises again. In preparation for breeding, the octopus builds a protective shelter with walls of rocks and discarded shells. The female octopus will stay in its lair for up to six weeks as she guards her eggs, which can number as many as 200,000. Approximately four to six weeks after breeding, the soft, fleshy eggs will hatch into miniature versions of their parents. Incredibly, only one or two of the up to 200,000 eggs will successfully reach adulthood. (Source: Wildlife Fact File) 6. EARTH DAY I: Titanic Star To Interview President on the Environment Film star Leonardo DiCaprio sat down with President Clinton to talk about the environment and the upcoming Earth Day 2000 celebration. ABC will air the interview as part of an hour-long special on Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m. EDT. As chairman of Earth Day 2000, DiCaprio will act as host and emcee during an all-day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event will feature such celebrities as Melanie Griffith, Chevy Chase, David Crosby, Ted Danson, Ed Begley Jr., Edward James Holmes, Mary Steenburgen and musical performers Third Eye Blind and James Taylor. Defenders President Rodger Schlickeisen will be a featured speaker and Defenders will host an information booth at the event. Stop by and see us if you are in town. EARTH DAY II: Send A Free Earth Day E-Card to Your Friends Defenders invites all DEN subscribers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day this Saturday, April 22. In the six months since DEN was launched we have had a positive impact on conservation issues ranging from supporting wolf recovery in Yellowstone and the Southwest to protecting dolphins from lethal fishing practices. As a thank you for taking action and staying informed on conservation issues, we invite you to send a free e-card to your friends. The e-cards feature photos of wolves or dolphins and a personal message from you. Send your free dolphin or wolf e-card today and tell your friends about DEN!
DENlines is a bi-weekly publication of Defenders of Wildlife, a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. It is known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues, particularly predators such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 380,000 members and supporters.
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