When it Takes too Long to do the Right Thing...

It took WAY too long for this to happen, but the Polar Bear has finally been placed on the threatened species list. This has wide-ranging implications for oil and natural gas exploration in Alaska; in the end, however, it was the courts that forced the decision (in spite of serial Department of Interior objections and delays). The real tragedy here, is for the Polar Bear--who depend on the ice for food. The more the sea ice melts, the further and further these bears must swim out for food. The melting has occurred to such a dramatic extent that the Polar Bear are drowning from exhaustion, often during their return swim to land.... The next and logical step is to place the Polar Bear on the engangered species list as soon as possible.