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The Common Sense
Environmental Fund
Whales / Endangered Species / Fisheries
International
Our natural environment does
not
know political boundaries. Environmental degradation in one area of the
world has an impact elsewhere - regardless of the nation. For this
reason, we support a variety of groups worldwide whose work helps to
protect the health of
the entire planet.
Whales
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| Despite bans on
whaling, Japan and Iceland continue to hunt whales under the guise
of scientific research. Such killings, say critics, is an effort
to keep their whaling industry alive. Japan recently tried to
reclassify one of its mink whaling ventures as a subsistence hunt,
even though 90% of the whale meat was sold
on the open market. Iceland businesses have also profited
handsomely on whale meat from "research" slaughter, reaping
over $8 million in revenue in one year. |
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| The Faroe Island Pilot Whale Slaughter |
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Every year between over 1,000 Pilot Whales are corralled by men in boats and forced into bays in the Faroe Islands, a North Sea Danish island mid-way between the Shetland Islands and Iceland. During a "grind" boats chase the animals into shallow bays, where the disoriented creatures are easily gored with metal gaffs. Waters turn a brilliant red by the time the killers sink a 6-inch blade past blubber and flesh to sever the animals spinal cord. Finally, vital blood vessels are cut, leaving a bay littered with mangled animals. Unbelievably, these drives are festive community events. Young children even take part in the massacre of these animals. Read more |
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| Endangered Species |
Commercial harvesting of
wild species is systematically reducing the populations of many other
endangered species, causing a drastic reduction in gorillas,
elephants, rhinos, jaguars, tigers, and cheetahs in Africa. In
1973, 130,000 elephants lived in Kenya.
In 1992 only 26,000 were alive - a reduction of 80%. This
decrease was largely the result of commercial killing of
elephants for their ivory. Recognizing the plight of the African
elephant, the Kenyan government banned further export of ivory
in 1989. Despite the ban poachers continue to kill large
numbers. |
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Fisheries
The world's fisheries (fishing
grounds) have also been heavily over fished, and many have been severely
depleted. Worldwide, an estimated 45 fisheries have been abandoned thus
far as a result of unsustainable harvest. Many others are currently
threatened. In Thailand, the introduction of trawl nets, coupled with
the rise in motorized boats, has resulted in a dramatic increase in
commercial fishing so great, in fact, that several natural fisheries may
soon be depleted. The Thai fishing industry nets over $700 million per year in export sales
to countries in Asia, Europe, and North America.
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| The Common Sense Environmental Fund researches, analyzes, assists and invests in organizations
conducting research, conservation and restoration work involving
international biological degradation. To save our planet for
future generations we need your help. The Common Sense Environmental Fund is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible
to the fullest extent of the law. To make a donation please click here. |
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