Opinions and Information Briefs by Kip Hansen — 3 February 2024 — 1100 phrases/4 minutes
Over the previous few days there have been a number of fascinating normal information objects referring to subjects that I’ve lined right here up to now. I’m simply going to say them, with my opinions, and provides hyperlinks to the unique tales.
[Note: There are hardly ever “original” stories, almost all that become visible in your news feeds are re-writes of some other coverage elsewhere. Were it important, I would track down the earliest version of each one.]
Grey Wolves
The U.S. Want and Wildlife Service has issued a ‘discovering’ — an official assertion — on the Grey Wolf:
“After an intensive peer-reviewed evaluation utilizing the perfect accessible science, the Service right this moment introduced a not warranted discovering for 2 petitions to record grey wolves below the ESA within the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States. This discovering isn’t action-forcing; the authorized standing of grey wolves doesn’t change on account of this discovering.”
“Grey wolves are listed below the ESA as endangered in 44 states, threatened in Minnesota, and below state jurisdiction in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of jap Oregon and Washington. Based mostly on the newest knowledge as of the tip of 2022, there have been roughly 2,797 wolves distributed throughout a minimum of 286 packs in seven states within the Western United States. This inhabitants dimension and widespread distribution contribute to the resiliency and redundancy of wolves on this area. The inhabitants maintains excessive genetic variety and connectivity, additional supporting their capability to adapt to future modifications.”
“To perform this and tackle the priority about nationwide restoration for grey wolves, the Service will undertake a course of to develop a first-ever nationwide grey wolf restoration plan by December 12, 2025. Restoration plans present a imaginative and prescient for species restoration that’s related to site-specific actions for decreasing threats and conserving listed species and their ecosystems.” [underlining emphasis mine – kh]
What this implies is determined by your opinion in regards to the re-wilding of Grey Wolves in america. On probably the most fundamental stage, US FWS has determined to not change the principles about Grey Wolves. FWS makes an attempt to de-list the Grey Wolves from Endangered to Threatened have been repeated efficiently challenged in Federal court docket by conservation activists teams — the leading to the truth that 5 of 6 earlier FWS’s issued guidelines on Grey Wolves have been shot down by courts.
There’s a report from the FWS dated December 2023 accessible right here [.pdf]. This report principally finds that wolves are doing high quality and don’t have to be protected below the Endangered Species Act [ESA].
However, FWS isn’t going to strive once more, right now, to minimize protections for the Grey Wolf.
PBS NewsHour reprinted a bit by Related Press’sMatthew Brown and titled it: “Feds gained’t restore protections for grey wolves, suggest nationwide restoration plan”.
How’s that? The “gained’t restore” is what the FWS calls “a not warranted discovering for 2 petitions to record grey wolves below the ESA within the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States.” The petitions demanded restoration of full Endangered Species standing for the wolves within the Northern Rockies and the Western United States – which the FWS has declined to do – as “not warranted”.
Count on extra authorized challenges and noisy advocacy and pushback to that advocacy. The subject of wolves produces a variety of opinions, viewpoints and emotional response [ mine here ]
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Lake Oroville Dam water launch
Who says “folks by no means study”? The California Division of Water Assets made this announcement on 30 January 2024:
“Forward of forecasted winter storms this week, the Division of Water Assets (DWR) started growing water releases to the Feather River right this moment from the Oroville-Thermalito Complicated. These releases present flood management safety for downstream communities and are coordinated intently with the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers and different water operators. Feather River recreation customers are suggested to stay alert as river flows are anticipated to be swift and chilly and should change primarily based on projected climate forecasts.”
The Division of Water Assets (DWR) has a terrific video of the occasion (2:20).
Why is the fascinating information? Let me refresh your reminiscence, when in 2017 the DWR didn’t launch ample quantities of water previous to heavy rains. This created the Oroville Dam Disaster and resulted within the evacuation of 180,000 folks. At the moment, Anthony Watts’ hometown was shut sufficient for the Oroville Dam story to be native information and this disaster was lined right here at WUWT.
The Nice Salt Lake: Personhood ?
The U.S. State of Utah says “Not so quick, Lefty!”
Oddly lined within the Local weather Disaster Information cabal outlet Inside Local weather Information (ICN), we get this as:
“Utah Legislature Takes Intention at Rights of Nature Motion
“Nonhuman entities like companies and municipalities have lengthy had “authorized personhood” in U.S. regulation. Now, Utah lawmakers need to stop lakes, forests and different elements of nature from having the identical authorized standing.”
“Lawmakers in Utah are advancing laws geared toward stopping a rising “rights of nature” motion that has coalesced round efforts within the state to avoid wasting the Nice Salt Lake, which is drying up as a mixture of local weather change, growth and agriculture drain on its freshwater sources.”
“With activists selling laws recognizing that the Nice Salt Lake has a proper to exist, lawmakers in Utah’s Home of Representatives on Tuesday voted in favor of a invoice that will prohibit state and native governments from granting “authorized personhood” to lakes and different our bodies of water, animals and vegetation, amongst nature’s different constituents. The invoice additionally prohibits governments within the state from granting authorized personhood to synthetic intelligence.”
In fact, the ICN slants the problem manner off to the left, however the difficulty is about what is called the Rights of Nature motion. A specious authorized argument that posits that lakes, timber, rivers needs to be granted Authorized Personhood, with advocates appointed to behave on their behalf below the regulation.
The Utah Home of Representatives has handed HB 249 which states:
“ 63G-31-102. Authorized personhood restricted.
51 However some other provision of regulation, a governmental entity might not grant authorized
52 personhood to, nor acknowledge authorized personhood in:
53 (1) synthetic intelligence;
54 (2) an inanimate object;
55 (3) a physique of water;
56 (4) land;
57 (5) actual property;
58 (6) atmospheric gases;
59 (7) an astronomical object;
60 (8) climate;
61 (9) a plant;
62 (10) a nonhuman animal; or
63 (11) some other member of a taxonomic area that isn’t a human being.
64 Part 3. Efficient date.
65 This invoice takes impact on Could 1, 2024.”
This invoice is predicted to move the state Senate and to be signed into regulation by the Governor of Utah. So not simply “no personhood for the Nice Salt Lake”, however, sorry Hal 9000, no personhood for you both.
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Creator’s Remark:
I see many extra fascinating issues than my present life permits me to put in writing about. I believed I’d strive slightly totally different format and convey a number of of those to the forefront.
Let me know in feedback if the sort of factor is any good.
Thanks for studying.
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