|
The reality is that Southern Resident orcas are starving -- slowly and mercilessly -- to death. This is because of the lack of their primary food source: Chinook salmon. But these salmon are already scarce and becoming more so as loud oil tanker noise and ship traffic increase.
But soon, oil tanker traffic could increase exponentially -- further worsening the famine, while a proposed tar sands pipeline expansion pumping the dirtiest oil will add yet another threat to these endangered creatures. Oil spills are not hypothetical -- they are practically a guarantee in any area where oil is shipped. We are working to fight back against these projects to help protect Southern Resident orcas and our planet, but we are falling $3,988 short of our goal. Will you join us in our fight before it’s too late?
The pain of losing Cappuccino and Marina is reminiscent of the tragic death of Tahlequah’s calf Tali, who died just thirty minutes after her birth, prompting the mama orca to carry Tali’s body over the following two weeks in a heartbreaking display of grief.
As the situation worsens, these scenes could become more frequent. As they suffer from a self-perpetuating cycle of starvation, grief, and stress, Southern Resident orcas are in grave danger. Now, more than 2/3 of whale pregnancies are failing, and the chances of survival for any new calves dropped sixfold with the death of Marina, the matriarch.
Neither the proposed Roberts Bank T2 shipping terminal nor the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion can exist alongside the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales if we want them to survive. There is no way around it. The only way to save these whales from extinction is to stop these disastrous megaprojects in their tracks.
Stop Big Oil and the shipping industry from wiping out Chinook salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales. Support Friends of the Earth Action with a $15 donation and help us reach our goal before midnight.
Every species is important, but orcas play a special and irreplaceable role in our ecological systems: Whales and other large sea animals are key to combating climate change and protecting our own future.
Whales serve as ecosystem engineers and provide crucial nutrients to phytoplankton -- tiny ocean plants that produce over 50% of our oxygen -- sequester hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon per year, and make up the foundation of the marine food system upon which all ocean life depends. We are interdependent: We rely on these whales for our future -- just as they are counting on us now.
With their food supply dwindling, the whales are getting skinnier and skinnier. We still have a chance to save these incredible creatures, but time is running out.
Your membership gift to Friends of the Earth Action today can help us reach our $3,988 goal to help protect endangered orcas, their marine ecosystems, and our planet. But it’s an uphill battle -- and if we don’t have you by our side now as we work to stop these latest mega-projects, we could miss our window of opportunity.
People power, and donations from members like you, can make the difference. The fate of these Southern Resident Killer Whales hangs in the balance.
Standing with you,
Marcie Keever,
Oceans and vessels program director,
Friends of the Earth Action
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.