Posted on 12/21/2004 4:18:19 AM PST by WhatHappenedtoAmerica
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- International conservation organization WildAid congratulates the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for capturing smugglers trying to illegally import 150 Lilac Crowned and Mexican Redhead Amazon parrots in San Diego earlier this year -- and returning the parrots to the Mexican wildlife authorities today, the first step in returning them to their natural southern Mexican habitat. "The illegal bird trade causes the death of hundreds of thousands of birds, threatens some with extinction and poses a serious risk of disease to U.S. agriculture to human health (e.g. Avian Influenza)," says Peter Knights, Executive Director of WildAid. According to the World Health Organization, the Avian Influenza H5N1 (Bird flu) virus is far more lethal than the SARS virus that struck Asia last year and could unleash a pandemic that could kill as many as 50 million people. It has already been detected in smuggled birds in Europe and Asia. "In the whole of the U.S., the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has less than 100 specially trained wildlife inspectors working to stem the flow of illegal wildlife shipments. It is a credit to the professionalism of the USFWS and the ICE that these seizures were made. We call upon Congress to put more resources into the USFWS to stop this illegal wildlife trade and to protect the Nation's human health and agriculture from diseases such as Avian Influenza," Knights concludes.
Founded as a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization in 1999, WildAid's mission is to stamp out the illegal wildlife trade in endangered species within our lifetimes. WildAid channels 100% of donations from the public into award-winning programs designed to protect the wild on land and at sea, stop the illegal trade, raise awareness and reduce consumer demand.
These parrots are a lot less expensive.
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
All tongue and cheek. Hope it didn't get your blood pressure up!
Not only do they vote - they need social services - that's job protection.
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Illegal avians?
Illegal parrots can't cut my grass, pick my produce or clean my hotel rooms either. When they can do all those things, I'll want to know their names and where they're living as part of my guest parrot program.
Heck, why don't you just move to Latin America and establish your little aristocracy there?
I think rhombus was joking.
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Thank you, you are correct. I have felt so much hostility, since the last Michael Moore film.
hope so... If that's he case, apologies to rhombus
(...but there's more than one advocate for Bush's amnesty on this board.)
Good point, good point.
Yeah, but they can sit in a tree by the dozen and crap on your car; a job most Americans won't do. (thank God)
If the dead can vote who says a parrot cannot? Cueing dead parrot sketch as I type....
Well here's the deal... during the campaign all Jonn F'n Kerry presented was "a littany of complaints" with respect to the war on terror. There really was no option because he really never presented any alternative actions. When pressed "he had a plan". Of course he never had a plan, he was just against anything Bush did or was going to do. I feel the reaction on this board to "Bush's amnesty" plan as it has been called is the same... "whatever it is, I'm against it". Give me an alternative and I'll consider it, discuss it and perhaps vote for it. The alternative choice that is before us now is non-existent. We've seen do nothing for a long time from both parties with respect to illegals. Still they come. Ship 'em all back is fine but imagining the logistics and what that would entail I don't believe has been truly considered or if it has its been, it's a battle that has been "traded off" for other battles. Nonetheless, I'd be willing to listen to anything other than non-helpful anger, hatred and nastiness. I can get that any day from Democrats (and have).
Very well said.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.