U.S. Declares Polar Bears as a Threatened Species

[Mitch]

The U.S. government has decided to list polar bears as a threatened species under its Endangered Species Act because of the effects of global warming — a decision lauded by wildlife groups, but that could deal a severe blow to the lucrative sport hunt in Canada's North.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/05/14/polar-bear.html

I think this is a good step, though odd from a person who was against most environmental projects, such as the protection of some forests in the US.
However, this directly affects Canada's economy around the bear pelts and hunts as hunters from the US can't bring back goods from Canada that involve polar bears.

[Coll]

I think you missed the point of "threatened species".

In the US it means they're being watched carefully for any indication of having WMDs.

[Gwendl]

A lot of people would say "Who cares." They are just polar bears. Animals may not seem important, but each one fits into a very delicate eco-system that has lasting effects for other species when one goes extinct. While that effect may not seem obvious, it does have a ripple effect that can interfere with man's life on the planet.

For instance, right now bees are dying at alarming rates. Why should we care? They just sting us. Because bees pollinate the plants that grow our vegetables and create food for the animals that we eat.

So man should think before destroying forests and environments that perhaps that one animal which may not seem important holds the key to man's future.

[Locke]

A lot of people would say "Who cares." They are just polar bears. Animals may not seem important, but each one fits into a very delicate eco-system that has lasting effects for other species when one goes extinct. While that effect may not seem obvious, it does have a ripple effect that can interfere with man's life on the planet.

For instance, right now bees are dying at alarming rates. Why should we care? They just sting us. Because bees pollinate the plants that grow our vegetables and create food for the animals that we eat.

So man should think before destroying forests and environments that perhaps that one animal which may not seem important holds the key to man's future.

To reference another thread, how can you, without conflict, make such statements while supporting drilling for oil in the Arctic? It effectively accomplished what you have described here; the introduction of foreign chemicals into a biosystem can skew the delicate balances.