Sarah Palin still has environmentalists howling.
The Alaska governor and former Republican vice presidential hopeful is the target of a campaign by the Washington-based Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund which claims she is pushing for an expanded program for the shooting of wolves from the sky.
In a graphic video narrated by Hollywood star Ashley Judd, the group claims Palin even offered a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf collected. You can view the video here.
“When Sarah Palin came on the national scene last summer, few knew that she promotes the brutal aerial killing of wolves. Now, back in Alaska, Palin is again casting aside science and championing the slaughter of wildlife,” Judd says in the video, which features footage of a wolf howling in pain after apparently being shot from the sky.
(Photo: Palin works a crowd, Dec 1, 2008. REUTERS/Tami Chappell, USA)
On its web site, the group said in a statement that: “Governor Palin is expected shortly to introduce state legislation that would dramatically expand the aerial killing program by removing the few remaining scientific requirements from the program. ” Palin’s office was contacted by Reuters and was not immediately available for comment.
Palin, an avid hunter and angler like many Alaskans, has frequently clashed with environmentalists on issues ranging from artic oil drilling to the delisting of endangered species.
After suing last year to keep polar bears off the U.S. threatened species list, Alaska’s government said in January it plans to issue a similar challenge to block federal protections for a struggling population of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, a mature oil-producing basin.
(Photo: Judd has an eye on Palin REUTERS/Ramin Rahimian, Jan 17, 2009, USA)
Palin was credited with galvanizing the Democratic Party base and raising money for abortion rights causes last year because of her social and religious conservatism and strong opposition to abortion rights.
It seems Palin can still galvanize activsists on the left and in this case perhaps help raise money for a conservation group.
(Photo Credit: Wolves on the prowl. Canon USA Handout, Undated)
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Palin confuses me how can someone like her think that having a child before it is born killed even though if the child doesn’t die it is a possible risk to both parent and child wrong and yet see no shame in killing living breathing dreaming goal setting wolves tortured from the air until they finally die?
I am not against all hunting
And I think abortion is necisary if the child and parent risk getting killed if the abortion doesn’t happen
but sporthunting and killing children just because you were in it for the sex is wrong having children is a comitment and we are suppost to set an example for others
In summary SARAH AND ASHLEY STOP BEING FUNDAMENTALISTS AND STOP FIGHTING!!!!!
- Posted by HiddenWouldn’t it be more productive to sedate some of the animals and reintroduce animals to areas that have existing populations that may have inbreeding issues (i.e., Michigan/Minnesota)? Note: Hunting is an appropriate method of conservation. Shooting from planes is not hunting. Hunting generates funds that protects wildlife and conservation efforts. Don’t waste taxpayer money fueling helicopters for an issue that hunters or nature will ultimately manage.
- Posted by CWilson[...] Reuters covers this story in a one-side event. Not only has Reuters not bothered to contact any scientists with the Alaska fish and game department for a scientific explanation, they simply promote the lies perpetuated in the short documentary narrated by Ashley Judd. [...]
- Posted by Defenders Of Wildlife Attacking Palin. Not Interested In Saving Wolves : Black Bear BlogPalin hunts animals. She doesn’t like other animals competing for her game - even though she has the advantage of technology. By ridding the predators, she can kill her prey. And all is fine. As long as she can enjoy her “sport” it doesn’t matter what’s left for the next generation. You know, just like when the buffalo were wiped out. But why should anyone care–animals are here for our use– humans are the center of the universe and can do whatever they feel justified to do. What’s a few wolves compared to the number of animals on this earth? And when they’re gone, we can shoot the humans we define as lesser beings. I bet Sarah already has a few in mind!
- Posted by barbTrophy hunting is one of the worst types of coward. A real man or woman doesn’t have to prove their bravado by shooting helpless animals from the safety of a plane or helicopter.
I’m not condeming those who hunt for subsistence and do it as humanely as possible.
But some people don’t hunt out of necessity. Like those who club helpless seals or shoot mourning doves for target practice.
No, some people just like to kill. It is sick and scary.
- Posted by PJOWhat does abortion have to do with the wolf issue? It is totally irrelevant.
Ashley Judd is articulate and did a tremendous job of explaining this issue.
If you listened to the interview you would know that Ashley has donated to Defenders. She is not paid for this.
The people who are knocking Ashley are already anti-animal welfare. You heard what you wanted to hear. Obviously it wasn’t the same interview I heard.
Those of you who are far right and “Christian” read up on your Bible. It supports treating animals with respect. Guess you hadn’t heard about that one.
- Posted by PJOAbsolutely mind-boggling the absolute ignorance of this woman, Ashley Judd. She rabidly protects the “rights” of wolves to live and yet rabidly protects the “rights” of mother’s to kill their own children. Does ANYONE see the irony in this????
- Posted by Kym McCormick[...] of Alaska’s wolves. Judd says in the video: “It is time to stop Sarah Palin and …Judd versus Palin on wolves ReutersAshley Judd targets Sarah Palin OneindiaAshley Judd Takes Aim at Gov. Sarah Palin Gay [...]
- Posted by judd vs palin | PollMogul.comTo the individual who feels the “point” was missed.
First off, I am no expert on Caribou, never claimed to be. Simply someone who is moderately informed pointing out the larger scope of the issue AT HAND….which BTW, is NOT the issue of pet overpopulation, abortion, the education system’s failures, the homeless crisis or the multitude of other issues being addressed by a plethora of activists all over the world. Certainly there are many valid, important issues in dire need of being remedied. As someone who works in dog rescue, I can testify personally to the validity the issue you mention on the plight of domestic animals.
Yet, THIS is an environmental blog on the subject of the Alaska wolves and Palin’s policies regarding such…not on the pet population issues….there are many charities and groups (a number of which I support and work with myself) already dedicated to addressing THOSE issues.
Why is D.O.W. “on about” the issues of the slaughter of Alaska’s wolves?
First off, DOW came about as a result of the efforts of those involved in the Yellowstone wolf restoration which brought back an important member of our ecosystem which had been wiped out 60 years earlier by those with a similar mentality to the supporters of Alaska’s current policies. This same cavalier attitude toward wildlife in our history (that when left unchecked) led to the slaughter of as many as 100,000. wolves a year until canis lupus were completely eliminated from their habitat in the Western United States. Defenders of Wildlife understands well how a history ignored can be repeated. The founders set up this organization to prevent such happening to the Yellowstone wolves. This group then expanded to assist in a number of issues regarding the preservation of wildlife AND it’s many beneficial effects on our entire ecosystem.
Many make the mistake of trivializing the disregard or even the potential loss of any specific species. Yet each species plays an important role in the balancing of our entire ecosystem…which by the way, IS essential to our survival as well. For those who don’t understand the importance of any specific species and their far reaching impact on the entirety of the ecosystem one should do some research on “trophic cascade” to understand how every species (plant or animal) impacts the multitude of other species, and even to the quality of the air we breathe. It actually is some interesting reading…quite an eye opener.
The disregard of appropriate wildlife management is FAR from the “proverbial gnat on the elephant’s butt”. Such a view is myopic, to say the very least.
To compare this to the plight of (insert cause here) is comparing apples & oranges. What is an important issue for one may be less so for others but all are valid in their own right. Is the plight of pet overpopulation to be trivialized by those advocates for the homeless? Or the issue that many children in this country do not have healthcare available? I have seen others seek to do that very thing and it is no more appropriate (or productive) there than it is here.
There are many things that need fixing in our world.
- Posted by JL WorthamIMHO, our energy is better invested in supporting the causes we choose to instead of trivializing others. One cannot effectively create positive change for one cause by investing their energy into trivializing another.