Coral Reefs: A Reason to Keep Voting ProgressiveI grew up watching The Undersea Adventures of Jacques Cousteau. I was fascinated by the marine environments I saw the intrepid French oceanographers of the Calypso exploring, and longed to join them, diving the world’s coral reefs. When I actually got the chance to dive on a coral reef, years later, I was shocked by what I saw. Fragments of the old reef were scattered, here and there, along the sea floor, whitened and dead, blasted by fishermen looking for an easy catch. Diving this wrecked reef, I realized for the first time that the world shown to me by Jacques Cousteau could easily disappear. In American waters, dynamite fishing is not a big threat to coral reefs, because it is against the law. Yet, many of our coral reefs are still dying. In May 2006, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration added staghorn and elkhorn corals to its list of threatened species. These corals used to be common in Caribbean reefs, but now they are becoming rare. Surveys have found that, in Caribbean reefs, live staghorn and elkhorn coral have decreased by 90 percent. So, if dynamite fishing is not to blame for this decline, what is? Pollution and irresponsible fishing practices are major culprits. Increasing ocean temperatures due to global warming is also thought to be a contributing factor. Finally, there is the spectre of ocean acidification, a process stemming from rising carbon dioxide that leads to bleached, dead coral. In short, human activities are to blame for the impoverishment of our coral reefs. If we do not change our ways, future generations of documentaries about our oceans won’t have much to show but images of the wreckage we left behind. Progressives support measures to reduce pollution, bring fishing back to disciplined levels, and reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. Right wingers don’t support these measures. If we want to keep our coral reefs, we need progressive government to lead the way in their protection, from the President on down through the Environmental Protection Agency and right on over to both houses of Congress. (Source: Blue Planet Magazine, Summer 2006) |
 Politicians have begun calling for expanded offshore drilling for crude oil as a solution to every problem they can think of. Has anyone stopped to think that the offshore drilling America already does has not prevented the current environmental and economic crisis? Offshore drilling is not a new solution. It's a manifestation of the old problem that has driven America to the brink of disaster. Talk back to the pro-oil politicians with this made in the USA tshirt: Offshore drilling is not change we can believe in.  Say it boldly: OBAMA in blue and green. Barack Obama for president! (bumper sticker)  Barack Obama is a political lion, and that's why Leos support Obama for President in 2008. What's your astrological sign of the zodiac? Leos for Obama. |
 Oklahoma, OK! Oklahomans support Barack Obama in his bid to become President of the United States in the year 2008. Show your support with this Pro-Obama t-shirt, featuring a portrait of Barack Obama, toned blue of course. |  Senator Russell Feingold of Wisconsin for President in 2012! What a great election that would be. (election 2012 bumper sticker from Irregular Times) |  New Mexico supports marriage equality because it isn't in the character if the USA to discriminate. The Constitution guarantees us equality under the law - all of us, even if we're part of an unpopular minority. Honor marriage and the American way - support marriage equality in New Mexico. |