This is the time we look back on the past year and talk about all the good and bad, losses and gains, hopes and dreams. Most of us were probably not aware of two things that happened in 2019. We have all heard about climate change and preserving our natural environment from the real scientists, and even a teenage girl. We’ve heard from the deniers who refuse to believe the obvious. Unfortunately, the current administration is lead by the worst denier of all. Back in June, his administration issued a “clarification” of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. I know what you may be thinking, I’ve got more important things to worry about than bird policy. It’s the twisted reasoning that is behind the “clarification” that should concern us all.
The federal government has now eliminated criminal penalties for “incidental” deaths of migratory birds that happen in the course of normal business. The government has stopped investigating most bird deaths, and even told local and state governments they don’t have to take any measures to protect the birds. According to a New York Times investigation, “birds have been killed and nests destroyed by oil spills, construction crews and chemical contamination, all with no response from the federal government.” The Times found that the new policy means, as long as a company or local government doesn’t mean to kill the birds, it’s okay if they’re killed as a result of development. Fish and Wildlife officials have told local and state government who have asked for guidance that they no longer have to report bird deaths. So as long as there is no intention to kill the birds, you’re good to go.
The original Migratory Bird Treaty was meant to protect birds from over hunting and destroying species. It was illegal. There were heavy fines. Loss of habitat and pesticides have reduced the number of adult breeding birds in the US and Canada by 2.9 billion since 1970. Rachel Carson warned the world about the dangers of the pesticide DDT that was destroying the balance of nature killing birds and contaminating land and water in her book “Silent Spring” published in 1962. It lead to the banning of DDT in 1972. But the chemical stays in the soil for decades.
Our government is not alone in its blind policy of not seeing the obvious. Published reports have shown the European Union, despite saying its trying to promote green policies among it members, has given $65 billion dollars in farm subsidies to farmers who have contaminated land and water with animal waste and fertilizers creating dead zones. Rivers are full of algae killing fish. Species of birds, butterflies and insects are vanishing. Greenhouse gases are rising.
Fifty seven years ago the publication of “Silent Spring” started the environmental movement. Much has been accomplished, but now much of those accomplishments are in danger because of greed, corruption, and ignorance. Rachel Carson warned us of the consequences of our choices. “We stand where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road-the one less traveled by-offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.” We should remember those words the next time we hear a bird sing.
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