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Cook Inlet beluga
Center for     Biological     Diversity   

We're Suing to Save Endangered Beluga Whales

The Center for Biological Diversity and our allies sued the Trump administration Wednesday for authorizing an oil company to harm endangered beluga whales and other marine mammals through its offshore-drilling operations in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The corporation, Hilcorp Alaska, already has a record of environmental and worker-safety violations.

Cook Inlet's tiny population of a few hundred belugas is facing serious threats from Hilcorp's seismic blasting, "pile driving" and other dangerous offshore oil and gas development over the next five years.

"We can't allow Hilcorp's acoustic attack on these rare whales," said Julie Teel Simmonds, a Center attorney. "Trump doesn't care about protecting marine mammals, so we're turning to the courts."

Read more and consider supporting our fight for belugas with a donation to our Wildlife and Wild Places Defense Fund.

Youth Climate Strike

Sept. 20: Join the Youth Climate Strike

On Sept. 20, three days before the U.N. Climate Summit in New York City, people across the world will strike to demand transformative action on the climate crisis.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, young people have been leading the global climate-strike movement — and now it's time for everyone else to join them. Together we'll demand science-based policies that end the era of dirty fossil fuels, protect wildlife and human communities, create thousands of good jobs, and save life on Earth.

We're at a crossroads: irreversible climate catastrophe or a safe, healthy future. Find an event near you and join the movement.

Gas flare

Trump Aims to Kill Rules Cutting Methane Pollution

Trump's EPA has announced plans to roll back Obama-era rules meant to cut methane pollution from oil and gas operations.

Methane is a potent pollutant that heats the atmosphere 87 times more than the same amount of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It's also a factor in the formation of smog, which contributes to asthma and other health threats.

"This reckless rollback pours fuel on the flames of a world on fire," said the Center's Kassie Siegel. "The EPA is now so determined to actually increase greenhouse pollution that it's even shrugging off concerns from oil and gas companies about gutting these protections."

Read more in The Washington Post.

Center Op-ed: Don't Let These Fireflies' Glow Fade Away

Fireflies

For tens of thousands of years, Bethany Beach fireflies have lit up summer evenings on the Delaware coast with brilliant double-green flashes.

But unchecked threats to their beachfront habitat have reduced them to just seven populations. And under President Trump — who's shown callous disregard for wild creatures and just moved to gut the Endangered Species Act — this lovely lightning bug faces a dimmer and dimmer future. We can't let it wink out.

Get more from our op-ed in USA TODAY.

BorderView

In our new BorderViews video, the Center's Laiken Jordahl takes us to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to reveal the border-wall construction underway now. Endangered species, sacred American Indian sites and protected wilderness are under immediate threat. Watch on Facebook or YouTube.

Beaut Burger

Eat a Veggie Burger, Help the Center

If you're in Tucson, you can support the Center even while eating dinner. Plant-based restaurant Beaut Burger, in the Mercado San Agustin Annex, now offers a "B IO" veggie burger that evokes our spicy Southwest roots with tomatillo salsa and chiltepin pepper. All proceeds from this tasty burger will be donated to the Center's work.

Animal agriculture is one of the most destructive industries on Earth, driving biodiversity loss, climate change, deforestation and pollution. By eating less meat, you'll make a real difference.

We're grateful for Beaut's support — and invite you to check out its delicious, planet-friendly food.

American pika

Our 1,000th E-newsletter

Here's a milestone: The email you're reading is the 1,000th edition of Endangered Earth Online, the Center's weekly e-newsletter.

Our executive director Kierán Suckling sent the first edition to Center supporters in 1995. Almost a quarter-century later, it still comes out every Thursday. And it's still the fastest way to find out about the extensive, energetic work we do to save wild creatures, plants and places.

Thank you for being our reader. You can help get the word out by forwarding this message to someone who might be interested — and if they like what they see, they're welcome to sign up.

The Revelator: A Win for Asian Otters

Small-clawed otters

We may coo over the cuteness of East Asia's otters, but we know they're far more valuable left at peace in the wild than sold as pets — or pelts. As The Revelator reports, these otters are being hurt not only by habitat destruction but also by the pet trade and fur poachers.

Thankfully, the world's governments just voted to give two otter species the strongest possible protection from international trade.

Read more in The Revelator and subscribe to The Revelator's e-newsletter.

 

Endangered Species Condoms for World Contraception Day

Endangered Species Condoms

Help us hand out Endangered Species Condoms on Sept. 26, World Contraception Day!

This global day raises awareness about contraceptive methods and empowers people to make informed decisions. With reproductive rights under attack, it's crucial to spread the word: Access to all forms of contraception is good for people and the planet. Our free condoms are the perfect way to start that conversation.

Sign up to distribute our condoms on World Contraception Day.

Palmyra Atoll

Wild & Weird: Underwater Rain at Palmyra Atoll

A speck in the vast ocean halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa, Palmyra Atoll is one of the most remote national wildlife refuges under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Take a micro-vacation to this extraordinary place by watching new footage of "underwater rain" on Facebook and YouTube.

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Center for Biological Diversity   |   Saving Life on Earth

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Photo credits: Cook Inlet beluga by Paul Wade/NOAA; protesters by Peg Hunter/Flickr; gas flare by W.carter/Wikipedia; fireflies by valen1260/Flickr; Laiken Jordahl courtesy Center for Biological Diversity; Beaut Burger courtesy Center for Biological Diversity; American pika by William C. Gladish; small-clawed otters by Mathias Appel; Endangered Species Condoms courtesy Center for Biological Diversity; Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge by Ian Shive/USFWS.


Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
United States