DON'T FORGET TO FEED MY FISH WHILE YOU ARE HERE :) JUST LEFT CLICK A FEW TIMES ON THE BLUE !

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY , LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT

THE SEASON IS ALL ABOUT !

i'm back !

BELUGA WHALES NEED YOUR HELP !

.. ..The Georgia Aquarium has applied for a permit to import 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia as part of an initiative to breed them for exhibition at aquariums and marine parks across the country. Beluga whales are sensitive marine mammals with complex physical and psychological needs. Shipping them like cargo across the world only to confine them to an aquarium for the rest of their lives is cruel and unjustifiable. Because importing these animals is such a controversial move, there is a public comment period for the next 60 days, and we need your voice to make sure that the whales stay put!

People are captivated by beluga whales, but when confined to aquariums, these fascinating marine mammals continue to live in misery long after visitors return home with their pictures and memories. Most captive whales die prematurely and live to only half the age of their wild brothers and sisters. In the wild, whales swim together with their families for miles a day. They navigate by bouncing sonar waves off objects to determine location and distance. In captivity, their ocean worlds are reduced to claustrophobic swimming pools, and they suffer in frustration as they are forced to swim in endless circles, their natural instincts thwarted by the small tanks.

Breeding programs for beluga whales have been unsuccessful despite more than 50 years of trying. We need to stop this, not subject more animals to lives of misery in captivity and a premature death. Transporting 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia to the United States would be a painful and noisy experience for the animals, and it would put their health and well-being at risk.

Please contact the National Marine Fisheries Service here and let officials know why they should deny the Georgia Aquarium a permit to import more than a dozen beluga whales. Suggested text is below. These intelligent animals deserve more than to be torn away from their home and families and treated as moneymaking breeding machines.

Suggested subject line: Please Do Not Approve Georgia Aquarium's Permit

Suggested e-mail text: I am writing to ask that you deny the Georgia Aquarium a permit to import 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia for captive breeding and exhibition at marine parks and aquariums. Beluga breeding programs in the United States have been largely unsuccessful, and there is no compelling evidence that these programs create interest in, educate visitors on, or change people's attitudes about conservation. Beluga whales have distinct personalities and form strong familial bonds, and when confined to aquarium tanks, their natural instincts are thwarted. Instead of swimming for miles a day with their families, these complex and intelligent animals are reduced to swimming in endless circles in barren tanks and often performing silly stunts for marine park patrons.

Aquariums are a stifling environment for beluga whales compared to the vast open ocean. Captive whales live half as long as their counterparts in the wild. Please give these animals a chance at a normal, fulfilling life by refusing to allow the Georgia Aquarium to import them for breeding purposes—which have proved to be unsuccessful in a stressful captive atmosphere. These unique animals deserve much more than to be treated as moneymaking commodities.

Thank you for your consideration

sacred land !

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — It's advertised as a one-of-a-kind deal: Nearly 2,000 acres of prime real estate nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota for sale to the highest bidder.

But the offer to sell the land near Mount Rushmore and historic Deadwood has distressed Native American tribes who consider it a sacred site. Although the land has been privately owned, members of the Great Sioux Nation — known as Lakota, Dakota and Nakota — have been allowed to gather there each year to perform ceremonial rituals they believe are necessary for harmony, health and well-being.

Members now fear that if the property they call Pe' Sla is sold, it will be developed and they will lose access. The South Dakota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are studying the possibility of paving one of the main roads that divides the land, a fact mentioned in the advertisement touting its development potential.

The tribes have banded together to try to raise money to buy back as much of the land as they can. But with a week to go until the Aug. 25 auction, they have only about $110,000 committed for property they believe will sell for $6 million to $10 million.

"A lot of our people who practice our way of life go there to pray and there are a lot of us that go up there," said Rodney Bordeaux, president of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, which is leading the effort. "Basically, it's an opportunity for the tribes to become involved and save Pe' Sla from development, commercial development, up there and try to save it and keep it in its current state, so people can always go up there to pray."



there has been enough taking nof american indian land and sacred sights isn't it time we gave back ....this is disgusting ! just sayin

FAMILY RESEARCH

YOUR FAMILY IS YOUR FAMILY UNTIL THEY'RE DEAD ! THEN THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS,NO MORE SORRYS, NO MORE NOTHING BUT A GRAVE, TRY GETTING A RESPONSE OUT OF THAT ! JUST SAYIN'

BIRTHDAY WISH !

I WISH EVERYONE I KNOW WOULD SEND $20 TO 6 GEORGE ST. APT. 2 BELLOWS FALLS, VT. 05101 BECAUSE LORI'S GOT TO PAY FOR HER NEW SET OF TEETH !