01/29 Vancouver:Endangered Species Dogging PM Chretien

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
Original-Cc:      Media Group (Green2:Green2:Gnl:List)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
            ENDANGERED SPECIES DOGGING PRIME MINISTER
 
  "Endangered Species Act doesn't help our habitat", critters 
                          tell the Feds
 
(VANCOUVER, B.C.) Monday, 29 January, 1996 - Today representatives of Canada's
endangered species showed up at the Hyatt Regency where the Prime Minister and
his
Caucus are meeting. The animals and fish condemned the government's failure to
protect
their habitat and future.
 
Only a tiny fraction of those species under threat were able to make it:
grizzly bears,
salmon, elk, fox and numerous other animals carried placards that said, "WILL
WORK FOR
HABITAT". Hundreds of other species had to send their regrets, stating that
they are too
busy trying to find a place a live, now that their habitat has been destroyed.
Habitat
destruction is credited with being responsible for 80 per cent of species
decline in Canada.
 
"The proposed legislation ignores the fact that most species walk, fly or
swim," said
Tzeporah Berman of Greenpeace. "We cannot protect endangered species without
strong
Federal leadership that ensures habitat protection across Canada."
 
While the endangered species protested outside the hotel, the more-vocal
Greenpeace
activists attempted to enter the meeting room in order to deliver a message
from the
animals directly to the Prime Minister. The proposed legislation applies only
to federal
lands comprising a mere 4 per cent of Canada's landbase, and fails to protect
the habitat
of threatened species even after they are classified as being endangered.
 
Greenpeace and numerous other environmental organisations have strongly
condemned the
proposed legislation and have called for it to be rewritten to include:
 
* protection of all endangered species on 100% of Canada's land and water;
* mandatory protection of critical habitat;
* preparation and implementation of a recovery plan for all endangered and
threatened       
  species;
* a ban on killing or harming of an endangered species;
* advance review of projects that could affect an endangered species or its
habitat, with
no exemptions allowed; and
* extremely stiff penalties for contravention of the Act.
 
Last month 300 scientists from across Canada signed a joint statement calling
for stronger
legislation that protects endangered species and species habitat across Canada.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
 
Greenpeace activists on site by cell phone: 313-0159 or 329-2991
and visit the WorldWideWeb page at http://www.web.apc.org/save-species
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