TWEET SHEET: #KillingIsNOTConservation

1) #Trophy film @TrophyTheFilm on @CNN @CNNFilms features hunters who claim #TrophyHunting aids in #wildlife conservation, but in truth, trophy hunting has minimal wildlife conservation benefit! 🐘🦁💔 http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9  #KillingIsNOTConservation #TW pic.twitter.com/hRlcPAqqIU

2) How can killing animals help conserve them? #TrophyHunting does not help #wildlife! http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9  #Trophy #KillingIsNOTConservation @TrophyTheFilm @CNN @CNNFilms 💔🦁 #TW #Trophy pic.twitter.com/XZh730azQu

3) .@TrophyTheFilm on @CNN @CNNFilms shows hunters who say #TrophyHunting benefits local economies but killing 1 #elephant costs $50k, while a living 🐘 can bring in $1.5M in conservation-friendly tourism http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9 #KillingIsNotConservation #TW

4) .@TrophyTheFilm on @CNN @CNNFilms features hunters who say #TrophyHunting provides economic benefits to local communities but studies show as little as 3% of 💰 from hunt goes to community! http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9 #Trophy #KillingIsNOTConservation #TW pic.twitter.com/6xsgwSewpb

5) .@TrophyTheFilm @CNN @CNNFilms features #rhino breeder who advocates selling horns of de-horned rhino to reduce #poaching; legalizing rhino horn trade lines pockets of elite NOT aid #conservation http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9  #TW #KillingIsNOTConservation pic.twitter.com/KnRWHw6RKc

6)  I stand with @BornFreeUSA and @BornFreeFDN: #TrophyHunting does not help conserve species because #KillingIsNotConservation! #TW #Trophy http://bit.ly/2lFiSG9  @TheLeadCNN @JakeTapper @CNN pic.twitter.com/xy4BiDZ8lc

7) Nature picks off the weakest, #TrophyHunting picks off the strongest. #KillingIsNotConservation #Trophy #TW pic.twitter.com/29XGdqwaTH

8) Over past several decades #TrophyHunting has been primary, in many cases ONLY method of conservation, in many countries and yet wildlife populations continue to plummet. How is that effective? @trophythefilm @CNN #KillingIsNotConservation #TW pic.twitter.com/H15TLWFUut

9) As we saw by the visceral reaction to Cecil the Lion, #TrophyHunting is simply not morally acceptable to most Americans. #KillingIsNotConservation #TW @TrophyTheFilm #Trophy @CNN pic.twitter.com/LfNPLCgdF6

10) Hey .@CNN @CNNFilms, wake up! @TrophyTheFilm is NOT the next #BlackFish. #KillingIsNOTConservation #Trophy #TW https://twitter.com/Voice_OT_Orcas/status/952290365972729856

11) Conservation groups urge .@CNNFilms and @CNN to reconsider airing @TrophyTheMovie bc it doesn't offer network's viewers an opportunity to see and hear counterviews to #TrophyHunting. #KillingIsNOTConservation #TW #Trophy http://bit.ly/2DvMlde

12) Trophy hunting can be linked to poaching. This can range from instances like with Cecil the lion, where hunters break law, to poachers using trophy hunting as a smokescreen for a more in depth poaching operation. #KillingIsNotConservation #Trophy #TW pic.twitter.com/GwfFbtlrdw

13) Over last 100 years, hunting has been main conservation method employed in many countries. If #TrophyHunting was so great for conservation, why have African lions declined by 95% since the 1940's? #KillingIsNotConservation #TW #Trophy pic.twitter.com/vBlC0n6Abl

14) .@TheEllenShow @DonCheadle @Alyssa_Milano @jimmykimmel @DebraMessing  Please speak out against @TrophyTheFilm, being shown on @CNN @CNNFilms without a counter view for viewers. #KillingIsNotConservation #Trophy #TW pic.twitter.com/GwfFbtlrdw

15) Americans overwhelmingly oppose #TrophyHunting! Animals are sentient beings and have a right to live. #KillingIsNotConservation #TW #Trophy 🐘🦁🐻 pic.twitter.com/sy5seNDUOx

PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE JANUARY 29: California Elk Management Plan

All public comments should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Comments may be submitted online at ElkManagementPlan@wildlife.ca.gov.

TALKING POINTS: 

Thank you for the opportunity to submit public comment regarding the California Elk Management Plan. I am glad that the state has decided to make an effort to connect elk populations through out the state.

The plan refers to "management" in the plan. Indeed, this word is in the title. I am opposed to management to the extent that it includes culling or removing herds - particularly herds on public lands. 

Elk are native to California and are an important part of our state's ecosystems. They must be given precedence over other non-native animals, including cattle and livestock, as well as any agriculture, on public lands. 

Petitions: Offshore Drilling

** UPDATED MARCH 7 (New Petitions Added to Bottom)

Center for Biological Diversity 

Friends of the Earth

Pacific Environment

League of Conservation Voters

Greenpeace

Sierra Club

NRDC

Care2

Surfrider

Ocean Conservancy 

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Defenders

Clean Water Action

Environment California 

350.org

Audubon Society

NPCA

SeaSave

NextGen America

Heal The Bay Petition

Credo

Amazon Watch

Alaska Wild

Oceana

Cascadia Wildlands

Clean Water Action

EarthJustice

Oregon Wild

Next Gen America

Wilderness Society

Pacific Environment

Courage Campaign

Wildlife Conservation Society

Price of Oil

TWEET SHEET: Save the Endangered Species Act

An attack on one is an attack on all. Tell your members of Congress to oppose ANY attempt to block Endangered Species Act protections for imperiled species. #StopExtinction pic.twitter.com/jGR4WOK8Ez

Any policy “riders” that block Endangered Species Act protections for specific species undermine the Act itself . #StopExtinction pic.twitter.com/nJaPc7Omkh

Attacks on the #EndangeredSpeciesAct are unnecessary & anti-wildlife provisions should not be added on to spending bills! #StopExtinction pic.twitter.com/VUXPaCRxSr

The Endangered Species Act WORKS. Tell your members of Congress to oppose attempts to block protections for vital species. #StopExtinction pic.twitter.com/iCNeHNdWmt

Tell your reps to oppose budget “riders” to block protections for endangered species. No law has been more important than the Endangered Species Act to #StopExtinction pic.twitter.com/5ziMUOkDmW

PETITIONS: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase

Patagonia (tweets)

Pew Charitable Trust

NPCA

Sierra Club

Center for Biological Diversity

IFAW

NRDC

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Nomination to Trophy Hunting Council Due 12/8

Ryan Zinke's "International Wildlife Conservation Council" (aka council to promote trophy hunting abroad) is accepting nominations from the public for members.

The council will be stacked with Safari Club and other trophy hunting ilk. However, CEO and General Counsel for Born Free USA, Prashant Khetan, has offered up his services to sit on the council. 

Please take 3 minutes to email  joshua_winchell@fws.gov BEFORE the close of business on DECEMBER 8th.

COMMENT: I nominate Prashant Khetan, a well regarded conservationist and the CEO and General Counsel of Born Free USA, to the International Wildlife Conservation Council. Mr. Khetan is well known in the conservation community and a respected voice of wildlife advocates, who deserve a seat at the table. 

CLICK TO TWEET: Zinke accepting nominations for #TrophyHunting council to advise USFWS. Nominate a wildlife advocate to sit on it. EMAIL joshua_winchell@fws.gov by 12/8 to nominate Prashant Khetan, CEO of Born Free USA, for International Wildlife Conservation Council. pic.twitter.com/cFsGLaWrMb

INSTAGRAM: Follow us on Instagram and re-gram our posts (@ecouprising2016)

PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE 11/24: Oppose Council to Promote International Trophy Hunting for US Citizens

Ever since Trump was elected President, we knew, in the pits of our stomach, that this day would come. His sons would use their influence to expand their bloodthirsty pastime. Ryan Zinke has announced an International Wildlife Conservation Council which will advise the USFWS on the supposed advantages of international trophy hunting for conservation.

There is a two week public comment period to denounce this council. Please make sure that you speak out! Cecil the lion died two and a half years ago and the world roared. Let us roar on on November 25, 2017 at Secretary Zinke's despicable effort to equate killing with conservation.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: This is by far the most important and absolutely necessary part of this action. No matter what else you do, please write personalized public comment. If you were impacted by Cecil's death, share your feelings. Additional, scientific talking points are below.

Comments are due on November 24 at 11:59 EDT and emailed to joshua_winchell@fws.gov or mailed to Joshua Winchell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

Please choose 2 or 3 of the following talking points and re-word them into your own words as much as possible. Please also include any personal feelings you have - remaining civil. Perhaps share thoughts on Cecil.

- I oppose the proposed International Wildlife Conservation Council. Studies have repeated shown that trophy hunting does not aid in conservation. Over the last several decades, big game hunting has been the primary, in many cases only method of conservation, yet populations of wildlife continue to plummet. 

- Big game hunting is often unsustainable. For instance, only between 20,000 and 35,000 wild lions remain in Africa but 6,000 are killed each year by trophy hunters. That means between 2 and 3% of the popular is killed each year solely by big game hunters. This is NOT sustainable - particularly in light of other pressures on population including poaching, deaths from conflicts with ranchers and habitat loss.

- Trophy hunting works the opposite of natural selection. Nature targets the weakest but hunters target the biggest and the strongest. Hunters want the lion with the biggest mane or tusk. Often, these animals - the oldest, wisest, strongest - play critical roles in their populations. They are the protectors, leaders and their removal puts their populations at risk. It might mean that other individuals start disobeying rules, wrecking havoc with livestock, or that another male lion might move in and kill the cubs of the hunted lion. As a result, the death of an individual animal due to hunting can and often does have a ripple effect. 

- Over the last 100 years, hunting has been the main conservation method employed in main countries yet wildlife numbers keep declining. If trophy hunting was so great for conservation, why have African lions declined by 95% since the 1940's? The numbers simply do not support the assertion that trophy hunting benefits conservation.

- Despite assertions that trophy hunting helps communities, most of the money goes to middle men and does not make its way to local communities. 

- Trophy hunting can be linked to poaching. This can range from instances like with Cecil the lion, where hunters break the law, to poachers using trophy hunting as a smokescreen for a more in depth poaching operation. 

- Trophy hunting fees incentivize managers to inflate numbers to bring in more money, putting species at risk. 

- As we saw by the visceral reaction  to Cecil the Lion, trophy hunting is simply not morally acceptable to most Americans. Our society sees it as outdated, cruel and needless. Please do not expand this elitist and brutal pastime but instead acknowledge that most Americans are now gravitating to more non-consumptive activities such as wildlife watching, bird watching, hiking, kayaking and the like. 

- IF THE COUNCIL GOES FORWARD, I nominate Born Free CEO and General Counsel, Parsham Khetan to sit on the council. 

- For the foregoing reasons, I oppose the creation of an International Wildlife Conservation Council.

TWITTER: Tweet Sheet found HERE. 

FACEBOOK: Please leave a comment on the following two Facebook pages.

Secretary Zinke

Department of Interior

Write your own, civil comments or copy and paste the following:

I oppose the creation of an International Conservation Council to promote US trophy hunting abroad.  Studies have repeated demonstrated that this is not an effective method of conservation and Cecil's death demonstrated that most Americans find this pastime abhorrent. Please abandon plans to go forward with this council. #NoMoreCecils. 🦁

PETITIONS: Please sign and share.

Animal Welfare Institute

Care2 Petition

IFAW

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