Obama Admin Keeps Promise on Whale Conservation at International Talks.

[Forkboy]

You would be hard pressed to find a director of an environmental group who is more critical than yours truly regarding the gap between President Obama's visionary campaign messages and his actual leadership on environmental issues.

But I must say that I was impressed when I heard the U.S. government's position against commercial whaling and any trade of whale products at the International Whaling Commission. While the nations that gathered failed to come to an agreement that could help save whales - largely because countries like Japan refuse to stop slaughtering whales - the President and his team stood their ground in the end.

While campaigning for president, Obama promised Greenpeace that under his leadership, the United States would work to strengthen the international moratorium on commercial whaling. He declared that "allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling is unacceptable."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-radford/obama-administration-keep_b_623866.html?ref=fb&src=sp#sb=991478,b=facebook

YAY!!!!!

[babylonsister]

1. Yay! I'm happy to read this. Rec'd. nt

[vaberella]

2. Weren't people on DU saying that Obama was going to LIFT the ban on commercial whaling?!

I'm running out of crow. This is great news. Thanks Forkboy

[babylonsister]

3. Why yes they were, ad nauseum. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. From the article which you didn't read:

"That promise came under question this year when we received confirmation that the President was supporting a proposal that would have lifted the 24-year ban on commercial whaling. In response, 1.5 million people signed petitions urging the White House to stand up for whales and President Obama, to his credit, listened."

So yes, he was proposing to do that but changed his mind. Thankfully.

[vaberella]

5. Not to put a damper...I don't know if the 1.5 did it.

I remember that there was never confirmation on Obama lifting the ban but it was a rumor since it was proposed. He had just as many people against health care reform if not more. That didn't change his mind.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. So you are calling the President of Greenpeace a liar?

He said he had it confirmed.

Health Insurane "Reform" and whaling ban -- apples and oranges as to his goals and who benefited.

[vaberella]

15. He had it confirmed that Obama was going to suggest lifting the ban on whaling.

I find that hard pressed to believe. Sorry. And post 6 suggests something completely different.

[ProSense]

6. They were not supporting it.

They were negotiating to reduce the number of whales still being killed despite the moratorium.

[great white snark]

7. Thank you for facts.

So much disinformation, so little time.

[vaberella]

10. Thanks. n/t

[boppers]

13. How dare they negotiate! eom

[mkultra]

9. "we received confirmation"....from who?

[vaberella]

11. secret santas....way too much rumors and people went running with it on DU. n/t

[Hawkowl]

8. Kudos to President Obama

We need to offer praise when he finally gets something right.

[impik]

14. SELL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tekisui]

16. knr!

[jgraz]

17. It's sad that even on a thread where (I assume) all of DU agrees, people have to stir the shit.

Seriously, dudes, give it a fucking rest. :eyes:

[voteearlyvoteoften]

18. rec

[saracat]

19. Posted Kudos in another thread but Congrats Mr.Prez again. I am proud of this!

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Good for the President

And for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who urged him to take this stand.

[Robb]

21. Just more continuation of Bush-era policies.

Or something. :D

[DevonRex]

22. Thank you Forkboy for the fantastic news!

How's your summer going? I hope you're drinking lots of good beer and getting some sun.

[Forkboy]

23. It's been a rough summer so far, sadly.

My mother lost her fight with cancer a few weeks ago, and between that and the oil spill I'm not feeling very thrilled about things.

I also rarely drink and hate the sun lol. I will be sparking up a fatty boobalatty before the day is out however, so all is not yet lost. :)

Sorry to be a downer. I appreciate you asking, and I hope things are much brighter on your end of things, and that you're getting all the beer and sun you need. :hug:

[DevonRex]

24. Well, hell.

I've had a migraine for weeks so I can't go out in the sun and I don't drink. I was hoping your summer was better. Here's a song for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk02DuWuO4A&feature=related


Pretty soon you'll be able to remember her
Lying in the garden singing
Right where she'll always be, the door is always open

This is the place that I loved her
And these are the friends that she had
Long may the mountain ring to the sound of her laughter
And she goes on and on

In her soft wind I will whisper
In her warm sun I will glisten
Till we see her once again in a world without end

We owe it all to Frank Sinatra
The song was playing as she walked into the room
After the long weekend, they were a lifetime together

Appearing in the eyes of children
In the clear blue mountain view
The colouring in the sky and painting ladders to heaven
And she goes on and on

In her soft wind I will whisper
In her warm sun I will glisten
Till we see her once again in a world without end

(Repeat)

She goes on
She goes on
She goes on


This is a song by Crowded House about their mother after she died of cancer. It had meaning for me after my father died, especially the part about "pretty soon you'll be able to remember." It felt like it took a long time to forget the end of my father's life and to remember him as a young and healthy and happy man. But it did happen.

[Forkboy]

25. I know that song. Thank you, an excellent choice.

:hug:

And sorry to hear about the migraines. I'm lucky that I don't get many, but I've had enough to know they suck. :(

[DevonRex]

29. Just know that

you are well and truly loved here. :hug:

[dionysus]

28. sorry to hear that Fork.

:(

[AtomicKitten]

30. My condolences.

:cry:

I'll join you in sparking up a fatty boobalatty.

[dionysus]

26. kick

[AtomicKitten]

27. K&R.

Good to know.