Walruses invade Alaska beaches, alarm conservationists (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Thousands of walrus have appeared on Alaska's northwest coast in what conservationists are calling a dramatic consequence of global warming melting the Arctic sea ice.

Alaska's walrus, especially breeding females, in summer and fall are usually found on the Arctic ice pack. But the lowest summer ice cap on record put sea ice far north of the outer continental shelf, the shallow, life-rich shelf of ocean bottom in the Bering and Chukchi seas.
***
"It looks to me like animals are shifting their distribution to find prey," said Tim Ragen, executive director of the federal Marine Mammal Commission. "The big question is whether they will be able to find sufficient prey in areas where they are looking."
***
Deborah Williams -- who was an Interior Department special assistant for Alaska under former President Bill Clinton, and who is now president of the nonprofit Alaska Conservation Solutions -- said melting of sea ice and its effects on wildlife were never even discussed during her federal service from 1995 to 2000.

"That's what so breathtaking about this," she said. "This has all happened faster than anyone could have predicted. That's why it's so urgent action must be taken."
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/08/sea.ice.walrus.ap/index.html

An unsettling article, worth a read.

(NB: an earlier post got thoroughly ignored, despite deserving wider attention: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=115620&mesg_id=115620 )

[XemaSab]

1. "This has all happened faster than anyone could have predicted."

Interesting... :P

[Deja Q]

2. "goo goo g'joob", sang the drug addict!

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
MAN, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus,
goo goo g'joob

Mister City P'liceman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.
I'm crying.
I'm cry------------ing, I'm crying.
I'm cry------------ing.

Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl and you let your Knickers down.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus,
goo goo g'joob.

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the English rain.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus,
goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob.

Expert texpert choking smokers,
Don't you think the joker laughs at you? (ho ho ho, he he he, ha ha ha)
See how they smile like pigs in a sty, see how they snide.
I'm crying.

Semolina Pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna.
Man, you should have seen the kick in Edgar Allan Poe.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus,
goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob, goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob, goo goo
(rhythmical speaking along with juba's).
Juba juba juba, juba, juba, juba, juba, juba, juba juba. Juba juba.....
(speaking)

--Repeat (eventually juba's will stop) and fade until end.--
during the fade out background vocals:
( Simultaneously: ) 'Everybody smokes pot' and 'Oompa, oompa, stick it up your joompa'

[Glorfindel]

5. I always heard them chant, "Everybody's fucked up...

fucked up, fucked up..." In fact, I still hear them say it. And, really, is "drug addict" the best description you can find for John Lennon? How about "transcendent genius" or "artist without peer?"

[Pirate Smile]

3. I posted it in LBN and it went to the Greatest Page.

I'll go find it.

There is no problem with posting it again, of course. The more attention, the better but DU didn't just ignore the story.

edit to add - here it is with 17 votes on the Greatest Page.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3020362

[Lint Head]

4. I guess the criminals in the White House will send in

Blackwater to take care these invaders. :dem;

[NMDemDist2]

6. we need one more recommend here folks n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. What can we do but give them the habitat to adapt?

[formercia]

8. Big Oil will be happy.

They would love to have the Arctic ice-free all year round.

The more open water, the more drilling platforms they can deploy.

[roguevalley]

9. this is bad. I dread watching animals struggle. we had bears all over this summer