As many as half the world's species may face extinction by 2100

[kurth]

Scientist Warns of Species' Extinction

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) -- As many as half the world's species may face extinction by 2100 because of pollution, climate change, human population growth and other influences, a renowned scientist dubbed ''the father of biodiversity'' told an audience here.

Edward O. Wilson spoke Wednesday to a Montana State University crowd estimated at more than 2,000 after he came to Bozeman to accept the George R. Stibitz Computer and Communications Pioneer Award. The award by the American Computer Museum of Bozeman and MSU's computer science department was in recognition of Wilson's promotion of an electronic ''Encyclopedia of Life'' to store information about every species on Earth.

Wilson, a Harvard University professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, has done pioneering research in biology and developed a field known as sociobiology, which seeks to link behavior in humans and animals to their evolutionary heritage. Steps to prevent the broad loss of species can be undertaken and the 21st century ultimately may become known as ''the century of the environment,'' Wilson said.

He has been seeking to recruit religious fundamentalists as allies in a push for environmental protection. His new book, ''The Creation,'' presents a case for religion and science to work together for protection of Nature, saying the two are ''the most powerful social forces on Earth,'' for achieving change. Wilson described Earth as ''a little-known planet.'' ''We have just begun to explore it,'' he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Scientist-Species.html

[fed-up]

1. Kicking and R'ing to show at least one other person gives a damn nt

[mcscajun]

2. And WE may be one of them.

If things don't change...

[Jcrowley]

3. It's all connected

What Is Coltan ?
Coltan, short for Columbite-tantalite is a metallic ore comprising Niobium and Tantalum, found mainly in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formally Zaire). When refined, coltan becomes a heat resistant powder, metallic tantalum which has unique properties for storing electrical charge. Of the 525 tons of tantalum used in the USA in 1998, 60% was used in tantalum capacitors, with a predicted growth rate of 14% per annum (from Uganda Gold Mining Ltd web site).
It is therefore a vital component in the capacitors that control current flow in cell phone circuit boards.

<snip>

Coltan and Gorillas
The main area where Coltan is mined, also contains the Kahuzi Biega National Park, home of the Mountain Gorilla. In Kahuzi Biega National Park the gorilla population has been cut nearly in half, from 258 to 130 as the ground is cleared to make mining easier. Not only has this reduced the available food for the Gorillas, the poverty caused by the displacement of the local populations by the miners has lead to Gorillas being killed and their meat being sold as "bush meat" to the miners and rebel armies that control the area. Within the Dem. Rep. of Congo as a whole, the U.N. Environment Program has reported that the number of eastern lowland gorillas in eight Dem. Rep. of Congo national parks has declined by 90% over the past 5 years, and only 3,000 now remain.
Due to the damage caused to the Gorilla population and their natural habitat, companies that use Coltan are now starting to demand that their Coltan only comes from legitimately mined sources and is not a byproduct of the war. American-based Kemet, the world's largest maker of tantalum capacitors, has asked its suppliers to certify that their coltan ore does not come from Dem. Rep. of Congo or from neighbouring countries. Such moves could lead to "Gorilla Safe " cellphones being marketed, much in the same way that Tuna meat is now sold as "Dolphin Safe".

http://www.cellular-news.com/coltan/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0331_040331_easterngorillas.html

K&R

[Zavulon]

4. Are Republicans a species, and if so, are they on the list?

Sorry - just wishful thinking.