———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Subject: Save Three Sisters Springs for Manatees!

Save Three Sisters Springs for Manatees!

Show your support for city’s grant application

Three Sisters Springs is a complex of three spring areas that help feed Kings Bay, the headwaters of Crystal River in Citrus County, Florida. These beautiful springs are one of the most important natural warm-water refuges for endangered manatees in the state of Florida and a haven for birds, fish, plants, and other wildlife.

The city of Crystal River is applying for a Florida Communities Trust grant of up to $6.6 million to buy the Three Sisters property and the Florida Department of Community Affairs needs to receive letters by May 7th to show public support for the purchase.

The current owners plan to develop the 57 acres of land adjacent to Three Sisters Springs to create multi-family residences and remove spring water to be bottled. However, these same owners have also stated that they would be willing to sell the property for the right price.

Get more information about Three Sisters Springs.

Watch a video highlighting the beauty of Three Sisters Springs.

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From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Nov 20, 2007 2:35 PM
Subject: Urge Governor Crist To “Fix The System”

Urge Governor Crist To “Fix The System”
Final Downlisting Vote Scheduled for December 5th Meeting
Please Attend or Send a Quick Online Letter

In September, with your help, we won a huge temporary victory for manatees! Governor Charlie Crist stepped in and asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to postpone their vote to downlist manatees from “Endangered” to “Threatened” status. He pointed to the record-setting mortality in 2006 and to the need for a better method to estimate the manatee population.

Your e-mails to the governor were powerful and helped to convince him to take a brave stand for manatees. But now, Governor Crist is under intense pressure from go-fast boating and development interests to fast-track the manatee’s downlisting. The vote to downlist manatees in Florida is scheduled again for the Commission’s December 5th meeting.

The Issue: The FWC is using a classification system to downlist manatees that desperately needs to be revised. Proving our point, the IUCN - World Conservation Union - a world authority on endangered species - recently classified the Florida manatee as “Endangered” using the exact criteria the FWC has adopted for their “Threatened” category. Unless the Commission changes its flawed listing rule, most of Florida’s imperiled species will face increased risks as a result of losing protections afforded by their current listing status.

* Read a letter to Governor Crist from Save the Manatee Club and other organizations representing over 21 million people (pdf).

What You Can Do:

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I’m a few days later in posting this (sorry!), so for the latest news on the September 12 vote, visit Save the Manatee Club’s current news section. They don’t appear to have an update posted yet, but I imagine they will as news develops.

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From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Sep 11, 2007 3:51 PM
Subject: Gov. Crist Asks to Postpone Manatee Reclassification

BREAKING NEWS!

Florida Governor Crist Asks State Agency to Postpone Endangered Manatee’s Reclassification

Tomorrow, September 12th, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is scheduled to vote on whether to reclassify the manatee at the state level from “endangered” to “threatened” status based on listing/delisting rule language that environmental groups have continually called greatly flawed, and that was objected to by numerous scientists worldwide. Further, environmentalists point to the state’s own findings that 50% of the statewide manatee population could be lost in the next 45 years.

Calling the manatee one of Florida’s beloved natural resources, Florida Governor Charlie Crist has issued a letter to Rodney Barreto, Chair of the FWC, asking the Commission to postpone the vote on whether to downlist the species, “…given the need for a better method to estimate the population of the Florida Manatee, and the record 417 manatee deaths in 2006, I believe a more prudent course of action at this time would be to postpone consideration of the proposed change in the status of this species.”

View the full text of Governor Crist’s letter (pdf).

Patrick Rose, Save the Manatee Club’s Executive Director, applauds Governor Crist and expresses his deep appreciation to the governor for his action. Pat also thanks all of you for your help in making this happen. Those e-mails, letters and phone calls DO help!

What You Can Do:

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Action Alerts

Audubon: Final Push for Renewable Electricity
Please ask your Representative to support the Udall-Platts amendment

Center for Biological Diversity: Keep Mercenary Training Camp Out of San Diego Backcountry!
Blackwater has proposed establishing a military training camp in eastern San Diego County

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Help Pass the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act
Urge your reps to co-sponsor and support passage of S. 1880/H.R. 3219, the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act, and any legislation to crack down on dogfighting

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Urge USDA to Move Maggie to Sanctuary Before Winter
The Alaska Zoo Board Has Made Its Decision to Move Maggie; Please help make it happen before winter–write the USDA

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Survival of Wolves in Northern Rockies Jeopardized
“Take Action” by Aug. 6 to protect them from hunters

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Thank California retirement community for sparing deer
California Retirement Community Chooses to Spare Deer; Thank The Villages for using humane methods to manage wildlife

(more…)

Action Alerts

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): Federal: The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Reintroduced in Congress

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): Missouri: “Pet Friendly” License Plates Now Available

DawnWatch: MSN on budget and health benefits of vegetarianism 7/26/07

DawnWatch: Shocking poultry slaughterhouse footage on Fox and on A&E’s “The Two Coreys” reality show 7/25 - 7/29/07

DawnWatch: Adidas lobbies to overturn Supreme Court upheld Kangaroo shoe ban NY Times, LA Times, NPR — 7/24 -7/25/07

DawnWatch: NY Times lead story “Bringing Moos and Oinks Into the Food Debate.” 7/25/07

Earthjustice: URGENT: Stop the Countdown to Wolves’ Slaughter

Friends of Animals (FoA): Help Stop the Bush Administration’s Latest Debacle: Aerial Gunning of Greater Yellowstone Wolves

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Urge Congress to stop oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Faces Felony Dog Fighting Charges / Urge the NFL to suspend Michael Vick from play under strong suspicion of criminal activity

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Tell Nike to Drop Vick NOW!

Rainforest Action Network (RAN): Tell Ontario to Stop First Nation Exploitation!

Save the Manatee Club: Ask Governor Crist to Appoint New FWC Commissioners / Ensure Balanced and Science-Based Leadership on Manatee Protection Issues

Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL): Contact Legislators on Behalf of Animals Used for Research NOW

The Wilderness Society: Help protect community forests and restore wildlife habitat

Working Assets / Act for Change: Tell Nike to Cancel Michael Vick’s Endorsement Contract

Campaign Updates, Press Releases, etc.

Bread for the World: Fairness Amendment to Farm Bill Fails in House; Fight For Meaningful Farm Reform Continues

Corporate Accountability International: Pepsi Agrees to Reveal Sources of Aquafina Bottled Water / In Response to Think Outside the Bottle Campiagn, Agrees to Print ‘’Public Water Source'’ on Labels

Dogs Deserve Better (DDB): Michael Vick & Dogfighting

Carnivals

Carnival of Hurricane Relief #98 (July 26, 2007 @ One Man Band)

Newsletters

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): News Alert, July 27, 2007

In Defense of Animals (IDA): eNews, July 25, 2007

Petitions

STOP PUPPY MILLS!!!

CLARK COUNTY DOGS DESERVE BETTER

Stop Cruelty Taking Place on the Water

Help save Giraffes

(more…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club - education [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Jun 1, 2007 11:04 AM
Subject: Paddle Tales E-Newsletter

In This Issue
* Please Don’t Downlist Manatees!
* Adopt-A-Manatee for Dads & Grads
* Meet Lenny
* Vote for Manatees!
* Fast Friends
* Heavy Thinking
* Chew on This Q & A
* Miss Her Now Music DVD

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From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: May 15, 2007 3:06 PM
Subject: Please Don’t Downlist Manatees!

Please Don’t Downlist Manatees!

On Endangered Species Day, Take Action to Protect Them

The bottom line here is that the manatee is not safe from extinction, no matter how officials play the numbers game, and significant threats on its survival continue to haunt it.

–Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel

On Friday, May 18th, Americans from all across the country will celebrate Endangered Species Day. But as we pay tribute to our nation’s endangered species, manatees are facing their biggest threat ever. Recently, after conducting a 5-year review of the manatee’s federal status, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) recommended downlisting them from “endangered” to “threatened.”

We need you to help manatees by sending a quick online letter now!

Why aren’t we celebrating the news we have fought for so many years to hear? Because these actions are politically driven. With the market for coastal land skyrocketing, powerful groups have been lobbying for a long time to change the manatee’s status.

According to the Service’s own Recovery Plan, manatees should NOT be downlisted until deaths from boat strikes and the destruction of habitat are brought under control. But these threats are increasing. And the Service ignored a recent report from the U.S. Geological Survey that stated: “Any increase in watercraft-related mortality substantially increases the risk of the Florida manatee population reaching the point of no probable recovery.”

What You Can Do:

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: May 10, 2007 5:08 PM
Subject: Ask for Stronger Manatee Plan

Ask State Agency to Make Manatee Management Plan Stronger

Urge Revision of Imperiled Species Listing/Delisting Rule

When the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) adopted new imperiled species listing/delisting criteria, they incorporated the international criteria for “endangered,” but they elected to call those species that met the endangered criteria “threatened” instead of “endangered.” As a result, the FWCC voted to downlist manatees to “threatened” status. We are highly critical of this move, as are a host of other environmental organizations and eminent scientists.

Now, the FWCC has drafted a Manatee Management Plan (Plan), which is the final step in the species’ reclassification from “endangered” to “threatened.” However, the current Plan will not ensure adequate protection for manatees and, together with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s recent recommendation to also downlist manatees at the federal level, the Plan will greatly hamper our chance of securing the manatee’s future in the face of increasing human-related threats.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended downlisting the manatee due to political pressure. An April editorial in The Bradenton Herald said, “The declassification is not being made because the manatee has made a ‘landmark’ recovery, as the USFWS’ field supervisor asserted. Rather, it is a concession to the boat, dock-building and development interests that have lobbied for relaxing manatee protection rules for years. In the anti-environment posture of the Bush administration facing term limits, it has finally found a friendly reception.”

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club - action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Mar 10, 2007 12:10 AM
Subject: Help End Manatee Harassment!

Help End Manatee Harassment in Citrus County, Florida!

Videos show people grabbing, walking on, and riding manatees

Each winter, 80,000 - 100,000 people visit the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge to snorkel and dive with endangered manatees, and thousands more go to swim with manatees in the Blue Waters area of the Homosassa River.

Inevitably, many of these visitors want to touch the manatees or interact with them in some way. Manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act, so grabbing them, feeding, surrounding, or chasing them can be considered harassment and is therefore illegal. But local, state, and federal law enforcement officers are limited in numbers and unable to adequately monitor the area, so there are many incidents of manatee harassment each year.

Recently, a video shot at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge shows people grabbing, walking on, and riding manatees. And the St. Petersburg Times has featured several news articles documenting the manatee harassment in this area (see more articles and video below).

Manatee Abuse Caught on Tape
Read an article in the St. Petersburg Times
See the video mentioned in the article

Manatees need these wildlife refuges for survival in the winter. When people try to touch or pursue manatees, they can alter the manatee’s behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to leave a warm water area, which makes them susceptible to potential harm. Also, people can inadvertently separate a mother and calf by trying to touch manatees. Manatee calves depend on the care of their mothers for up to two years, so a calf that is separated from his or her mother could ultimately die without her.

What You Can Do:

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club - education [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Feb 2, 2007 2:55 PM
Subject: Paddle Tales E-Newsletter

In This Issue

* 2006 Deadliest Year on Record
* Ask FWC To Revisit Manatee Reclassification
* Meet Floyd: Still Going Strong
* Two Couples With Heart
* Add A Manatee Banner To Your Space
* Twins Sighted Near Homosassa
* Manatee Romance Statue

2006 Deadliest Year On Record For Manatees

The year 2006 is on record as being the deadliest one ever documented for manatees. In January, biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released manatee mortality data that showed 416 manatees died in state waters last year. Read more >>

Ask FWC To Revisit Manatee Reclassification

Please take a couple of minutes and send a quick and easy online letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Governor Crist took office in January 2007 and has the power to influence the FWC’s decision to prematurely downlist manatees by asking them to revisit this important issue. Go >>

Meet Floyd: Still Going Strong After All These Years

Take a look at Floyd and try to guess how old he is. True, he looks youthful, but Floyd is actually approaching manatee middle age. We know this because he was just a few months old when his mother brought him to Blue Spring State Park for the winter. Read more >>

Two Couples With Heart

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and for some people, nothing says love more than manatees. Carolyn and Andrew Krentz and Kristen and Tom Ort are two couples who have big hearts when it comes to our favorite endangered species. Read more >>

Add A Manatee Banner To Your Space

Tell the world about your adopted manatee! Show your support by adding a free manatee banner to your web site, MySpace profile, blog, online diary, or journal. Go >>

Manatee Romance Statue

A great Valentine’s Day gift for the manatee lover in your life. Two manatees snuggle close together and “Love Me” reads the heart-shaped sign they carry. $15.95 Buy now >>

Twins Sighted Near Homosassa

manatee twinsAt the end of December, Joanne Tuxbury photographed a rare event in Florida. A female manatee made an appearance near Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and she brought her twin calves along with her. Go >>

Send Us Your Question About Manatees!

If we choose it for the next Paddle Tales E-Newsletter, we’ll send you a FREE Manatee Romance statue. Send to education [at] savethemanatee.org and be sure to include your name and regular mailing address.

About SMC

Sign up for our E-mail Action Alert Team! Go to www.savethemanatee.org/action.htm

Our postal address is:

500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, Florida 32751
United States

About SMC

Save the Manatee Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 by former Florida governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett. To learn more about manatees and our work, go to www.savethemanatee.org

Join Us!

Adopt-A-Manatee and join Save the Manatee Club. Your contribution will support our work to help protect endangered manatees and their habitat. For more information, go to www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm

Pass It Along!

Help spread the word about manatees! Please forward this e-newsletter to your family and friends. If you got this message from a friend, sign up to receive our e-newsletter at www.savethemanatee.org/enews_signup.htm

Questions?

You can get more manatee news, information, and special features by visiting our web site at www.savethemanatee.org If you have additional questions, please email us at education [at] savethemanatee.org

Photo Credits: Table of Contents photo © Walker Stanberry, 2006 Deadliest Year on Record © David R. Schrichte, Ask FWC to Revisit Manatee Reclassification © Walker Stanberry, Meet Floyd © Patrick M. Rose/SMC, Two Couples With Heart courtesy of Carolyn Krentz, Manatee Twins courtesy of Joanne Tuxbury. Photos cannot be used without permission. Contact SMC for more information.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts save the manatee club manatee florida conservation