THIS IS THE FULL UPDATE I RECEIVED: ACTION NEEDED
Hello,
First of all, THANK YOU for signing this petition. I have not doubt in my mind that your showing of support has helped to influence a number of outcomes regarding the Sea Lion situation around Southern California.
To start, I was recently contacted by a representative of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly who stated that they did in fact make a 'confidential' donation to the PMMC. I asked if they would care to express a few words regarding the donation or if there was any hint at an apology, and I received nothing. I had hoped that they would want to turn this incident around and show us all that they are supporters of the marine environment and express their condolences for this 'accident'. Apparently not. Their national notoriety would surely have helped bring about a positive shift in awareness to the current plight of the Sea Lions in southern California.
The situation did not go unnoticed however, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has opened up a case on the attack in pursuit of possible charges against the dog's owner:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-502193-noaa-act.html
We can only hope justice will prevail.
In a more positive turn of events, the severity of the Sea Lion strandings has increased to such a level that NOAA has declared this an 'unusual mortality event' and is to be qualified for emergency funding. The PMMC can now apply for Prescott Grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation which would give them the capital needed to ensure they can operate functionally as well as help to investigate the cause of the strandings.
Hopefully they can find a cause and ultimate solution to this crisis.
I would like to again Thank you all for signing this petition and for helping to bring an awareness to our ocean environment and the need for positive solutions.
I hope this serves as a reminder for us all to think a bit more closely about our interactions with the ocean, and all of nature, and how we, as humans, bear the burden of responsibility to care for and nurture our natural environment - and above all, to speak out for it when justice is needed!
(Donations may be made to the PMMC by clicking here: http://pacificmmc.org/donations.html and if you live in the Laguna Beach area, feel free to stop by and visit them!)
Thank you,
Christian
HERE IS THE URL TO THE ORIGINAL STORY:
http://www.change.org/petitions/encourage-gabby-giffords-mark-kelly-to-support-the-pmmc-in-laguna-beach?utm_source=supporter_message&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_message_notice
THIS ENDS AFTER NOTICE IN THE URL
