To me this video demonstrates more the human-centric use the polar bear has taken on as a poster-animal for an inherently human fear - climate change.
I can tell you that there is still an ongoing debate (i mean within the scientific community) on whether, or how climate change impacts the bear. I can also say how that all sides of the debate - from the Inuit outfitters (still trying to hold on the remaining trophy hunt markets),to to the US govt (and their new campaign to stop the commercial trade of the polar bear via CITES), and the NGOs - who are using the plight of the bear (and our inherent speciesism) to advance their own political and economic agendas. Perhaps the economic and political agenda of environmental NGOs are better for the wellbeing of animals (at least the most sexy ones like polar bears, gorillas, seals etc.)
But.. If only all animals could be "polar bears" in their own right.
2 comments:
Hi Roger,
To me this video demonstrates more the human-centric use the polar bear has taken on as a poster-animal for an inherently human fear - climate change.
I can tell you that there is still an ongoing debate (i mean within the scientific community) on whether, or how climate change impacts the bear. I can also say how that all sides of the debate - from the Inuit outfitters (still trying to hold on the remaining trophy hunt markets),to to the US govt (and their new campaign to stop the commercial trade of the polar bear via CITES), and the NGOs - who are using the plight of the bear (and our inherent speciesism) to advance their own political and economic agendas. Perhaps the economic and political agenda of environmental NGOs are better for the wellbeing of animals (at least the most sexy ones like polar bears, gorillas, seals etc.)
But..
If only all animals could be "polar bears" in their own right.
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