Stop playing politics with sea turtles
The Issue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is spending $2 million dollars to avoid the Endangered Species Act. If they win it could be a major blow to the sea turtle population. We need your help to get Fort Lauderdale to do the right thing.
From the moment they hatch, the endangered sea turtle faces many challenges and most never make it to adulthood. One of their biggest threats may not be what you think: artificial light. The light generated from development along our shores causes baby sea turtles to head inward instead of out to sea. Many communities are trying to do the right thing, installing lighting that is pedestrian and sea turtle friendly. Fort Lauderdale, Florida has decided it rather spend $2 million for permission to disregard the Endangered Species Act.
Fort Lauderdale just approved $2 million dollars in funds for an incidental take permit -- a way to get around the Endangered Species Act. This means instead of spending the $2 million dollars on proper lighting, they want to just move the turtle’s centuries-old nesting grounds. Moving the nests will cause poorer hatch rates, a potential disease in the nests, and can even affect the gender of the hatchlings.
These endangered animals have enough obstacles to survival. Join us in asking the city of Fort Lauderdale to stop its pursuit of the incidental take permit and spend the $2 million dollars on installing lighting that will give the baby sea turtles a fighting chance.
When cities like Fort Lauderdale do not enforce lighting ordinances and spend millions to go around them, it has a big impact. Florida is critical to the sea turtle’s survival, accounting for 90% of the Loggerhead sea turtle’s nesting grounds and the #1 source for the Atlantic basin population. If Fort Lauderdale gets its way, tens of thousands of sea turtles will be at risk.
We cannot let Fort Lauderdale send the message to other cities that it’s better to move the animals than try to find harmony between their habitat and development. Fort Lauderdale is fully aware of how to implement a solution good for the sea turtles and the people of their city. Every day they choose to ignore what’s right, hatchlings are being put at risk. Join us in calling on Fort Lauderdale to do what is right for the sea turtles and install the proper lighting now.
The Issue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is spending $2 million dollars to avoid the Endangered Species Act. If they win it could be a major blow to the sea turtle population. We need your help to get Fort Lauderdale to do the right thing.
From the moment they hatch, the endangered sea turtle faces many challenges and most never make it to adulthood. One of their biggest threats may not be what you think: artificial light. The light generated from development along our shores causes baby sea turtles to head inward instead of out to sea. Many communities are trying to do the right thing, installing lighting that is pedestrian and sea turtle friendly. Fort Lauderdale, Florida has decided it rather spend $2 million for permission to disregard the Endangered Species Act.
Fort Lauderdale just approved $2 million dollars in funds for an incidental take permit -- a way to get around the Endangered Species Act. This means instead of spending the $2 million dollars on proper lighting, they want to just move the turtle’s centuries-old nesting grounds. Moving the nests will cause poorer hatch rates, a potential disease in the nests, and can even affect the gender of the hatchlings.
These endangered animals have enough obstacles to survival. Join us in asking the city of Fort Lauderdale to stop its pursuit of the incidental take permit and spend the $2 million dollars on installing lighting that will give the baby sea turtles a fighting chance.
When cities like Fort Lauderdale do not enforce lighting ordinances and spend millions to go around them, it has a big impact. Florida is critical to the sea turtle’s survival, accounting for 90% of the Loggerhead sea turtle’s nesting grounds and the #1 source for the Atlantic basin population. If Fort Lauderdale gets its way, tens of thousands of sea turtles will be at risk.
We cannot let Fort Lauderdale send the message to other cities that it’s better to move the animals than try to find harmony between their habitat and development. Fort Lauderdale is fully aware of how to implement a solution good for the sea turtles and the people of their city. Every day they choose to ignore what’s right, hatchlings are being put at risk. Join us in calling on Fort Lauderdale to do what is right for the sea turtles and install the proper lighting now.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on April 16, 2015