-----A CALL TO CARE-----
Dear Members of Congress:
The
diversity of life on this earth is awe-inspiring and beautiful. But it
is also at risk.
Mounting evidence indicates that climate change
will be a major cause of extinctions, and many plants and animals are
being affected already. This is an ethical, ecological, and economic
problem that must be addressed - both by stemming global warming and by
helping the most imperiled species.
We care about habitat,
plants, and animals injured by climate change for various reasons. Some
of us approach this crucial issue from an ecological standpoint, others
from a firm belief that our faith calls us to care about creation and
the web of life, and others for economic, aesthetic, moral, or
recreational reasons. Some are compelled by all these concerns.
Regardless of our motivations, we all are troubled about species such as
polar bears losing their habitat as sea ice disappears; Pacific salmon
facing the dual threat of rising sea temperatures and diminished stream
flows; moose and lobsters more vulnerable to disease in warming weather
and waters; whooping cranes struggling as key food sources and suitable
habitat disappear; and many species, including the American pika, sugar
maple, and monarch butterfly, dealing with shifting habitat due to
climate change.
We are part of this web of life and the natural
systems that support it. Ecosystems and their diverse species provide
clean air and water, healthy soil, food, medicines, and economic
benefits. Moreover, we are not immune to the effects of climate change -
such as rising seas, destructive storms, spreading disease, and
diminishing fresh water and food supplies.
We have a choice to
protect species, to raise our voices for the voiceless. In so doing, we
have the opportunity to fulfill our responsibility to safeguard future
generations and much of the wonder of this world.
Therefore, we
call on our policymakers to work together to ensure that species
imperiled by climate change are protected. If we join together, we can
take action, grounded in science and fueled by moral imperatives, to
help irreplaceable plants and wildlife.
Thank you for considering
our concerns.
Sincerely,*
[Your name]
[Your address]
* Affiliations are
for identification purposes only.
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