Today: The $104,000 bluefin tuna and other endangered species

SPECIES ACT ON LIFE SUPPORT: The federal Endangered Species Act is in jeopardy, reports National Geographic. It has not received multiyear funding since the late 1980s, getting by instead on annual appropriations. The Bush administration has cut funds and placed a comparatively few 64 species on the endangered list in eight years, a fraction of the 235 added during his father's four years in office.

CALIFORNIA'S CCC THREATENED IN BUDGET CRISIS: The California Conservation Corps faces dismantling under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposed last week to help close a projected $41-billion shortfall. The agency puts at-risk youth to work planting trees, clearing trails and fighting fires. The administration would provide some funding for local conservation corps.

FOOD CRISIS IN OUR FUTURE?: Global warming holds a particularly bleak future for agriculture, according to a new report from scientists at Stanford and the University of Washington. "I'm not worried about Greenland sliding into the sea. I'm not worried about sea levels going up," said Washington atmospheric sciences professor David Battisti. "This is probably the most compelling reason why we need to deal with global warming."

ROCKET FUEL IN DRINKING WATER: The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed not establishing a limit to the amount of perchlorate allowed in drinking water. It put off a final decision on the matter Thursday; in the meantime, it has recommended a limit of 15 parts per billion of the toxic rocket fuel ingredient. California allows six parts per billion.

BAD AIR AT SCHOOLS: Lots of kids are breaking in all kinds of toxic chemicals, USA Today states in a special report complete with a searchable database. Three of the worst schools in California are in, of all places, Berkeley, according to the report.

POLITICALLY INCORRECT FISH AUCTION OF THE YEAR: A premium bluefin tuna, highly endangered, sold for $104,000 at a Tokyo fish market. It will be split among Tokyo and Hong Kong restaurants. 

UTAH PARKS, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!: Although search efforts often make headlines at Grand Canyon, Yosemite and parks in Alaska, Utah's five national parks (including Zion, pictured) and five national monuments tend to have more rescues, first aid calls and other instances of visitors needing help, according to a new study. The most common culprit: bad judgment or lack of good information.

-- Steve Clow

Photo: Zion National Park. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[allison]

I spent 2 years in the CCC in the early 1980s. What a great organization it is and how sad that it is now on the chopping block. Why doesnt the govenor quit housing and feeding illegals from across the border instead of dismanteling an organization that is so vital in helping California youth.

[Creative Greenius]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger loves to promote himself... and he loves to paint himself green. He's done nothing but take credit for Fran Pavley's AB32 work but he won't take the blame for being so inept, unskilled and incompetent when it comes to his ability to develop and deliver a workable budget. Perhaps it's because the Gov isn't really sincere and is only acting. And no one ever nominated him for an award based on his ability to make you believe he was anything other than Arnold.

Yesterday we read that Arnold was selling out our environmental regulations because he's too weak to stand up to business pressure. Since he signed his drought proclamation last June his actions on behalf of water have been impotent and now he's trying to terminate the CCC.

Arnold may be Newsweek's Green Poster boy but he's looking more and more like a greenwasher whose real life actions don't back up his act.

Maybe he should spend less time adding to our greenhouse gasses with his weekly use of private jets and less time in Idaho playing games instead of taking care of California state business.

All those muscles and so little energy or power used for the Golden State except when the makeup is on and the cameras are rolling.

[Michael Frisbie]

Arnold has finally shown his true Republican colors. His wife should slap her own face and leave this Bozzo. California is hurting Arnold; Suck it up and do something besides rip off the blue color citizen, Enough of protecting your Conservative Fat Cats.

[duane]

The governor may as well put california youth on the endaged species list. if he closes the california conservation corps thats what will happen to 1350 youth in california. not to mention all the good work that they have done to preserve california enviroment and natural resources.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!