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| Dear Friend, A Victory for Our Wild Birds! And it’s because of you. In 2017, the Trump administration re-interpreted a century-old law, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and proposed ending criminal prosecutions against corporations responsible for bird deaths that could have been prevented. Under the proposal, corporations would no longer be penalized if their activities lead to "unintentional" killing of migratory birds. Without accountability, the plan would result in less responsibility on the part of industry operating in and around the habitats or flight paths of these birds. Under the current regulations, British Petroleum paid $100 million in fines - not a small figure - for the loss of over a million birds during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. With no penalties at all, corporations are even less likely to behave responsibly. 2.5 billion migratory birds have already been lost since 1970. Wild bird populations are under increasing threat from pesticides, habitat loss and climate change. Trump’s weakening of the MBTA would have spelled disaster for migratory birds. Last year, during public comment periods to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), an agency within the Department of Interior, many of our supporters joined tens of thousands of people across the country in sending comments to USFWS decrying the rule change. Together, our voices have made a difference. On Monday, the Biden administration restored protections for migratory birds, AP reported. We can rest a little easier knowing that corporations won’t be able to kill birds with impunity. But we want to hear the songbirds sing not only today, but for generations to come. So much more needs to be done to protect Mother Nature, and ourselves, from the harms caused by immoral and irresponsible corporations. | |
Together, we can build a better future. In solidarity, The GMO Free USA Team | |
