Current Event #3 - Tropical farms 'aid biodiversity'

Researchers found that an areca nut plantation in south-west India supported 90% of the bird species found in surrounding native forests. The low-impact agriculture system has been used for 2,000 years and should be considered as a new option for conservation efforts for the birds in the area. The researchers also say that you can grow rice, vanilla, pepper, and bananas. Farmers use leaf litter from the surrounding area in the forests for fertilizer and areca nuts can increase your risk for cancer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7708506.stm

This article might affect my candidate and his campaign because it can help save species and change his views on the environment to help these birds. It also is part of foreign policy because they grow the areca nut in India and not in the U.S. His foreign policy is to not involve the country and himself in other foreign countries problems. With Bob Barr he believes in humans first and is neutral on initiatives to conserve and recover endangered species.

My candidate's most likely response is to put humans first and not really bother with conservation efforts. “He voted yes on the Endangered Species Act Exemption Amendment. This was essentially a vote to adopt a substitute amendment that allows the Endangered Species Act consultation requirement to be waived in declared federal disaster areas and if the flood control measure is necessary to protect human lives or property.” (http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/bob-barr/19/environment-and-energy/7/) Essentially humans first as well as saying this “We have accumulated countless environmental impact and endangered species reports over the past three decades, in order to justify allowing a single company or local government to diminish a square yard of our environment or harm a single snail darter. Let it never be said we do not have our priorities in order. But do we? When it comes to arguably our nation's most precious resource — our civil liberties — nary a dollar is hardly ever spent nor a moment's reflection wasted, ere legislation becomes law and those liberties are diminished or obliterated.” (http://www.bobbarr2008.com/articles/62/why-put-fish-above-our-civil-liberties/) Again with humans first. Bob Barr cares but not that much. Fish above civil liberties.