Help the Pope save sea turtles
It's round three! with the score vatican 2 - sea turtles 0
would you please pass this along to your e-buletin list? post on your blog, etc?
Help stop sea turtle consumption during Lent
en espanol
For centuries, sea turtles have been used as feast food throughout Latin America during Catholic celebrations such as Semana Santa. During Easter or the Lenten season, traditional Catholic rules prohibit the consumption of 'meat', yet allow food such as 'fish' and other types of seafood to be eaten as a substitute. Although sea turtles do live in the sea, they are actually reptiles related to tortoises, lizards, and even dinosaurs; they are not fish, invertebrates, or crustaceans, and do have 'red' meat. This spring, we are raising awareness about the threats sea turtles face, and encouraging people to abstain from consuming sea turtle meat, particularly during the lenten season and holy week.
We are asking for your help in this effort. Send a letter to the Vatican today. If key religious figures, and hopefully the Pope himself, become more informed of the great damage being done to sea turtle populations during Lent and Easter, they may be motivated to use their power and influence to help save these endangered creatures. If you would like to help us in our cause, please click on the link below to send a letter to the Vatican.
sign an email letter here
Because of the common misconception of sea turtles as 'fish,' it is estimated that as many as 10,000 endangered green, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles are taken for feast food each year during Catholic religious holidays. Other species, such as leatherbacks, are also at risk as their eggs are poached in massive quantities throughout Latin America.
Sea turtles have been swimming the ocean for millions of years, but are now facing a real threat of extinction. Currently, all seven species of sea turtles are either endangered or critically endangered, and for some populations there are so few that their status is simply unknown. These species are slow growing and long lived, thus making populations extremely vulnerable to massive declines. For sea turtles, each and every individual makes a difference for the future of the entire species. They are the indicators of our ocean's health and we depend upon the ocean for our own existence. Thus, if these ancient species vanish during our lifetime, our future is likely just as bleak.
read a report on this issue
Thank you for your support.
would you please pass this along to your e-buletin list? post on your blog, etc?
Help stop sea turtle consumption during Lent
en espanol
For centuries, sea turtles have been used as feast food throughout Latin America during Catholic celebrations such as Semana Santa. During Easter or the Lenten season, traditional Catholic rules prohibit the consumption of 'meat', yet allow food such as 'fish' and other types of seafood to be eaten as a substitute. Although sea turtles do live in the sea, they are actually reptiles related to tortoises, lizards, and even dinosaurs; they are not fish, invertebrates, or crustaceans, and do have 'red' meat. This spring, we are raising awareness about the threats sea turtles face, and encouraging people to abstain from consuming sea turtle meat, particularly during the lenten season and holy week.
We are asking for your help in this effort. Send a letter to the Vatican today. If key religious figures, and hopefully the Pope himself, become more informed of the great damage being done to sea turtle populations during Lent and Easter, they may be motivated to use their power and influence to help save these endangered creatures. If you would like to help us in our cause, please click on the link below to send a letter to the Vatican.
sign an email letter here
Because of the common misconception of sea turtles as 'fish,' it is estimated that as many as 10,000 endangered green, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles are taken for feast food each year during Catholic religious holidays. Other species, such as leatherbacks, are also at risk as their eggs are poached in massive quantities throughout Latin America.
Sea turtles have been swimming the ocean for millions of years, but are now facing a real threat of extinction. Currently, all seven species of sea turtles are either endangered or critically endangered, and for some populations there are so few that their status is simply unknown. These species are slow growing and long lived, thus making populations extremely vulnerable to massive declines. For sea turtles, each and every individual makes a difference for the future of the entire species. They are the indicators of our ocean's health and we depend upon the ocean for our own existence. Thus, if these ancient species vanish during our lifetime, our future is likely just as bleak.
read a report on this issue
Thank you for your support.
March 23, 2007