Hide & seek governor jeopardizes our black bears

                                                                                                       APLNJ pic

One thing’s sure: Governor Phil Murphy is not out on the hustings, meeting and greeting, at least as far as some people are concerned.  Those people would be the numerous animal activists and organizations after him to keep his campaign pledge to stop New Jersey’s bear hunts.  

But Governor Murphy can’t be pinned down -- he can’t even be seen!  Now that he’s in office, he’s been simply impossible to meet with to talk bear hunts.  On that subject, one advocate said awhile ago, “The silence is deafening.” 

That’s sad.  It raises serious questions about the governor's compassion -- and his credibility.  So on Saturday, Aug. 11, advocates of ending the bear hunts took the issue to Murphy’s home turf: Middletown, NJ.  Nearly 200 people came out to remind the governor of his promise to end the hunt.  They met near a new billboard the governor should see often:  “GOVERNOR MURPHY: PLEASE KEEP YOUR PROMISE -- STOP THE BEAR HUNT.”

                            Kehoe/APLNJ pic

That was the start of a media campaign designed to remind the governor of his promise and urge him to keep it.  “Aerial billboards,” a.k.a. planes with flyers, will repeat the message for three Wednesdays over beaches from Seaside to Cape May:  “Gov. Murphy can stop the bear hunt. Call now 609-292-6000!”  (BTW, 3 different staffers in Murphy’s office have commented on the volume of calls.)

Here’s a look at TV coverage of the Middletown demonstration:

https://www.facebook.com/SaveNJBears/videos/2089352041099179/

There’s no doubt that the governor can end the bear hunt -- just as earlier governors have done. The only question is, will he.  Has he the will to buck NJ’s tiny number of bear hunters and their powerful spokespersons? 

Phone 609-292-6000 every day, to let the governor know we want him to keep his promise. 

Fanfare for the UN-common . . .

The Animal Protection League of NJ (APLNJ -- www.aplnj.org) was one of many organizations  behind the Aug. 11 demonstration.  That’s not surprising. For 35 years, this statewide organization has advocated for animals in myriad positive and successful ways. 

But in marking its 35^th anniversary this year, APLNJ has been too reserved, holding back on the fanfare it has earned.  Talk about hiding one’s light under a bushel!

So here’s a reminder that APLNJ is still at it in large and small ways, a strong and consistent voice for New Jersey’s animals, who can’t speak for themselves.  Let’s hear it for APLNJ -- in the form of donations that will help the organization keep fighting the good fight.

And now, those who donate to APLNJ can use the new mailing address and/or phone number:  
PO Box 186, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826; phone: 1-732-446-6808.

Please contribute!    

The sad story ends

Grieving for her baby who died soon after birth, the mother orca carried her for 17 days during what the media called a “grief tour” -- the longest lasting known to date.  One writer described her behavior as emblematic of what’s happening to others in the mother’s pod of about 75 orcas -- critically endangered by loss of their main food, salmon, in the Pacific Northwest.  

                                AP pic

Sympathizers watched as the mother covered an estimated 1,000 miles, balancing her baby on her head.  Then, finally, she was seen without her young one, “frolicking” with other orcas. This was regarded as a good omen because the mourning mother is still young enough to give birth again. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/opinion/sunday/the-orca-her-dead-calf-and-us.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=4&pgtype=sectionfront

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