US House Passes E-duck Stamp Bill

Each fall as hunters prepare for duck season, they purchase a duck stamp. This gives each individual the right to pursue waterfowl species during permitted hunting seasons. Many researchers and habitat restorers promote the idea of each hunter buying two stamps in order to increase the annual funds for conserving waterfowl. The ability to buy a duck stamp has previously, only been available locally in retail stores. The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill allowing the stamps to be bought online throughout all fifty
(50) states. Upon this bill being passed by the Senate, hunters will be faced with a major convenience for buying multiple stamps. In the past, post offices and sporting goods retailers were succeptible to running out of stamps which puts rural hunters in a bad position. Since its creation, the Federal Duck Stamp has generated an excess of $800 million.

I agree with this bill one hundred percent. I have been to several post offices and sporting good stores and been told that they had no duck stamps left or that they were not selling stamps that year. Having the option of going online and have the stamp be mailed to my home residence would save the hassle of inconvenient and uncooperative retailers. I look forward to the US Senate passing this bill.

Fighting Crimes Against Biodiversity: How to Catch a Killer Weed

Invasive species are now the world's second highest driver of biodiversity loss. In areas that are high in crime, investigators will take crime locations and to try and pinpoint the suspects main residence. This same philosophy is going to be used when focusing on putting an end to several invasive species. With invasive species on the rise, global change is slowly occuring. A popular method for beginning this research is looking at historical data concerning various species and placing it into computer simulation models. The geographic profiling method has outperformed other methods in hunting down these invesives and their primary location. Geographic profiling is especially helpful when there are more than one dominant location of the invasive and can identify a location more quickly than other methods.

I find this article very interesting in that we are now beginning to look at invasive species as criminals, which they are. Putting a magnifying glass over invasive species and grasping hold to them more quickly will allow for prolonged native species richness. I feel that this method will be quickly modified, as funds are available, and can be used very effectivley against unwanted species.

Beyond Control

The primary issue of concern is oil and gas drills operating very close to resident buildings. Many people in two particular counties in Colorado, Arapaho and El Paso, are very unhappy. The state argues that when getting caught up in the 21st century, whatever is written in the law is what regulates their decision. There are several acts that regulate oil and gas conservation as well as how the land under government jurisdiction may be used. Upset home owners have gone as far as to accuse oil and gas companies of drilling in states where the local government has little to no power, so they can do what they want.
I would not want a drilling operation going on right outside of my home window, but it comes down to money and space. Everything effects individuals in different ways, so making a population happy is very difficult no matter how many regualtions are in place. Joint cooperation between business and residence will allow for a smoother future in these two counties.

The Poisoned Politics of Keystone XL

Some people just have a hard time being told no. Keystone XL is a prime example of one of these people. Since the US has told them no, they are now going to China and trying to stir up more trouble. We are, depending on how you look at it, protecting our natural resources by denying Keystone XL access across our nation. The oil business is in high demand but the risk is not worth taking. There are many pros and many cons that can be weighed and argued over but one spill could ruin the future of the Ogallala aquifer for many many years in the future. With our country in an election year, the decision making within each party is biased and purposes to make each look better than the other. This is very unfortunate for our country because unity is most important when trying to reach a common goal. The goal is to maximize the potential of our Nation, which has been thrown under the bus many times over the years out of political selfishness. In the end, it doesn't matter what Canada has to offer with the oil sands if it doesn't benefit us. Being put in a bad spot for another's success is not exactly what I think should happen.