Dear John,
Last month, two critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales gave birth
to new baby calves. But these newborns are under threat from a new megaproject
that could wipe out their entire pod. Help protect vulnerable orcas: Start your membership with Friends of the Earth with a monthly donation.
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Two years ago an orca mother, Tahlequah, gave birth to a calf who died thirty
minutes later. A key factor in the calf’s death? The lack of nutrient-rich
Chinook salmon for her pod to feed on. This lack of salmon is exacerbated by
many things including climate change, noise pollution, and oil spills from
ships.
In a show of mourning unlike anything we’ve ever seen, the young mother kept her
calf’s body afloat next to her for weeks. Her heartbreaking 1,000 mile journey
captured headlines -- and hearts -- around the world.
Last month, Tahlequah gave birth again, to a healthy calf. Weeks later, another
whale in her pod, Eclipse, joined her in motherhood!
This should be cause for celebration. But the truth is, over two-thirds of babies born to
this pod do not survive. These calves, their mothers, and their entire pod are
more at risk than they have ever been. The newest threat? The Roberts Bank T2
terminal right across the border in British Columbia.
We must stop the disastrous T2 terminal and give these baby orcas a real chance.
Take action today by starting your membership with Friends of the Earth.
Donate $5/month
[[link removed]]The Roberts Bank T2 project is a massive proposed shipping facility that
developers want to build at the mouth of British Columbia’s Fraser River. If
built, it could wipe out Southern Resident Killer Whales and the Chinook salmon
they depend on.
Roberts Bank will disrupt the migration patterns of Chinook salmon, the main
food source for these endangered orcas. It will force young salmon into open
ocean waters before they are strong enough -- creating a chronic lack of food
for the 74 Southern Resident Killer Whales that remain, including the two new
calves.
Southern Resident Killer Whales are struggling. Made up of only three pods --
tightly-knit family groups -- their mortality rate is increasing and their birth
rate is decreasing, as the whales become malnourished and emaciated. A lack of
salmon -- and the resulting hunger and stress -- has kept them from reproducing
successfully. They are also threatened by pollution, which affects their health,
and underwater noise from shipping, which disrupts the echolocation they use to
hunt. These whales are literally starving to death.
The odds are already against these endangered orcas and their new babies. The
Roberts Bank terminal would magnify every threat these orcas face.
Stop the shipping industry from wiping out Chinook salmon and Southern Resident
Killer Whales. Support Friends of the Earth with a monthly donation of $5 or
more!
Donate $5/month
[[link removed]]Powered by members like you, Friends of the Earth has been fighting and winning
protections for this pod for a long time. In recent years, we’ve won critical
new legislation related to oil spills and shipping, pressured the Pacific
Fishery Management Council to take new protective measures, and helped stop a
massive petrochemical project in the area. We can stop this latest threat and
secure permanent protections for these whales. But we can only do it together.
That’s why it’s so important for you to start your Friends of the Earth
membership today.
Monthly donors are the backbone of our organization. As a monthly donor, your
support will allow us to plan ahead, thinking strategically over the long term
to maximize our ability to make change. Reliable funding is key to putting our
plans into action -- and you’re a critical part of this movement to protect
endangered animals like Tahlequah’s new baby and their entire pod.
Becoming a monthly donor is easy and rewarding. Just sign up on our secure online form
[[link removed]] , and you’ll be automatically charged each month for the donation amount that
you choose. Your monthly statement will clearly show your gift, and we’ll send
you an annual summary of your giving.
Plus, when you give monthly, more of your dollar goes directly to funding our
programs. And you’ll help ensure that we have the resources to keep fighting in
2021 and over the long term. You’ll get to watch your gift turn into real
results. We are calling for 200 new monthly donors by the end of the month. Will
you be one of them?
Help power the fight to save Tahlequah’s growing family and all endangered
orcas: Contribute monthly to Friends of the Earth.
Donate $5/month
[[link removed]]Thank you,
Marcie Keever,
Oceans and vessels program director,
Friends of the Earth
Contact Us:Friends of the Earth U.S.
Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA
1-877-843-8687
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