Writing something about the value of humans versus animals is a perilous undertaking. But lets give it a go away.
Michael Vick signed a contract to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, pro football team. Vic, recently released from prison, served time for killing a number of dogs. Vick’s actions here were reprehensible. But the man is being pilloried in the newspapers, and people are carrying signs at the Eagle’s preseason football camp condemning his actions and insisting he not be allowed to play football. While this is going on, practicing with his football team, is a player recently given a two month sentence for having been convicted of DUI vehicular homicide. Vick’s sentence was for 23 months. Not infrequently, players are found guilty of beating up their wives/girlfriends and return to play with no concurrent uproar. There is a lack of perspective here.
Which brings me to another news item from the blog “Green Hell” that also shows a lack of perspective.
Exxon has been fined for causing the death of 85 protected waterfowl, hawks and owls. The birds had ventured near reserve pits and waste water storage facilities. Exxon’s total cost could be considered to be about $3.1 million for the 85 birds or $36,470 per bird death. The blog compares that cost to what our service men receive, “the death gratuity” of $12,420 for active duty and $100,000 for combat deaths.
The response by “papiertigre” to Steve Miloy’s Green Hell blog was so good, it is added as follows in its entirety.
papiertigre Says:
Come on Steve. Everybody knows that a raptor’s life is worth a million sub-Saharan Africans catching malaria. So of course a raptor’s death will be priced at just under 3 times as much as a soldier’s.
But what I’m wondering is why are windmills in Altamont killing 4.7k birds, actually chopping their feathery heads off, without any financial repercussion?
http://baynature.org/articles/jan-mar-2009/altamont-power-struggle
The Altamont, a major migratory corridor, hosts large raptor populations, including one of the world’s highest densities of breeding golden eagles. When wind turbines were installed here in the 1980s, their blades’ lethal effects were little known. But for more than 25 years, Altamont’s 5,400 turbines have been killing up to 4,700 birds annually–as many as 1,300 of them raptors.
25 times 4,700 times $36,470 equals ————————————– $4 billion 285 million 225 thousand and 000 dollars and cents.
Pay up suckers.
Seriously, we have precidence here. Established law. What do they call it?
Oh yes Stari desisis.
Cbdakota
Climate Change Sanity 