Target: Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks of Alberta, Canada
Goal: Protect bighorn sheep from selenium poisoning caused by coal mining, and clean up contaminated sites.
Coal mines are leaching copious amounts of the dangerous chemical selenium into the environment. Many of these mines are in the mountains where bighorn sheep abound. As a result, these majestic creatures are being poisoned by, and this has been going on for years with the government’s knowledge. Selenium is toxic in large quantities, and several flocks of bighorn sheep have been found to be well above the safe levels of this mineral. One result of selenium toxicity is reproductive complications, and the reproduction of bighorn sheep near coal mines is at an all-time low.
A recently retired government scientist reports that this blatant poisoning has been known for years, yet the government has neglected to do anything about it. Sign this petition to urge the office of the environment to clean up these poisoned areas and protect the bighorn sheep.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Nixon,
In light of the current conflict over coal mining in Alberta, a new argument against this questionable industry has come to light: the selenium poisoning of bighorn sheep near old coal mines. Recent reports indicate that your department has been aware that bighorn sheep have levels of selenium far above the safe threshold, and this is caused by their habitat being poisoned by coal mining operations. Selenium toxicity causes reproductive issues, and flock size near coal mines is at an all-time low. This has been going on for years, and the government of Alberta has failed to respond. This is unacceptable.
I ask you to clean up any contaminated coal mine sites in Alberta and ensure that bighorn sheep are protected from selenium toxicity. I also urge you to consider this issue as another reason to stop future coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Carmen Edenhofer
498 Signatures