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i just got off the phone with david braun. he's the editor of the online national geographic newswatch blog, and the guy who's been posting those natgeo blogs in the other threads we've been following.
we spoke for just over half an hour about this HR2811 situation, but also about the reptile industry in general, other established exotic species, the problems with the media only portraying the 'ugly' side of keeping snakes (snake-related deaths in the news, escapes, etc), the problems with HR2811, as well as the problems with the USGS report and the more complete (and thus accurate) CUNY report.
based on what he had to say, i was very surprised to find him sympathetic to our cause (i know what some of you may be thinking "he's just saying that," but that's not what i'm here to discuss).
he explained to me that the blog he runs is not necessarily 'reported stories' (i.e. reporters gathering info, making contacts, piecing it all together, writing stories, etc.), but more of a "this is what's going on" type of publication. he essentially uses press-releases and pre-written pieces (i.e. andrew wyatt's testimony before the committee).
he asked me more about the CUNY report, so i explained that further. i also used that opportunity to talk about the shortcomings of the USGS report and how, when the same data used by the USGS report was used to project 'suitable habitat' in their native range, the 'suitable habitat' stretched WAY farther than the known current range, as far away as afghanistan. i pointed how how unreliable that dataset has to be based on that finding, as well as how important things like temperature extremes are when determining suitable habitat.
i also spoke about how the burms have not been proven to cause harm to the everglades as of yet, and the difference between an 'invasive exotic species' (which causes harm), and an 'established exotic species,' which is what the burm would be considered.
he began talking about how the burms are really just a small issue compared to the thousands of other established exotic species found there and how the everglades is not remotely what it was hundreds of years ago and how it was not going to return to the original state. environments change and flux over time, and our responsibility is to ensure we are responsible about what we pass on to future generations.
he asked me how banning the importation of burms and rocks would cause the value of the existing animals to plummet to '0' and i explained that as currently written, the bill would add ALL pythons to the lacey act, which would ban not only importation, but also sale, trade, interstate transport, etc, and that those things would truly cause existing animals to become worthless, especially for the breeders who make their living selling them.
he talked (favorably) a little about what wyatt mentioned in his testimony how the captive trade in certain animals is itself a conservation endeavor that ensures the survival of endangered species.
i also mentioned how they could not be considered 'apex predators' because at ever stage of life, they can be (and are) prey for american alligators and american crocodiles, and that despite the 'burm eats alligator' picture, most interactions between the two animals are the other way around.
he actually brought up how much more dangerous dogs and cats are than burms and how they are no more dangerous to humans than the alligators found all over florida.
he began talking about how there are much more pressing problems, including that of ferrell (sp?) cat and how they are decimating wild bird populations, but you don't see anyone fighting to ban those (yes, he did that!).
he mentioned a couple of times how he has no issues with people keeping large snakes, and applauded USARK for taking a 'reponsible caging standards' stance.
he thanked me several times for being civil (as well as the others who have replied to his blog) and how the best way to be heard is not 'yelling' - like he's seen many times from everyone, including the environmentalists - but making solid, well-backed, logical points to as many media outlets as possible.
he encouraged me to continue dialogueing on as many blog posts as i could find, as well as to as many news outlets as i can in order to make our side heard.
he also told me to keep in touch with him about developments and any other issues i might have.
i told him i could pass on contact information for several others more experienced and more connected than i am.
he told me about a special that the national geographic channel would be doing for next year about the burms in florida, and told me he'd talk to the people he knows who are working with that to see that they are taking all sides of the issue into account, and would pass along the contacts i send him.
overall, i was VERY impressed with how he conducted himself and what he had to say.
i'm sure there was more, but those are the main points of what all we talked about.
i proposed an idea like this a while back in this thread and now i think it's time to get it moving...
so here's my idea...
i want to put together a short info-packet of-sorts. in this info packet will be information on HR2811, talking points about the CUNY report, the contact info for experienced breeders and other people who KNOW THE HOBBY and are media-savvy, as well as any other info that will help our cause.
i want people to start scanning local news agencies (in print, online, and on TV), and begin dialogues with these agencies.
i want to emphasize CIVILITY, and WELL-BACKED, LOGICAL information when dialoguing with these organizations. some will listen, others won't. but i believe this is CRITICAL in swaying public opinion, and hopefully this information will get to the RIGHT people in the RIGHT places.
USARK is doing its part in DC, but we need to be doing OUR part here on the ground.
we spoke for just over half an hour about this HR2811 situation, but also about the reptile industry in general, other established exotic species, the problems with the media only portraying the 'ugly' side of keeping snakes (snake-related deaths in the news, escapes, etc), the problems with HR2811, as well as the problems with the USGS report and the more complete (and thus accurate) CUNY report.
based on what he had to say, i was very surprised to find him sympathetic to our cause (i know what some of you may be thinking "he's just saying that," but that's not what i'm here to discuss).
he explained to me that the blog he runs is not necessarily 'reported stories' (i.e. reporters gathering info, making contacts, piecing it all together, writing stories, etc.), but more of a "this is what's going on" type of publication. he essentially uses press-releases and pre-written pieces (i.e. andrew wyatt's testimony before the committee).
he asked me more about the CUNY report, so i explained that further. i also used that opportunity to talk about the shortcomings of the USGS report and how, when the same data used by the USGS report was used to project 'suitable habitat' in their native range, the 'suitable habitat' stretched WAY farther than the known current range, as far away as afghanistan. i pointed how how unreliable that dataset has to be based on that finding, as well as how important things like temperature extremes are when determining suitable habitat.
i also spoke about how the burms have not been proven to cause harm to the everglades as of yet, and the difference between an 'invasive exotic species' (which causes harm), and an 'established exotic species,' which is what the burm would be considered.
he began talking about how the burms are really just a small issue compared to the thousands of other established exotic species found there and how the everglades is not remotely what it was hundreds of years ago and how it was not going to return to the original state. environments change and flux over time, and our responsibility is to ensure we are responsible about what we pass on to future generations.
he asked me how banning the importation of burms and rocks would cause the value of the existing animals to plummet to '0' and i explained that as currently written, the bill would add ALL pythons to the lacey act, which would ban not only importation, but also sale, trade, interstate transport, etc, and that those things would truly cause existing animals to become worthless, especially for the breeders who make their living selling them.
he talked (favorably) a little about what wyatt mentioned in his testimony how the captive trade in certain animals is itself a conservation endeavor that ensures the survival of endangered species.
i also mentioned how they could not be considered 'apex predators' because at ever stage of life, they can be (and are) prey for american alligators and american crocodiles, and that despite the 'burm eats alligator' picture, most interactions between the two animals are the other way around.
he actually brought up how much more dangerous dogs and cats are than burms and how they are no more dangerous to humans than the alligators found all over florida.
he began talking about how there are much more pressing problems, including that of ferrell (sp?) cat and how they are decimating wild bird populations, but you don't see anyone fighting to ban those (yes, he did that!).
he mentioned a couple of times how he has no issues with people keeping large snakes, and applauded USARK for taking a 'reponsible caging standards' stance.
he thanked me several times for being civil (as well as the others who have replied to his blog) and how the best way to be heard is not 'yelling' - like he's seen many times from everyone, including the environmentalists - but making solid, well-backed, logical points to as many media outlets as possible.
he encouraged me to continue dialogueing on as many blog posts as i could find, as well as to as many news outlets as i can in order to make our side heard.
he also told me to keep in touch with him about developments and any other issues i might have.
i told him i could pass on contact information for several others more experienced and more connected than i am.
he told me about a special that the national geographic channel would be doing for next year about the burms in florida, and told me he'd talk to the people he knows who are working with that to see that they are taking all sides of the issue into account, and would pass along the contacts i send him.
overall, i was VERY impressed with how he conducted himself and what he had to say.
i'm sure there was more, but those are the main points of what all we talked about.
i proposed an idea like this a while back in this thread and now i think it's time to get it moving...
so here's my idea...
i want to put together a short info-packet of-sorts. in this info packet will be information on HR2811, talking points about the CUNY report, the contact info for experienced breeders and other people who KNOW THE HOBBY and are media-savvy, as well as any other info that will help our cause.
i want people to start scanning local news agencies (in print, online, and on TV), and begin dialogues with these agencies.
i want to emphasize CIVILITY, and WELL-BACKED, LOGICAL information when dialoguing with these organizations. some will listen, others won't. but i believe this is CRITICAL in swaying public opinion, and hopefully this information will get to the RIGHT people in the RIGHT places.
USARK is doing its part in DC, but we need to be doing OUR part here on the ground.
when it comes this stuff man i dont know if everyone would have done there part if it wasnt you and jeff but chris thanks dude your awesome!
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