<font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">The outcome of the 2008 Presidential race is of great interest to conservation groups throughout the country. It is our hope at WDCS that domestic policies can be amended to reflect the importance of protecting our environment.<br>
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</span></font><font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">To better understand the current US political viewpoints on whaling, we asked the leading presidential candidates for their stance on whale conservation. <br>
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</span></font><font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">Unfortunately, we received only bottled responses requesting pledges for the candidates. Over 14 emails stuffed the WDCS Inbox—all lacking a personal statement from the campaign teams.<br>
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</span></font><font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">In lieu of answers, we did our own online search and found a number of websites willing to "grade" the candidates on their views of the environment. WDCS is not asking you to support any particular candidate, but we are asking you to think about the future of the marine environment when you go to the polls. <br>
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</span></font><font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">If you haven't registered- there's no better time to act than now! <font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.rockthevote.org/home.php">http://www.rockthevote.org/home.php</a></u></font> <br>
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</span></font><font size="5"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:16.0px">You have a voice- please make it heard! <br>
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</span><font color="#000080"><font size="5"><span style="font-size:16.0px">Regina A. Asmutis-Silvia<br>
Senior Biologist (<i>as in status, not age</i>)<br>
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)<br>
7 Nelson Street<br>
Plymouth, MA 02360<br>
508-746-2522<br>
<a href="http://www.whales.org">www.whales.org</a><br>
</span></font></font><font size="5"><span style="font-size:16.0px"><font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="mailto:regina.asmutis-silvia@wdcs.org">regina.asmutis-silvia@wdcs.org</a><br>
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