Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
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Nations Approve Global Trade Protections for Sea Cucumbers, Sharks
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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Nations Approve Global Trade Protections for Sea Cucumbers, Sharks
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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Nations voted today to adopt landmark protections for heavily traded golden sandfish sea cucumbers. But they failed to protect six sea cucumber species in the genus Actinopyga, despite their key role in maintaining healthy sea floor and coral reef ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific region.
Countries at the 20th conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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Nations Approve Global Trade Protections for Sea Cucumbers, Sharks
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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Nations voted today to adopt landmark protections for heavily traded golden sandfish sea cucumbers. But they failed to protect six sea cucumber species in the genus Actinopyga, despite their key role in maintaining healthy sea floor and coral reef ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific region.
Countries at the 20th conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species also voted to ban trade in critically endangered oceanic whitetip sharks, coveted for the fin trade. Several other sharks will be considered for trade protections tomorrow.
"I'm thrilled that countries acted decisively to safeguard the golden sandfish sea cucumber, but it's disappointing they left the Actinopyga species behind," said Alex Olivera, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, who is attending the meeting. "These fascinating creatures play an essential role in keeping our ocean healthy and helping the economies of many Indo-Pacific countries. These new protections will help stop uncontrolled exploitation of the golden sandfish and allow sea cucumber populations to recover across the region."
The sea cucumbers are heavily fished for beche-de-mer, a dried product widely consumed across East and Southeast Asia. Beche-de-mer is considered a delicacy, often commanding very high prices, and demand has driven a rise in fishing across much of the Indo-Pacific. Golden sandfish is one of the most valuable species in this trade, while the Actinopyga species of sea cucumbers have increasingly been targeted as higher-value species have declined.
All these sea cucumber species are slow-growing, vulnerable to overfishing and act as "reef recyclers"they turn over sediments, recycle nutrients and help buffer local ocean chemistry, which can support coral growth and reef health.
In addition to the sea cucumber listings, the countries also approved several important marine-animal protections, while declining to protect eels:
* Sharks: Parties banned trade in critically endangered whitetip sharks. International trade in shark meat and fins has driven severe population declines. This listing firmly closes the international commercial market for this highly imperiled shark species.
* Marine ornamental fish: The parties agreed to continue CITES' work addressing the massive global aquarium trade. Each year, millions of live marine ornamental fish are imported into the United States alone, most plucked directly from their wild habitats. Despite recognition that this trade lacks monitoring and raises sustainability concerns, there were no proposals for protections of any marine ornamental fish at CoP20.
* Eels: But nations declined to extend trade protections to endangered eels, despite clear evidence of severe overexploitation driven by demand for unagi and other high-value dishes. Trade in wild-caught juvenile "glass eels" will remain unregulated even though aquaculture depends entirely on these wild animals, leaving already depleted eel populations at serious risk.
"The positive decisions reflect a growing international consensus that marine species, from deep-sea invertebrates to coastal sharks, need the same attention and protections historically reserved for charismatic land animals," said Olivera. "That's a big step forward for conservation."
Background
Sea cucumbers, sharks, rays and marine iguanas are heavily targeted for international trade for food, luxury markets, traditional uses and the exotic pet industry. Many species have slow growth rates, late maturity and limited reproductive capacity, making them exceptionally vulnerable to overexploitation. The adoption of new CITES Appendix II listings means exporting countries must now ensure that trade does not threaten wild populations.
The Center has long advocated for these protections and worked with scientists, governments and civil-society partners to advance science-based conservation measures.
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Original text here: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/nations-approve-global-trade-protections-for-sea-cucumbers-sharks-2025-11-27/
National Immigration Forum: Murray Responds Following Guard Shooting
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The National Immigration Forum issued the following news release:
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Murray Responds Following Guard Shooting
The following is a quote from Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum:
"We are praying for the wounded members of our National Guard and condemn yesterday's shooting in the strongest possible terms. Violence is never the answer.
"We also pray for the tens of thousands of our resettled Afghan allies who today are grieved and alarmed alongside us. We must not attribute the actions of one person to an entire community.
"Existing proposed
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The National Immigration Forum issued the following news release:
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Murray Responds Following Guard Shooting
The following is a quote from Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum:
"We are praying for the wounded members of our National Guard and condemn yesterday's shooting in the strongest possible terms. Violence is never the answer.
"We also pray for the tens of thousands of our resettled Afghan allies who today are grieved and alarmed alongside us. We must not attribute the actions of one person to an entire community.
"Existing proposedlegislation would require another round of vetting for resettled Afghans and help ensure that our allies can fully integrate and contribute here in America. Many Republicans and Democrats have supported this legislation, and all should work together now to pass it. The need is urgent, for the security of our nation and of our allies who continue to stand with us."
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Original text here: https://forumtogether.org/article/murray-responds-following-guard-shooting/
[Category: International]
Historic Victory for Sharks as Oceanic Whitetips Upgraded to Appendix I at CITES Banning International Trade
BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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Historic Victory for Sharks as Oceanic Whitetips Upgraded to Appendix I at CITES Banning International Trade
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 27, 2025 - CITES CoP20 Parties voted to list oceanic whitetip sharks on Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES. The vote marks a major victory for one of the most imperiled shark species on the planet.
"Today's decision is a watershed moment for all sharks and rays," said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark &
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BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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Historic Victory for Sharks as Oceanic Whitetips Upgraded to Appendix I at CITES Banning International Trade
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 27, 2025 - CITES CoP20 Parties voted to list oceanic whitetip sharks on Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES. The vote marks a major victory for one of the most imperiled shark species on the planet.
"Today's decision is a watershed moment for all sharks and rays," said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark &Ray Conservation at WCS. "For the first time in CITES history, a shark species has received full protection with a complete ban on international trade. Countries have sent a clear message at this 50th CITES CoP: ocean species deserve the same urgency and protection as wildlife on land, and the world will not stand by and watch as iconic sharks slip toward extinction."
On the floor during the vote, 13 Parties spoke out on behalf of the Oceanic whitetip proposal championed by Panama: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Mauritania, Pakistan, Bahamas, Gabon, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Canada, Chile, Lebanon, and Fiji.
Lead delegate from the Bahamas, Dr. Lester Gittens, reminded Parties, "These sharks support jobs across our islands, further declines of this species benefit no one. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the term critically endangered - the next category is extinct in the wild. We cannot take that risk."
Oceanic whitetips have suffered declines of more than 80-90% in just three generations, driven by relentless fishing pressure and a lucrative illegal fin trade that far exceeds what appears in official records. Appendix I listing will finally end international commercial trade, remove incentives for illegal take, and give this iconic species a fighting chance to recover.
More than 3,000 have gathered in Samarkand for CITES CoP20, The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, as 185 countries consider proposals to prevent trade from threatening the survival of wild species.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25664/Historic-Victory-for-Sharks-as-Oceanic-Whitetips-Upgraded-to-Appendix-I-at-CITES-Banning-International-Trade.aspx
Coach Stores to Face International Protests on Black Friday Over Skin Sales
NORFOLK, Virginia, Nov. 27 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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Coach Stores to Face International Protests on Black Friday Over Skin Sales
On the busiest shopping day of the year, holiday crowds from Los Angeles to London will be met with realistic severed "cow's heads," humans being "skinned alive," and other provocative displays as PETA supporters descend on Coach stores around the world to call out the brand's rampant, reckless use of animal- and planet-killing leather.
The transatlantic tumult will mark PETA's second annual "Free the Animals"
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NORFOLK, Virginia, Nov. 27 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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Coach Stores to Face International Protests on Black Friday Over Skin Sales
On the busiest shopping day of the year, holiday crowds from Los Angeles to London will be met with realistic severed "cow's heads," humans being "skinned alive," and other provocative displays as PETA supporters descend on Coach stores around the world to call out the brand's rampant, reckless use of animal- and planet-killing leather.
The transatlantic tumult will mark PETA's second annual "Free the Animals"Friday, an international Black Friday initiative that calls attention to the annual slaughter of more than a billion animals worldwide for their skins and hopes to inspire consumers to refuse to swipe their card for anything made of leather--aka "the new fur."
"Every bit of leather was sliced off the body of an animal who endured a lifetime of misery and, just like fur, it is someone's skin and belongs in the history books, not on store shelves," says PETA President Tracy Reiman. "PETA is calling on Coach and all holiday shoppers to reject the inherent cruelty and environmental destruction of leather and embrace vegan materials that no one was killed for."
Cows have friends, hold grudges against other cows, and mourn when a loved one dies or when they're separated from each other. At slaughterhouses, cows may be skinned and dismembered while they're still conscious--after they endure castration, tail-docking, and dehorning, often without any painkillers, on farms. A PETA expose of the world's largest leather processor--which has supplied Coach--showed that workers brand calves on the face, beat cows and bulls, and shock them with electric prods.
In addition to the horrific cruelty it inflicts on animals, the leather industry also contributes to the climate catastrophe, pollution, and water contamination--and a recent investigation linked Coach's leather supply chain to illegal deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. While many top designers are now meeting the demand for eco-friendly fashion with sustainable vegan leather, Coach remains an outlier--and is attempting to dupe conscientious consumers by marketing ground-up leather scraps as "sustainable."
PETA will hold Free the Animals Friday events around the world--including in New York, New York; Miami, Florida; Detroit, Michigan; London, England; and more.
PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to wear"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/coach-stores-to-face-international-protests-on-black-friday-over-skin-sales/
[Category: Animals]
Chesapeake Plants Have Deep Roots in Indigenous Knowledge
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 27 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Chesapeake plants have deep roots in Indigenous knowledge
Rappahannock tribal chief shares her wisdom on native plants
By Will Parson
In recent years, many people have discovered the joy of gardening with native plants in order to create backyard habitat for wildlife--seeds for birds and mammals, pollen for bees and stems for a variety of insects. Some have even planted or foraged a favorite edible native treat, like blueberries or ramps. But fewer still might grasp the breadth of uses that Indigenous
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ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 27 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Chesapeake plants have deep roots in Indigenous knowledge
Rappahannock tribal chief shares her wisdom on native plants
By Will Parson
In recent years, many people have discovered the joy of gardening with native plants in order to create backyard habitat for wildlife--seeds for birds and mammals, pollen for bees and stems for a variety of insects. Some have even planted or foraged a favorite edible native treat, like blueberries or ramps. But fewer still might grasp the breadth of uses that Indigenouspeoples have found for plants of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Since the 1970s, the Native American Ethnobotany database has catalogued nearly 45,000 uses for over 4,000 native plant species, ranging from "drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more." The Rappahannock Indian Tribe in Virginia, for example, has 150 uses documented in the database, including edible species as well as many with medicinal value.
"Today, people are seeking that knowledge because they prefer natural ingredients to address the root causes of diseases rather than treating just symptoms and exposing their bodies to man-made chemicals with unknown side effects," said Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson. According to Richardson, many plants associated with the Rappahannock River "were either keystone food sources, used for medicine, or used for weaving or construction."
Whether you're looking for food, medicine or raw material for a new craft, finding additional uses for your favorite plant species is surprisingly easy. Chances are good that there are several that have been documented. Below are some additional plants and their indigenous uses, to serve as a mere introduction to the important relationship between people and plants in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Wild rice
Found in freshwater wetlands, wild rice is a staple for many tribes in the eastern United States. In places like Jug Bay on Maryland's Patuxent River, the restoration of wild rice has brought waterfowl back to a key stopover on the Atlantic Flyway. And for people, "wild rice has a high content of antioxidants, which protect the body from oxidative stress and prevent chronic diseases." Richardson said. "It is high in proteins for energy, omega-3s and 6s for brain health, and fiber for digestion and controlling blood sugar levels. It also contains B vitamins and an array of essential minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, potassium and iron."
Tuckahoe
The plant that gives Tuckahoe State Park its name is more commonly known as arrow arum. Found in wetlands, it provides cover for wildlife and produces drooping pods of large, sticky, floating seeds--known as duck corn for their value to wood ducks and other waterfowl. "Tuckahoe was a staple food source for the tribes," Richardson said. "It was ground into a flour for making bread that contained carbohydrates, proteins, fiber for digestion, and many minerals and vitamins essential to health."
Willow
Perhaps more well-known than other native medicinal plants, it contains the precursor to salicylic acid, found in products from aspirin to acne cream. "Willow, like many other river plants, has been used for medicines to reduce fever, for pain, and as an anti-inflammatory," Richardson said.
Bulrush
Common in wetlands throughout the world, great bulrush grows to eight feet and has seedheads that are a valuable food source for ducks and other waterfowl. It spreads by starchy underground roots that are edible, but its other name--softstem bulrush--hints at another use. According to Richardson, it has been used to weave baskets that could hold water without leaking.
Cattail
Most people can recognize the sausage-shaped female portion of the cattail flower. Lesser known is that the nutrient-packed pollen collected from the male spike just above that sausage can be used like flour for foods such as pancakes. You can also peel back the young shoots of cattail to get an edible portion that tastes like cucumber. Richardson notes that cattails were also woven into mats to cover longhouses, providing insulation and protection from the elements.
There is notable overlap between species with indigenous uses and those used for environmental restoration. The practice of agroforestry is bringing some added value to riparian forest buffers that also produce native crops like American plum, paw paw, persimmon, elderberry, chokeberry and hazelnut. But a typical buffer planted to stabilize a stream might also have a range of species with lesser-known traditional uses, such as tulip poplar (stimulant), black walnut (gastrointestinal aid), eastern red cedar (respiratory aid) or black cherry (cold remedy).
"It's unfortunate that the colonists didn't find value in our Indigenous knowledge," Richardson said. "They could have saved many lives with our medicinal recipes."
The Bay is filled with many other plants that have a history of use by Indigenous communities such as the Rappahannock Indian Tribe. If there are any that stand out to you, let us know in the comments!
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About the author
Will Parson
wparson@chesapeakebay.net
Will produces digital stories for the Chesapeake Bay Program. He studied ecology and evolution at University of California, San Diego. He reported on water and the environment as a graduate student at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, and worked at newspapers in New England before landing in Maryland.
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Original text here: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/chesapeake-plants-have-deep-roots-in-indigenous-knowledge
[Category: Environment]
CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose national
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BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose nationalheadquarters is in King County, notes this crime decline has happened while the number of active concealed pistol licenses (CPL) in the county has climbed. It is actually following a national trend, as crime has dropped around the country while gun ownership nationally has increased.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted the irony of these declining crime reports when balanced against the rise in gun ownership and concealed carry, not just locally, but around the country.
"For decades," he observed, "we have seen one gun control myth after another used as excuses to restrict our Second Amendment rights. Yet here we are, when those rights are being gradually restored thanks to strategic court victories, when 29 states have adopted permitless carry laws, when more people own guns and more people are legally carrying them for personal protection, and the data shows violent crime involving guns is declining. Looks like we've been right all along, and the establishment media essentially is confirming it."
For King CountyWashington's most populous and most liberalit is simply a matter of math, Gottlieb said. August ended with 114,826 active carry licenses in the county, and September finished with 115,363 CPLs in circulation. October finished with 115,457 licenses. Nationally, the Crime Prevention Research Center estimates more than 21 million citizens are licensed to carry, and there are even more legally-armed citizens in the 29 states where no permit is required, who are carrying without a "government permission slip."
"Gun sales are continuing steady," Gottlieb added, "which is not surprising, considering reports of police manpower declines in many jurisdictions. In Seattle, there have been two high-profile incidents where legally armed citizens stopped criminals in their tracks this year. Around the country, people are fighting back. Maybe the criminal element is beginning to get the message.
"We're delighted violent crime is on the decline while gun ownership is on the rise," he said. "It demonstrates that responsible armed citizens are not part of the problem, but are part of the solution."
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Original text here: https://ccrkba.org/2025/11/27/crime-down-gun-carry-up-reflects-national-trend/
CAIR Prays for Full Recovery of National Guardsmen Injured in DC Attack
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Prays for Full Recovery of National Guardsmen Injured in DC Attack
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Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization also expresses opposition to collective punishment of Afghan refugees
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed hope for the full recovery of two national guardsmen shot in a targeted attack in Washington, DC on Nov. 26th.
According to news reports, an Afghan
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Prays for Full Recovery of National Guardsmen Injured in DC Attack
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Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization also expresses opposition to collective punishment of Afghan refugees
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed hope for the full recovery of two national guardsmen shot in a targeted attack in Washington, DC on Nov. 26th.
According to news reports, an Afghannational who worked with U.S. military and CIA forces during the occupation of Afghanistan opened fire on two National Guardsmen standing guard in downtown, near the White House.
CAIR called on the culprit to face full accountability for his crime and also expressed opposition to the collective punishment or denigration of Afghan refugees.
In a statement, CAIR said:
"CAIR's headquarters is in Washington, DC. We are outraged by last night's targeted, criminal attack on two National Guardsmen who were simply doing the job asked of them in our city. We pray that God grants healing, a full recovery and a blessed future to both servicemen and grants comfort to their families.
"The anger everyone feels over this unacceptable crime must be channeled at the person responsible for the crime, not at every Afghan refugee who happens to share his ethnicity. Our justice system is built on the idea that people answer for their own actions. What we don't have is family punishment, and we shouldn't have nationality punishment either.
"Using this horrific attack as an excuse to smear and punish every Afghan, every refugee, or every immigrant rips at something very basic in our Constitution and many faiths: the idea that guilt is personal, not inherited or collective."
END
CONTACT : CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-prays-for-full-recovery-of-national-guardsmen-injured-in-dc-attack/
