see the pretty parrot and see how it ISN'T A FISH?

This is the stupidest thing I've ever read.

You can't blame Bush; he's just trying to capitulate to the desires of big industry and the conservative set. The logic that this will spur these countries to better manage their endangered species is retarded; anything that places a price on the animal when it's dead is not going to work. Nevermind that the amount of money any of these countries could make by destroying these animals' habitat is still far greater.

To some extent, I think the idea that eco-tourism is the way to go is working in some places like Kenya; in that instance the animals are only useful alive, and there is strong incentive to curtail the activities of poachers. Too bad it looks like we're going to encourage harvesting instead. It's all so very very frustrating.