http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/dugong-12-03-2009.html
For Immediate Release, December 3, 2009
Contact: Peter Galvin, Center for Biological Diversity, (707) 986-2600


　　　　　　　　　　　―More Than 400 Conservation, Animal Protection, Peace and Justice Groups
　　　　　　　　　　Plead With President Obama to Commute Okinawa Dugong Death Sentence　―
　　　　　　　　　　400を超える、動物保護団体、平和と正義を擁護する団体が、
　　　　　　　　　　ジュゴンへの死刑判決を減刑するようオバマ大統領に請願

　　　　　　　　　Letter Calling for Cancellation of Military Base Expansion in
　　　　　　　　　　Rare Sea Mammal’s Japanese Habitat Hand-delivered to White House

　　　　　　　　　　稀少な海洋哺乳類のための日本の生息地における軍事基地拡張中止を求めて、
　　　　　　　　　　　　ホワイトハウスに手渡しで提出された公開書状

WASHINGTON— Representatives of conservation, animal protection, and peace and justice groups representing more than 10 millionAmericans hand-delivered a letter today to the White House and State Department urging　President Barack Obama to cancel plans to expand a U.S. military base near Henoko in Okinawa, Japan.

ワシントン―自然保護団体、動物保護団体、平和と正義を擁護する団体などが、1,000万人のアメリカ人を代表して、本日１２月３日、オバマ大統領に沖縄の辺野古沿岸における米国軍事基地拡張計画を中止するよう求める手紙を、ホワイトハウスに手渡しで提出した。

The base expansion would destroy the prime feeding ground of the few manatee-like Okinawa dugong remaining in the world　(believed to number about 50). The plan to expand the base – Camp Schwab, in northeast Okinawa – calls for filling in parts of Oura Bay and the surrounding area. The 1.5-mile-long airbase would also permanently disrupt one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Pacific.
この基地拡大が行われれば、世界に残存（50頭ほどと考えられる）するマナティーに似たわずかな沖縄のジュゴンの主要な生息場所を破壊してしまうことになる。沖縄本島北部のキャンプ・シュワブの基地拡張計画は、大浦湾とその周辺地域を包含することが必要となる。計画されている1,5マイルの長さの空軍基地はまた、太平洋において生物学的多様性にもっとも富む地域の一つを恒久的に乱すことにもなる。

Okinawa has been called the “Galápagos of the East” because of its rich and unique biological diversity. The Henoko area provides important habitat for numerous rare wildlife species in addition to the dugong – an endangered marine mammal　related to the manate and a cultural icon in Japan – and three species of endangered sea turtles.

沖縄は、その豊かさと特異な生物学上の多様性により「東洋のガラパゴス」と呼ばれてきた。辺野古地区は、マナティ類で絶滅が危惧される海洋哺乳類で、日本文化の崇拝の対象であるジュゴンや、同じく絶滅が危惧される海亀３種を含む、多数の稀少生物にとり重要な生息地を与えている。

The U.S. government recently announced that it would reconsider the base expansion plan in light of the massive local opposition to the project.

米国政府は最近、地元民の反対が大きい点を考慮し基地拡大計画を再考すると発表した。

Said Peter Galvin, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which led the letter campaign:
“The Camp Schwab base expansion project would destroy some of the best remaining habitat for the highly endangered Ｏkinawa dugong,one of the rarest marine mammal populations in the world. We call on President Obama to cancel this environmentally disastrous base-expansion plan.”　　　　　

この公開レター署名運動を行った、生物多様性センターの自然保護ディレクターであるピータ・ガルビンは、「キャンプ・シュワブ基地拡大計画は世界で最も稀少な海洋哺乳類の一つであり、絶滅が大変危惧される沖縄ジュゴンにとって残存する最良の生息地の一部を破壊してしまうだろう。我々はこの環境上災難をもたらす基地拡張計画を中止するようにオバマに求める」と語った。

In January 2008, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel issued a ruling (in Okinawa Dugong v. Gates, N.D.Cal.,
C-03-4350) finding the Department of Defense in violation of the National Historic Preservation Act and requiring the Department　to consider and　avoid impacts of a new　airbase on the endangered Okinawa dugong. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and partner groups on both sides　of the Pacific in federal court in 2003, and is still ongoing.

2008年１月、マリリン・ホール・パテル判事は（対ゲーツ沖縄ジュゴン訴訟　N.D.Cal.C-03-4350)は、国防総省が米国文化財保護法に違反しているとし、同省に、新空軍基地が絶滅危惧種の沖縄ジュゴンに与える影響を考慮し、それを避けるよう求める判決を下した。この訴訟は生物多様性センターとそれに協力する、日米両国の諸団体が2003年に連邦裁に起こしたもので、現在も継続中である。

参照（英語）
（http://www.earthjustice.org/news/press/2008/federal-judge-rules-against-us-defense-
department-plans-for-airbase-in-habitat-of-okinawa-dugong.html）

“For Okinawans, the dugong compares only to the American bald eagle in terms of cultural and historical significance,” said Takuma Higashionna, a city councilmember from Nago City, Japan.

「沖縄の人々にとり、ジュゴンは文化および歴史的価値の点で、アメリカのハクトウワシに匹敵するのみです。」と、名護市からきている同市議会議員、Takuma Higashionnaさんは語った。

The waters off Okinawa are the northernmost home of the dugong. Since 1955, the dugong has also been protected as a cultural monument by the autonomous Ryukyu Prefecture, due largely to its status as a revered and sacred animal among native Okinawans. Since 1972, the species has also been listed by Japan’s federal government as a “natural monument” under the country’s Cultural Properties Protection Law. It is also protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

沖縄海岸沖はジュゴンの最北端の生息地である。1955年より、ジュゴンはまた、自治琉球県によって、文化記念物として保護されてきたが、これは主に、ジュゴンが沖縄先住民の間では崇拝され神聖視される位置にある生き物だからである。1972年以来、ジュゴンは日本政府より、日本の文化財保護法の下で「天然記念物」に指名されてきた。さらにはまた米国の絶滅の危機に瀕する種の保存法によっても守られている。

In addition to being hand-delivered to the White House and State Department by Center attorney Bill Snape, the letter was also emailed, faxed, and mailed this morning to President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and other key officials.

この公開レターは、同センターの代理人ビル・スナイプによりホワイトハウスと国務省に手渡されただけでなく、今朝、オバマ大統領、ヒラリー・クリントン国務長官、そのたの重要閣僚にＥメールやファックス、郵送にても送られた。

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 240,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

生物多様性センターは全米の自然保護ＮＧＯ団体で、240,000人以上の会員とネット活動家が絶滅危惧種とその自然生息地の保護に献身している。

To see a copy of the letter, please click here. （手紙はこちら）

Center for Biological Diversity
Earthjustice
American Friends Service Committee
Animal Welfare Institute
Big Wildlife
Endangered Species Coalition　(on behalf of more than 400 organizations, seebelow*)（400以上の下記諸団体を代表して）
Environmental Protection Information Center
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Greenpeace
Humane Society of the U.S. and Humane Society International
International Marine Mammal Project of the Earth Island Institute
Natural Resources Defense Council
No Nukes North
Rainforest Action Network
Sea Turtle Restoration Project
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Western Nebraska Resources Council
The Whaleman Foundation
Wild Equity Institute
Xerces Society

　　　―　　*Endangered Species Coalition Member Groups:　（絶滅危惧種連合メンバー団体）―
1000 Friends of Florida
1000 Friends of Maryland
20/20 Vision Education Fund
A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity
Abalone Alliance Safe Energy Clearinghouse
Acterra
Action for Animals
Alabama Environmental Council
Alaska Wildlife Alliance
Alley Cat Allies
Alliance for Animals
Alliance for the Wild Rockies
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
American Bird Conservancy
American Cetacean Society
American Eagle Foundation
American Hiking Society
American Humane Association
American Indian Center of Central Florida, Inc.
American Lands
American Malacological Society
American Planning Association
American Public Garden Association
American Rivers
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Society of Mammalogists
American Wildlands
Anacostia Watershed Society
Andropogon Associates, Inc.
Animal Answers
Animal Defense League of Arizona
Animal Protection Institute
Animal Protection of New Mexico
Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF)
Animal Welfare Institute
Appalachia Science in the Public Interest
Appalachian Mountain Club
Ark Trust, Inc. (Humane Society of the United States)
Arkansas Climate Awareness Project
Arkansas Earth Day Foundation
Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs
Arkansas Renewable Resources Council
Arkansas Wildlife Federation
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Atlanta Audubon Society
Audubon Society of Central Maryland
Audubon Society of Central New Mexico
Audubon Society of New Hampshire
Audubon Society of Portland
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Audubon Texas
Augusta Bird Club
Ballona Institute
Bat Conservation International
Bay Area Action/ Acterra
Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition
Berks Conservation League
Berks County Conservancy
Berks County Earth Day Committee
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
Border Ecology Project
Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society
Buckeye Forest Council
Bucks County Audubon Society
Buffalo Field Campaign
Buffalo Outdoor Center
Butte Environmental Council
California Native Plant Society
California Trout
California Wilderness Coalition
Cambridge Woodfire Pottery
Canada Goose Project
Carribean Conservation Corp'n./Sea Turtle Survival League
Carson Forest Watch
Cascadia Forest Defenders
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Development of International Law
Center for Native Ecosystems
Center for Plant Conservation
Center for Wildlife Information
Cetacean Society International
Chapman Forest Foundation
Chattooga River Watershed Coalition
Chewonki Foundation
Chicago Zoological Society
Citizen Advocacy Center
Citizens United For Animals, Inc.
CLEAN - Coastal Law Enforcement Action Network
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Coast Range Association
Coastal Plains Institute, Inc.
Columbia (SC) Audubon Society
Community Services, Inc.
Connecticut Audubon Society
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Connecticut Conservation Assoc.
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Conservation Alliance of the Great Plains
Conservation Council for Hawaii
Conservation Fisheries
Conservation Law Foundation
Conservation Northwest
Conservation Science Institute
Cornell Greens
Darby Creek Valley Association
Defenders of Wildlife
Delaware Nature Society
Delaware Riverkeepers Network
Desert Fishes Council
Desomount
Dogwood Alliance
Doris Day Animal League
Earth Action Network
Earth Center in the Delaware Watershed, Inc.
Earth Day Network
Earth Island Institute
Earth Share of Missouri
Earth Works Project
EarthJustice
Earthworks
East Michigan Environmental Action Council
Eastern Cougar Foundation
Eastern Mennonite Missions
ECO ISP
Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Inc.
Ecology Mission Group,Central Baptist Church,Wayne
Endangered Habitats League
Endangered Small Mammal Conservation Fund
Endangered Species Coalition
Endangered Species Program, WI DATCP
Environment America
Environmental Commons
Environmental Council of Rhode Island
Environmental Defense Center
Environmental Investigation Agency
Environmental Law Society, University of Michigan
Environmental Law Society, Vermont Law School
Environmental Protection Information Center, Inc.
Episcopal Diocese of Maryland's Committee on the Environment
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
Federated Conservationists of Westchester County
Federation of Fly Fishers
Florida Audubon Society
Florida Endangered Species Network
Focus on Nature
Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics
Foundation for Global Sustainability
Free The Planet!
Friends of Animals
Friends of Ballona Wetlands
Friends of the Batiquitos Lagoon
Friends of the Bay
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Nescopeck
Friends of the Rivers of Virginia
Friends of the San Juans
Friends of the Sea Otter
Fund for Animals
Fund for Wild Nature
Fyke Nature Association
Garden Club of America
Gasparilla Island Conservation
Gaviota Coast Conservancy
Georgia Native Plant Society
Glen Canyon Institute
Government Accountability Project
Grand Canyon Trust
Gray Panthers
Great Lakes United
Great Plains Restoration Council
Great South Bay Audubon Society
Greenbelt Alliance
Greenpeace
Green-Rock Audubon Society
Gulf Restoration Network
Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
Harris Center for Conservation Education
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Heal the Bay
Heartland All-Species Project
Heartwood
Hells Canyon Preservation Council
Hempen Goods
Herpetologists' League
Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County
Hoosier Environmental Council
Humane Education Network
Humane League of Lancaster County
Humane Society of the U.S.
Idaho Conservation League
In Defense of Animals
Indiana PIRG
International Bird Rescue Research Center
International Fund for Animal Welfare
International Marine Mammal Project, Earth Island Institute
International Primate Protection League
Izaak Walton League of Maine
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research
John G. Shedd Aquarium
John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute
Jumping Frog Research Institute
Kalmiopsis Audubon Society
Kentucky Heartwood
Kettle Range Conservation Group
Key Deer Protection Alliance
Keystone Conservation
Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center
Knoah's Ark
Kritter Kountry
Lake Champlain Committee, Inc.
Lake Michigan Federation
Land Council
Land Trust Alliance
LandWatch Monterey County
Larch Company
Last Chance Audubon Society
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters
Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts
Lone Tree Council
Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Madison Audubon Society
Maine Audubon Society
Mainline Unitarian Church
Marine Fish Conservation Network
Maryland Alliance for Greenway Improvement and Conservation
Maryland United for Peace and Justice
MaryPIRG
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal
McHenry County Defenders
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Humane Society
Michoacan Reforestation Fund
Minnesota Native Plant Society
Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Missouri Botanical Garden
Monitor
Montana Audubon Council
Montana Wilderness Association
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Mount Graham Coalition
Mountaineer Chapter, Trout Unlimited
National Association of People with AIDS
National Audubon Society
National Forest Protection Alliance
National Humane Education Society
National Parks Conservation Association
National Recreation & Parks Assoc
National Wildlife Refuge Association
Native Plant Conservation Campaign
Native Plant Society of Oregon
Native Seeds/ SEARCH
Natural Areas Association
Natural Resources Defense Council
Nevada Wildlife Federation
New England Wildflower Society
New Jersey Audubon Society
New Jersey Environmental Education Fund
New Jersey Environmental Lobby
New York Rivers United
New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council
New York Turtle and Tortoise Society
North Cascades Conservation Council
North Central Washington Audubon Society
North Coast Environmental Center
Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Northern Arizona University (School of Forestry)
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
Oak Brook Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Oceana
Ocean Alliance
Ocean State Action
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Orange County People for Animals
Orca Quest
Oregon Natural Desert Association
Oregon Wild
Ouachita Watch League
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Pacific Rivers Council
Pandas International
Payne County Audubon
Peace and Justice Center
Pegasus Foundation
Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation
Pennsylvania Audubon
Pennsylvania Trout
Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation
Performing Animals Welfare Society
Philadelphia Botanical Club
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Pilchuck Audubon Society
Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association
Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation
Potomac Valley Audubon Society
Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
Primate Conservation Inc.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Puget Sound Urban Wildlife Photography Club
R Mason Fine Arts
Rainforest Action Network
Raptor Research Founcation
Reading Public Museum
Republicans for Environmental Protection
Restore: The North Woods
Restoring Eden
Riverhead Foundation
Rockbridge Area Conservation Council
Rogue Valley Audubon Society
Rumpf Law Offices
Sacred Earth Network
Salmon Protection and Watershed Network SPAWN
San Bruno Mountain Watch
Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council
Santa Fe Presbyterian Church
Save America's Forests
Save Our Wild Salmon
Save the Manatee Club, Inc.
Save the Species Worldwide
Save-A-Turtle
Sea Turtle Preservation Society
Seattle Audubon Society
Selkirk Conservation Alliance
Shundahai Network
Sierra Club
Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter
Sierra Club, Kaskaskia Group
Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign
Siskiyou Project
Sky Island Alliance
Society and Animals Forum
Society for Animal Protective Legislation
Society for Conservation Biology
South Carolina Forest Watch
South Shore Audubon Society
Southern Environmental Center
Southern Maryland Audubon Society
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Southwest Environmental Center
Strong Foundation for Environmental Ethics
Students Conscious of Protecting the Environment
Students for the Environment - University of Delaware
Superior Wilderness Action Network (SWAN)
T&E, Inc.
Tahoma Audubon Society
Target Earth
Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning
Texas Committee on Natural Resources
Texas Parks and Wildlife
The Activism Center at Wetlands Preserve
The Otter Project
Tides Center/ Bioregional Initiative
Timber Wolf Alliance
Tortoise Group
Trevor Zoo at Millbrook School
Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited Virginia
Trout Unlimited, Mountaineer Chapter
Trout Unlimited, Oak Brook Chapter
Tucson Audubon Society
Tuolumne River Preservation Trust
Turner Endangered Species Fund
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (UFETA)
United Church of Christ EcoAction
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon Society
Urban Wildlands Group
US Public Interest Research Group
Vermont Audubon Society
Vernal Pool Association
Virginia Forest Watch
Virginia Herpetological Society
Virginians for Wilderness
VOICE for Animals
Voices for Survival, First Presbyterian Church
Washington Cross Audubon Society
Wild Fish Conservancy
Water Watch
Waukesha County Environmental Action League
Webster Groves Nature Study Society
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Western Lands Project
Western Nebraska Resources Council
Western North Carolina Alliance
Western Wildlife Conservancy
Whale Conservation Institute
Whidbey Environmental Action Network
Whooper Happenings
Wild Earth
Wild Forever
Wild South
WildAgain Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.
WildEarth Guardians
Wilderness Society
Wilderness Study Group
Wildlands Project
Wildlife Advocacy Project
Wildlife Alive/Earth Island Institute
Wildlife Alliance of Maine
Wildlife Center of Virginia
Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Information Center
Wildlife Rehabilitation of Massachusetts
Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys
Wildlife Society
Wisconsin Audubon Council
Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers
Wolf Education and Research Center
Wolf Recovery Foundation
World Foundation for Natural Science
World Society for the Protection of Animals
World Stewardship Institute
Wyncote Audubon
Wyoming Outdoor Council
Xerces Society
Zoo New England
Zoological Society of Philadelphia