Here is the Grinch who’s stealing our holiday season, Governor Chris Christie.

The Grinch of New Jersey- Governor Chris Christie

Once upon a time, the hills of northern New Jersey were alive with over 3,400 bears. Living quietly in their dens, taking strolls in the countryside with their families, they kept to themselves, eating a vegetarian diet.

Then a mean-spirited man and a group of like-minded people armed with 30 caliber weapons sought to change all that by conducting a trophy hunt of these defenseless animals.

Beauty and the beast redux
Ecco Bella supports Friends of Animals and the rights of our four-legged friends. But leave it to New Jersey Governor Christie to ruin Christmas for thousands of animal lovers. As photos of dead bears flood New Jersey newspapers, thousands of people have had their holiday spirit taken from them. “I cannot see voters re-electing Governor Christie. He may have curried favor with conservatives by giving trophy-hunters access to New Jersey’s bears, but the majority of state residents say they disagree with this hunt, and side with the bears,” said Ecco Bella founder Sally Malanga, a board member of Friends of Animals and a resident of north Jersey. “Christmas is a holiday of peace, yet Governor Christie has made people all over the state feel angry.”

No laughing matter
Angie Metler from the Animal Protection League of New Jersey  is just as vocal. “Since the Governor has made it very clear he finds humane and enlightened black bear policy ‘laughable,’ we must bring our outrage elsewhere. In addition to calling the Governor, please call NJ state legislators today and every day. You can locate their numbers at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us. Tell them to push for permanent protection of bears. This hunt is a disgrace to our state and represents sham science. Hunters are flying in from Alaska and elsewhere to kill our bears.”

Garbage, not guns  is how to manage our bears
According to the group Save NJ Bears the only proven way to manage black bears is by proper garbage storage. In New Jersey, that’s already the law–but the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife refuses to enforce it. Instead of ticketing negligent property owners, they allow bears to be lured into human environments by the smell of garbage, and then use these incidents to justify bear hunting. Why? Because the Division profits from selling hunting licenses and they exist solely to manage sport hunting. They have no plan to help bears and humans co-exist.

Over 70% of NJ residents oppose the trophy hunt!
On Saturday, Dec 11, protest the hunt. Go to Save NJ Bears for times and ways to voice your concern. Please get out in public and let Governor Christie know that bears deserve to live in peace. Governor Christie: tel # 609-292-6000   fax # 609-292-3454

Ecco Bella, my natural beauty company, propounds a deep connection to nature, and advocates for the peaceful co-existence of all living beings. I am sure you do too.