Lets do this as a Memorial for Hope- the LIttle Bear that Everyone Loved - she gavee her life so that other research bears woud not lose their's. Do not let her death be in vain.

http://www.change.org/petitions/protect-minnesotas-research-bears-pass-a-bill-protecting-minnesotas-research-bears?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall

In light of the split between those who want to protect Dr. Rogers' research and those who wantto Protect Minnesota's Researh Bears - I took a few days off - to contemplate - I actually was trying to decipher who was who in the Seventy Weeks of the Book of Daniel in the Bible. I find that studying the BIble grounds me and helps me sort through things.

I haven't really needed this time to figure out what I wanted to do, hwevfer - I guess I've always known what I was going to do. I just needed time to figure out what I was going to write, To start this of I must first say that I am a Christian, and I try never to lie, or mislead, I also do not like playing games,

To give you an example of how beign a Christian affects my life I'm going to tell you about an conversation between my daughter, who is 24 and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (partly from being abused by he classmates when she was in High School), and her Psychiatrist. He mentioned that most people change their beliefs or positions on things, one or more times in their early lives. And then he said that he noticed that she had not done that, that with her there was only black and white, there was no gray. With her as with my wife and my other two children, because we are Christians, who believe Jesus is God and believe in Him, there is only right or wrong – there is not gray.

So – if I ask myself why I started the Protect Minnesota's Research Bears, the answer is that I started it to protect those bears that were being used for research purposes, without getting anything out of it – getting anything back from us humans. Yes I did it so that Dr. Rogers would not loose the bears he was studing, because, with out the bears, there is no research.

With that said what I am about to say is what I feel and what I know, not something made up or some thing misleading.

Question: Do you know Dr. Rogers. I have never personally met him. But, he and I have been exchanging information about what we find in our individual bear research for the past three years. And I frequently give him ideas on how to raise money for his organizations (such as putting together a DVD of the video footage of Hopes life, and calling it "A Loss of Hope – The Story of the Little Bear Everyone Loved" and offering it for sale; or ideas on how to try to get protection from hunting for the bears he is researching. I consider him a good friend, and I believe he feels the same way about me. We have a mutual connection, our love of nature and research.

Question: Does Dr, Roger want protection for the research bears. Absolutely. If you think otherwise then you have not been paying attention to what he and others, including myself tried to do last year.

Question: Is he worried that the DNR may take away some of his permits or his ability to collar bears, put cameras in bear dens and how often he can visit bear dens to take blood samples and check on other things. Absolutely. He is afraid the DNR, for reasons none of us can figure out, because I see no downside to it), will take away some of his privileges.

Questions: is Dr. Rogers afraid that if he supports any petition or letter writing campaign that he might loose his privileges. Yes. That is why he publicly came out and said that no was not the time to do anything.

Question: Is Dr. Rogers afraid that the DNR is going to take away some of his privileges. YES

At one point last year Dr. Rogers told me he thought I was just the person needed to get protection for the bears, because I am a hunter, I am a researcher, I understand what he is doing and his research methods, I see the advantages of and the need for his type of 'hands on" research", and because I am known to some people, might be able to do whatever it was to get a bill passed to get protection for the bears.

Question. Has his opinion of me changed. No

Question: Doe the bears still need protection. Yes

Question: Do the bears deserve protection. Absolutely, because they are being used as research subjects, in which we humans gain knowledge of bears, but in return which the bears get nothing, unless we give them protection.

Question: Do People want protection for the bears. Yes, however, some question whether protection of the bears takes precedence over the research. And evidently, some feel that because they believe the research is so important, it should take precedence over the protection of the bears. Each person has to decide which side they want to be on,

Qestion:, Will a Petition, of people from around the world, with numerous signatures, be enough to go the State Legislature of Minnesota and get a bill passed for protection of the bears. I think so, but we will never know if we do not try.

Question", If such a bill is passed will the DNR have to follow its rules, no matter what Commissioner Garber or Dave Garshelis or others want. Absolutely.

Question: Is there a better time to gather signatures for a petition/. No, Due to the killing of Hope by a human, now is the best time to get signatures, because people's emotions are running high, they may be mad, sad of motivated. Now s the best time, and may be the best opportunity to gather the number of signatures needed to convince legislators to pass a protection bill.

Question: Are there enough people interested in protection for the bears to convince legislators to pass such a bill. There probably are, but only if they all vote together, now, while emotions are high

Question: Do I think we will ever have a better chance to get a bill passed. Absolutely not.

Quesiton:Do I think that if we do not get a petition signed now, that we will be able to get enough signatures at some later date to get a protection bill passed. No, I think our best chance is now, and it may be our only chance, because we have seen that even as hard as we tried to get a bill passed last year, we could not get it done.

Question: Will the DNR punish Dr. Rogers for the actions of someone who went against Dr. Rogers wishes. I do not think they will. And if ,they do I believe there will be enough of a public outcry, that they will be forced to help Dr. Rogers in his research studies.

Question: Do you intend to send letters, comments or a petition to the DNR. NO, The DNR has shown itself to be inflexible, and unwilling to listen to the citizens of Minnesota and the world, Therefore I believe it is best to work with the Legislature of the State of Minnesota to get a bill passed granting protection from hunting.

Question: Do I intend to use the petition now. No, I do not intend to use the petition at all if Dr. Rogers can keep his privileges to research bears. I will only use it if some of this privileges are taken away, and even then I will not use it until after the Legislature is in session sometime after the first of the year (2012). If the DNR in their wisdom, takes away some of Dr. Rogers research privileges I will immediately take the petition to the Legislature and try to get a bill passed to protect the research bears.

So – I guess it is up to each individual to decide if they really want protection for research bears, that are being used by humans. Each of us will have to decide whether we are willing to pass up our best chance of getting protection for the bears, or are we willing to settle for complacency, and waiting to see if the DNR will take away some privileges of Dr. Rogers. Is it the bears you care about more – or the research?

If you want protection for the bears, now is the time to sign the petition. If you do not want to sign the petition, and are willing to wait to see what the DNR is going to do anyhow, then do not sign the petition.

Question: Do I think there are enough people who want to protect the bears at all cost, who have "liked" the "Protect Minnesota's Research Bears" on Facebook, to get the number of signatures I think it will take to convince the Legislators that the bears need protection. NO. There were not enough people here before the split came between those who want to protect the bears and those who want to protect Dr. Roger's research.

So – what can we do. Well we can try to get as many people from the Lucy the Black Bear page to sign the petition, and get as many of our friends to sign it that we reach my stated goal of 10,000 signatures. AT last glance there wee about 1,000 signature on the petition. So if each one of us will contact10 of our friends and ask them to sign the petition, and then go over to the Lucy the Black Bear page, and private message 10 people there, I think we can get about a 50%^ positive rate for signatures, which will get us to 10,000 signatures. Since I am not going to use the petition if I don't have to, but I'm pretty sure I will, and not until after the first of the year, we have almost three months to reach that goal. Three months means 3,333 signature per month or 111 signatures per day (if my math is correct). I think we can do it.

So who is with me ('cause I cannot do it alone) - in an effort to get 10,000 signatures on a petition to Protect Minnesota's Research Bears – and use it only if it is needed – after the Legislature is in session next year?

God bless,

T.R.

Here is the link for the petition to "Protect Minnesota's Research Bears" Ask 10 of your friends to sign it, please – for the bears – and hopefullyfor the continuation of Dr. Rogers' research..

http://www.change.org/petitions/protect-minnesotas-research-bears-pass-a-bill-protecting-minnesotas-research-bears?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall

Due to the high emotions on this issue - I will not be answering most questions, I ask you to be polite, be respecful of the view of others, and to stay ontopic - or I will ask the moderator to delete your post.