(This fake news story is reposted from www.richieville.com)
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne sought to answer critics of expanded drilling in Arctic wilderness areas by announcing a new oil revenue profit-sharing plan. The plan, to go into effect May 21, mandates that 1.5 percent of all proceeds from Alaska North Shore oil sales be deposited into an account under the name, "polar bears."
"This plan gives the bears a financial stake in the further exploitation of their habitat," Mr. Kempthorne said in a statement released today. "We get to plunder the environment for oil and they get a steady flow of cash. It's a win-win situation."
Although just last week polar bears were put under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, Secretary Kempthorne said that the act does not prevent further development of the bears' habitat. In fact, his department recently opened up 30 million acres of Arctic wilderness for exploratory drilling.
"There are some who say the only way to save polar bears is by stopping global climate change, including the burning of fossil fuels like oil," the secretary's statement concluded. "These elitists want to force their environmental do-goodism on the bears and dictate how their habitat should be used. Our plan lets the bears decide. For example, they could use the profits to move to a colder climate or buy air conditioners. The money is theirs to do with as they want. All they have to do to collect is go to the nearest bank and show some form of government-issued ID."