Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
- The Rise of the New Economy Movement
- Preying on Poverty: How Government and Corporations Use the Poor as Piggy Banks
- The Organic Watergate: Alarming Report Reveals USDA's Cozy Relationship with Corporate Agribusinesses in 'Organics'
- Updated: Under Pressure, TED Releases 'Income Inequality' Talk
- Are JPMorgan's Losses a Canary in a Coal Mine?
Popular content
Today's Top News
10.20.11 - 12:46 PM
You Know You Want to Knit A Sweater for A Penguin
The New Zealand oil spill coated thousands of seabirds in oil, putting many at risk of freezing and/or being poisoned to death. A call has gone out for knitted woolens to keep them warm until they can be cleaned, and prevent them from nibbling the oil. There's instructions. And c'mon: penguin sweaters!
Comments are closed
23 Comments so far
Show AllWho dresses the little guys? Is there a government worker charged with that duty? Do they stand still for it? I know my Chihuaha runs and hides when I bring out her sweater.
"In 2001, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust decided to bank some penguin jumpers in the event of future oil spills, but after the request went viral they blew past their goal of 100 stockpiled sweaters, and currently have 10 times that amount."
Like duh, they bribe them with sardines! LOL. ;~)
Wonder if penguins are a little embarrassed to been seen waddling around in a tea cozy?
Oh well, at least the little guys are warm.
That is exactly what they are isn't. I knew they reminded me of something.
Color me conflicted!
There is so much that is so wrong with this picture-- and yet, those penguins look so adorable in those stylish little sweaters that I just want to pick them up and hug them.
The human species is the most contradictory puzzlement in earth's history. Through ignorance and indifference we create disasters for other animals like these penguins, but then devote considerable energies to care for and protect them. If we can be so touched by pictures like these, how can we allow our society to harm our fellow creatures?
Cathy, did you ever read Michael Herr's memorable "Dispatches", a book about his in-country experiences as a freelance journalist during the Vietnam War?
Somewhere in there, a soldier shakes his head over the incomprehensible absurdity of the Amerikan policy, which the grunt astutely sums up as "Bomb 'em and feed 'em, bomb 'em and feed 'em..."
WTF does that have to do with penguins and knitting tea cozys?!
Hijack another thread troll....
After our spat the other day, I don't expect this to be taken as amiably as intended, but seriously : OS a troll? Have you been reading these pages for long?
My take on this is that the thread had already diverged onto the incomprehensible absurdity of saying "aah" while we all contribute to the destruction of another creature's environment. The parallels with making war while claiming to offer assistance seem (to me) difficult to avoid.
But OS is more than able to make his own refutation if he can be bothered with you.
I just wanted to say "hi".
Thanks TA et al, but you'd do better to bypass the middleman and talk directly to the border collies.
They have a reputation for being extraordinarily smart critters, so you're less likely to go right over their heads. ;)
then start your own blog. Wasn't that easy?
And if you'd like I can have my dog walk you through the process!
Indeed. Nonetheless, it is impossible to deny the cuteness of penguins in tea cozys.
Cheers to you as well. no bs.
I'm not going to argue with that one.
See you round.
two intelligent people were communicating. it's rude to interrupt like you did
I don't think this will work. A wet sweater in cold weather is freezing. In fact you can put on a wet sweater in broiling summer heat and it will cool you down like a private swamp cooler. Try it if you don't believe me.
What happens when they swim? A soggy sweater probably slows them down underwater. Knitted wool doesn't ward off wind chill. They need wind block polar fleece jackets.
Rachel! Best New Thing.
the best thing for them is an oil slick... really? sounds like something from the ceo of an oil company or their lawyer
Goodbye Penguins! What will we give the penguins to "help" them? Undoubtedly more fast cars, freeways,stadiums and pornography ! Along with a grotesque dose of endless human expansion! How can wildlife survive when denied a place to even exist? Penguins will not survive due to massive waves of screaming newborn babies who will smother the earth with rapacious demands for sports,sex and gold.
As the population bomb continues it's swath of destruction,as bats,predatory cats,bears and all other wildlife disappears, let us worship human breeders and their offspring...rejoice, we won the war...the war on wildlife is over.
They are not accepting any more penguin sweaters, see http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/penguin-sweaters-wont-be-used/1145547/
This is not what is to be learned from penguins. This is just wrong.